The crowds in the regular season were up last time and so the RFL and SL are very lucky that most of the fans do not see the regular season as irrelevant as it really is.

The RFL have to be very careful not to undermine the league as a competition as it pays the bills for most clubs. The clubs have to be careful as well. If it became obvious they didn't give a toss fans [iwould[/i stop going.

I think one way that could help is if the next time whoever finish first also wins the GF a great deal is made of it rather than the perverse situation we have now where you get more browney points for being rubbish for half a season, finishing 5th and winning the GF. Finish top and winning the GF should be considered a higher achievement and be marketed as such.

As a regular fan, (maybe not to the glory hunters) in my opinion Wigan's last 3 seasons (1 Grand Final win, 1 Challenge cup win, league placings of 1,2,1) are preferable to Leeds' (2 Grand Final wins, 1 World club challenge, league placings of 4,5,5).

Certainly Wigan have lessons to learn, as have Leeds (1 Challenge cup win in over 30 years) and Wire (last champs in 1955).

I watched Mrs Browns Boys Saturday night & P1553d myself laughing!
I'd heard a few people at work say that it was very funny but got to be honest it was funnier than expected!
That Perry and Wello were F-ing Hilarious!

As a Leeds fan since the 80's we'll have to differ over this. I would much rather be the Champions twice and the World Club Champions once over being the Champions once, the Challenge Cup winners once and the league leaders once.

It's a shame we haven't won the Challenge Cup since 1999, but being crowned the SL Champions 6 times in 9 years helps to alleviate the disapointment! (We're not greedy. It wouldn't be fair if we won everything. )

I'd take Leeds' last three seasons over ours. WCC>League>CC>beaten finalists>Minor premiership

Oh stop spoiling the fun

If the same thing happens again this season with the likes of Leeds, or anyone else, being crowned unworthy Champions; I think your words will be even more relevant, and the damage to the game will be made even more apparent next year.

Because Widnes replaced Crusaders and because Saints were back in St Helens

At one time Leeds would have been 'just a good cup team' now they are trying to argue they are one of the greatest teams ever!
People pour scorn on Wigan 80s/90s dominance but Wigan had to finish top every single year producing every single week not finish 2nd, or even more hilariously 5th, win 2 or 3 hard games by a few points and be declared champions.
The Challenge Cup proved just could deliver in the one off big games and the league championship proved you could do it week in week out consistently for 9 months.

Now the playoffs make the Championship just Sky's version of the Challenge Cup

Well, as a fan who saw his team frequently hammered by Wigan, I've not know anyone who's poured scorn over the Wigan team of the late 80's / early 90's. The Wigan team of those day's was phenominal & I wish Leeds had played half that well. However, that was then and this is now. All because Wigan were great then, doesn't stop Leeds from being great now. Arguing as to one team being better than the other is as daft as arguing over who has the hardest dad. They're never going to fight (Compete) so why not agree they are both great teams and leave it at that.

Earlier in the thread I mentioned Django may have. "Missed the point".

"I for one would not like my team to show the same form as Leeds regular seasons have for the last 3 seasons or so and the go on to win the GF. Mainly beacuse I dont belive long term it's condusive to long term success of the game as a whole."

I couldn't quite word what I meant correctly, I think you've summed it up just about right!

But let's not worry about excellence week in week out shall we.
Lets make the game "competitive" (bear in mind as I said to my saints mate in oz08' we could get a game up outside of this pub now and it could be competitive, but it wouldn't mean it would be any good!)

Lets structure the play offs in a way were we can get more games in to help the finances, good job really as it covers the dwindling play off attendances as well.

Davao has made some rather good points regarding someone somewhere best care about the weekly rounds as without them there will one day be no play offs.

I'd put forward that I'm in total agreement and despite what seems like a lot of fans concerns over many issues with the game, rather than get down about it I'd rather look forward to what will be a very interesting game on Friday.
I can't understand why anyone wouldn't be excited about it?