Quote: Scouse Pie2 "Me too. After being a touch skeptical at first over the 2x12 3x8 system, I've really started to warm to it. If we implement the playoff system that Grimmy suggests, I can see a lot of teams placing more emphasis on the start of the season allowing for a good build up towards the split and then the playoffs. Teams will be reluctant to have a bad start to the season and risk being out of the playoffs. Or worse, being in SL1B/2A (or whatever catchy name the RFL/Sky will undoubtably come up with). For the stronger teams like ourselves, Wire, Hudds, Leeds and Sts it will be a battle to finish in a high a position as possible and not play catch up to the others. I hadn't considered 1v2 and 3v4, but it does seem very logical as it allows Sky to have an extra week of playoff rugby that they wouldn't have under a straight 1v4 and 2v3 system. Plus, it would be mighty unfair to finish top, have a bad day at the office in week 1 and suddenly find yourself out of the title race.
Also, it would be interesting if they had the last round before the leagues split as the Magic weekend rather than have it as a seemingly arbitrary round mid season (granted the May bank holiday has been good timing weather-wise the past 2 years and I'm aware City's PL considerations would have to be taken into account too). Suddenly Bradford v Castleford actually has something riding on it, rather than the inevitable snoozefest it would otherwise have become.'"
Funnily enough just independently came up with the same idea as grimmys in the other thread re play off series and for me that is the best format by far! I hope we go with this.
Leagues of 8 is also growing on me tbh but id like to see some way of still rewarding those in the division with something for the first 20 odd rounds. For me Id go with a simple handicapping system - 1st after the league split start with 8 points, 2nd - 7, down to 8th with 1. That means 8th would have to win 4 more games than 1st after the split to go above them- so while still a chance, it means it would be difficult and keeps a focus on the whole season.
I can't understand how the magic weekend is going to work though in the leagues of 8 thing tho as it makes the bulk of the season uneven. For me, it makes far more sense to have the magic weekend AFTER the split, to make it a fair split of 3 home and away games plus magic after the split, than some having 4 and some having 3.
I'd go 22 games (play each other twice) SPLIT Magic weekend to open split - 3 home / 3 away vs teams in your 8 THEN top 4 play off for champions! Makes far more sense!
