The problem with that though is that more often than not, to finish 3rd we're probably going to have to beat a SL team along the way aren't we? Tough ask to finish 3rd with just 6 points, would have to be a bizzare set of results for that to happen? I'd have thought there was more chance of a Championship team winning the MPG (again long odds I agree). With finishing third you are banking on two SL clubs having stinkers and finishing below us and presumably losing to at least one championship team on the way. I'll admit you are better at this stuff than me, but seems unlikely

We don't really disagree at all, it's just I view the chances of winning the MPG as nil, so that's why however slim the chances of auto promotion may be, they're not (quite) nil. We beat Salford last time round (though if we played tomorrow, they'd put 70 on us)

Fair enough, I agree we aren't a million miles away - is that coming from the viewpoint of catching SL teams "unaware" in a regular game rather than a do or die scenario in the MPG where the opposition are more likely to be pumped up?

I haven't done the numbers yet this season (as the finishing positions are far too uncertain to make it worthwhile) but last season it was very interesting to predict EVERY game one by one and then see where that left you.

There are so many permutations, but just for instance, if we beat (say) Salford and then did as well as them in the remaining fixtures then (barring a points difference disaster) we would be bound to finish above Salford. If we also do better than each of the other 3 Championship clubs (even a tie but superior PD will do) then we'd be 3rd.

Big IFs

Unfortunately in the current situation just beating the other 3 championship teams is a pretty big "IF" in it's own right, and just taking a top 4 slot at all is not certain without an improvement from the performane in the last few games

Playing the other top 4 teams. Current record this season= 2 draws and a win. Hardly stuff the get excited over, is it?

Certainly are - but that's the unpredictability of sport and why we all love it!

Injuries, poor form, refereeing, on the day errors, bounce of the ball...etc ....etc

I can certainly see a Championship club making it either in 3rd or via the MPG - it would be great for RL if that was sooner rather than later

I think we need one to go up and one down either this year or next.
If it goes past that supporters will become disillusioned with the system.
Maybe that will then make the RFL change it to automatic one up, one down.
For that to happen though I do believe both Leigh and the Bulls need to stay pushing for promotion and show they are ready.

Its ridiculous. How many teams in the Championship would get their promotion rejected because their ground is not fit for purpose?

Us, Leigh, Fax?

London and Sheffield haven't even got grounds but sure they could play at a Football ground.

Then there's the question of can Fax and Sheffield afford to run a SL squad?
Im not sure they could, I hope they could but we couldn't at the back end and our crowds are a lot bigger than theirs.

The P and R system is grossly unfair,the only thing it rewards is poor form with a chance to redeem yourself against inferior opposition and a one off shot against superior opposition providing your form doesn't drop off in M8's.

That would be interesting. Presumably then we could sue the RFL as our landlords for leasing us premises unfit for purpose?

We haven't sued anybody for absolutely ages

Leigh? Brand new ground? Why wouldn't that fit the bill?

Us & Fax - far from perfect, but both previously SL grounds?! No worse than HKR or Wakey for example....

The stadium rules were to fit with franchising criteria I think. We no longer have franchising so, logically, (I know!) there shouldn't be an RFL stadium requirement anymore....

I assume he means those are the ones that ARE fit, rather than not fit. As they're probably the 3 best grounds in the division.

Yes I did mean that. Sorry.