The problem with that is you could get completely meaningless games in the last round. Say for example 1 and 2 both play 3 and 4 in the first two rounds and both win each game, the 1 v 2 and 3 v 4 games in the 3rd week mean nothing.

That'd be the price you pay for finish lower down the league though.

IMO that would add to the tension of the playoffs for all involved, which isn't a bad thing in my view.

I like this one but as said, the danger of dead runners would be a factor.

Still not convinced tbh mate. You could leave the match on Friday and not know until two days later if you are in or out. Hardly gripping or fan-friendly. If the games were all kicking off at the same time, it could work well, but obviously that won't happen.

I don't mind our playoff too much tbh.

the problem with our system is that it rewards mediocrity. You can finish less than half way down the table and make the playoffs, it should have stayed the top 6 when we went to 14 teams.

We could have a top 7 play-off. At least a team would have to finish in the top half of the table to qualify for the play-offs. This year, of course, Hull would miss out.

week one...Top team gets a week off as a reward for finishing first.
2 v 7
3 v 6
4 v 5
semi...top plays lowest place winners from week one
other two teams play each other.

This year it could work like this:

week one
Warrington get a week off.
Wigan beat Hull K R
St Helens beat Catalans
Huddersfield lose to Leeds Rhinos

semis
Warrington v Leeds
Wigan v Saints

I can't stand it. The team choice is ridiculous. And its set up so that if it all goes to form (i.e. highest place always wins) then the Semi's will be exactly the same as the first round games.

The playoff format at the moment is wrong, I tried to explain to a colleague at work that Wigan and saints play each other at the weekend and will probably play each other again in a fortnight......

it needs a total rethink, and has been commented on Wigan v saints 6 times a season its nearly as bad as Scottish football

Game 1, 1v2 winner to GF

Game 2, 3V8
Game 3, 4V7
Game 4, 5V6

Loser game 1 v lowest placed Club winner from 2,3 or 4
Other 2 teams from games 2,3 or 4 play each other


2 winners play semi final to see who plays in GF against winner Game 1

This rewards teams for finishing 1st or 2nd (especially the team that finishes 1st in the regular season)

Bloody hell that was hard work

I posted this same concept last year and still stand by it. I liked the old top 5 system as this meant to win the grand final you had to beat every team above you in the comp, therefore the higher you finished the better. However the muppets from sky like to think that we need more teams in the playoffs so how about

Mid week Fixture
4v7
5v6
Loosers eliminted

Week 1
Winner of midweek fixture play each other (looser elminated winner to week 2 call this team A)
2v3
1 has weekend off

Week 2
looser of 2v3 V team A (loser eliminated winner to week 3)
Winner of 2v3 V 1( winner to grand final loser to week 3)

Week 3
see teams above winner to grand final

I apreciate that winning teams from 4,5,6,7 all have to back up but they will be only backing up against other teams that played midweek and should also have a penalty for finishing lower.
this system also rewards the team finishing top as it will only need to win one game to reach the grand final.

Play offs being changed is a MUST!

They've decended into a joke with this play the same team two weeks scenario. The only thing that would prevented us playing saints twice this year would have been a massive upset tonight (never going to happen), or an even bigger upset next week when wigan or saints will play probably Leeds or Catalan, if one of the lesser teams were to win.

Other than those two sunday is a dead rubber so no wonder weve only sold 10k home tickets!! will be the most poorly attended wigan saints game for years, but hopefully will send a powerful message to the RFL.

For me it should be back to the top 5 - if we have to have a play off system at least have proper teams in it, and some logic, in that to win the GF every team has to beat the teams above them in the league!

If sky are insistant on extra games ontop of this then red jims idea is the best, which is essentially the old top 5 but with a pre-play off round of games tagged on to decide the 4th and 5th teams. Super Sevens even has a good ring to it for the play off series and is at least a little more justifiable....at least with this format you HAVE to finish in the top half to get in the series which is better then the farce we currently have- FFS both Hull clubs only have a 50% win record and still have a chance to be champions!!

The play off system should be changed and back to 6 teams imo. It would ensure that only the cream of the crop have a chance of a place at Old Trafford.

Week 1-

3rd vs 6th
4th vs 5th

weeks 2-

1st vs 2nd- Winner through to the grand final
winners of the first weekends games play each

week 3-

Losers of 1st vs 2nd to play the remaining team from week 1.

Thats how it used to be done wasn't it? Miles better.

10298 as at 0930 today. I'm sticking with my "11500 home fans tops" prediction.

Allied to the lower crowd at the HJ last night, it just goes to show that charging full-price for round 1 of the playoffs was a massive own-goal by both the clubs and the RFL.

Yep, the pricing is clearly an issue tbh.

RL support is based around season tickets, and to suddenly expect a family of 4 to pay something like 65 quid for 2 hours worth of entertainment (even if it is the best sport in the world) is harsh, especially when some teams would have to win three games to even get to Old Trafford.

Add to the fact that every game is on sky and you can see why some are staying at home.

That said, the Wire crowd of just over 10k was positive (although looked poor on TV compared to recent fullish crowds) and your game tomorrow will probably have over 15k, so these crowds are not to be sniffed at.

Can't really blame price. United ticket would have cost £46 tomorrow, obviously had to turn it down. Wigan are doing an offer for a family of 4 for about this price. Amazing value compared to football. Its the aspect of RL fans I'll never understand,

Agreed, although I think they should have lowered the price because otherwise RL fans were never going to buy many for tomorrow, I can't understand why they wouldn't.

p.s. You coming to Sams bar tomorrow?

Yes mate, I'll be there for about half 11. Looks like we will have plenty room in the South Stand

Hopefully if there's a few sold today and a decent walk-up we can get 15,000 ish. Shame but the way the playoffs are its the best we could have really hoped for.

Football prices are insane though. Also - a Utd fan. Really? Ugh.

It's an issue for all fans. This should be a sell out, just like our game on thursday should be our biggest gate of the year, but won't be.

Maybe the clubs should charge £20 more for a season ticket at the start of the season, then honour that season ticket in the playoffs?

That is a great idea and would generate better crowds - however that is too easy for the RFL to take in.
The only problem I could see with it though is - what if teams fail to make the playoffs, fans would be mad at the thought of paying £20 extra for nothing. Although perhaps they could use it to attend another teams playoff games.

Put in it the season ticket, if they fail to make it give them a voucher for money off next seasons shirt.

Good idea, that or simply take the price of the next seasons ticket.

Something needs to be done as I think its unfair to expect fans to shell out for possibly 3 play off matches on the trot, then a grand final. Its getting embarrassing how sky build upto the play offs all year and then when it comes down to it, the matches are being played infront of smaller crowds than the regular season.

Cant look good to a new viewer can it?

This is a flawed argument as it is a comparison/ decision very few people will have to make. The fact that it costs £46 to go and watch Man Utd won't affect my decision to attend the play off match or not. If the prices were the same I'd still choose Rugby. Football clubs offer similar arguments to justify their prices by comparing them to West End Theater prices or opera prices, but the products aren't really comparable.
I can't imagine there is a single poster on here who thinks PL football represents better VFM than RL.
The fact is most people pay for their RL upfront with a season ticket. Wigan fans had to shell out for a semi final and final within the same month. Wigan will almost certainly be playing saints again in 2 weeks. Wigan fans will be hoping to be going to Old Trafford in 3 weeks time. Tough decisions to make, but then these are tough times we live in. The stupid format, the cost and all games on TV will not lead to big attendances.

I would say to fans who's teams didn't make the playoffs that they get £20 off next years season ticket-you're renewing your fanbase then by enticing them into buying another season ticket.