Quote: Rarebreed "Just one point there, the middle 8 in 2015 do not play for the championship final, and if we were in that position it would mean we finished below the 4th spot in Championship, which gives us the opportunity to in be in the final but from the 3rd 8 of the new set up!
Personally I say sod the championship final, lets be in the top 4 at the end of 2015!'"
Afaik under new system no one plays for the championship grand final. Its awarded to the team that loses the 4th v 5th playoff. They are ranked no1 in the following years tier2 for purposes of central funding allocation, which is staggered dependent on previous seasons finishing position. If i recall provisional figures correctly central funding drops about 50k for each position as you drop down the table.
Bottom eight are playing to avoid relegation to championship 1. I think its a staight relegation and team finishing bottom don't have a playoff game against team finishing top of Championship 1 but not 100% sure.