They're qualification for the playoffs. The higher you finish, the better chance you have.

I disagree, but they're the rules.

"BTW I am going tomorrow just because its a game of RL and Wigan are involved."

No other reasons needed, are you all listening?

Higher you finish the better the chance??? Leeds played Hull and Hudds, we played Saints and now have Catalans. Reckon it's the RL trying to manufacture so called big games rather than rewarding how you've played for a full season.

Forgive my intrusion on your board, but I said last year when Wigan finished top that they were the true champions, whatever happened in the play offs. Playing 27 matches and finishing top means that a team has been the best over the season. This Sky manufactured play off is knock out competition for goodness sake after all the hard work, elation and heartache of the regular season.
By all means have and end of season competition if we must, but let's not kid ourselves that it truly decides the league champions.

I agree it shouldn't do, but just like in 99% of sports, it does. Like it or not (and I don't) they're the rules.

Ok, ovavoo, you're MEANT to have more of a chance. Home ties, weeks off, second chances etc. You get what I meant.

The system is flawed.

Leeds potential route to old trafford:

hull (h) hudds (a) warrington/saints (a)

wigan potential route

saints (h) catalans (h) saints/warrington (a)

Which route would you rather have?

Leeds route is similiar if not easier on paper. This doesn't refelct the fact leeds finished 5th wigan 2nd.

Only difference is an extra home game and a 2nd bite at the cherry.

Just gotta play the vards you are dealt the best you can I guess.

It prob is more to do with the format - don't remember this much complaining when it was top 6. And i'm sure on average the attendances where better for it aswell. Didn't we once get 22,000 on against Saints for a week 1 playoff game?

Getting back to a top 6 would give more credibility to the playoffs.

Get rid of alltogether

Just checked previous playoff home games with Saints to compare attendances(to nearest 100):

2000 Week 2 -19,200

2001 Week 3- 19,300

2003 week 2 -21,800

2004 Week 1 - 20,100

2011 Week 1 - 12,900

Prior to last week, all 4 previous home games were either to go straight through to Old Trafford, or to avoid elimination. Last Sunday was neither. The format has to take some of the blame. Please RFL sort it out.

I think everyone can agree top 8 is too much.

who can we all contact to complain?????

Since the system is known before the start of the season, everyone knows that finishing first does not make you champions. You might want it to when you finish top, but there's very little difference at the end of the season between 1st and 2nd - you get a second chance in the play-offs and that's it. Some teams may decide they really want first place - others may decide that keeping key players fit for the playoffs matters more than 1st vs 2nd. If they scrap the playoffs, then and only then can the team that finishes top be champions - because that's how the rules are set out.

BTW, quite happy to see the number of teams in the playoffs reduced to 5 say - results this year suggest that there are only 4 teams so far in contention at all (although one of those - Leeds - have yet to play anybody decent).

As for quality of playoff games so far, there has only been one reasonable quality game - yourselves vs Sts. In the NRL there has only been one poor game (when Brisbane flogged NZ oddly enough).

Wise words Douggie but I doubt the RFL will listen.