Am I right in thinking you lot won your first play-off game and got a week off in 2006 - in fact didn't you get the first week off, won the 2nd to go straight to the GF and then got another week off as it was the top 6?

I said the other week, that if we didn't win our first play-off game we wouldn't retain our title as we desperately needed the week off.

I will admit that, that particular saints side had some special players in it such as sean long and keiron cunningham at the peak of their powers.

However, one of the main reasons that they manage to achieve the double that season was due to the highly mediocre nature of the competition that year the only credible contenders were Leeds who were still at the beginning of becoming a champion team although they won the GF in 2004. Bradford were at the end of their dominance, Hull were average, Wigan were nearly relegated and Huddersfield were a team that just about were beginning to make the play-offs. So before you start proclaiming what a 'fantastic' team it takes to win the double, look at the quality of team it now takes to win the double.

You have to admit that was a class team. They can only play what is put in front of them.

I already have admitted they had some greats in their team. I'm just comparing it to the quality of today where even if you have a 'great' team you face much stiffer competition who could turn you over on any given day.

So why, as a supporter, should you be d going to any of the 27 league fixtures, when you know they are pretty much worthless??

Reading some of these threads it seems some teams aren't even giving 100% most of the time, so why should anybody be bothered watching these matches?

Would have respected the thread more if it had been started before tonight, and you wouldn't have moaned if you would have won it from third a few years ago.

Having said that, more credit should be given for finishing higher, and I think the higher placed club should always have the home advantage. And the previous top six system was much better, where at least one of the top two clubs ends up in the final.

If Leeds win the GF they have lost 11 games during the regular season !!!

Twice as many as Wire & nearly 3 times as many as Wigan.

The system is the system but come on



There is no fair way other than giving the title to the team who finish top. The only other way that I think gives a bit of an advantage to your final position is to have a round robin play-off system between the top 4 only. Each team has home advantage over the teams who finish below them (top plays all 3 at home, 2nd plays 2 at home & 1 away to the top and so on). Top 2 teams after each plays 3 times goes to Grand Final. The play-offs are here to stay, I just think there has to be a better way. Lets face it how can a team who loses 13 times (Hull & KR) have the right to be crowned as Champions ?

The play offs will and should stay, but they need reducing from the 8, to 6, possibly 5. If they are to stay at 8, the NRL model needs to come in and clubcall be binned.

That's the way the coockie crumbles 'couldn't even make old trafford to defend your title' team.

Everyone knows the goalposts at the start of the season.

What makes you and wire any more deserving than leeds or saints?

If you can't win the pressure games you don't deserve to be champions.

Agreed but come on ? Leeds have lost 11 games this season. Wire & Wigan 5 & 4 respectively. Leeds & Saints have hit form but haven't been as consistent all year have they.

The system is what it is and under that system the right 2 teams are going to the GF but if I were a Wire player/director/coach I would be absolutely gutted and feel as though my "consistent" efforts were a waste of time.

That's just the way the cookie crumbles!

Enjoy your crumbs!