These sides have been so close to each other in the SL all season, and have had a few close games between them, yet comes the play-offs the 1st and 2nd sides have absolutely destroyed 3rd and 4th.

What the hell went wrong?

It's now 'every minute matters' time of the season yet two of our so-called better teams have lied down and died.

Jeopardy......

I wouldn't accuse the 'big' teams of intentionally not performing each week, but I definitely think the current format means they can put in a half-hearted display most weeks scrape some wins, get in the top4 and then peak for the playoffs. Now we are at that stage they are turning it on and showing what they can do.

the new structure should make this less of an issue, as getting in to that top4 in theory should be a very tight battle and losing even just a couple of games could make a big difference.

Wigan this season?

They completely took the mickey in terms of rotation and came 2nd. This is whilst losing to Wakefield away, Bradford away, Widnes away and drawing with Hull KR away. A change in any of those results puts wigan top of the league! I think they will fancy their chances next season despite it being only top 4!

Not their problem, its up to the other clubs to punish them

Lovely word that.

Very popular on Sadler's forum.

Allegedly.

Of course. But other teams have got to prove they can and teach Wigan a lesson for taking it easy!

Because theres a difference between regular season games and playoff games. Real title contenders will always lift, and other teams that could match these teams in the regular season, can't match them when they are in playoff mode. This is why you'll often get teams that aren't [ireally[/i title contenders in good positions in the table.

Looking like a big win for Widnes as well

Yorkshire are yet to win a playoff game this year, can't complain with that.

castleford v huddersfield grand final then to make up for it

Some people have short memories. Wigan had a lot of medium term injuries and so bringing in the young lads and fringe players was the only option, the same goes for a number of other teams. If you want to see only the strongest teams we need a season with only one game each, and even that may be a bit long for some.
One of the issues of the first past the post system is that it becomes attritional with the richest/biggest/luckiest squads doing best. The system, as it stands, demands the use of the squad far more. Finishing first is not the major prize so criticising the resting of players is irrelevant, it is a bit like the gentlemen, of old, moaning that the players went out and practised.

Thank god that round 2 offered some competitive matches that actually provided excitement and might appeal to someone who isn't an RL fan..... what a joke round 1 was.