This, I've always thought of Superleague to be like the champions league qualifiers, which you then move onto the knockout stage. Would anyone argue that qualifying 1st in your group is more of an achievement than finishing 2nd and winning the CL outright? Obviously it's not like for like as their are less teams in each group, but the principle is similar.

stopped reading there

Why not? Too many words for you to comprehend in one go...words of more than two syllables making your head hurt....or just that old Wigan arrogance that prompted this thread and still pervades it.

You may not like it, and indeed it's not a perfect analogy, but the weekly rounds are the qualifying section of the Superleague competition determining who wins the first stage and who gains advantage going into the second stage. In this sense it's not dissimilar[i in principle[/i to many two-stage competitions including the Champions League.

no, just that it's garbage.

judging by the rest of your post, it's a common theme in this thread.

Which is exactly the sort of arrogant, juvenile and unreasoned response I was expecting. Congratulations. You have still managed to say nothing that adds anything of substance to this argument.

Seeing as they were champions they don't need to improve. They were fifth at a particular point in time during the season but finished first, we were first for some of the season but finished fourth. I know which one I'd choose.

They still need to improve though.
Champion quality showed through when it really mattered but overall the Rhinos were below par for much of the season.
Expectations remain high at Headingley (at least higher than 5th in league ladder). We've always been a difficult bunch to please.

Playoffs are post season in terms of the league campaign given not all teams can qualify.

I personally prefer the league campaign as the definitive measure of the best team accounting for medium term variations in form, playing conditions, influence of injuries and an even fixture list played home and away. However all clubs were aware of how champions can be crowned at the start of the season and Leeds took advantage by timing their form to perfection. Whilst I still think Warrington were the best side in 2011 overall (even accounting for an uneven 27th fixture), Leeds fulfil the criteria of champions whether I like it or not.

It's all about what matters at the end though so I really don't see how you can improve. Granted it's nice to be as high as possible before the play-off but it's considerably less of an advantage given the awful top-8 system we now play with. Under the current system the team finishing say 4th could lose a game and still make it to the GF, but the team finishing 1st could lose a game and not make it. Bonkers.

it's hardly an argument sweetie

I'd rather have Wire's season from last year than Leeds' season from last year. Leeds where the best team for about 4 weeks. Wire where the best team for 27 weeks. When i pay £200 plus for my season ticket its because i want to see them finish top of the league, not win a 4 weeks play off comp that i don't give a to$$ about.
Think about how awful it was under Noble, 5th/6th every year then a post season surge in the playoffs-, big deal, we were still a distinctly average SL side regardless of the playoffs.
The only problem is people will look at the list of all time Champions and see '2011 - Leeds' and will then think -'oh Leeds must have been a bloody good side in 2011' when the reality is they are statistically the poorest champions of all time.

By any sensible definition of the word there is an argument going on here.
You don't recognise that because you either don't understand the word or are clearly incapable of engaging in the discussion other than by pouring scorn on it.

Arrogant, dull and patronising to boot...you epitomise and justify every criticism I've seen of Wigan fans in general and posters on here in particular.

DID YOU JUST CALL SOMEONE PATRONISING!!!!!!

There there dear. You're obviously upset and I quite understand, but there's really no need to shout.

Not upset at all, just shocked..... If you want to here something really funny, someone actually managed to get the words "Leeds" and "style" in thee same sentence... That was a killer...



Happy New Year.

I'm amazed you managed to stop your sides from splitting...

...and a happy new year to you too.

I think you are quite wrong about the 2011 Leeds Rhinos. 2011 saw the Leeds club completely revamped in terms of coaching and playing structure. The plays and systems that were in place for over a decade, the ones that the numourous home grown talent had leant since their skolarships programmes began had been completely wiped clean by MacDermott in an attempt to freshen things up. During the season I saw some very good signs of defence and attack but neither were put together on a regular basis. Signs were evident that the players were struggling and MacDermott was also learning about his side. They stook at it when pressure got very high. It took almost a full season for the players to put things together and for MacDermott to find a way to get the best out of his squad. It was frustrating to watch but fascinating when glimpses were shown. In the end it was put together and nobody can deny that Leeds played some very special rugby in the playoffs.

I've paid for my season ticket and seen Leeds do things the 'Warrington way' and win the competition by been the best side all season, but 2011 will definitely be the one to stick in the memory above the rest!

I'd rather pay £200 to see the champions rather than watch a team that choked when it really mattered. It's ok being a flat track bully against the also rans but I'd rather watch a team that stood up when it really counted. But life would be boring if we were all the same.

You need to stop reading all the cry-baby threads on Southstander about this board then. The same people start a new one every few weeks when they've lost their latest dummy.

You need to stop advising me on what I should or shouldn't read.
The threads you refer to are more gloating than crying,(and often with justification). I find them quite entertaining.

If starting a new thread every few weeks whining about being banned on here is now considered gloating, Substandard has gone downhill even more than I thought.

Substandard? Oh what delicious irony!

Of course the cry-baby who had to start another thread about us, couldn't see this thread is nearly a year old and was restarted by a Leeds fan.

Pity that said Leeds fan could not have dug up some threads containing the bleating of the leeds fans from early in the season. Maybe they have, but i seldom go to other boards so would not know.