My main issue is what if we finish 8th and are 12 points behind 4th which I can see happening. How will the next 8 games matter for us? Playoffs should be top 6 to keep the excitement. 8 is too many I do agree but just 4 makes it hard to compete for us.

Are not all points taken away on the league of 8, so won't all start equal?

Unless they've had a rethink, only the middle 8 have their points reset.

I stand corrected then

The playoffs are only the top 4

Middle 8 start equal but higher teams get the home games

Nah those points are what you finished on they don't get reset. That's my argument we could be 12 points behind 4th this will leave the last set of games pointless. For our benefit top 6 should be playoffs

How long will it be before we get bored of the same games, for instance Wigan play St Helens twice in league, another time once sides break into leagues of 8, then again in the play-offs and maybe even in the challenge cup. It'll get stale ridiculously quick.

But it will give them particularly good crowds.

Hey look it this way middle 8 might have us cas and fev in imagine the crowds

The point made about finishing 8th and being well adrift on points is a valid one, it could even be tempting if we are level on points with the team in 9th to throw your last game and hopefully have a more interesting end to the season with an extra home game despite the risk of relegation.

I would guess that the end of season pay-out will be much higher for 8th than 9th. Hopefully enough to make your scenario not financially beneficial to the club.