Just a thought, I don't see why the RFL make it out that Leeds are champions cause they won the grand final?

IMO its who comes top of the league... Playing well all season! just thought id point that out

Why bring this up again. They are champions and deserve to be in my opinion.

The structure was put in place and Leeds did what they had to do.

You're entitled to it.

Its wrong though.

Im not just on about leeds.... Its like say wakey finish 8th go to the grand final and win, there champions when there is the likes of wigan or us playing well all season, finishing top and not being named champions

Always has been the case in RL throughout its history since the concept of the end of season play-offs was introduced, if Leeds have identified a flaw in the concept over the past two seasons by doing something that the administrators of the game thought was impossible then tough, its no less valid.

in 1962 l think (not certain) we finished 5th won the 8 team playoffs and were champions l was at the final against Wakey at Odsal great days
its always been like that

Yep, everyone knows the rules and Leeds should be rightly admired for an imressive ability to play at their best when so much pressure is on. Play offs have been the RL way for most of the games history.

Leeds are champions, we all play to the rules, they won the grand final end of.

gary hetheringtons face was a picture yesterday and his wife!

He could see all that potential cash being blown away.....

Only if you like abstract art

Sorry, when did this happen? I don't think you've finished top of the ladder in my lifetime.

cant say I agree about how the champions are decided,i prefer the first past the post system.
but everyone knows what it takes to be called champions and credit to leeds,they have played the system to perfection over the years. not the best team over the season by any stretch but the best team when it matters.
we can only hope to emulate the success they have had,i suspect we probably wont even get close.

Did it not matter yesterday then Daz?

I agree with most of this. Except the last part. You won't do it with that attitude!



Actually though, I think the level of grand final success Leeds have had over the past 9 years will be increasingly hard to emulate as more teams come up to the standard required. That's why it's hard to compare across eras. Huddersfield are clearly travelling in the right direction though.

The first past the post vs Grand Final debate will no doubt never be settled. For me the Grand Final is the most intense, exhilerating occasion we have and it has to be to decide the Champions to achieve that, otherwise we either lose it or go back to the old afterthought of the Premiership. The current format of the play-offs isn't quite right, I preferred the 5 team version, where the weighting in favour of higher league positions was a bit better. But I think the top 8 system is just commercial pragmatism - until we have a second tier strong enough to make promotion and relegation viable (I've said elsewhere you need to be running about 20 clubs at something approaching SL standard for that, we're barely running 14) it's probably something we have to live with.

We have won all 7 of our league titles through play-offs. We may have finished top of the league for some of them but we still won them through play-offs. I don't think we have a leg to stand on trying to claim Leeds aren't the champions.

Leeds are champions. Worthy champions and a top side. RL as a sport would be better if we all gave credit to each other for our quality rather than talk the opposition down.

The champions are the team that does what the RFL say you have to do to be called that - At the moment that is Leeds, doesnt mean its the best or right way, we saw yesterday how fast hard and excting RL can be when something is riding on it.....not many regular SL games can match what we were treated to yesterday simply because the players and clubs dont need to be that intense. Leeds have mastered the art of winning certain games at certain times of the year.

It will be settled when the Sky muppets give the League Leaders Trophy the recognition and kudos that it deserves - if you look at how it was done pre-SL and at the trophies that were awarded you'd believe that equal status was given to those teams who won the league season and those who won through the play-offs, the RFL in their wisdom decided right from the start of SL that this was no longer necessary and only later introduced the plate in a begrudging concession to the fact that it might mean something to finish at the top of a league table after a full season of competition - Sky have barely mentioned the fact ever since.

the players wives may have to take a pay cut now to work in the club shop

Two Questions:

1) Have you ever been in the Leeds club shop?
2) What are you insinuating?

come on we all know it! hasnt taken dr koukash at salford long to work it out either

Quote ="brearley84"the players wives may have to take a pay cut now to work in the club shop'" Quite a successful club is the Rhinos when you look at the turn over/ profits www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-5517372 The Rhinos will now have to do without a trip to Wembley for the first time in 4 years Don't suppose you could enlighten us all as to how much Wonga Ken is keeping your lot a float to is there? By the way is it true that your club only produces merchandise that has to be pre -ordered as the manufacturers have to make more than 10?

Quote ="brearley84"the players wives may have to take a pay cut now to work in the club shop'" Quite a successful club is the Rhinos when you look at the turn over/ profits www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... -1-5517372 The Rhinos will now have to do without a trip to Wembley for the first time in 4 years Don't suppose you could enlighten us all as to how much Wonga Ken is keeping your lot a float to is there? By the way is it true that your club only produces merchandise that has to be pre -ordered as the manufacturers have to make more than 10?

Wow, touched a nerve here haven't you brearley! Talk about over-sensitive, it's almost like they've something to hide...