I feel this year will be a year too early.

Next year I really think we will take some stopping.

I think the past has shown that you can't just flick a switch and start playing top class rugby at a high level week in week out. Wire have shown they can't back up a top quality performance with another probably due to the size and age of their forwards and key players and despite the quality they've got the cup probably suits them better than the playoffs as it allows them to concentrate on raising themselves for the big games. Leeds players are all capable of putting in match winning performances but even since their squad situation improved they've been up and down and when hull have lost, giving them a chance to seize the chance of a top 4 spot they too have gone on to play poorly and lost. If they finish in the top 4 they are capable of beating us and going all the way but if they lose they could even lose to the team they play in the next round who will be playing with more confidence following their opening round win, they've lost far too many games against average sides but are still capable of beating the top sides on their day. After a poor start to the year Saints are going to be the ones to beat imo but they'll miss Eastmond and are reliant on some hold heads who will struggle to keep up the momentum required to win the GF. In top matches things have a tendency to even themselves out and we have had some narrow defeats against the top 4 due to injuries, a bit of rub of the green with decisions and bounce of the ball along with weather conditions and injuries to key players at bad times. With a full squad out and plenty of the free-flowing rugby we are capable of we are good enough to win the Grand Final and having seen how the wigan game affected Warrington I think we'll get to the final which could well come down to what happens on the day.

The main simple reason that RL can't even consider removing the playoff system is the lack of incentive that would arise for around 3/4 of the teams.

In the football premiership there is the title, CL, Europa League to aim for plus relegation to try and avoid. Not to mention the huge financial difference that exists in that sport for finishing just one place higher in the table.

This is why the top 8 exists and I have no problem with it - its just the format of the playoffs that I think could be better.

The play offs are here and here to stay we know the rules at the start of the season.

Some of you pies really are reading too much into last week and this week.

They need to change the play-offs from top 8 to top 6.

It is an impressive achievement to top the table after the regular season especially with almost the same set of players that could not find that level of consistency under noble.

I would actually change the top 8 to a top 7 and give the champs the first week off.

It would mean that every game is pure knockout rather than the top 4 playing for position and makes the season one week shorter.

The champions will be the team running around OT in October. Being League Leaders gets us an advantage in the play-offs and that's all.

I think we will make the gf this year will we win it? mabye not

I want leeds to finish 4th so we get them at home think about the rest time we will have over them it has shown over the last 3 seasons what a big advantage it is and this year it's a turn around

Plus the fact we get to choose who we want in the eliminator if one of the bottom 4 get through it's such a big advantage and will be snapped up but i do agree this season is a learning curve and madge knows it next season we are going to be scary

Fully agree with the OP and have had this discussion several times.

If we finish top and fail to win the GF then yes it will have been a successful season but we won't be the champions. Those are the rules unfortunately. Saints have finished top the last 4 years but have won the GF once.

To finish top will be a great boost and should give the whole club huge confidence but I agree that without the grand final win it'll be quickly forgotten. It's a shame in a way that the play off system has changed because we won't quite get the same advantages for it that we would have a couple of years back. We still may have to play 3 games to get to the final and thats always a tough ask in play offs as we've found out before.

Still we can't complain too much. We look like having at least 2 huge nights to come at the DW stadium and i'm looking forward to those. To get to Old Trafford would be awesome but it will be tough.

Whoever finishes top should win the Superleague trophy, whoever finishes in the top 4 should face the top 4 from the NRL in a World Club Challenge two weeks after the grand final with both grand finals on the same day, whoever finishes bottom should be relagated.

There should be no rewards for mid table mediocre teams such as Hull Kr, Salford, Wakefield in getting into the play offs after being rubbish all year.

Looking at Hulls run in......

Harlequins (A)
Crusaders (H)
Warrington Wolves (A)
Leeds Rhinos (H)

You would have to assume they'd win the first two then lose to Wire, assume Leeds win all their remaining games (except against us) that last match becomes the decider for 4th spot.

Much rather face Hull, and I dont think its a foregone conclusion that they won't finish 4th.

Given the excellent signings we have made, Hock coming back into the side and our young players maturing, every other club will be in fear of what Wigan will do next season. We're top of the league and in great shape for the play-offs but I almost can't wait for next season!

There is nothing wrong with us knowing we are the best team in the league, like we have been so far. I still remember saints of 08 and 07 being better than Leeds even thought they were not champions. Anyone claiming to be champions though is just silly.