I think this highlights how stupid this playoff format is, say we go to knowsley road and stuff them, but then have to play them again later in the playoffs and lose by one point, where is the sanity in that, teams should not meet each other more than once in the playoffs it doesn't make any sense.

Thats how i understood it! So does that mean that if we beat saints in the first playoff game and they win in round two, we would play them again at KR. Or as replied earlier would we play at home because we beat them in round one(Help!!!)

N.B sorry if this has been discussed elsewhere

Makes me yearn for the stark simplicity (or relatively) of the top 6 system.

yep top 6 way better more understandable and we don't get team finishing in the bottom half of the league with a chance to win the whole thing

I think it works as follows

If we finish 3rd but beat saints at KR and (say) Wigan beat Leeds, then both us and Wigan go through and get the home tie in the semi's.
If Saints and Leeds then win their next round games then Wigan get the choice of who they play. Theoretically you could end up with the same fixtures in the semi as in the first round. I THINK ?

Yes you can. Basically if you are top 4 and win in round one you get home advantage in round 3. Top 4 losers in round one get home advantage in round two.