I do actually think that the 2x12 3x8 format the RFL are proposing will provide "tasty games" near enough each week. Competitive teams should be playing against each other week in week out with genuine targets to aim for. As long as they have a top 4 or top 5 playoff system, it should reinvigorate the sport. If they kept top 8 though, we might as well pack up and go home...

Well why not go on the Leeds board then and tell them how wonderful they are and leave us to talk about Wigan

If Leeds are that good at knock out or play off rugby why can't they win the Challenge Cup? Lost the last six finals they've played in haven't they?
Won the last 6 GF's they've played in
Lost the last 6 C Cup Finals they've played in.
Why is that?

Believe it or not I didn't come on to show off about Leeds' success, but to try and dispel the myth that it doesn't matter where you finish in the ladder - and the best way I can see to do that is by pointing out that this 'easy route' business has only ever been 'exploited' by Leeds.

If you want to talk about success in the play offs from lower down the table then the only evidence you have that it can be done comes from Leeds. I'm sorry if the facts of the matter are problematic for you.

What makes you think that anything you've written is problematic for anyone?
My question was an easy one.
Why do Leeds win the GF's and lose their C Cup finals?
The reason Leeds got there via the "easy route" from fifth is because the past two seasons they finished fifth.

I am never one to jump to Leeds' defence, but saying it's easy from 5th is absolute nonsense as far as i'm concerned. in 2011 they played Hull (H), Huddersfield (A), Warrington (A) and St Helens at Old Trafford. 2012 they played Wakefield (H) then Catalans (A), Wigan (A) and then Warrington in the final.

Bare in mind they did not have a weeks rest throughout the whole 2012 season. That is certainly not an easy route in my opinion, bearing in mind in almost every playoff game they were all very close games

It's not easy to win the title from 5th but its easier in a top 8 format than it is in a top 5 or top 6 or even having to finish top of the league to win the title

After the last 7 matches in the 3x8 format the winner should go straight through to Old Trafford and second and third should play off to play the team that finished first then there would be no hanging about to finish fifth out of eight.

In order...
The fact that people don't seem to be able to comprehend the point I'm trying to make.
Leeds win their Grand Finals through a combination of excellent play, a better ability to handle the occasion than their opponents and the odd bit of luck and have lost their Challenge Cup Finals for exactly the opposite reasons - but hell, to get their three years on the bounce is still impressive.

Finally, and hitting on the point I keep trying to make that you are clearly refusing to acknowledge, there is no 'easy route' to the GF and only the freakish nature of this Leeds side makes it look like there is. I'd rather we finished top, it's the easiest route available.

Finishing top is the easiest route but under the current system finishing 4th is worse than finishing 5th. Catalans reward for finishing above Leeds last year was to get battered at DW and then have to back up, admittedly at home, to a Leeds side that had a nice, home warm up game against the team that finished 8th. That is the one major aspect of the playoff system that must be changed IMO.

Let's have a look at how last year would likely have gone under those scenarios:
Top 5
Week 1
Warrington v St Helens - This game did happen in week 1 anyway
Catalans v Leeds - This happened in week 2 anyway

Week 2
Wigan v St Helens - Alright we lost to them in the last round of that season but that was a dead rubber lost due to McIlorum getting himself sent off, pretty confident we would turn them over, we generally did that year
Warrington v Leeds - This happened in the final

Week 3
St Helens v Leeds - It's up for debate of course, but Leeds were in great form, and have always been able to beat Saints in the final

Week 4
Wigan v Leeds - This happened in the semis anyway

Top 6
Week 1
St Helens v Hull FC - Again just an opinion, think Hull would have had a good crack like
Catalans v Leeds - Happened in week 2 anyway

Week 2
Wigan v Warrington - Just my opinion of course, but they always seem to beat us
St Helens v Leeds

Week 3
Wigan v Leeds - Happened in week 3 anyway

Week 4
Warrington v Leeds - Happened in the final anyway

Top 8 Leeds had to beat Wakefield, Catalans, Wigan and Warrington
Top 6 would be Catalans, St Helens, Wigan and Warrington
Top 5 would be Catalans, Warrington, St Helens and Wigan

So yes it would be slightly harder, playing Saints rather than Wakey, but I'm still pretty confident they would have done it.