Quote: El Diablo "I see your point, but I think the play-off system has been quite successful in creating interest (and income) in the end of the season, sometimes long after the title would have been decided the old fashioned way, and for more teams. RL needs the money, in my opinion.'"
Don't get me wrong I am 100% behind the play-off concept which has served the sport for the overwhelming majority of it's existence, it's just that I want to see the title earned and go to a team that deserves it from a season long campaign not just from a burst of form at the end. The play-offs need to be weighted in favour of the two teams finishing highest on the ladder and I'm not sure that is the case with the present format.
Quote: El Diablo "If nobody outside the top 2, or even 3, ever wins it, sooner or later it will dawn on the great unwashed below those positions that actually their season is over and the magic will be gone. A winner from 5th or 6th would do the play-off concept a world of good. '"
If it hasn't dawned on supporters by now it probably never will but the reality is there has yet to be a winner from below 3rd (and even that was a one-off (from 13 finals) attributable as much to the antics of one Wigan player as it was to Bradford busting the salary cap and bringing in a ringer in order to win it.
Quote: El Diablo "Still can't see it happening. There were times earlier this year when it looked like a 4 horse race, but I think we're down to 3 at best again now.'"
It has looked like a two horse race all season, still does. The only potential fly in that ointment remains the ridiculous placing of the Challenge Cup in the season. It's about as predictable an outcome as you will find in sport (outside of wrestling, cricket and snooker obviously) but there's always a chance of a genuine upset to cling onto even if deep down you know it's not going to happen.
