-this-

The topic is the reason why I never renewed my season ticket. Last year was the final straw, far too many games over at ht, poor quality RL, no atmosphere. Just got very bored.

Only Catalans away and grand final for me this season. Overall quality of SL is poor.

It seems a great shame that since the idea of finishing 5th was first discussed there is a great suspicion among rugby supporters that they are being short changed on the field on match days . I would hate to think that maybe supporters would start to drift away because of this suspicion, but i would be even more disgusted to find that our game had sacrificed its integrity on the altar of sky tv with the intention of delivering mediocrity to the spectators. Once spectators start to drift away the clubs will find it hard to get them back so clubs need to get their collective acts together. The weekly rounds need to be made more important, either by laying the law down to sky or by bringing back winning & losing pay which would make the games much more competitive.

1# I would reduce the number of teams in the league back to 12 maybe even 10 teams and revert back to top 4/5/6 for play offs.

I dont have an issue with the playoff system so much, but there are clearly not enough capable elite level players for SL to remain competitive with 14 teams.

As long as we win that "end of season cup comp" I couldn't care less how we do it.

I used to enjoy watching Warrington when we were useless because win, lose or (occassionally) draw, it didn't really matter. It was just a chance for a pint and a laugh on the day watching the match. Victories were enjoyable and defeats were easily shrugged off.

Now expectation has been markedly raised I'm so utterly desperate for that top prize that I can't relax and enjoy a thing because every little set back just makes it seem that little bit less likely that it's going to happen.

Frankly if we had beaten Leeds last October I'd be loving it now no matter what because I'd philosophically accept that we can't win 'em all. I only need one!

Thanks for wrecking my enjoyment of godawful rugby Tony Smith

And yet we were well beaten by last season's 14th club on Friday?

i don't think the format is to blame really... i remember in 03, 04, 05 (when the format was the essentially same) we were an average side stocked with journeymen who occasionally played out of their skins and pulled off a brilliant performance

when that happened there was no better feeling

and when it didn't happen we either got stuffed and all enjoyed shouting at the ref or ended up in a tight game that could have gone either way which of course was entertaining

and the atmospheres were generally better because we were all willing them on so much, whereas now they only really need willing on in the games against the other top teams (with the occasional exception eg widnes)

is it the case that in superleague in the middle is exciting but a team at the top is simply boring?

wigan speccies are famed for disappearing early

didn't bradford's crowds start dying after season on season of smashing everyone?

Exactly, and from an off the field point of view there was over 9,000 people in attendance at a decent standard ground, so that 14th club obviously have something to offer.

Reality is there will be flaws in any format, and moans amongst fans regardless. If you don't like watching Wire then don't. Personally I just about still like it, despite the stress I mentioned above!

I agree the atmosphere at Widnes on Friday was dreadful and very quiet even when we scored those two quick tries at the start of the second half.

There was loads of empty seats where I was in the East Stand too so it wasn't sold out at all despite the club stopping selling tickets there for some reason.

It just felt very flat and not at all the derby I was looking forward to. For atmosphere I think the away fans really do need to be in the West Stand next to that vocal block of Widnes fans in that corner of the North.

I'm against a cull per se as it serves no real purpose, Widnes were well worth their win and well backed. we might have been culled ouselves at one point in SL history?

However, I'm also in favour of a first past the post system to decide the Champions and a real reward for league postions, a genuine 'points make prizes' if you like, whether that's straight cash and or an expanded WCC place, our very own Champions League with another automatic place going to the Play Off winners.

All this talk of Minor Prem this and that is degrading, we are in fact the prophets of our own doom

That's where I was, near the bottle throwing idiot(s) and Kendal Wire's bedsheet (presume it's his?) It was no better in there for atmosphere TBH and as away fans we should have upped our game? You never know the players may have responded apart from polite clapping after the final whistle