I agree with you FA and did so last season that to get automatic promotion is an option that requires a Championship team to win 5 games. It doesnt matter what else happens, 10 points pretty much guarantees you a place. I do not agree with you that the RFL have tried to conceal this hidden route to promotion, as it clearly shows that a Championship team, having beaten two SL sides, deserves a go at more of them and validates the process, much more than the MPG.

What I and clearly other posters find difficult to understand about your position is that you seem to be saying that it is easier to gain promotion by beating two SL sides than by beating one in the MPG. Wakefield did not melt down in the MPG last season, they beat us. So why is it easier to get automatic promotion than it is to win the MPG?

Success next year should include:-

1. No WUP's or stories about people being paid late
2. All the squad makes some positive contribution, no one is brought in and doesn't see the light of day ever again
3. In the 4 and challenging for 2nd as a minimum (whether we can really challenge for no 1. depends who comes down, if its Hudds, & Davey continues to fund them, they should be the Leigh for 2017, Salford or HKR maybe different dependant on support from owners)
4. We are competitive in the middle 8's - games go into final quarter and we're still in with a chance
5. We show pride in defence every game
6. No repeats of debacles like Featherstone where it seemed like the players couldn't give a to55 (I don't want to believe that, but having witnessed it with my own eyes.....)
7. 2 of the juniors promoted into the squad for next year, nail down a first team place

From where we've been for the last 3-4 years, would be a step in the right direction, is it too much to ask.

I just assumed that it is easier to win 5/7 (71%) games over the course of 8 weeks - or 2/4 (50%) if you want to spin out the 4 SL clubs? Rather than having to win 1/1 (100%) from the mpg. The SL club will always the advantage in a winner takes all single game. It could be psychological, it could be game speed, it could be refs, intensity or all of the above. But in a 7 game mini league, those factors seem to be levelled out. I don't have any evidence based proof of any of this, it's just what it seemed to be whilst watching over the last year

Success for me next season is s top 4 finish. With a SL club probably coming down top 2 would be a triumph. Also 80 minute performances and maximum effort a must. Finally should we fail to make SL next year another success would be keeping the youngsters. Without those future stars/ a sugar daddy we could be stuck at this level for quite sometime or(hate to say this)sink lower/fail to exist

IIRC my calculation was centred on the C club being able to beat ONE SL club, of its 2 home fixtures against SL clubs. It assumed no C club was likely to win an away fixture against an SL club. And unlikely to win both its home fixtures against SL clubs. As such, it could get 8 points and could finish 3rd on points difference.

Leigh have exceeded all expectations (well, mine, anyway) in beating 2 SL sides, one away, and kudos to them for that.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37287051