Certainly nobody is suggesting that Saints are deliberately starting their season badly, but it's been suggested by plenty recently that a team need not lament too much over early form or losses in the league as "the competition only starts in September" (or words to that effect). I just think that's a rather harmful and pessimistic way to portray our sport.

Saints' start has been similar to Leeds' last year so I wouldn't panic just yet if I was a Saints fan. However I've been very disapointed with Perry and the rest of the pack for that matter. Hohaia is a jack of all trades type player, I really don't know why Saints signed him.

I'd agree with you if we still had the likes of Graham, Long or Cunningham. But this side isn't in a false position really. Perhaps one or two positions south of where we should be, but there isn't the quality in the side to 'do a Leeds'. With Leeds, you still had the class of McGuire, Sinfield, Burrow, Buderus and the pacey young players.

I disagree. Leeds had a number of issues at the start of last season.

Not just a new coach, but a completly new coaching team as well as injuries to key players. Despie this, they still showed signs of quality in certain games and performances, just they were inconsistent and were televised getting thrashed by some of the other big teams but probably made the casual viewer on here thnk they were worse than they actually were.

Saints have their own issues, and i wouldn't write them off.

I just don't think they bear comparison to leeds last season.

The situation with the regular season fixtures isn't good and needs to be changed urgently.

I'm rapidly losing interest in the Super League competition. Wigan will be in the 8, no question about that. Very difficult to muster enthusiasm for the regular season knowing that - its like 27 glorified friendlies.

Either reduce the number of teams to 5/6 or change the structure so there is a real, significant reward for finishing in the top positions.

only one thing will solve this.....Champions = League winners.......end of.

If Saints don t start to win a few they will have every opportunity to prove Eddie and Stevos hypothisis. Also I would think avoiding going to Perpignan in the playoffs would be a strong motivator to all clubs to make sure they win a maximum amount of regular season games.

It has to be an odd number. Without that the bottom of the play off positions turns into straight quarter finals, which might as well be a lottery. What you want it to be is a "here's what you could have won" moment for both teams with a very outside chance of it turning into something special for a team that's outstanding when the chips are down.

1 bye
A: 2 v 3
B: 4 v 5

C: 1 v A-Winner
D: A-Loser v B-W

E: C-L v D-W

It's the only system that ever made sense.

Wouldn't you have 2 v 5, 3 v 4 so that the higher the league position the better the advantage?

For mine I'd like to see a complete change. How about:

League Leaders v Challenge Cup Winners = Champions

Ok, I don't know what happens when League Leaders and Challenge Cup Winners are one and the same, but...

I've been banging on about this since I joined this flippin forum.
Sky is taking us down a path we shouldn't go.
Comments Eddie made yesterday shows his lack of appreciation for the fans who turn up week after week. To us it does matter who wins the weekly games and who wins the league.
Just stick to telling us who scores the tries Eddie & Stevo, it's our game, not Sky's.

totally agree , plus there needs to be more recognition for finishing top of the league

spot on , finish in the bottom half of the league and get awarded a play off spot , just isnt right is it

It matters to us, yes, but last year's GF devalued last year's weekly rounds, and we're now seeing the effect of this with both fans and pundits alike treating the rounds more like glorified friendlies where only pride is at stake. My nightmare scenario is a team "winning" from 8th, yet the Sky commentary team seem to think this would be a good thing. I think if they had their way the season would just be one long, convoluted knock out comp packed with gimmicks.

league leaders champions , then just bring the top 8 premiership play offs back in its original format 1 v 8 , 2 v 7 etc