When the bottom four teams enter the Challenge Cup, what will the Top 8 do as I presume the last 16 match will be before the split. i.e. cant fit Last 16, QF and SF all between split and the final???? (Unless the plan is to play Last 16, QF and SF in a three week block in late July/ early Aug?)

That would be mad, as get knocked out in Last 16 and rest for two weeks

So Hull might have a chance of coming top for once in the Qualifiers next season?

To answer my own point. Play the R5 game after Easter programme (maybe even allow a Top 8 clash to be moved to that weekend if clubs agree). Play one game a week, means 1 extra week to the season? Start last week in Jan/ first week in Feb and run through to 2 week in Oct

If the SL were to finish today, then:

Widnes in 8th trail Cas in 4th by 8 points. Then then play each team above them once, and, since their existing points transfer over to the "new" 8 team table, they'd have to overall this 8 points deficit (and in reality exceed it considerably) to have any chance of finishing in the top 4 and qualifying for the SL play off semi finals.

Which means, to me, they are actually worse off than under the current PO system, and are playing 7 more meaningless games.

NB - Widnes are just being used to illustate my point (based on the current table) and its no way a personal slight on that club.

Except when the bottom team/s realise they can no longer make the top eight so rest all their players in preparation to give their all in ensuring they have every opportunity of retaining their SL place. Equally, should a championship team be far enough in front of fifth position they will also rest their key players.

Effectively Trinity might as well rest their players all season and come out firing in the last seven games.

It's basically just a league structure with the top 4 competing for a right to go to the grand final.

So yes, they'd be cosmetically worse off (as come one, they wont have a chance this year either) but there would be more emphasis on doing better in the regular season. Isn't that what people wanted?

Oh, and the non-fed allowance, is there going to be parity between the divisions?

I particularly like the fact that the two teams who finish ninth & tenth in S.L after the regular rounds are rewarded with four home ties in the Super 8s.

Ha ha, rewarded for finishing ninth or tenth.

They have finished ahead of 11th and 12th placed teams so why not?

They can still be relegated unlike 8 and higher so not that great.

Because the top four teams from the Championship should get the extra home game, as a reward for finishing in the top four.

This is where i think the system will fall down.