Quote: Juan Cornetto "Not to give an incentive to the 3rd and 4th teams if they win away in the first round made it far too easy for the top 2. It now gives has the first round more edge.'"
The incentive to win for 3rd and 4th should be the week off. No need to add further gain/pain by reversing the positions earned over 27 Regular Rounds.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "I said "Because they (Wigan) could not beat Saints at home (in round1) they lose home advantage in the semis" A home semi was the reward for the winner of the first round at the DW. Wigan knew that and lost. Wigan rightfully earned a home tie in round 1 only but a home loss meant they then didn't deserve a home semi.'"
Yes you did, sorry I miss-read that initially. I agree everyone knows the rules beforehand (and previously I have said Wigan will just have to suck it up) but that isn't what the debate has been about. It's whether the current format is the best way of going about deciding the SL Champions.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "The playoffs are a handicap knock out and should be won by the most deserving in this competition and not prior competitions otherwise why have it?'"
If I understand your point, the Play-Offs aren't a seperate competition, they are the means by which we find the Champion team as an extension of the Regular Rounds having first eliminated the utter dross from this element of the same competition.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "The top 4 get a handicap advantage to start with but must make the most of it otherwise they are no longer the most deserving. For the competition to have credibility every team in it has the right to win it. The odds are heavily in favour of the top 2 winning it as history shows. If a team that is awarded a 2nd bite, after losing at home, and cannot win away they do not deserve to be champions.'"
Surely the best way to find the 'most deserving' is 1 V 8, 2 V 7 etc not by pitting the top 4 head to head with enormous consequences for the loser who could find their season irreparably damaged allowing a weaker team to come through and take their place. You are manufacturing an entirely false proposition that simply wouldn't happen in the wild. First the weak are picked off before finally the two top dogs go head to head to decide the Champions.
The history of this format is relatively young and as long as the season's best become Champions it's still OK and so far P1 have done just that by seeing off P2 in the two finals so far.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "I think if this were to happen they will have great credibility as they would have knocked out all above them.'"
Sounds more akin to a worthy Challenge Cup winner than becoming the Champions. If a team ever do so (from 8th) by having a steller final month after a mediocre opening seven, where they almost certainly lost more games than they won, I'd personally find it difficult deep down to think of them as the sports' Champion team.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "The "Hub Cap" is a separate competition. The top 2 & top 4 start with great advantages and opportunities.
The higher placed team only loses home advantage if they are beaten at home by a lower team which is fair. If they don't risk losing something in the first round why are they in the first round?'"
Is it fair though? Wigan have lost what could be crucial home advantage in a potential future semi-final by losing to a team who finished only one place lower in 3rd and by definition still a very capable team. Had they been playing at home to Hull KR in an obviously fairer alternative format (2 V 7) would this have happened?
It's a crazy format. Lose by 8 points (could just have easily been 1 point) in Week 1 to highly competitive opponents (while others lower ranked teams are enjoying a comparative stroll in the park) and your immediately demoted to the chasing pack and no longer favourite to even make the final.
Quote: Juan Cornetto "I agree this has never been fair and should revert to just one home and away game.
I thought the majority of RL Champions were decided by first past the post!
But I agree the system could be better and even include home and away ties,'"
Method for deciding RL Champions:
1895/96 to 1905/06 - League - 6 Titles
1962/63 to 1963/64 - League - 2 Titles
1973/74 to 1997 - League - 25 Titles
Total - League - 33 Titles
1906/07 to 1961/62 - Play-Off - 51 Titles
1964/65 to 1972/73 - Play-Off - 9 Titles
1998 to 2010 - Play-Off - 13 Titles (and continuing)
Total - Play-Off - 73 Titles
