So its an injustice when Saints didn't win in 2005 (?) but correct when Warrington / Wigan don't in 2011.
Are you saying it was wrong when Saints won the League Title but not the G/F. But right when Warrington won the League Title but not the G/F.

You have just contradicted yourself.

Why do we have to justify it to football fans? How many sports worldwide actually have first past the post these days?

Of the biggest sports in the world, only football has it. Rugby league, union, basketball, baseball, American Football etc all have playoffs. You don't see people asking that question about the Superbowl do you? Or the NBA finals series?

It is what it is and all the teams knew about it through the season. It is noticable that the two sides in the final are probably the two that have fielded the most players this season. Both Wigan and Warrington declined the opportunity to rest players at key stages of the season and it cost them when it mattered. Wigan in particular hardly ever rested anyone, I'll bet they've fielded very few academy players this season.

It was an injustice because Saints lost a lot of key players for the play offs through injury. Like if Warrington had lost Hodgson, Briers, Morley and Monaghan before the playoffs.

I am not a football fan and don't watch it, but given its success both financially and in terms of attendances I guess they have got things right.

The system isn't right. Its all about money, viewing figures and about SKY

Although as a Saints fan I'm delighted to be at Old Trafford the team that finished top should always be the Champions.

As I have always been an advocate of having the World Club Challenge played at the end of the season and not at the start
it would be possible to have an expanded World Club Challenge if the team that finished top of SL were crowned as Champions and less matches were played.

It would make every round of SL much more important and at the end of the season we could have top four from SL playing the top four in the NRL in a pure knockout sudden death system following drawing teams out of the hat. The tournament could alternate each year from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere.
The NRL would have to change thier play off system as well to accomodate it though and that wouldn't be easy.

If this system was in operation we would have Wigan as Challenge Cup winners, Warrington as SL Champions.

Wouldn't it be great for Warrington, Wigan, St Helens and Huddersfield to be going head to head with Melbourne, Manly, Brisbane and Wests Tigers in a knock out competition.

So you are saying the injustice is the reason why they didn't win and not the system in place.
In which case your loss in 2005 (?) was just a case of hard cheese, I am talking about a system which allows a mediocre team to finish 8th but still be called Champions, would that be for the good of our game?

I agree with Saddo on this one. I like playoffs in sport, NFL, NRL, Super League. I'd be disappointed if it went back to just the league.

I'm still pleased that we won the league though, that's an achievement for me and I'm always going to have happy memories of 2011. But no complaints from me about 1st and 2nd not being in the Grand Final - us and the pies have played 5 playoffs between us and had 2 wins and 3 losses. Saints and Leeds played 5 playoffs between them and had 5 wins and 0 losses.

Now your talking, that really would be for the good of the game.

I must admit I think 8th is too far. There isn't the quality in the league to go past 6th. I've put my theory about the ideal series on here recently, but I do agree with the playoffs as a concept. Imagine the NRL without the Grand Final? Imagine the NFL without the Superbowl?

Your tedness know's no bounds, does it

The 3 point game has to have it, as their games occur whilst Internationals are being played at the same time as their club games, so hardly fair to the clubs that have 5 or so players involved in internationals, is it.

And as for the other sports you've mentioned...well, they're all American (and as boring as @@@@, too) DO WE HAVE TO COPY EVERYTHING THEY DO???????????????

Let's face it, this seasons play-offs are 'tainted'
Poor interest, spectator wise
Two teams that finished a long way behind the leaders, will be contesting the final, to be called 'champions'...but fair play to them, they've done a job when they've had to. BUT, at the end of the day, they've turned a competition for a LEAGUE, into that of a CUP............poor.

THE LEAGUE IS THE LEAGUE....END OF

And between Wigan and us we have had 42 wins this season whilst Leeds and Saints have had 32 wins, which is the greater achievement and should be reconised as such?

And between Wiagn and us we have had 42 wins this season whilst Leeds and Saints have had 32 wins, which is the greater achievement and should be reconised as such?

Sorry double post