True.

And I suppose they're aren't any Rhinos complaining about winning the Grand Final from 5th.

exactly.

do you get the point now??



seeing as you've just contradicted yourself by mentioning leeds......

Mainly because the teams taking part in the middle 8’s have been involved in different competitions. And of course it’s a level playing field, every team in the super 8’s has had the exact same chance to be as far up the table as possible. The fact that teams like us weren’t good enough to rack up enough points in the regular season is quite frankly tough luck. The teams at the top deserve the lead they have. The incentive is to be better over the whole season. Yes it’s going to be pretty dull for the remainder of this season but that’s our own fault for not winning more games.



FWIW i’d do away with the whole 8’s concept, go to a 14 team SL and a top 6 play off, with home advantage and second chances the bias for the clubs at the top of that. Then a straight one up, one down at the bottom with second bottom of superleague playing second in the championship as the million pound game for a potential second promotion place. Personal opinion though.

Well, the top 8 back then were all playoffs, a bit different and easier to this format.



But why should a team, like Saints and Cas last year, who's built a ten point gap over the course of a season, have all their points scrapped, just because a few teams didn't play as consistently and found themselves with to much do to make the top four?



Anyway, sounds like this is the last year of this format, and it's back to the easier way.

I'm sure the RFL will find a play-off system eventually that might get rid of us before we get a new ground!

Peeved not at all. We'd all know before the season and all the top clubs won't be resting players until they're guaranteed 3rd or higher.

...

And furthermore it doesn't work and never has.

Only one team made 4th from outside the original split since the concept began...and that was only because Salford collapsed.

Wakefield or Hudds deserve a decent crack....alas just dead rubbers making up the numbers as Wire only need 3 wins from 7 with 4 home games.

The 8s concept seems to be a dead duck(ie). The main problems seem to be too many repeat fixtures and the short notice of fixtures at peak holiday time.

I emailed the RFL last year with a suggestion to improve the super 8s.



LLS is awarded after 23 rounds. Have a points carried forward column in the table, but everything else is zeroed (games played/points diff). The 8s is then the premiership with another prize/trophy. Make it 3 points for a win to reflect the greater intensity of games and reward teams that can get on a run against other top sides. The top 4 still play off as now to become champions at the GF. 3 prizes increasing in value/prestige.

So far, if we'd used this system, no team would have won the treble - League/Premiership/Championship

I even got a reply! From Ralph, I think... "Don't phone us, we'll phone you"

I've emailed the RFL myself and never once even had a thanks for your email now feck off.

Just nothing.

As it stands the teams 5-8 are safe but not a lot for the fans to get excited about with the next games as been said we can’t make the play offs .

The top four have a battle royal on their hands and so do the bottom four for a different reason .

Just hope our fans turn out for the next fixtures as well as the team puts the effort in or the season could just fizzle out which would be a real shame

is that so we have a chance to win something

So theres not point in finishing top of the league.

I think he hasn't thought that one through.

In respect of the 8s I've always preferred it to start something like this after 23 rounds.

1st 6pts

2nd 4pts

3rd 3pts

4th 2pts

5th 1pt

6th 0pts

7th 0pts

8th 0pts



Still rewards higher placed teams but still offers all 8 a chance of getting in top 4.

apart from being league winners????