Does 8th position really warrant a playoff spot anyway?

In my opinion it makes a potential mockery of the term 'champions' in some style

Halifax once won it from 11th.

To take your argument a stage further it makes a mockery of the competition when a team which is only good enough to finish second wins the `championship`, so why not the full 14 in the play-offs? It`s a money making finish to the season let`s get everyone involved. The champion team should be the one which gets most points over the season.

I dont necessarily believe 2nd warrants such credit. However if we are to have a playoff system,a place in it should only be awarded to teams finishing in the top half in the very least, in my opinion. The fact is, Bradford, by their standards, have had a very poor season overall, but still could have ended up champions- particularly on the basis of recent performances- this i feel is bullsh*t

So Leeds are now the champs? Anything that happens from now on is irrelevant? Have a look at Brian McClennan's comments on winning the hubcap. Pleased? Yes. Champions? Not at all.

Leeds have ended up winning the 'league' this year but had Sts beaten us and just one other result go their way they'd have been top. Add in the dumb extra fixture, the impact on Leeds of the WCC and on Sts of the CC run, and I fail to see how winning the league means that much - especially when (Wilkin apart) I suspect not a single player would trade coming top of the league with winning the GF.

I do agree with not letting too many sides into the play-offs, but thems the rules - in the NRL the 8th placed side is also in with a shout of winning the competition, and whilst some might grumble with letting so many sides be involved, everyone knows the way the thing works, and nobody doubts that the winner of the GF is the champion team for that year. If the 8th placed team manages to win it then you'll have a few rent-a-quotes saying its wrong, but the records will show they were the champs.

In fact had a few results gone differently, we'd currently be looking at KR as top of the league at the end of the season. Are they the 'best' side in SL? I suspect not, but if they win the GF I'll happily acknowledge them as the best.

And of course, any team in eighth that has lost more games than it has won will have reversed that by the time they lft the pot at Old Trafford.

In Aus, there is a great deal of excitement about Parra's charge. I guess if that was here we'd have aa load of grumbling that Hayne and Hindmarsh should already be on their holidays.

Why is the NRL getting a mention?

Its an incredible competition filled with talented players, a heap of depth and great teams.


SL has been a two horse race for years, and even those two teams are rubbish.