i think not. They are just delaying the inevitable for the top 4 teams after Rd 23 being the teams to contest the Semi finals. Teams outside of this - positions 5 to 8 never really had a chance to make the top 4 and probably never will in the future

I think they are for the top 5 teams, they are battling to be in the 4 or jockeying for position within the 4, being warrington fans it probably seems a damp squib because theres nothing left to play for. seems a bit churlish of us to complain about because we're not involved, i think its a good system (if we have to have playoffs). Must be exciting for the top 5 and for all the middle 8 teams too.

a lot better than the meaningless games we had last year..

How so, and why not?

Next season there could be just 2 or 3 points plus points difference separating the top eight teams after round 23. It isn't really the fault of the RFL that teams have not prepared well enough for a formula that the clubs agreed on.

Ask the question on any of the boards of the teams above us and they will say Yes there great, ask a disgruntled wire fan who's team have failed and he will say no.

I don't think they're as good as they could have been. Had we had a season most 'expect' from us there would have been 6 with a very good shot at the top four. Add catalan to that list too had they had Carney fit and well. I wouldn't write the format off just yet, I think next year, assuming ourselves and catalan can improve will be much better.

I could see the super 8's being a good concept, just not this year.

I'll lay any bet against 3 points between top and 8th anytime at Rnd 23 next season.

Big step forward as far as I'm concerned.
Even though we won't feature, there have been some cracking games and plenty of drama.

I agree..........Last year it was quite exciting watching Catalan finish 7th then go away to Leeds and knock them out, then go away to Huddersfield and knock them out, and then watch them fall just short at saints...

this year you can feel the pain for them as they travel half way round the world for a guaranteed all.

Even We gave ourselves a chance in the playoffs, with a good close win against our nearest rivals...then away at Cas...and then falling short by four points away to Wigan......

I'm watching Leeds v saints and its in no way shape or form any kind of elite play off rugby .........its .

that said I dont know what the solution is

Indeed. This year's 13 point gap is the second closest ever. The closest was 11. Though it's perhaps the gap between say 3rd and 8th which is more germane to any discussion.

When Leeds make a similarly remarkable run in 201/12 'exciting' wasn't the word used to describe it on this forum.

Cas went into our second Middle 8 game treating it as a final, we turned up with a stinking attitude. Only ourselves to blame for not being in it. Likewise Catalan have their terrible away record to blame. You can't blame Red Hall for habitual underperformance.

The system was always going to need three years of so to bed in. The Middle 8s has been a revelation. As a long time advocate of the Championship it's great to see clubs finally get the recognition which they deserve.

They're a far better system than we had before IMO. The issue we have had this year is that you have had a really bad season and Catalans couldn't replicate their home form in away games, otherwise we would have had 7 strong teams fighting for 4 spots. As it is we have only had the 5. I expect next season to be much closer if you and Catalans get it together

A big plus point too is that unless you finish in the top four after the play offs all home games are covered by the season ticket. Previously the play offs have been an expensive time for fans especially if a trip to Wembley has also been involved.

It's a good job as there would be about 400 people going tomorrow if not.

Funny that's it's FC and wire fans moaning about the structure......

Last year you'd have said differently

Hardly a deluge of moaning on here, well about this topic any way so "funny"? I can't see your point.

FWIW I think that it's a good system particularly when viewed in conjunction with the middle 8's and the jeopardy/opportunity that this provides.

We've under performed and would have done so in any system. We are unfortunately where we are and the recent reversals against Castleford and Wigan only highlight how poor we have been coupled with the fact that we need to be closer to our competitors in next season's comp to keep us in the comp

Bums on seats would suggest that the Super 8's are as popular with fans as the playoffs were before them. Maybe even less popular as crowds are down on regular season crowds despite the games being included in season tickets.

how many fixtures in the super 8's have been meaningless.........plenty ..??

and we have 11 or so fixtures remaining and only two matches Saints v Wigan ,& huddersfield v Leeds will involve the top four sides playing each other......

The rest are completely meaningless nothing to play for affairs for one team in the remaining match ups............
I cant remember a season where that number of matches have meant so little to so many.......That's three weeks of nothing fixtures with the exception of two games.......

what a completely ordinary uninteresting system Now I see why the SPL wasn't interested in it.

I'll give it another season or so before I pass judgement. There will always be some dead rubbers towards the end of the 8's for those in 7 & 8. Catalan and ourselves haven't helped the system this year, so interested to see how it goes in 2016.

The worst is yet to come I think, wit the pies set to give Hull FC a hiding infront of the sky cameras tonight.

Better than the 27 games before the playoffs being completely pointless for me.

Can't blame the system, blame the teams, (sounding like a stuck record situation this on here) however also it would probably need 12 months for teams to see and work on conditioning in order to try and get teams to peak, since the season structure is completely different.

Actually only there have only been a few dead rubbers, and the RFL can hardly be blamed for expensive squads like Warrington, Catalans and Hull performing so woefully over the season.



Again, are you supposed to blame the RFL because three teams who really should have done a lot better were so poor? While your lot might have nothing to play for - not strictly true as prize money and still wearing a Super League shirt next season is still something - I would hope that your players might at least have sufficient pride to want to finish strong. And every minute still matters for the top four, because in a one off eliminator who wants to play away?



It's not the fault of the system. Warrington should have , at the very least, put themselves in a position where they were fighting for the top 4 to the very end, as should Catalan and to a lesser extent Hull. Don't blame the structure for your club's feeble season. If anything these clubs have let the league down, and not vice versa.

I think some of the set up is influenced by the number of SL teams being cut down to 12. Would anyone have been happy for the season to end abruptly for some teams after round 23? I doubt that very much,most people would feel short changed. At least the RFL have tried to make the play offs as exciting as possible for fans of teams that rose to the challenge of a different system.
The old top 8 system was slagged off for long enough as having too many meaningless games but that can happen in any competition. The only other alternative would be 23 games then a top 4 play off ,leaving most clubs seasons being over by the end of July. I think not.

If they move the Challenge Cup back to May it would help. As it is now in August it is distraction to the Super 8's