This is a terrible decision. Another case of Chairman who want to keep being big fish in a small pond doing what is best for their club, at the detriment of the whole game.

'We need 13 home games a year' is bonkers when there are not 13 sustainably run clubs to finance the game. This proposal does nothing to sort out the real problem (i.e. clubs such as Cas who are never, ever going to be sustainable as a top-level club in the fully professional era), introduces vastly more risk to sustainable clubs (what with the loss of any ability to make plans beyond one season, due to the potential falling off a cliff and loss of SKY money if relegated), and creates a joke competition for crap teams (the bottom of the table playoffs).

The RFL need to take a long, hard look at themselves. Teams in towns of 50,000 people are not going to work as businesses, and there needs to be an acceptance of that. Clubs that cannot work must be merged, or kicked out permanently. Only once we develop a strong core of competitve, well-run clubs can we think of having a league in which promotion and relegation become viable. At the moment, we're asking a handful of the best to subsidise the impossible dreams of a morass of near-enough village teams.

Madness

why would they be bothered about playing at leigh or featherstone? If anything it just gives them an easier time rather than playing clubs who are closer to their standard. For example in a traditional relegation method London would be more bothered about playing bradford for a relegation match than leigh or featherstone. another failed scenario a long with the "lower teams should win more games so more fans will show up".

I was really pleased when I heard that promotion / relegation was going to return, it gives fans of all clubs their chance to dream.

But if supporters of clubs from outside S.L think this gimmick is manna from heaven, think again.

It’s like the drawbridge has been lowered, only to be slaughtered at the gate.

Will the games really be that exciting. We still have the top 8 so which was the half the reason we had none games. My biggest worry is long term, finances and attendances.

That's the gist of it, but to be fair to those involved, they've said that the aim is to get clubs more money from the start

I've probably missed this and am being too lazy to read the entire thread, but have I understood this correctly...after the split to 8s you all start with zero points again? Hope not, that's ridiculous.

Not in the top 8,

Do we know if the playoff games are included in the season tickets? Instead of getting 27 games we will now only get 23 games. A lot of difference really for the average paying fan.

A Widnes season ticket cost me 167 pound this year. Lets say next year we avoid the drop and the price is the same, potentially we could be forking out 167 pound plus:

3/4 extra home games at 20 pound a go.

(Cannot type the pound sign, using a foreign keyboard)

Also, just to clarify, what is the point of the bottom league of 8? If you win you dont win the championship league but nothing has been mentioned on relegation.

Ah, OK, thanks. That makes a bit more sense at least.

we'll see

As I understand it there will be the 23 regular rounds (22 home & away games plus the magic weekend). Then it will split into the 8's.
Taking the top 8 - Each team would play the other 7 in the 8. After that the top 4 enter the playoff semis, the bottom 4 are out. 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd and then the Grand Final. Gives a total of 32 games if a team makes it to the Grand Final.

Currently there's 27 regular season games plus a max of 4 play off games, obviously giving 31 games.

You're right it will be difficult for some people to find the money for a potential of 9 paid for games. But then it's up to clubs to come up with ways of helping people. I'm sure there can be some scheme where you can at the end of the regular season buy a "mini" season ticket for the 7 games and then just pay for the 2 play off games. Or include it on your main season ticket at the start of the season at reduced rates.

I think South American football does ok with divided seasons?



That's weak and you know it is. That's absolutely no different to what we have now, except 27 games are "discarded" if you don't make the top 8. And was someone (you?) seriously asking why you should bother trying to make the 8 when you can just come 12th... I mean really? Maybe something to do with trying to make the 8 being a worthwhile aim even if you don't manage it? After all, why try to come 2nd in the PL when you can just come 5th? or 17th?

There are actually decent arguments to be made against this system (and indeed ones for - money and lazy fans aside the incentive structure is way better than most leagues), there's really no need to be silly with slippery-slopes or being purely over-dramatic. It's hardly the end of the world is it?