Quote: XBrettKennyX "But that's just it. It doesn't matter IF it conveys no advantage in the playoffs. In itself it is a pointless "trophy".
Personally I would like to see more advantage given to the leaders after the regular rounds and it be made progressively hard for teams that finished below them to win the GF. However, we have to play the cards we are dealt.'"
12 of the 15 finals have featured the team that finished top of the league. 8 of the 15 have been won by the team that finished top. No team that has finished lower than 2nd has ever beaten the team that finished 1st in a Grand Final. No team has won their first Superleague title from any position other than 1st. The last 7 Grand Finals have been won by either the team that finished 1st or Leeds.
Even under the top 8 you are still more likely to win from 1st than any other position.
Finishing 1st does convey an advantage in the play offs, quite clearly. Please do not mistake the fact that Leeds have won the last 2 finals from 4th and 5th convey the idea that it doesn't matter where you finish. It doesn't matter where you finish if you've won 5 of the last 7 Grand Finals. It matters hugely if you haven't.