Week 1

1 v 8
2 v 7
3v 6
4 v 5

The two highest placed winners go to week 3, the two lowest placed losers are out.

Week 2

The remaining highest placed winner of week 1 (often no 3) plays the remaining lowest placed loser of week 1. The remaining two teams play each other with home advantage going to the winner of week 1.

In week 3 the highest placed winner in week 1 will play the lowest placed winner of week 2. The other winner of week 1 will play at home to the other winner of week 2. Winners go to the Grand Final.

rlBut if thats to confusing, heres Wikipedia.rl

I was thinking of that haha would get rid of the motivational push the oppostion would get from the coach saying they think we are the easy team.

Insulting to Wigan eh...........i choose that i love to insult Wigan

I'd pick Wigan.

im confused...so if we and wigan win we both go thru to the semi`s.that i understand...but can wigan still pick us in the semi`s..iif so its the most stupidist thing going.cos we finish 3rd and end up being away twice

i'd pick wigan.

look at the facts.

We beat Wigan twice this year. (solo's try counted in my fairytale world) Beating them once emphatically.
We ARE scared of Saints. Well not exactly but i always feel uneasy when it is us vs them. I think the team feels the same. Hopefully we will start winning soon so it doesn't scare the new signings too much. Us fans realize it has been a long time in the cold.
I always think Saints play a sexier ru gby that is harder to beat IMO.

Wigan it is and i think they would really fear us the week before the Grand Final.

No they couldn't. If we beat Saints we're at home in Week 3 AND if Leeds beat Wigan, Wire get ClubCall, to choose anyone except Leeds. If Wigan beat Leeds, they get ClubCall, to choose anyone except the winners of Saints Warrington.

I think the system may need re-working, given that so many RL followers can't get their heads round it.

It really aint that hard!!!

Although the fact that we could end up with a reply of week 1 in week 3 does sound a bit of a bore. It is always going to be the most likely outcome. The top 4 are are going to end up in week 3 unless beaten by a one of brilliant peformance from a 5-8 placed team in week 2.

Although they do say to be true champions you have to beat the best. So if we do end up Playing Saints twice and then Wigan or Leeds in the Final. What a good 3 games that will be!!!!

right i get it now..cheers mate

The semis last year were between the sides who finished 1st and 8th, and 2nd and 6th.

I was convinced that Saints finishing 2nd get home draws all the way regardless of losing on Friday.
Then this post made me think, so I called my mate who has watched the Wire for nearly 40 years and lives and breaths Rugby League and he like me is insistent that 1st and 2nd get home draws all the way to the Final regardless of whether they win this weekend or not.

He is wrong, as are you.

Think about it, why would that make any sense, this is a know knockout competition so congratulations you lost but hey you still get the home draw. the most logical thing would be that the winner goes straight through to week 3 and will play at home.

The first and second are guaranteed home ties in the first round only. After that it is down to who wins the first round,

In the semi, the highest placed can choose their opponents out of the two coming up from the other rounds. Could be Leeds, Wigan, Hull FC, HUll KR, Crusaders or Hudds.

If we get beat on Friday we are guaranteed a home tie against one of the 5th to 8th finishers.

So whatever happens, we have one more home game

We're a long, long way from being given this decision, but if we were I think we should pick the team we consider to be the best.

After all, we have to beat the top sides to win the trophy, and in the semi-final we would have home advantage so why not give yourself the best chance of knocking out the best side when you're at home.

So pick Saints.