top 5 playoff.. simple as that

week 1;
A - 2nd v 3rd
B - 4th v 5th (loser out)

week 2;
C - 1st v winner A (Winner to Grand Final)
D - Loser A v Winner B (Loser Out)

Week 3;
Loser C v Winner D (Winner to Grand Final)

Each position is better than the next..

The fact is this year saints could finish 12 points behind wigan in 4th, win at wigan, and they take all their advantage, as we did last year with 2nd/3rd.

Thats the problem, as clubs are playing 27 games and 8 months of slog to basically get home advantage in a game, to play for home advantage in a semi final!!!

Agreed, for me the likelihood of repeat fixtures it IMO the main reason why the first 2 rounds of the P/O are so poorly attended. If we went to a top 5/7 straight knockout series with top spot getting week one off, the playoffs would only take 3 weeks rather than 4 and would therefore free up another weekend throughout the season. If they really want to look at making the Exiles a 3 game series or even a extended WCC then doing this would surely favour one of those.

For me there are 2 major changes that need making to the English RL calendar ASAP; the format of of the playoffs and the ridiculous scheduling of the Challenge Cup.

IN the first few years of the playoffs I don't think they were as poorly attended. The first few time we played Saints in the playoffs we got 18,000 - 22,000 crowds on. Now we struggle to get 12,000.

That's because the format is pants (well, probably more the economic climate which I also blame the RFL for)

Playoff attendances against Saints at Robin Park:

2000: 19,200(top 5)
2001: 19,300(top 5)
2003: 21,900(top 6)
2004: 20,100(top 6)

then suddenly
2011: 12,900(top 8 )

I agree the format is pants.