It would be better, from our perspective, if we didn't get to the final, if Toronto are at home. The prospect of two or three trips there in five weeks or so, is absurd.

I think finishing 6th may be a wise option. Runs for cover.

Yep. Who actually cares about this years playoffs opposed to the M8s concept?

Derek, doesn’t it matter because of Central Funding money, or has that been scrapped this year?

There might be some financial reward for making the top 5, but I don't think it's anything like as stark as it was with the 8s format.

Suspect DB would happily trade a few league defeats in exchange for beating Widnes in the cup.

May not have thought this through correctly, but we could possibly have

Toronto last game of season
Tolouse away 2/3 playoffs win
Toronto away lose
Tolouse away win (this may be home but not sure)
Toronto away final

Think that’s how it could pan out if tolouse come 2nd, us 3rd

Crazy schedule for any part time team if true

We've got some incredibly committed fans, but I reckon that schedule would be beyond all of them!

Any fans going through Canadian Border Security for third time in a month will probably find themselves in a serious discussion....

.... and the players no doubt! I see Fev are 'resting' a few of last week's victorious quad for their visit to Toronto this weekend.

Now the RFL have confirmed the championship final will be held at the highest placed team, this contradicts the original details that were on their website. This indicated that the winner of the match in the 2nd week between the top club and the winner of 2nd v 3rd would go straight to the final with home advantage. So Toronto not only get the first week off, but can also lose the second match, then win the 3rd week match and still have home advantage in the final. How many advantages is that?! Whereas in super league at least the final is at a nuetral ground. Meanwhile there appears no advantage in finishing in finishing 2nd. If the final places are 1st Toronto, 2nd Leigh and 3rd Fev/ Toulouse and the play offs are initially won by the home teams, Leigh’s schedule will be:-
Sep 7 Toronto away (league)
Sep 14 Fev/Toulouse home (play off)
Sep 21Toronto away (play off)
Sep 28 Free if win at Toronto or home to 3rd / 4th team if not)
Oct 5 Almost certainly Toronto away (again)
As can be seen, the only way to alleviate this schedule is to send out a scratch team in the 2nd week of the playoffs at Toronto if we do finish 2nd. But do we have enough spare players?