Even the new expanded WCC does reward coming top of the league. GF finalists can come from anywhere. Only 3rd place is guaranteed a place or has there be some kind of annoucement from the RFL that 3rd place means the highest league ranked losing semi-finalist from the play-offs. I suppose that would fit in with finish top and dont make the GF you still get to go.

What are you saying? Firstly, NOBODY, except arguably the long-suffering Mrs. Aardvark, who is unlikely to view it as a prize, has "won" me.

Secondly, is referring to me as "sweet" the equivalent of Hardaker's homophobic kiss-blowing?

I shall write to the RFL immediately.

I define 'decent' sides as 'of an acceptable standard but nowhere near great or class'. There hasn't been any great or class sides during the SL era, just a handful of decent sides... Bradford & Saints circa 2000-2003, Leeds circa 2004-2005, Saints 2006... nothing decent since then... playing standards downhill ever since and particularly so since the franchised 14 team, top 8 play-off SL structure was introduced.

Sadly, I agree with you Re: effects of salary cap. We are stuck with mediocrity and lack of class teams and genuine world class stars for the foreseeable future due to financial issues. Short of an influx of sugar daddies willing to spend big, this is what we are stuck with.

You are not FA and you are definitely not sweet in my book.

You'll always be AA!

Spot on.

Can't argue with any of that analysis.

The only reason I referred to Cas is they are one of your Whipping Boy Rabble gang

.

Have they really improved that much over the last twelve months or has the Big Four sunk to their level, probably a bit of both TBH.

I am with William - it could be argued that Leeds have won the GF 5 times in a time when the team has been in decline. Leeds reached a peak just before the infamous Hokey Cokey in Peripignan in 2005!! The team has never been the same again and the standard of play has fallen too. The falling standards and the winning of the GF can only point to one thing - the general falling of standards across the board.

Firstly I take issue with that no Saints fans found it funny. I found it funny.

Secondly saying it makes us look like WWE. Oh please if only we could get the crowds they get paying the money they pay for the pre-scripted dross they serve up for the peanuts they pay to the performers. It's a wonder of modern day pantomine. On a more serious note it's what the punters want. Interactive TV.

As for no incentive to finish top. Saints had the first real insentive in years to finish top. They would be the first team in the UK certain to play in next years WCC. That's money, exposure, all the things players say they want more of from RL. If Saints finish second, they will need to make the GF. Which I think we can all agree is close to zero chance. Or hope Cas make the GF.

Warrington outplayed us. But it was not the lack of halves that did us last night. We did not even get the chance to play one out rugby.

I don't even know why anyone would be surprised that most teams don't give a shiit about finishing top, the game including the clubs bought in to the "One Big Prize" namely the GF from the outset, indeed for a while there wasn't even a hubcap, so at least they were being honest then, in that finishing regular season top was nothing. It was deliberately nothing, as nothing was to detract from Sky's supreme prize. Even the Challenge Cup was sacrificed on that altar.

The thing that has developed is teams have gradually twigged that peaking to finish top and gain some perceived advantage in the playoffs is considerably outweighed by NOT peaking in the regular season but being properly ready for the knock-out stages.

You reap what you sow. The whole regular league is, competitive teams now realise, a long pre-season.

So cruel and yet still quite funny.

Sky get a fair amount of justifiable stick for some of the stuff they have done with out game, but that will be replayed for years.

I can't believe some people still haven't got over the fact that the champions come from a play-off situation.

Firstly It happens in about 90% of sports nowadays apart from European football.

And secondly it's hardly a new thing in English RL in fact over 2/3rds of our history the champions of England has been decided over a play-off history.

The Old Trafford show piece has been invaluable in the preservation of our great sport. And long may it continue.

It'd be great if it comes down to Cas vying for the League Leaders in the south of France live on Sky. I like how finishing top secures a place in the World Club Series too. If that's expanded into a 2 or 3 week tournament (unlikely at this stage, I know) as opposed to just a series of fixtures it would give some real importance to that top spot.