Joined: May 25 2006 Posts: 8893 Location: Garth's Darkplace.
I have to admit it's the first time I've been bothered to look at the system. There seems to be nothing, other than home advantage - which I guess is reasonably significant, to be gained from finishing top 2. Finishing top only gives you the very limited "selection" option which to me doesn't seem to be much value when the likes of Hudds, HKR, etc are so evenly matched.
No week off before the final either and a minimum of two playoff games -no matter where you finish. I suspect this was the driving force behind the format.
My own opinion is that 8 teams out of 14 is too many, I'm in agreement with Phil Clarke on this one (possibly a first). The idea was to increase interest for the lower teams at the end of the season and give them all something to play for, but this year only a couple of weeks ago there were 10 teams with realistic chances of making the old top 6, surely that's good enough? Especially with the truly dire season that the bottom 4 clubs have had - do they really deserve to have a crack in the playoffs?
If the RFL were really interested in keeping the competition open then perhaps they should once again re-think the scheduling of the CC semi-finals?
"Well, I think in Rugby League if you head butt someone there's normally some repercusions"
Joined: Feb 18 2002 Posts: 32302 Location: Swimming against a tide of fekkwittedry
The teams vying for 7th and 8th have lost more league games than they have won.
Surely that is not a playoff calibre team.
I agree with the tache, top 8 is too many.
Quote:Every player in our squad could probably earn more money with another club. But they prefer to sacrifice a few extra quid in their back pocket to share special memories. And playing at a place like Old Trafford on a night like this makes it all worthwhile.
Joined: May 25 2006 Posts: 8893 Location: Garth's Darkplace.
It is interesting to hear a lot of comments along the lines of "in this new format everyone's got a chance". Usually in after match interviews with Brian Noble for some reason. I was thinking how much more of a chance do Wigan need? They've had one off games to make a GF the last two years.
"Well, I think in Rugby League if you head butt someone there's normally some repercusions"
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