Just scrutinising the playoff format and if (big 'if' i know) we finish top of the league, and lose the first playoff game, we will not have home advantage should we get to the semi finals/final elimanator.

27 game long season can't be reversed with a one-off 80 minute game, surely i've read that wrong?????

The losers of 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 will play the winners of 5 vs 8 and 6 vs 7 at home. The winners of those games will play the winners of week one away, with the highest placed team chosing their opponent.

More ridiculous than I thought, finishing top should guarantee a home match for every play off game. What the hell do we actually play 27 games for?
We're better off finishing 4th and winning in week 1 than finishing top and losing in week 1. The RFL astound me.

correct me if im wrong but i think we will, even if we lose the first game

Simples No

It's simple to me. If you lose that first game, you lose the home tie in the final eliminator.

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I'd be quite happy with the current play offs.

Completely agree with you. I've no problem with the top 8, no problem with club call even but the fact that league position does not always dictate home advantage in my opinion is a farce.

Thats correct.

It's all to try and create a more fairer system where you reward the team coming top with a potential week off and a choice of opponent in the last game whilst giving a carrot to the other team that if they win at the higher ranked team then so long as they win the week after they get rewarded with the home advantage.

It's supposed to make it less easy for the top 2 to compete in every GF (which has happened every year bar one and including last year under the new system) and stop the fact that if the league leaders win one game they are straight through to the final whereas now the league leaders have to win a minimum of 2 games to get to Old Trafford.

Its a compromise between the system we had and the NRL system which i think is called the McIntyre system or something.

Thats the theory anyway. The reality is that there are more games for Sky to show and more revenue to the RFL/clubs from the extra games,which would be the cynics view.

So still an advantage to finish top,just not quite as big an advantage as in previous years

The club call thing is a nonsense though. You could tell Leeds were a bit embarrassed by the whole thing last year.

Why is it? You get a home tie in week one, if you win you get a week off and home tie in week 3. If you lose, you get a home tie in week 2 and away in week 3. Why should the team that beats the first placed team in week one be forced to play away in the third week, if they so chose to play the team that finished first again? Don't you think that's farcical? The rules are fair, the team finishing top has the opportunity to lose a game, and still be in the comp, 2 home ties and a potential away tie. I just don't see why people can complain about this, as in my view, it's perfectly fair.

The top 5 system used in 98 was the best. If they insist on rewarding mediocrity by involving 8 teams then the current Aussie system is the way.

Did I miss something? Top 8 teams in the play-offs?

You seemingly missed all of last season....

I think top 6 is about right, if you finish outside the top half of the table you definitely shouldn't have a shot at winning the title!

When are the footy fixtures released, looking at the format(assume we stay in top 2) we could have a home game in week 1, 2 or 3 depending if we win in week 1 of the play - off's. Hope Whelan is not going to shaft us again if the mighty latics are at home

Totally agree with you mate,top 8 is 2 too many for my liking and a bit of a farce and as for clubcall.

Good point but I would have hoped that the club will have looked into that well in advance.

Still makes no sense to me...

I completely disagree with the fact that it's top 8 for starters... Why should teams outside the top half even have a chance? Infact... I even think the whole of the top half is too much. It's the top quarter in football for the play offs isn't it?

Also, club call is completely disrespectful, and if anything, makes the chosen team even more determined to beat the team that has chosen to play them.

That was a Nigel Wood idea, wasn't it? Says it all, really.

Should be top 5 at most IMO. Top 4 or 3 would be better.

I totally agree and was about to post something similar. The top 5 was was easily the best as you had to beat every team that finshed above you to win it. It had the perfect balance of rewarding where you finished in the league and yet still gave others a chance to win it, albeit made much more difficult. The top 8 is a bit of a joke imo as I dont see why you should be able to finish in the bottom half of the table and still be in the play offs. It would be okay if there were 18 teams in the league but with just 14 it just rewards mediocrity.

In the playoffs last year and did quite well but now you think you may finish top you want to change the rules. Priceless.