I've never seen as much intensity in RL as I have when it was a top 5 play off and none of those games involved the wire.

We all want to see top class rugby and when you think of those epic encounters between wigan, saints, leeds and Bradford it's a no brainer. Top 8 equals mediocrity and a dilution of the weekly league rounds.

Agreed but, the NRL does have a couple of extra teams so, you still have to finish in the top half of the table to qualify.
If we add Fev and Fax to SL, problem solved

I would like to try a top 7 as its not going to cause much upheaval.

Week 1
League leaders get a week off
2 plays 7
3 plays 6
4 plays 5

Week 3
League Leaders Clubcall
Next highest ranked team at home v other team left

Week 3 Final

Knocks a week off the season, rewards a higher finish, gets rid of the dead rubbers and no-ones under done.

Only one place less than now.

Also Id consider replicating this system in the NL with the top 5 NL and two bottom placed SL teams seeded 5 and 6 in their draw.

I've suggested this system in the past also and really think it would work. Ideally I think a top 5 with a similar format "rewards mediocrity" much less, with the highest placed loser from week 1 playing top who have had a week off. But I don't think Sky would go for such a large drop in playoff fixtures (from 9 currently to 6 with a top 7 or 5 with a top 5).

The playoffs should be about the best teams from the league season in big high intensity showdowns and the current playoffs don't provide that, well at least not until the semi finals anyway.

Going back to the top 5 will mean that teams can't be assured of a playoff place before the season is halfway through or have a slump like Huddersfield last year or Saints this year and still not be in any danger of missing the playoffs. When we had the top 5 system before we had some great and intense encounters and would do so again.

Personally I liked the top 6. Finish top 2 and you are either 1 game from GF or you have to lose 2 games in a row to be out (the main benefit to this change from what I see).

Other "contenders" still in with a shout if they can put it together. Would also be happy to consider top 5 if top 2 losers gets 5. The problem with this is you might get the situation where LeagueLeaders lose first play off game, win a hard second and lose the third. Top 6 at least means a top 2 side has to "crack" for 2 games in a row to fail.