Agree with the OP. Wigan are definatley leading contenders.

Wigan
Wire
Saints
Leeds
Hudds

- for me. I won't be writing Leeds off.

I don't think it's ridiculous, it just puts a bit more pressure on the top 2 and gives 3rd and 4th a bigger shout.

Top still get's a week off - if they win the 1st game, they still get 2 bites at the cherry, they just have to win 2 games and if they lose their 1st game they forfeit home advantage for the eliminator if they get there.

I think after Leeds and Saints we now have to be considered contenders, and surely the team to catch.

Saying that, winning at Saints means nothing if we lose to Wakefield.

And why do they deserve that?

The top 5 was THE best play off system because each position higher up the league you finish the bigger the advantage. If you finished 4th you got home advantage over 5th but sudden death.
2nd V 3rd meant neither was out if they lost but 2nd got home advantage and so on. A very clever system that rewarded the teams for finishing higher up more so than any other system played so far.

The top 8 and club call nonsense has Nigel Wood written all over it and he is the single worst thing to happen to Rugby League in its entire history. He's a gimmick on legs and thinks everything about RL has to be a gimmick as well.

Dave

I know what your saying but in quite a few of our games this season we have only played well in patches, so i actually think theres more to come from Wigan yet

People have to realise that Wigan haven't been that far off in recent years. But thisb year with a new coach, improved fitness, application and discipline, they're the team to beat at the moment.