Well we were due a change of format. It has been 4 years since the last change ...

[urlhttp://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/wolves/16285209.Super_8s_set_to_be_scrapped_from_next_year/[/url

Good..at last..one up one down..

I wasn't a big fan of the middle 8s concept. However, the top 4 aspect of it did seem to stop the complaints about 'meaningless games'. In our glory days under TS when we used to win most weeks, the victories felt a bit hollow as there was always the feeling that it was 27 or however many games of going through the motions before the season started, when Leeds who had been mediocre all year would suddenly start winning.

Even now I think there's a weakness that whilst there's a big fight to get in to the top 4, there isn't that much reward for finishing higher within that - its just about getting a home fixture in a one-off knock out, where everybody is equal and one slip and you're out.

I wonder if it would be worth bringing back the old top 5 system that they used when they used from 1998 to 2001.

Then you had

Qualification playoff: 2 v 3 (winner progresses to qualification semi final, loser progresses to elimination semi final)
Elimination playoff: 4 v 5 (winner progresses to elimination semi final, loser OUT)

Week 2
Qualification semi final: 1 v winner of qualification playoff (winner progresses to Grand Final, loser progresses to preliminary final)
Elimination semi final: loser of qualification playoff v winner of elimination playoff (winner progresses to preliminary final, loser OUT)

Week 3
Preliminary final: loser of qualification semi final v winner of elimination semi final (winner progresses to Grand Final, loser OUT)

Week 4
Grand Final

Although it looks complicated when you first see it, its pretty straightforward. The first two weeks there is a game where you are playing for the right to a week off, and if you lose you have a second chance next week; and a game which is to stay alive in the competition. Then it gets to 3 teams left, one gets knocked out in week 3 and the last two standing play the Grand Final.

This system provided a staggered reward where each team gets a distinct advantage over the one that finished a place below. It is very difficult for a team finishing 5th, or even 4th, to win the Grand Final, they had to go on winning streaks playing away from home.

I think a 5 team playoff would be the right number in the current standard of SL.

How about finish top champions?...
Nope too radical. It'll never work.

Careful you'll have the leeds fans on here in a minute telling us how great the GF is but then they would say that wouldn't they?

I too think this is the best play-off system we’ve had.

The grand final is too much of a money spinner to change, the SL won't change

What is the advantage of this format though - it only offers an additional 1 place of interest.

We cannot avoid the fact there are meaningless games in terms of league position and honours in all sport. Look at football for example - there are many premiership and championship mid-table teams with a good following. At least the Super 8s and Qualifiers gave a bit of incentive in the lower league positions where top 4 was unobtainable.

In any case I don't think the falling attendances are due to the league structure. They are caused by the dull spectacle.

Perhaps Duck's first past the post would be the better format ,with an end of season knock out competition for all the SL teams playing for the sky trophy, which would fit perfectly with 16 teams. The final could still be played at Old Trafford ,but maybe it would give some more variety among competing clubs instead of the usual suspects year after year.
On the field ,perhaps increase the number of tackles in a set to ,hopefully,get the handling aspect back in the game & away from the boring kickathon that we used to criticise Rugby Union for.

As long as Sky are ploughing millions into the sport they will want a big say on the format of the competition. I for one would just like to see the winner takes all league format, but alas those days are long gone. Sky love their play offs and the big Finale.

If we have to have a play off lets keep it to a top four, the same as the aviva premiership. We need to increase the league by 2 teams next year so we get 13 home and away fixtures. If a Championship team comes up this year, how is it decided who the additional team will be?

I don't feel the need for an additional magic weekend fixture but i am sure we will get one none the less.

This. The game just isn't entertaining anymore. It used to be a tough game played by tough men. theres no entertainment in it anymore. The game is too clean, aggression has be taken out of the game systematically. It started proper going downhill once the choulder charge was deemed illegal. not players can't even fart without being pulled up two days later and banned by a pannel who watches the game back under a microscope. If it's not picked up in the gam it should be forgotten about. pushing/shoving should be penalty sufficient. player starting a fight should be given a yellow to calm down. a player defending himself should not be penalised, however if they continue the fight should also be a yellow. Chep shots in from the side/swinging arm, Straight red.

Anyway, back on topic...

The trouble with out play off, middle 8, top 40 whatever it is format is that it is by far to complicated. we need simplicity to bring in neutrals.

the new 1 up, 1 down with the million £ game being top 2 from the championship is perfect and it forces those at the bottom of the game to start performing rather than thinking "oh well the seasons over now, lets just coast till the super 8's start and we're on 0 points, start again. no. not now. you have to give your 100% every week to ensure you dont drop down.

at the top of the table I'd like to see 1st place win the LLS as per then play 4th place in a semi final to OT. 2 Vs 3 also in a straight semi to join 1st at OT. This would ensure that teams would have to be at their best every week to get themselves in the top 4.

