Quote: morrisseyisawire "I don't know where people get the idea that the play offs are the culmination of the league season to decide the champions.'"
Because the winners are given the SL Trophy and called the Champions. Hope that helps.
Quote: morrisseyisawire "when aussies come over here thay come to play in CC finals because there is no other comp like it.'"
And because when they were growing up, the only big english RL game they watched on telly was the CC Final, because the SL Grand Final only started 15 years ago (and when RL last used playoffs and final to decide the champions - i.e. most of the sports history - these games were not televised)
Quote: morrisseyisawire "I'm not against the concept of a grand final but until the format means it's the incumbent champions (team that finishes top) versus the best of the rest in a one-off event, instead of the product of 3-4 weeks of mosyly pointless games for the benefit of SKY, it will always feel a bit jaded unless you're a neutral.'"
I agree the format needs looking at. In principle I like it because it gives most of the teams in the league a chance to qualify for most of the season and progressively rewards final league position with benefits in the playoffs. But in practice, the fans don't turnout, too many teams underperform and there doesn't seem to be enough reward for finishing top.
Quote: morrisseyisawire "And yes, if we'd won I'd have been estatic but more ecstatic than the Huddersfield CC win that confirmed our re-emergence ..... probably not.'"
But that's probably because that was our first major trophy for 35 years. Had we won the Grand Final as our first major for so long, I'm quite sure would have been just as ecstatic.