Nobody even has a clue what the capacity is, (estimates seem to range from 4k to 8k) so good luck with anything more detailed!

Who knows, but it's another reason why they should probably look at a neutral venue for future years. This match should be drawing 10k plus with the amount at stake for both sides.

So what would be the benefit of finishing fourth? Would they get the coin toss?

Exactly, Wakefield have EARNED the right of home advantage by being more consistent in the middle 8's.

Ground capacity expected to be around just under 8k according to SKY. I'd expect there to be a few disappointed fans then

Why should there be any great benefit for finishing 4th?

Have they? Have I been sat in the sun too long and missed a round?!?

If every team had the opportunity to have the same spend on players then perhaps it's a fairer system but at the moment it's just seem like another large obstacle. If Wakey secure 4th spot, they'll have done it by beating 4 Championship sides on a £1M cap. If we beat Fax then we'll have equal points but by beating the 3 other Championship sides and a SL side spending significantly more than we can. Tell me why they're the better performing side in the 8's?

It's not fair. No-one ever said it was fair, the whole promotion system isn't fair, life's not fair when it comes down to it but it's the situation we find ourselves in, so we just have to knuckle down and make the best of it.

If I'm honest, I've complained long and hard, and many times, about the RFL continually changing horses in mid-stream, so I'd be a bit of a hypocrite to say they should change anything now.

Those are the rules for this year and we absolutely have to get on with it and as you say 'knuckle down'. But there is a consultation with clubs to be had after this 1st year and I think some adjustments should be made so why not discuss them here?

No significant adjustments will be made if they would worsen the odds of SL clubs. Turkeys are not known for voting for Christmas. The SL clubs only agreed to this because it seemed like in reality there was no actual chance of actual relegation, unless you were really shi[size=5=#FFFFFF.[/sizet.

No I can't see any significant changes happening either, although Dopey Derek does seem to be trying to pressurise a relaxation of the Championship cap. I think there are small alterations that could be made to improve the concept but if it's only SL clubs voting they'll probably be canned. As we found out last year, they'll very much vote for what is best for their club rather than the game as a whole.

Pretty much agree with the idea that the SL won't want to rock too many boats, though you have to wonder just what benefits to the league are brought in by the permanent bottom dwellers, particularly in the eyes of the other, more progressive, clubs.

Possibly the odd club might feel safer, as their life in the top section is made slightly more secure with the shoulders of the smallest club to stand on, just keeping their own feet dry, so to speak. It is also possible though, that the majority might actually be happy enough to have the odd ripple, y'know, just big enough to swamp the smaller, more delicate, craft ...

Home advantage. And £20,000 from SKY!

You are joking, aren't you? By finishing 4th, you are basically bottom of your own pile, and so - alone amongst the SL clubs - you are condemned to have to play a sudden death playoff game against a cok-a-hoop Championship side, which if you lose will see you booted out of SL. Whereas 1,2 and 3 are safe. So there is no benefit whatsoever in finishing 4th unless you count the saving grace that at least you get to fight for your life at home.

I'd say home advantage is quite a big bonus for any side in that position. I just think the concept is already weighted heavily in favour of SL clubs. The system seems flawed to me if we beat all our Championship rivals and a SL side and still finish below a SL side who has gained points from beating the Championship clubs only.

Obviously we have to play with the cards we're dealt this year and who knows the £1M might even be at Odsal, but IMO the £1M game should be a neutral venue. It would probably add a bit more of a GF atmosphere for the clubs involved too to be honest.

A neutral ground is also going to bring in more neutral fans I'd reckon.

You could just as easily sat you weren't good enough to beat the lowest placed championship side so why do you deserve an advantage.
Everyone knew the rules from the start. No good moaning now.

This ^^

If the game was played at say Headingley. I'd be making one in. Not bothered about going to Belle Vue though.

We haven't lost to a Championship side yet?

If you'd bothered to read all the thread you'd realise I am talking about how the concept can be tweaked when the clubs have a consultation after this first year. I was referring to the results this time around because it highlights another albeit smaller obstacle that is put in front of aspiring Championship clubs. If Bradford do get promoted they'll have done remarkably well to achieve it IMO.

My mistake..... Lowest side I was referring was of course Wakefield.

They could play 4 v 5 as a neutral venue but then the last games don't matter as 4 and 5 th are effectively the same.
There was every possibility of two Super League teams being 4 and 5 so it's not a penalty specifically against the Championship sides.

Personally I like the format. The only thing I'd change is an earlier transfer deadline window but only by a few weeks.

There was always a possibility but I think under the current rules it would take a large dose of luck for that to happen.

There are already dead rubber matches this weekend anyway. I think a neutral venue would be fairer to the Championship side (who are always going to struggle to get above the SL clubs) and also a chance to turn the game into a proper event that RL fans in general might attend.

Wakefield are probably the only SL club who aren't spending close to the full cap so they're perhaps a realistic target for the Championship clubs limited to £1M spend. But imagine this system if Leigh or Bradford go up and build a squad using the full cap and perhaps throw in a marquee player. I don't realistically see any Championship side getting into 1-3 under those circumstances.

Good that your getting into habit of referring to yourselves as a championship side ready for next year

The game is between Wakey and the Bulls, why should we have to travel when by finishing 4th if we do, then we gain home advantage so you want have to bother coming to our magnificent stadium will you

Bazz he doesn't go to any Cas matches away from home, so it's very unlikely he'd go to Headingley to watch two teams he has not got the slightest interest in other than trying to causing mischief to us at every opportunity.

I've no problem with fourth being at home, it could have been an occasion where the two teams were separated by more points so home advantage could be just reward for a deciding play-off.