Lots of interesting comments so appologies if I repeat any. I think we have learned several thing tonight.

1. Regular Rounds of Super League have become devalued and the format needs changing asap
2. We dont have the strength and depth people think we have. Its easy for players to look good when playing alongside quality players (Briers, Hodgson, Westwood etc) but the strength and depth look weak when playing without them. Would a weakend wigan/leeds/saints side have lost by 40 + points?? No way!
3. I dont think we're nowhere near the level of performance that we were at last year. They're seemed to be an air of arrogance(in a good way) and confidence at the club last year. We dominated teams, looked solid and scored tries for fun.
4. But......we're still in the CC Final and finished second in the league. Would we have taken that at the start of the year? Maybe. I honestly thought we would win the league again but that just shows how far we have come in the last 5 years.

SDB

I understand your points but have a slightly different view
1. We seem to change the format too regularly - the only thing I would do is make it a top 6 not top 8. Regardless of that it wouldn't have affected last night because we're 2nd regardless.
2. Agree to a point - but the key thing is we rely on Briers, Hodgson and Westwood. If they are in the side then I'm confident of a result. So - for example - Blyth replacing Briers is not a problem for me. It's not critical
3. We've not got last seasons fluency but that is fundamentally down to TS and his rotation policy. IF we win the GF then all will be forgiven. Last season we just seemed to run out of steam. I don't see that happening this time.
4. Agreed

Agree with you there. I'd just like to see the winners of Super League going straight to the grand final.....as they deserve to be there having been the best team throughout the course of the season. 2nd vs 5th, 3rd vs 4th with winners progressing.

Yeah - I can see where you're coming from.
THe move to 8 for me promoted mediocraty which devalues the comp.

Deffo Deffo Deffo Plus One

But that leaves the league leaders potentially 22 days without a game

As I've suggested before
Winners automatically go to GF.
2 plays 3, the week after.
Winner of that plays LLS winners in the GF.
No mediocrity.
Less games for players to get injured in, for the internationals at the end of the season.
Easy, innit?

Week 1
PO1 2nd v 3rd
PO2 4th v 5th

Week 2
PO3 1st v Winner of PO1 - Winner to Final
PO4 Loser of PO1 v Winner of PO2

Week 3
PO5 Loser of PO3 vs Winner of PO4 - Winner to Final

Simples.

IF we are to have a play off system then the top 5 was the way. It rewarded the top team in that they only had to win one game to get to the final, and the teams below had to beat everyone above them to win it.

The team going into the GF wouldn't have a game for three weeks though.

Week 1: Round 27 (final game)
Week 2: 2v5, 3v4 (week off)
Week 3: 2v3 (week off)
Week 4: GF (three weeks without playing, that's possibly too long and could be a negative!)

Sorted...............

Yes, I remember now. It was only a few years ago, isn't it funny what you remember and forget?

That has to be the best format surely?!

TBF though you could be the guy in support from the initial break and then draw the fullback and put another support player under the posts. Basic RL that a 5 year old could do and yet you'll get the try assist instead of the poor guy who made the line splitting pass.

I still like the top 6 format of the championship.
Week 1 ---- 3 v 6
4 v 5
week 2 --- 1v2 ---- winner to GF, loser to week 3winner
---- winner 3v6 V winner 4v5
week 3 loser of 1v2 V winner of the3-6pool
week 4 GF

Main benefit of coming first or second = only one more win to GF. Secondary benefit = you have to lose two play-off games in a row to be out. Top team gets a week off between rounds to "recover".

Like I say it works in the championship BUT I did read somewhere that the RFL were thinking of introducing the superleague format to the championship. BIG mistake

I find it almost unbelievable how devalued wining the league is !
Something needs sorting ! Imo if you win the league u are champions as u have been the most consistent team over the whole season not a 3 or 4 game sudden death play off !

If there is to be an expanded World Club Championship (as noises coming from down-under suggest will be the case) base the entires on Grand Final winners plus league placings will see teams striving to finish as high as possible.