Would a top 7 work?

wk1
game 1. 2nd v 3rd
game 2. 4th v 5th
game 3. 6th v 7th

wk2 semi final
winner game 1 v winner game 2
1st v winner game 3

wk3 final
semi final winners

It gives top spot a week off in the first round and also the easier semi final. I can't remember or work out how a top 5 would work.

Didn't mind either the top 5 or 6 system as it was weighted heavily to first and second. The top eight system is symptomatic of the leadership of the RFL and the rewarding of mediocrity or poor quality. It's obvious from the musings of people like McManus that there is a mood amongst some clubs for radical change on a host of issues including the play-offs.

Exactly.

"Negative thread?". You are damm right it is. It's deeply worrying if, given the fact pointed out above, a coach would value finishing top of the table after the regular rounds above actually winning the competition he entered on day 1. Worrying and disappointing.

Irrespective of what you consider to be the greater achievement, the rules of the competition ensure that finishing top of the league is a clear second best to winning the GF.

I am shocked that anyone in an official capacity with Wigan RL thinks otherwise.

Yep.

Me thinks theres a bit of wilful misreading of the quote here.
What Wane ACTUALLY said was

"If I was lucky to win three trophies, this one would have meant everything," he said.

ie not that if he had to pick one, this the LLS was it, but that if we won ALL 3, this one would be the nicest.

talk about not reading the quote and making a mountain out of a mole hill