Quote: BrisbaneRhino "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.