Quote Wellsy13="Wellsy13":SHOOT: I understand that, but I thought the league leaders were in because they were the highest placed team in the league, and that the highest placed team outside of the Grand Finalists got a place?
If Saints had lost their first two play off games, would that mean they wouldn't have made it (as they would have effectively finished 5th)?'"
If I remember correctly the qualifiers were going to be:-
LLS winners
and the two grand finalists.
If one of the GF teams had already won the LLS then a place would be allocated to the "third placed" team, which many took to mean third in the league table.
There was a little confusion as if Warrington had beaten Wigan in the Semi-Final it would have been Warrington, Saints and...huddersfield.
It was clarified that 3rd RANKED meant the best of the losing semi-finalists, although at the time how this was decided was unclear. I have seen one version which said its Warrington because they lost the semi-final by the fewest points, there is another which says its Warrington because they completed the table part of the season in a higher position than Catalan
All seems a bit "contrived" but I can understand it from the POV that as far as SL standings is concerned, league table is irrelevant as to who is champion after 27 weeks, so I suppose for consistency it has to go off play-off placings (again, league table is irrelevant).
I can also understand the logic of CC winners not being involved as this is a SuperLeague competition.
For my own two-pennies-worth I would have it GF winner and CC winner, LLS winner (adds a little extra to each of those comps BUT just how much extra depends on who successful this becomes). If a team does the league/cup double then the losing finalist from GF, CC in that order takes the place...... Still a place left ? Go off league table position.
Of course this whole arguement may be academic in the future if this format doesnt work, either with the fans or with the NRL teams (lets face it......its a final and two friendlies put together to try and make a showcase on the back of the teams splitting the cost of the travel !)