Blow out score last night with home team only a slight chance of making it to top 4 before kick off.

Tonight if StH & Wigan win,the top 4 is almost decided.

They need have a rethink how to improve this S8's comp,yet there always has to be some advantage for ending top 4 after 23 rounds

No threat of relegation of course is the big positive.

Lol- betts claiming teams should all start on 0 points. Well that where his team would still be!
They had a great start to the season and blew it. Tough.

Don't agree everyone should start on zero points but sommert needs to be done to improve the interest in the comp. Maybe 8th starts on zero 7th on 2 and so forth up 1st on 14. Thoughts?

Bottom of super league relegated
Top of championship promoted.
2-8 play each other for top 4. Semi n final.

Might give 8th team more of a shot at top 4.
Rewards team like Leigh a direct chance of Super league.

It would of been tough cookies for us. Deserved relegation for small recruitment and a small squad and playing bad for most of the season.

Middle 8's.

3 super league teams and 3 championship teams. Direct promotion - relegation no million pound game.

The process would soon sort out the stable clubs with strength in depth to the clubs who don't.

See the logic for a closer playoffs but it would be unfair on the consistency of say Hull FC who could be caught up easier by least consistent Widnes.
The way it is isn't too bad. Dead rubbers but that's because currently our league isn't strong enough.
Widnes seem to be building as a club. In a few years they may compete at the top. That should be good enough for them this season.

Promotion and relegation was a disastrous experiment that went on too long for RL

The best RL has had was in the licencing period - squads improved, facilities improved, community work improved and youth development improved

As soon as p&r was brought back in its lead to clubs over spending, youth development curtailed and a rise in foreign imports who aren't that good

Licencing gave a certain route into the top flight and development time once in

P&r bankrupts clubs

yep wakey and widnes nothing to play for now but surely their objectives for the season were to just get in the top 8 anyway so its job done for those clubs.

starting everyone one on zero points would be rewarding failure and devaluing the normal sl rounds even further

It might have been the best period that SUPER LEAGUE had (although that is debatable).

It certainly wasn't the best for Rugby League. The game outside SL was withering away at a frightening rate under licensing with teams feeling cut off and isolated with no true pathway for progression.

It may have suited those clubs on the right side of the drawbridge when it was pulled up but it was disastrous for everybody else.

This doesn't help though- 8th are still too far behind 4th to catch up! Also you could be third after the normal rounds only two points behind top- but then lose points to those above you and be 4 points behind- so you've lost what you've worked for- could affect the regular rounds if teams will lose points they win.
attendences would likely go down for first section until the split as it would be worthless.

OK, you mention about losing points. Leigh walked the championship but end up on zero alongside fev and batley....fair?
Hand out the hubcap after 23 rounds and class the playoffs as a different comp? Just like last season the middle 8's is the one with more interest. Wakey and widnes have switched off as they have nothing to play.
I've been a rugby fan all my life but am getting a very disillusioned with the comp and all the switches. I know it sounds a bit contradictory, wanting more change but I remember, the Yorkshire/Lancashire cups floodlit trophy John player, challenge cup and the premiership. I aren't for one minute suggesting going back to those days but at least it gave your team an opportunity of silverware.

Championship shield is even worse. Ourselves and fax missed out on the middle 8's and were then as good as guaranteed a place in the semi final. Meaning the following 7 weeks were complete dead rubbers.

Chuck the league winners the hubcap after 23 rounds and start em all off on zero points.Top four get 3 points for a win and next four get 2 points for a win plus a 1 point bonus for scoring over 50.Wouldn't change outcomes but would get rid of deadrubbers.

Reset the points after every round. It's the only way to get rid of meaningless games.

Perhaps a better question is why, if Rugby League is the "Greatest Game", everone involved is so hellbent on changing it all the time.

They have 23 games in regular season .If they can't do it there,then every game has been meaningless..

Thankfully this borefest is over and we are down to the semi finals.

Wire vs StH
Wigan vs FC

Notice TS had a dig at FC and all their overseas players.

Goons vs Dire GF is my call.