Speaking to Fax fans last week before and after the game and to a man they were unanimous that despite the fact theyd lost every game up to then ( and expected to lose to us ) theyd enjoyed the structure

Just perusing t'other forum and spotted a good point, had we had 1 up 1 down then quite possibly Wakey could have imploded weeks ago, yes they still might drop out of SL but have been at least been able to fight to the end

As for top 8/4 the system doesn't need to chance - clubs approach to it does

Leeds seem always to know just how to maximise efficiency in the table, being well placed in previous years to the playoffs and now this year knowing top spot had most benefit, only slightly dented by winning the CC but still able to claim top

This season was always a case of finish high as possible after 23 rounds, some clubs deciding being in the top 8 was ok, and are adrift now

Cas and Wire weren't up to top 4 this season, I'm sure next will be different

Super structure

Next years gonna be even better

That is a point I had thought about before. Like last year, Hull have had nothing to play for at the back end of the season (we missed out on the top

. However, it didn't seem as bad this year as we had at least achieved something by being in the right side of the split. Last year just felt like a disappointment all round.

If we continue in mid table, then it will become a drag, but we know now what we need to do to get it the top four and that's play better all year, not just hope it comes together at the end of the season. Teams will learn and evolve as the structure ages.

The top 8's have seen 230,888 fans at 24 games averaging 9,620 a game, 8% down on those home clubs average and 9% down on comparable fixtures earlier in the season. 3rd games don't seem to be as attractive as Blake Solly thought!

The Middle 8's have seen 100,254 fans attend 24 games averaging 4,386 a game which is 5% UP against the seasons averages. Where there was a comparable fixture there is a 3% drop in attendances. Where a SL side has visited a Champ side the attendances have been 26% UP on seasons averages and the drop is 10% when a Champ side visits a SL one.

The Bottom 8 has seen 23,230 fans attend 28 matches at 830 a game, which is a disappointing 30% down on the seasons averages and 15% down on the corresponding fixtures

Overall crowds are down against both seasons averages and comparable fixtures where available by 11% which is disappointing given that these games are now pre-paid in many cases.

The "new" fixtures in the middle 8 are the saving grace of this system, where fans have shown that they will turn out to see unique fixtures rather than a third meeting between teams, but something needs to be done to get the SL and lower Championship clubs fans more engaged.

Those are the figures to work with so far. It's hard to say that it's because of them being third fixtures though. Are fans not used to the new system yet? Is marketing poor? Has having more games on TV not helped?

The uniqueness element is a good point and why I would like to see us work towards a new competition to move on to (a step up in the World Series) but that won't happen.

The worry for me is the apathy at the bottom! The fans of these 8 clubs had 3 or 4 more chances to see their teams play RL before the Winter break, but they chose not to attend. These bottom 8 will get less funding again next year and there's a fair chance that the surviving 6 and the 2 new teams may well make up the bottom 8 again. Same for SL. The top 8 could well be very similar (as it has been for 4 seasons now), meaning the only real excitement is the middle 8's.....and if Bradford get hammered by Wakefield in a couple of weeks, then the concept is off to a pretty bad start.

Recycling the same fans is what the RFL are up to here and that's not a long term strategy that will deliver.

Ahhh their is someone with single season figures, what a surprise.

Answer honestly, do you think the RFL introducing a new system is going to magically get the crowds up or are fans going to have to see it in action first?

They drove them away, you don't get them back with a click of the fingers and a tag line......it takes time (especially when most doubted this system post kick off). If in 3 years time the crowds are dropping and dropping then fair enough.

Also as I always say take each club individually. Warrington for example, were their crowds up in 2011 because of the structure or because they were playing great rugby? Similarly have they dropped because of the structure or because of their poor on field play?

If they were playing the way they did in 2011 then I'd hazard a guess that their crowds would be up on what they've been this year.

What figures would you use?
How about the number of sold out SL games this year?
The Bottom 8 are an afterthought, the top 8 are the same as they have been for the last 4 or so years and the scramble in the middle is hardly gripping the nation.....after the RFL gave this the "big i am" at the seasons KO they have gone pretty quiet on the PR front of late.
I'd suspect that they've not had the response they expected from fans and as I say, all they've done is milk the same supporters.

So you'd rather we kept the previous system and see Wakefield and Salford get hammered for another 7 weeks? Also Leigh and Bradford stroll along for another 7 weeks......all for nothing?

You are too whingey and obsessed with the sound bites that the RFL put out....us grown ups take them at face value and realise they are just sound bites.

1. Yes...licencing would have worked if managed properly
2. I care little for soundbites......but you seem happy to be fleeced for more cash which the rfl will claim as progress whilst not adding one new fan......the game will not progress under this system

Licensing didnt work. Clubs still went bust, English talent hasn't grown in numbers, the comp wasn't more even, the games wealth dint grow to support a grown in clubs at top level.

Who knows if this system will be better?