How did you explain it to your friend? Where you positive about it or appeared in disgust about it? Could have been very influencing on his understanding of willingness to understand.

Next time you see your friend, ask him...
How are the Champions League qualifies worked out?
How does the current top eight play off system work?
How does the Super Bowl work?

I think "it's over complicated" is just a stock complaint for people who don't like change.

I'm sorry, but if you can't work it out, you're a bloody idiot. It's not difficult at all.

You would think with your superior intellect you would have understood the difference between too complex, and too complicated but it seems even genius such as yours can miss one.

Poor System, awfully branded and not supported by half of SL, its only got about 5 years anyway

I seem to remember the World Cup having quite an unusual (some might call it 'complicated') group structure.

The idea of two teams from different groups playing a group game didn't seem to turn fans away - why should this?

People can work it out, they shouldnt really have to work it out.

Nobody needs to understand how the Super Bowl play-offs work. Its a play-off straight knock out competition, its pretty simple.

Or the champions league qualifiers, which are by the way appallingly attended and played by minnows. hardly an endorsement of complexity.

The current top 8 is a little complicated, but again, its a play-off.

This is completely different, it becomes different competitions playing for different things. At any one point you need to not only know who is playing who but what the competition they are in is actually for because for the vast majority of clubs it changes. People cant dip in and out of this system and some will find that off-putting.

Besides even if these people are stupid, stupid peoples money is worth the same as a superbrain like yours

I explained the facts of it and nothing more, and let them reach their own conclusion. I only voiced how I felt about it after I'd finished.

Have seen a few people referring to the NFL play-offs as being complicated when trying to justify this system, but they're really not are they? In fact, I explained them in one tweet yesterday. Could anyone do the same with the new RL structure?

When people actually start to care about the Champions League - ie when the groups are set - the competition from that point on is hardly complicated is it??

There's going to have to be some creative selling when it comes to flogging season tickets for 2015 I'd say - presume the 'extra' games will be all pay? That's worked out really well for play-off crowds in recent years hasn't it?

And the third 'Super 8' *cringe* is pretty pointless really isn't it - all those clubs are playing for is to avoid 7th and 8th. Real chance that by the time of the split there'd be teams adrift at the bottom anyway. In that scenario there'd be a lot more meaningless games than there is now!

I like the new system, my main hope is that we stick with it.

I don;t understand why people find it complicated, top 2 divisions of twelve split into 3 divisions of eight. Simple!

They are getting boged down in the detail which is there just to pre-empt the questions of "But who gets the home games", "which teams do this", etc etc

If that is still to hard, here's a tip. It is in your teams advantage to win every game it plays. Take it from there.

Is there anything mentioned about seeding in the challenge cup or lack of?

Currently in round 3, semi pro clubs are matched against amateur clubs. The numbers are obviously different now and teams come in at different times

Quote ="bewareshadows" The biggest issue that is still not pinned down for me will be season tickets and how clubs go about selling them.'" The clubs have 14 or 15 home games so it's relatively straight forward. They need to tighten up the language used to describe the elements of the season IMO but this is what Leeds have been selling for a month or so: www.rhinosmemberships.com/memberships

Quote ="bewareshadows" The biggest issue that is still not pinned down for me will be season tickets and how clubs go about selling them.'" The clubs have 14 or 15 home games so it's relatively straight forward. They need to tighten up the language used to describe the elements of the season IMO but this is what Leeds have been selling for a month or so: www.rhinosmemberships.com/memberships

If it's confusing, frankly, you haven't read it properly.

I really like the new structure, even though my club might be battling it out in the Qualifiers next year.

My only gripe with it is the differences in Salary Cap between the two divisions. One, the teams in the Qualifiers should be on a level playing field, but in reality, one team will be playing another who have potentially 60%+ additional cap available to them. Two, if a SL side is relegated from the Qualifiers, they'll have to try and lose that 60% from their cap, resulting in fire sales in October and making it hard for certain clubs to sign players earlier in the season, as they're future is not set in stone.

So a completely neutral tone if voice? No facial expressions or gestures? These communicate more than your words ever could.


I wasn't referring to the NFL play offs. That wouldn't be like for like.
Explain to me the structure of the NFL. Go on...

I can explain the SL play offs in a few words. Top 8 play each other once in round robin, then top four play semis and a final. Complicated? Not at all.


But again, not comparing like for like. If you're going to hold the new SL structure back as being complicated, and include the Qualifiers in that structure, you have to do the same for every competition.

Out of the two examples, you've basically just cut out the difficult parts as not mattering, and then said they're simple really. Apply that principle to SL and the same happens.

You clearly have an agenda.


For someone saying there needs to be creativity, you've not thought out of the box there at all.
Here's a thought... sell a season ticket for 14-15 games. If you get a 15th game, bonus! If you don't, better luck next year.

They could even sell Super 8 tickets, where you get tickets for all 7 games (home and away).


A trophy is a trophy. Is it any more meaningless than the NRC?

Or the Commonwealth Games?

2 conferences, 4 divisions of 4 teams in each. Each team plays 16 games. 8 home, 8 away.
There you go. The structure of the NFL regular season.

I understand the new structure better than the current playoff system tbh.

I dont want to do that. Why should i pay more for the same as someone else? Especially when the quality of some of the opponents im paying to see could drop massively part way through the season. Doesnt seem the best use of my entertainment money.

