IF..... : Thu Aug 28, 2014 10:04 pm  

If we make the top 4 of the Championship and therefore the qualify 8 what is the best position to finish?

The RFL have already published a table which highlights which teams (based on position) will play each other home and away.

If you top the Championship you get four home games playing the other three championship sides at home and the 11th placed SL side. Your three away games are the other three SL sides.

Come second in the Championship you get four home games playing the 4th placed Championship side and the 9th, 11th and 12th SL sides while away you get the top and third placed Championship sides and the 10th placed SL side.

Come third in the Championship you only have 3 home games played against the 9th placed SL side and the 2nd and 4th placed Championship sides. While in the four away games you play the other three SL sides and the top Championship side.

Come fourth in the Championship and with 3 home games you get the 9th, 10th and 11th placed SL teams. While away you play all three Championship teams and the final SL team.

Deliberately avoiding the names of potential teams in any given position which scenario is more appealing in terms of trying to achieve a finishing position in the top 3 of the eights or at least getting fourth and the 'home' advantage in the play off game against fifth?

Re: IF..... : Fri Aug 29, 2014 1:58 am  

The only advantage to having a SL team visit is the "potentially" bigger crowd.......if AK is still clipping the ticket, then I'd prefer to meet championship clubs at home as they won't travel south as well as the full time professionals from Superleague.
That said...I'd prefer to meet a SL club at the Hive if that club has made the challenge cup final, preferably the week before the final so as to maximise the chances of us getting a result.

Re: IF..... : Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:26 am  

Ultimately the goal is promotion rather than just the income from one game. Though finishing fourth that maybe the target. I'd agree that the other Championship sides might not travel as well if part-time but at least two others will be full time. Finishing first or second in the Championship would eight points from your home games give you a top three spot? RFL are still to decide on bonus points which could have a major influence.

Re: IF..... : Fri Aug 29, 2014 11:20 am  

The goal should be getting some excitement and interest going around the Broncos regardless of where\who they play.
The ideal would be finishing first in Champ with a buzz around the place because Broncos are winning games again and then beating the Champ sides at home. That would be enough for at least 5th and a pop at getting back into SL. Regardless of whether promotion is achieved or not it would restore faith in what Broncos can achieve.

Finishing 4th means you scraped into the top 4 and then getting battered at home by 3 SL teams will do the club few favours regardless of how many fans the SL clubs bring as it will show just how far off the pace Broncos are from getting back into SL.

So better to finish 1st or 3rd imo.
With 3rd seeing at least a couple of competitive games at home and feeling you did ok.