I'd definitley go for whoever finishes top goes straight to the final

Just checked previous playoff home games with Saints to compare attendances(to nearest 100):

2000 Week 2 -19,200

2001 Week 3- 19,300

2003 week 2 -21,800

2004 Week 1 - 20,100

2011 Week 1 - 12,900

Prior to last week, all 4 previous home games were either to go straight through to Old Trafford, or to avoid elimination. Last Sunday was neither. The format has to take some of the blame. Please RFL sort it out.

I think everyone can agree top 8 is too much.

who can we all contact to complain?????

Since the system is known before the start of the season, everyone knows that finishing first does not make you champions. You might want it to when you finish top, but there's very little difference at the end of the season between 1st and 2nd - you get a second chance in the play-offs and that's it. Some teams may decide they really want first place - others may decide that keeping key players fit for the playoffs matters more than 1st vs 2nd. If they scrap the playoffs, then and only then can the team that finishes top be champions - because that's how the rules are set out.

BTW, quite happy to see the number of teams in the playoffs reduced to 5 say - results this year suggest that there are only 4 teams so far in contention at all (although one of those - Leeds - have yet to play anybody decent).

As for quality of playoff games so far, there has only been one reasonable quality game - yourselves vs Sts. In the NRL there has only been one poor game (when Brisbane flogged NZ oddly enough).

Wise words Douggie but I doubt the RFL will listen.

Along with others I think that 3 & 4 playing away then 5 & 6 playing at home is somehow flawed. There are various combinations that can be used but four weeks is too long. It should be cut down to three weeks.
This year, so far, the play offs have been a disaster.
The RFL/SL have to improve the situation and quick.