Quite true. The 7th or 8th placed finishers would literally have no chance of winning it.

Well if you want to say that consider the 5th placed side who would have also been in the old top 5. They get a home game v 8th under the top eight compared to away at 4th under the top 5. Both sudden death but the top 8 gives them an advantage compared to the top 5.

They are also going to have an easier round 1 game than the top four opponent who they will face the week after will have done. It's nuts.

Whats quite amazing is that i have not spoken to anyone who agrees to this top 8 system, myself included.

But havent the NRL adopted "our" top 8 play off system and they seem to embrace it with the crowds increasing in size.

You honestly think the fans cause the changes? You have got to be joking. The RFL does not jump to the fans tune.

The reason for the chopping and changing is down to The Fat Controllers inability to leave things alone.

Who do you think dreamt up clubcall? The most pointless gimmick in the whole set up.

I'd also say the fans don't like the current playoff system simply because it's demonstrably cr @p and the majority seem to favour the top 5 so it's not criticism for the sake of it without suggesting a better alternative.

You don't think fan opinion has an effect on the decisions made about the sport?

I would prefer a top of 8 of straight knock out matches.

Hudds vs HKR
Wire v Catalans
Leeds v Hull
Wigan v Stains

Winners progress to the next round, with the highest placed team against the lowest league position available. In theory and going off league positions Hudds should beat HKR but if HKR win and Wire win then the next round match would be Wire v HKR.

Although still flawed, it is better than the current system IMO. Also with a top 5 currently most teams season would be over with by June. I am not a fan of the top 5 as I dont like it when teams get a weeks rest. IMO it is not always a benefit as it is around 50/50 whether they progress or not.

At club level, yes, but not at RFL level. I can't think of any major innovations that were fan-driven, and very few that fans are in favour of. From what I see, the only bodies with any effect on decision-making are SKY, the RFL themselves, and the club chairmen.

Not in determining such major changes to the play off formats no. Why, do you?

Are we going to get to pick which format for the league and/or play offs we will have in 2015? Where do I sign up to vote?

I believe fan opinion is one of the major reasons why the changes to the playoffs and/or league structure were set in motion. Obviously other factors are involved, but to deny that the opinion of the fans, and reception to certain ideas has no affect on future decisions is just silly. That's not to say that the RFL change everything on the whim of the fans, but, it is surely a contributing factor.

99.99% if RL fans did not want playoffs to be brought in at all in 1998 and the RFL didn't listen then.

With top 5 playoffs and relegation in a 12 team league, most clubs will have something to play for with at least a couple of games to go.

Of course you can win both, its the biggest myth in RL that you cant.

And we have a much better chance of the double than any of our rivals...

As far as I'm aware, fans were not consulted in either case - if they were I haven't seen any survey results quoted.

If you just mean fans' general dissatisfaction with the status quo, then yeah, in the sense that "something needs to be done", but as far as the actual (or proposed) changes go I've seen/heard few fans in favour. regarding the playoffs, most comments seem to favour a top 5 system; and this 12x2 > 8x3 idea is pretty much universally derided from what I've seen and heard, by fans and players alike.