It's an advantage but not as big an advantage as under the two previous systems we've seen during the SL Era and that is where I take issue with it.

Previously the top team only had to win one game to reach the final (now it's two) and if a second chance was neccessary it was also at home. Now a season long fight for the top can be less important than a single 80 minute Qualifying Play-Off, that as we all know could be decided by an injury, a bounce of the ball, the rub of the green or god forbid a referee's incorrect decision.




I won't be embarrassed but wonder if there will be some red faces at Red Hall for needlessly introducing a system that rewards mediocrity (7th and 8th should have no part in a contest to find Champions) and where the integrity of the Regular Rounds is so easily undermined.

I take your point and probably agree the old system was better and not a fan of top 8 seems too many,

1st vs 4th
2nd vs 3rd

Loser out. Winner GF.

Or better yet, scrap the play offs all together.

Don't think that will happen. Like it or not the play offs are here to stay. Not sure I would want to scrap them. The GF at oldtrafford is a brilliant occasion and great atmosphere, and I quite like a big game to end the season rather than picking up the title away to someone like Salford, etc...

The RFL had a great system that for me satisfied the core requirements; an incremental reward for each qualifying finishing position at the end of a then credible regular round competition, while requiring the eventual Champions to really earn the title in a winner takes all grand finale to the season. The Champion club therefore almost having to be both the most consistent and also the best.

Yes it favoured the top two over the rest but that was their reward for a season's long endeavour and whilst one of the two was (quite rightly) guaranteed a place in the final the other still had to earn it and quite often benefitted from the Elimination game in between, usually resulting in a fitting showpiece finale to the domestic season.

__________

That said, hopefully Warrington and Wigan will not be missed as St Helens and Leeds duke it out on Saturday.

I don't give two feckin pence how badly we played earlier this year, if we win on saturday I'll be delighted. I'll be slightly less delighted if we lose but still pretty happy none the less. If I was in the habit of sulking about poor performances past, I'd be a miserable fecker because in 35 years of watching Leeds the bad still far, far outweighs the good overall. That's why I'll accept a trophy win as a superb achievement, regardless of what has preceded it because there may not be too many more in my lifetime, nor in yours.

In my book, anyone who feels we don't deserve it might as well go support wigan - you can share their pain, knowing that really, deep down, they are the most deserving of all teams and bemoan the fact that Leeds won it on the back of two good performances.

But I won't be joining you, I've got other plans for Saturday evening

If you have that system you might as well tell the rest of the league to pack it in at the half way stage....

I think next season will be the one to judge Mr.McD by. We've done far better than any of us could have expected a month or two ago, lets hope we're on an upward curve that'll last.

Surely the solution to all this is to get a bloody big cup to replace the hub cap and give the League Leaders Trophy some extra status.

Once you accept that there should be a playoff competition at all then it is illogical to somehow make out that a winner from a lower qualifying position is somehow unworthy. It is very healthy for future playoffs that a winner can come from below the top 4.

If one of the top 2 cannot win it with all the advantages they are given then they also cannot be considered as true champions.

You can discuss just how much advantage/handicap is fair till you are blue in the face but if these are the rules this year then just accept it.

You could also say that a team with serious injuries to key players leading to losing extra games is unfair!

Warrington and Wigan had their chance and didn't take it. Thats sport.

All they had to do was win two home games against teams that finished below them to reach the GF. If they could not, are they really worthy champions?

Excellent post. OMG this is becoming a habit