If we do finish 4th assuming the table stays as it is now after we face Wigan at the DW and most probably lose who do we face after that.

Depends who finishes where and who wins what.

We would play the highest finishing team from the first round elimination matches.

1v4
2v3

Eliminations
5v8
6v7

If team in 5th wins we would play them, if they lose we would play the winners of 6v7 as they both finish higher than 8th.

Week One

Qualifying Play Off 1: 1st vs 4th (winner receives a bye to week three)
Qualifying Play Off 2: 2nd vs 3rd (winner receives a bye to week three)
Elimination Play Off 1: 5th vs 8th (loser goes out)
Elimination Play Off 2: 6th vs 7th (loser goes out)
Week Two

Preliminary Semi Final 1: Higher-ranked QPO Loser vs lower-ranked EPO Winner
Preliminary Semi Final 2: Lower-ranked QPO Loser vs higher-ranked EPO Winner
Week Three

Qualifying Semi Final 1: Higher-ranked QPO Winner vs PSF Winner of their choice*
Qualifying Semi Final 2: Lower-ranked QPO Winner vs other PSF Winner *
Week Four

Grand Final: QSF1 Winner vs QSF2 Winner

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It wouldn't be too bad playing Wigan as they might not have home advantage.

Their now constantly under pressure to play the play off games elsewhere especially if the Footy is on the following day.

I think they have only lost 2 away games all season, so I doubt it will make too much of a difference for them tbh.

If it happens we'll see but in a potential knockout game it could make a massive psychological difference.

So, if we do finish 4th we go to Wigan and then if we lose probably face Leeds at home! Mmmm, not a fan of finishing 4th me thinks.

No matter where we finish we are going to end up facing the big teams at some point. If we have aspirations of winning it then we need to be beating these teams.

So 4th is actually harder then 5th then.

Top four get two chances, 5th-8th play knockout rugby from week one.

Looking at the likely permutations, 5th looks preferable but lets not forget the Wakefield play off game in 2004. Cas/Crusaders/Wakefield at home is far from a given win.

Depends how you look at it.

If 5th we face a potential game at home versus Castleford/Crusaders win that we then would have an away tie verson the two losers from (Wigan,Warrington,Saints,Leeds)

4th we start with an away game against the team in 1st and then if we lost a Home game against the highest placed qualifier (If Leeds won it would be them) but you are guaranteed two games.

But if you get that win then your into week 3 with a home game to get to the final.

finish 5th yer its a home game against cas/cru but you have to win or your out. you will then be away to leeds/saints or wire and have to win to then be away to another of those or Wigan to get to the final.
No position will be easy this season due to there being quality teams right throughout the 8.

But 5Th don't get a second attempt if they lose do they.

To go all the way to the final 5th is harder due to 2 away games at top 4 and 1 home against 8th and you have to win all 3
from forth it could be either you need to win 2 games 1 away at top and home against somebody lower then grand final or lose that 1st game its still just 2 wins 1 at home against 5th,6th or 7th and then away against wigan,saints or wire. I suppose it depends on how far you want to go. there is no point being in the play offs if you just want to win 1 game is there?

Finishing 4th or 5th , We would still receive the same amount of money from playoff footy regardless ?

Would imagine we would get more for 4th as we would play 2 games

I thought the money got shared equally?.

I think the prize money is based on finishing spots after the play offs

You maybe right....I have no idea, it is just that the top 4 are guaranteed to play at least 2 games so maybe they get a larger chunk.

I think you are correct. The prize money is based on your finishing position after the play-offs. If we finish 5th and lose our first game then we technically finish 8th.

So if we do finish 4th then we should get more money since we will be in the second week? or does it just go on games won?

I thought I had previously read that the money is an equal share to all play off teams no matter where you finish ??

In the Operational Rules, the RFL say with their usual clarity:



I was under the impression that gate receipts of play offs games upto the Grand Final were shared equally between the 8 clubs and a proportion of the receipts from the Grand Final went to the two finalists (as well as the RFL).

If we finish 4th we are guaranteed to finish 6th at worst I think? 2 teams would drop out after the first week so they would finish 7th and 8th. Its possible I'm just making all of this up of course