Totally agree and I'm not saying this to argue really but just to point out that you couldn't decide a true league champion prior to 1973 without play offs because the fixture list was never even. Granted it isn't even now with the extra magic match but in those days the Yorkshire teams would play Yorkshire teams and the Lancashire teams would play Lancashire teams with random inter-county matches throw in to make up the numbers.

I don't exactly think we should petition for you to be champions because we all knew that before a ball was kicked you had to win the GF to be champions! But i would petition for the rules to be changed ready for next season! Imagine Wigan, Wire, Leeds and Saints all knowing the HAD to finish top! Imagine the intensity throughout the season rather than just for the last 6 games! imagine the crowd surges towards the end of the season!

Unless someone walked the league like occasionally happens in football? What do the other 10 teams do who have no chance of winning it as opposed to having the chance to play in the playoffs? What would Salford's aim be in a season for example?

Check the previous thread where I say that wire are champions I stand by that except with the wire fans at work (they're the type of non real fan that acts like a football fan). Wire are champions we are runners up and Leeds or saints will win the playoffs.

The playoffs that crown you champions you mean??

That is exactly what is wrong with our game. Instead of trying to impove the top end by 'forcing' them to increase the intensity for 27 games and have to finish top, we concern ourselves with average sides so they have 'something to play for'
Salford would have to aim to improve season on season, until eventually they can keep their level of performance so high over 8 months that it outstrips every other team and they finish top and are crowned champions.
There would also be the Premiership playoffs to play for and the Challenge Cup. Average teams could always target cup competitions - a bit like Leeds this year.

Spot on. Having to be better to win is better for salford than having the 8th place spot ever will be.

Its called my opinion.

Maybe instead of changing the GF layout as it works well at publicity the sport and giving extra excitement at the end of the season, they should change the top of the table winner’s shield to something that means more. Like a new cup, making it worth more etc, so those who finish top get some credit and honours they deserve, and the GF can still add the extra excitement at the end of the season.

In part, I agree. I think that the team who comes top should be the Champions. It doesn't matter what I think though because the rules are the rules and we all knew them before the Wire Hudds game at Cardiff, so complaining and moaning when teams work the rules to their advantage is just pointless. Maybe we should have done that so we didn't burn out??

If we won the GF next week you're telling me that you wouldn't refer to us as Champions ONCE throughout 2012? You wouldn't attend the WCC as a protest that we shouldn't be in it (slightly OTT perhaps) and you wouldn't sing 'Championees' or buy any merchandise that says 'Champions' on it? Sorry, but I don't believe you.

Every serious Rugby League and NRL fan in the world know the play offs decide who are Champions.

Grow up and stop fecking whining now you've lost.

Us losing makes no odds as my opinion makes Wire champions not us.


And as the other posts on this page say I ain't against playoffs I just want it to be separate to the league. It should be 3 comps CC winners, League Champions and if necessary Playoff Champions (though i prefer winners like the CC Cup)