i agree i think the problem in some regards is that in some comps people nothing wrong in a team say qualifying for the latter rounds whilst qualifying as best runner up but somehow the 'look' of it is ok because the teams are coming from seperate groups i.e. the union hieneken cup. its a contradiction to my mind but we would be a in better position if we had conferences of some sort. The message that the league campaign is a qualifying competition like many others doesnt seem to get through.

This is because many people in RL are, quite deliberately, luddite in their ways. And bafflingly ignorant too - see the cries of "no other sport has playoffs!", which wilfully ignores almost every international competition and the traditions of the game of RL itself.

They seem to think whining and moaning about [ieverything[/i makes them some sort of admirable, gruff, northern, straight talking, stout yeoman of the field and salt-of-the-earth type.

Guys - it doesn't. It makes you a crushing bore.

Nothing's perfect. There's always room for improvement, but you need to be willing to try new things, and stick with them. This is where RU absolutely destroys us.

if the games are so predictable in the play offs then they must be predictable in the league so why do you watch such a predictable sport, as opposed to watching manu/chelsea win the premiership every season?

Where rugby union moves ahead of other sports is it shameless 'borrowing' of ideas.
Video ref, playoffs, sin bin....

Noone is saying we any of those things.

What people are saying is that 8 teams from 14 is too many, that the system is unfair, that there is no real advantage for finishing top, that it reduces the league season to a pre-season tournament, that the games are predictable and dull, and that the fans are obviously not interested.

leicester tigers are currently 3 in the premiership,and yet they have not scored a try this season.perhaps they need to pinch a few more ideas off us.

It's not just him though is it ? He may not be making his point very well but the facts are that 27% fewer (or >11,000 people) watched the 4 games than watched the corresponding league fixtures. That has to be a worry.

yes you brave little soldier you. fighting against the mighty rfl. well done. people disagreeing are just that people disagreeing.

what people are criticising is the usual hysteria

the new play offs has a certain logic behind it. i suspect a 16 team comp is one. im not sold on it yet but i have this bizaare idea of waiting longer then a couple of games to judge the bloody thing.

I have definately seen the opinion I noted with regards to the playoffs voiced on this very website.



I'm inclined to agree, but if you already know the results of the initial stages, what's the problem? How, therefore, can it be that ...



when everyone knows the rules in advance, and those teams finishing, say, 6th and down have no chance?



As our Welsh friend has noted, why would you watch the regular season matches then?

That's a big statement.
People didn't go to the playoff games last weekend because they don't like them.
Three in our household didn't go because they didn't have the money.
The idea for us is that we'll save and put the money towards a grand final or maybe even semi ticket.
I don't imagine we're alone.

In some ays that supports what he's saying, though - that there are too many playoff games this year.