Wigan have never failed to get to a Grand Final in the 3 occasions we have entered the playoffs with more than one chance. (i.e. not sudden death all the way)

The only difference between finishing 1st and 4th is 1st get home advantage.

Both can potentially get to old trafford with 2 wins, it's just 4th have to win the 1st game away from home, 1st place get's home advantage.

Outside the top 4, you need to win 3 games to get there, as opposed to the 2 games needed by the top 4.

The new system is really alot more open and pretty untested. Last seasons playoffs went fairly straight forward with1st and 2nd competing in the grand final but this seasons the top cluster of teams are so evenly matched it's alot more open.

and i've gotta say, I really don't envy who get's the club call this season because there won't be an easy choice.

Agree with the OP. Wigan are definatley leading contenders.

Wigan
Wire
Saints
Leeds
Hudds

- for me. I won't be writing Leeds off.

More than one chance = anywhere in the top 4!!

This is why I say wigan look certs to make the grand final.

Then you'd be very wise.

Do you know how club call and home advantage is determined for the final eliminators? Is it the league placings of the four teams that make it or is it simply the winners of the first week that get home advantage?

It seems to me that if the fourth placed team were to beat the first placed team in week one, any potential advantage you get for finishing first is wiped out.

It's the highest placed winner when the top 4 playoff.

so the games will be

1st v 4th
2nd v 3rd

if 1st and 2nd both lost their games 3rd, the highest placed winner would get club call and they and 4th spot would be one home game away from the grand final.

It's pretty open to be honest. I think we'll see alot more from outside the top 2 make it over the next 5 years.

Yeah that's pretty much it.

If that hgappened 4th place team would then get home advantage for the final eliminator.

If you take leeds, they only need to get into the top 4 to have a good chance of making the grand final.

that pretty much shows how ridiculous the top 8 system is. as a top 5 system there was a distinct advantage, you got a week off, if you won you go straight to the GF, if you lost you get a semi final at home, against a team who's played the previous 2 weeks.

as i've said a top 4 of say saints, leeds (or more likely huddersfield), wire and wigan there is no massive advantage to anyone.. if for argument's sake wigan finish top, then it's not beyond any of the others to beat wigan at home

I'm going to revel in today until Monday, but then it's another game. I'm keeping my feet firmly on the ground... Although I wasn't this afternoon.

I don't think it's ridiculous, it just puts a bit more pressure on the top 2 and gives 3rd and 4th a bigger shout.

Top still get's a week off - if they win the 1st game, they still get 2 bites at the cherry, they just have to win 2 games and if they lose their 1st game they forfeit home advantage for the eliminator if they get there.

I think after Leeds and Saints we now have to be considered contenders, and surely the team to catch.

Saying that, winning at Saints means nothing if we lose to Wakefield.

And why do they deserve that?

The top 5 was THE best play off system because each position higher up the league you finish the bigger the advantage. If you finished 4th you got home advantage over 5th but sudden death.
2nd V 3rd meant neither was out if they lost but 2nd got home advantage and so on. A very clever system that rewarded the teams for finishing higher up more so than any other system played so far.

The top 8 and club call nonsense has Nigel Wood written all over it and he is the single worst thing to happen to Rugby League in its entire history. He's a gimmick on legs and thinks everything about RL has to be a gimmick as well.

Dave

I know what your saying but in quite a few of our games this season we have only played well in patches, so i actually think theres more to come from Wigan yet

People have to realise that Wigan haven't been that far off in recent years. But thisb year with a new coach, improved fitness, application and discipline, they're the team to beat at the moment.