Rugby League has always had a playoff format hasn't it? In fact I'm pretty sure Assosianion Football is the only sport that uses the first past the post system. They are the ones who are the odd ones out.

but thats putting the play offs, back into the position of the older post season premiership comp, that was dying on its and poorly attended cos it was worthless in the grand scheme of things.

You are correct is saying that their has always been a play off format. However from 1973, the year of me attending my first game, until the birth of Super League the Champions were deemed those that came top of the league. At that time their was the end of Season top 8 play offs to determine the Premiership winners (last won by Wire in 1986).

So if you finished top you still had to compete in a top 8 play off to win the prem? so how we're the top champions if they still had to compete in a play off?

The Premiership was a different competition to the Championship

How often do you hear commentators when some biff is on saying "this is the unacceptable face of the sport, and not what the fans want to see" when the crowd are clearly loving it and the atmosphere electric. It's the big lie told by those with the loudest voice.

RL used to be the roughest, toughest ball sport there was with true physical confrontations that were relished in the week ahead and remembered for years afterwards. Not now we have players feigning injury (repeat set) and appealing for a penalty (every tackle), forwards who fall to the ground on purpose (e.g Sims), forwards to threaten a lot and never throw a punch (eg all our pack bar Westwood)

It was something that stopped players going on holiday, it wasn't held in high regard, it was in fourth place behind the league champions/challenge cup holders, and regal tropy winners.

In it's latter years anyway.

I was thinking of it being called something else tbh & including all the teams in the division,a straight knockout competition with teams drawn out of the hat for each round ,the final at Old Trafford if necessary for the sky knockout trophy.

Yes they have had a play off system but they also had whoever won the league were champions..the play off system in the 80s was an end of season comp for the top 8 which we won in 86 and lost in the final to Wigan a year later..wonder how this will affect the league next season will we have a top 8 playoff

The RFL don't half like to tinker, when it's not needed.
This Super8s and middle 8s was working (on the whole) imo.
You have more competitive games than the extra games in the past , where top played 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 from the previous season. For me, it's change for change's sake. Leave it alone.

On Wires71's point about the game being more boring. SPOT ON.
We've become sterile, as a sport, in the last decade.
Eddie and Stevo screaming like banshees, whenever even a low grade skirmish breaks out "there's kids watching this. They don't want to see this" WRONG. Kids love stuff like that. Why do you think WWF is so popular?
Umpteen on reports/referrals for Tuesdays at RFL HQ
Teams playing drab "low risk" NRL style rugby
Endless kicking
Bang average half backs throughout the competition.

We need a few clubs to play more "off the cuff" rugby, rather than the robotics we've been fed for the last few years

This tinkering is nothing to do with the RFL - the SL clubs (or most of them) have decided the Super 8s format presents too much of a risk to their ongoing presence at the top table. Without consulting the RFL or the rest of the sport.

All of this. Starts with the coverage for me. Eddie constantly bringing the slightest thing to the attention of the viewer. Cummings constantly highlighting what the ref has done wrong. Barry and Terry constantly telling Eddie that the tackle he's screaming to be given a red card is just part of the game. Clarke reeling off stats like:

=#0080FF[i"4 years ago Warrington played this fixture with a 78.765% completion rate and if we go of these first 3 sets of the game, then they're on course to match that, which will be create a 3:1 chance that they will win this game by 14 points. This is due to the fact that Wakefield took 1 hour to get here, which going off last years fuel prices, has cost hem an extra £20. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep up with that kind of inflation whilst dealing with this Warrington attack."[/i

NO ONE CARES PHIL. No one cares what you think you saw Eddie or what the gravy is like this week in your local. just say what happening on the pitch FFS.


After that the next thing is the reffing. They're too pally with the players for me. scrap the squad numbers, get given the shirt number on the day and refs start calling players by their number. Arguing, moaning, diving to the floor whilst getting up and complaining earns a penalty againsts you. Players need to accept the decision and get on with it.

This too. The focus on the refereeing decisions is boring. Waiting an eternity for the video ref is boring. Commentate on the game, skills, tactics.


The the ref coaching "Benny get on side", "Kev get off him". WTF?

Trouble is the game is run by people such as Brian Barwick. He is probably good at negotiating TV deals from his experience but doesn't have the Rugby League soul. He's probably only heard of RL since 2013.


The game isn't about sanitised viewing from a comfy seat enjoying a costa. It's being packed like sardines in the the old Knowsley Road on a Friday night, with the cracking excitement, local rivalry, palpable tension, crude language, air of menace, blind loyalty, thinking that this is the time we will end the hoodoo and your voice ho from singing.

Can't argue about the post above and the refs instructions that stale the spectacle....where are all the big hits to disprove it?