Aye, funny that! If either of them had said anything about the system in 2009 or 2010 I might have a modicum of sympathy. The fact that they didn't only makes it sound like a case of sour grapes. See you next week!

'au contraire' Damo

The Wigan fans want to make it harder for themselves by aspiring to be the most consistent top team over the season, they have seen how Warrington have done it this year and they want to aspire to that level. This is the kind of attitude that should be encouraged in RL, the top teams inspire the lesser ones. They aren't looking for the easy way out saying we will go for 6th and win it from the playoffs.

To win the league you need to have fitness, desire and be coached well so you have a top defensive structure and can score points at will - look at the league table, Warrington most points scored, fewest conceded, best attack, best defence. That's the level you have to be at. I know its an overused phrase but "thats why we're champions".

You don't understand the difference between a play off and a knock out competition. Knock out competitions are random by design and its why they never had the kudos of the league title decided on a home and away basis. Play off systems are supposed to be just that, competitions where teams play off against each other. As to the play-off format I was moaning about the top 8 format the day it was introduced because it is rubbish. I bet a fair few Leeds fans were as well.

Unless you are a bit dim you will know the top 5 system would make it far harder to get to the final from 5th than the current system. You would have to play off against allthe teams above you and so you should. Not be able miss a game against the team finishing second. Or in Saints case a game against the team finishing first.

The current format is a triumph of marketing over common sense and even the marketing failed given the crowds.

Since the playoffs were re-introduced in '98, only Bradford have managed to win it from outside a top 2 league finish. If there was no chance of the lower placed team winning, then their would be no point in the playoffs. Just because for one year in 14 the GF is being contested between 2 lower placed teams is no reason to throw all the toys out of the pram.

I [ido[/i think 8/14 teams is too many.

should be top 5 play off system
all credit to Leeds and Saints though

If Leeds win the GF and then were to take the WCC.... the best team in the world would only be the fifth best in the UK!!!! Try explaining that to the Aussies.

(Ok, I did say "IF"icon_wink.gif

Don't need to. NZ warriors finished 5th in their league so they could have done it as well.

Agreed 5 is more than enough. 8th place is in the bottom half of the league!

Also think it should revert to the top 3 getting a second chance if they lose at any stage in the play-offs, not just the first round. Even as a Leeds fan, it seems wrong that Wire should finish top, thrash (and nil) one team, then lose by only 2 points and be out of the play-offs.

How incredibly convenient!

Many of us have voiced these concerns before this playoff series and probably will contiune to do so. How a team can finishing top over 27 games can vitually lose a championship on one game is ridiculous imo.

Spot on mate, my exact opinion.

Well, one of my minor bugbears with the playoffs format is that, while Huddersfield and Wigan got 2nd chances after losing their first game, warrington only lost once and went out! That doesn't seem sensible.

Had the playoffs been amongst the top 5, we'd have had mostly quality games. Huddersfield have lost their way but the other teams have given some good hard displays.
8/14 teams not only rewards mediocrity, having over half the competetion qualifying, but it also exposes that our competetion has a big variety in quality down the league positions.
At the moment we can field 5, maybe 6 good teams.

Playoffs are a must for me, but I don't like the current format.

Good post and agree with all of that. Of all the systems we've used the top 6 is the one I've liked best.