League Leader's Shield should definitely hold more of a reward as it is a great achievement and shows that team have been the best team over the season. However we all know how SL and especially the playoff format works nowadays and unless that team goes on to win the GF, no one remembers them.

Seems as well this has only came out since Warrington have won the LLS. Warrington will be back stronger than ever next season and that little taste of success will make them hungrier to go on to bigger and better things.

Interesting you mention Smith as a few of his opinions have changed since at a top club with plenty of cash. But he'll stay away from this issue (rightly) as he benefited a fair bit at Leeds with the playoffs.

The guy talking isn't connected with Warrington Wolves but that is clearly where his bias is coming from. I think as mentioned make these points at the start ofva season not at the end once becomes apparent it has disadvantaged 'your team'.

On Woods reply, can't stand the man but considering the initial letter from someone you'd view as intellectual and trying to make his point as a 'rugby league fan' the reply was given in the same vein as the letter which clearly tried to state Wire as 'SL Champions' over a decade after the play offs - champions was introduced.

Of course we knew the rules. Not questioning the rules. Just the value of the league leaders shield and what it should mean.
I certainly didn't know the players didn't get a medal to recognise their achievement - and let me tell you something else - the players I spoke to didn't even know they wouldn't get a medal!
The reason Mr Daniels has come out with the story now is that he actually got his hands on the shield at a local event and thought it was a very poor trophy for such a big achievement.
No sour grapes - whoever wins next season should get a decent trophy and the players should get the medal they deserve - be it Warrington, Wigan, St Helens, Leeds or even Widnes!

it is a sharticle

It is still embarrassing.

Journalist asks player - "Did you know you weren't going to get medal for finishing top of the league?"

Players replies - "No, I didn't"

This is then used to support an argument.

The league is decided by who wins the Grand Final. Why should they get a medal?

Interesting point, who decides how much value it holds? Surely that is down to the individual? And I bet Warrington fans will put more importance on it then Leeds right now and that will differ between teams in the past. At the end of the day you can only have ONE CHAMPION so how much importance can you put on another side. Recognition is important of course.



Tough one, have none played at teams where they haven't before? Not sure if 'not knowing' is anyone elses fault really. I for one have never seen players presented with medals for this. Also if you give them individual medals for this what then motivates for the playoff's as would seem a sign that the season is over which in RL is NOT the case.



Maybe so but it's not 'the worse' trophy by any means and from pictures clearly stands out on it's presentation and would do so in a trophy room also. As stated in the reply you can't really have it being 'more spectacular' than the SL trophy. Yes it's not great but in comparison to other sports in similar situations, is it really that bad? I couldn't even tell you what the Rugby Union looked like for example and seem's less 'importance' is put on there 'league leaders' and there playoff's is only 2 games long, including the final!



In theory I agree it need's to be recognised more... but how?
Do you get a trophy? Yes.
Written in history books? Yes.
Advantage in playoff's? Home ties, less games and 'club call'. - Yes.
Financial gain? Yes and said that has been increased which I guess is the only way you can tbh.

I appreciate the points made by Gary, but the timing still stinks.

No one cares about the LLS in rugby league anymore. If Warrington fans did, they won't know they've won it and seen how little recognition and appreciation it gets.

Compare that to winning in front of 70,000 at Old Trafford, being on the front AND back of the national papers in the North West and shown on the national news. The Grand Final is here to stay as it's an enormous profile boost for the sport.

Recognising the LLS in any way more than we do now would only detract from that showpiece event.

Gary, the point has to be, would this article have come out if we had won the grand final at Old Trafford ?

I'd have put money on it that it wouldn't have, i understand his points but their were far better ways to go about making his feelings felt rather than a public outburst that just comes across as sour grapes.

Alternatively if Warrington hadn't won the league the article would not have been written because he wouldn't have known how shoddy the trophy was - until you actually handle it close up you don't realise just how poor it is.
A lot of older fans have thought for a long time that the league title has been undervalued.
As one of our readers has pointed out on our own forum - it is all about SKY TV and making money now - not recognising the best team over a whole season.
SKY TV don't make a big song and dance about the Challenge Cup because they don't have the TV rights - yet to a lot of supporters going to Wembley and winning the Challenge Cup is right up there for being a great occasion, a top trophy and a big money spinner for clubs.
Just imagine if the club which had finished 8th and lost nearly half of their games in a full season had gone on to win the Grand Final - suddenly a mediocre team that just has the rub of the green or hits form at the right time is crowned Champions.
It is difficult for any team these days to win back to back trophies - look at Warrington and Wigan after their recent Wembley triumphs - wheels come off and play off campaign de-railed.
The only true way of deciding the true champions is based on league results over a full season - so that should be the biggest reward.

Warrington won the league title weeks ago - one could consider that the article is based on trying to get the Rugby League to give more clout to the competition in time for next season.
If the noises are not made now nothing will change.
I know for a fact that the Rugby League and its member clubs are looking at the situation and considering options - so now is bang on the right time to make noises.

Your living 15 years a go mate! And no chance whatsoever Grand Final will be scrapped... These are the same teams that voted for an 8 team playoffs too remember!

Yes, let's try and imagine the 8th placed team winning, as that's all it would be, imagination. This year is only the second time the first placed team in the league hasn't made the final - it's just our tough poop that it was us for once.
The back to back trophies thing I now firmly believe to be a red herring - Leeds were unfortunate not to win at Wembley, and it would be difficult to argue that they somehow had an easier game in the final than Wigan. If Leeds had won the CC, would they have suddenly become incapable of winning the GF...?