Quote: Paul Thexton "
It doesn't alter the fact I find it difficult to justify the playoff system to people who are not already RL die hards. I've already had two conversations this morning where people have expressed to me what a joke it is that a team that finishes top of the pile now have to win a sudden death knock-out tournament to be deemed champions.
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Since the play-off system was introduced in professional RU (admittedly not a very long time ago), Wasps have been crowned "champions" on four occasions, despite not having finished top in any of those years. Gloucester have finished top three times, yet have never been "champions"- though they did win the play-offs in 02, when it was deemed that the team finishing top were the champions
If the RL play-offs are a joke, then so too are the RU ones.