That sounds a good idea to me, I dont need to bother shelling out for those early season games. I can just buy a season ticket for a lot less for the important part of the season. Plus at this stage ill know who we are playing and if we are in that bottom part i dont need to bother. Brilliant money saving option for me as a consumer.

I can't answer that - as I didn't have anyone filming me explaining it at the time, funnily enough



Anyway, I think my mates are intelligent enough to form their own opinions on it without me having to change my tone of voice or make hand gestures...



You were the one who mentioned the 'Super Bowl' as if it was some ridiculously complex structure that no one understands! If that isn't referring to the NFL play-offs what is?

OK... seeing as you asked.

32 teams, spilt in to two conferences (4 divisions of 4 teams in each conference)

Division winners and the two teams with the next best record in each conference progress to play-offs (12 teams). Top two teams in each conference get a week off, other 8 teams start knock out phases. Straight knock out to the SB.



You might be be to explain the play-offs in a few words - try the whole system to a non-RL fan and see the reaction you get!



My 'agenda' is wanting the sport in this country succeed. I just can't see how this new structure will help that. I hope I'm wrong! I really do.



If it was that simple, how come clubs haven't been doing that to include play-off games to get better crowds in?



I'd say yes actually - it probably is. The top four teams are all playing for a trophy when those four, plus two below them, are already promoted.

What I don't really get either... is why they aren't playing a Grand Final in the division below the SL 'Super 8'? Why one and not the other? You could still have 'the million pound game' between 4 and 5, 1 straight to GF, and 2 v 3... That way you'd still have 'Champions' of each division decided by a GF?

As it stands for 2015 (I'm fairly sure this is right, but stand to be corrected):
Super League - Top four play-off, straight knock out, GF
Qualifiers - No play-off or GF to decide Champions, 4 v 5 play-off for promotion
Championship Shield - Same as SL
Championship 1 - 1 v 2 for first promotion spot, then loser joins 3-5 in straight knock out for play-offs for 2nd promotion spot

What a mess.

Not too difficult to understand really?

With the endless moaning about lack of intensity, too many teams in the playoffs, no hope of promotion, blah, blah, I’m happy to see how it goes.

At least we get rid of the turgid Club Call.

haha, excatly. For the bloke whinging that the system is hard to explain to non-RL fans, explain the current playoff system to them, explain that teams in the bottom half get a chance to win the GF, explain the (alien to most in the UK) concept of no relegation to them, and see their faces then.

Clubcall - what a joke that is.

never understood why people hated club call so much. I barely remembered it was happening most years, when i did it was a bit of a talking point.

Im not saying i miss it but i find it hard to hate it.

Of course not - to serious RL fans. You really think potential new fans are going to be convinced by it though?

Why is three different playoff systems needed for the four divisions?

Because they are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. They picked a system, realised there were massive holes in it and rather than start again and find one that will work they are trying to bodge this one.

But we shouldnt worry, apparently now the championship is going to force up the standard of SL by virtue of its comparatively small funding and managing to sell one whole round to broadcasters.

Is it that hard to imagine that the problems with the system, which we won't know until the structure starts, might be ironed out over the next few years - little changes to improve it?

I think some have been a little kind saying it's just 16 games in the NFL regular season.

Current formula

Currently, the thirteen opponents each team faces over the 16-game regular season schedule are set using a pre-determined formula:

Each team plays twice against each of the other three teams in its division: once at home, and once on the road (six games). This matchup of intra-division opponents is a constant every season.

Each team plays once against each of the four teams from another division within its own conference, with the assigned division based on a three-year rotation: two at home, and two on the road (four games).

Each team plays once against one team from each of the other two divisions within its conference, based on the final division standings from the prior season: one at home, one on the road (two games).

Each team plays once against each of the four teams from a division in the other conference, with the assigned division based on a four-year rotation

And then there is the playoffs.

So don't spout the basics and say it's simple.

That's just the same as saying the new system is a 24 team league with 2 conferences and 3 divisions.

30 games in total

'simples'

That isnt the structure of the league its the formulation of the fixture list. An incredibly complex task in any league but one which nobody needs to pay attention to.

This BTW is the Premier Leagues own answer to how their fixture list is forumulated for the most simple of structures a home and away round robin.

........A computerised system is used to determine the fixtures. Once a draft schedule is produced the schedulers then consult with the Fixtures Working Party, which is made up of representatives from clubs across the Leagues and from supporters' organisations.

The final stage concludes with a consultation meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the British Transport Police.

However, there are many factors that need to be taken into account before the computerised system can compile the fixture list successfully.

Fixtures can only be set once dates for other competitions have been confirmed, eg the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and these considerations can make it difficult to find slots for some games.

In addition , there are exceptions when clubs or local authorities make specific requests if, for example, a major event is being held in the city on that day and a police force requests that a club has an away fixture. For these reasons fixture dates can change throughout the season.

We will always try to give at least four to six weeks’ notice when fixtures move and recommend that supporters do not book non-refundable travel or accommodation until live television selections and other factors such as cup matches have been determined..............



Also ours isn’t a 24 team league with 2 conferences and 3 divisions. It’s a 12 team league that has 4 more teams (from a different 12 team league) join part way through, then splits in to two to play in essentially two different competitions for two different prizes.

The reality is SL will still have a full round of fixtures home and away + Magic Weekend. So no change there. If you don't like the rest of it, don't watch it.