Why is first past the post any more valid at deciding champions than a playoff system?

Theoretically a team could lose against all their main rivals, but never slip up against mediocre teams and win the title.

Why is that any more valid than a playoff system where a team can slip up against mediocre teams, but beat their rivals when it matters most?

What if we had Warrington unbeaten in all games up to the Grand Final and Leeds losing 10 games up to the Grand Final.
Leeds win the final and are Champions.........................how would you truly value it.

The best team I've seen in this era without question. You don't win 5 out of 6 titles and fluke it. I hold my hands up and thought that last season was their last hurrah, but they just know how to win when it matters.

Argue about the play-offs all you want, everyone knows the rules, everyone knows the system. If you can't work out how to peak at the right time, tough. I love the play-offs, though 8 is too many, I love the Grand Final. Without them, there'd be no live match on 5Live once a season meaning they have to get rid of their chronic footy phone-in.

Well done Leeds.

Leeds would be worthy champions as they have won the final. Struggle to understand what people don't grasp.

New England Patriots went unbeaten for the entire season the other year only to lose in the Super Bowl to NY Giants and see their rivals be crowned Champions.

No complaints from them, that's how the competition is structured. Same here. If you have the team to win it from 5th then you deserve to be champions.

In my opinion, its a joke that Wigan can finish top of the league, win a play off game and still not make the final.

Yes. They have proven it time and time again when it comes to the important part of the season.

No.

That should only happen if the aim is mediocrity.

No individual or team can peak all season or all year round, neither mentally nor physically. Chase that dream and you pretty soon become flat and fail when it comes to the crunch.

The champion side or individual is the one that does enough to be able to compete for the final prize and be in the best shape to be successful when they're there. That means sacrifices in terms of performance at other times of the year and accepting limited chances of wining the lesser prizes, in RL terms Challenge Cup and league leaders shield.

In recent years the ones that have proven able to do that are Leeds. No other team seems to have the structure in place to achieve that goal.

Best team and consistent team is league shield winners.Leeds won playoffs and just knock out cup rugby to be honest.In my opinion Wigan should be Champions and Warrington last year.I can not stand Warrington but they are the most consistent throughout the year.Not taking anything away from Leeds but you only won 60% of games compared to over 80% Wigan and Warrington.Just my opinion.

Your numbers are meaningless - and as soon as you include playoffs, cup games etc those numbers close up. Leeds have a 69% win ration in all games this season which is very impressive. Oh and an 89.5% record in knockout games over the last two years...

You're a complete idiot and your ''opinion'' is wrong. Wigan shouldn't be champions because finishing top wasn't the parameter for being called champions at the start of the season, ditto warrington last year. How hard is that for you to comprehend? league position is rendered invalid in determining champions because everyone knew at the start of the season you didn't win the title by finishing top. The games are not equal as some teams play each other 3 times.

[i''Leeds won playoffs and just knock out cup rugby to be honest.''[/i Ok, well that's all anyone has done since 98. Where have you and your ''opinions'' been the last 15 years?

You know what's f*cking mental? from 98 to 2004 top 2 win the grand final without fail, and people moan that the playoffs are pointless because no one outside the top 2 ever wins.

Then bradford win from 3rd in 2005 after breaking the salary cap with top spot st helens being struck down by injuries to key players just a week before the playoffs and people talk about what an achievment from the bulls. (who had 2 homes to get there and 1 away games unlike leeds).

Leeds win it from 5th and all hell breaks loose, suddenly it's all wrong because the most consistent teams aren't winning the title.

Whatever system, whatever outcome, whatever scenario people on here will b*tch and moan.

In conclusion your ''opinion'' is stupid.

Not nonsense you bellend.Man City won the Premier League winning most points in a season.In my eyes the playoff system is a joke and the attendances showed in the early rounds where boring.If you think just over mid table is Champions you are bonkers.Yes i know the system but i am saying it should be top of the table.

I am saying top of the table should be Champions you idiot.