Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:27 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote:

To be fair to Leeds though, although they had an easy (on paper) opening game if they win it this year they will have

played Catalan in France with a fantastic home record
played Wigan at Wigan the league winners
played the league runners up and CC winners.

Well I'll bring this back round to my fuss being over the regular season. Leeds to me for two years now have had zero incentive to go for 4th place. They to have been quite happy to sit in 5th and get a home game first rather than have to travel straight away to Wigan/Warrington. I think they realised the chances of beating either of us two twice are far less that one off. Thats not their fault but its one of the big flaws in this current system. Thats my main point. Warrington also had a big chance to go for 1st place after beating us, but didn't bother with it because they didn't need it. Seriously, look at the second half for the season and find me a match featuring the top 5 that counted for anything.....I can't remember any.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:30 pm  

I have read this board from start to finish and I agree with the sentiments entirely. It's not right that teams are allowed to field weakened teams and risk losing league points in the knowledge that it won't matter as they will still finish in the top 8. I include Wigan (v Widnes) and Wire (v Salford) in that as examples. The top of the league should be the holy grail of any sport and not a 4 game knock out competition!

With the salary cap as it is in Oz compared to here, gone are the days of the games elite players coming here even if it was just for a bumper pay cheque as they used to do. Our game is far inferior to theirs and the gap in standards is growing.

We are the poor relatives and cannot sustain a 14 team competition and expect any kind of real intensity. However, I fear the clowns at RFL will not listen to the fans and will continue to spout pap. There is an element of greed in our chairmen who want more fixtures and more revenue that comes with it.

That of course starts the vicious circle of revenue allows clubs to spend on players but those clubs who could afford to spend are prevented from doing so due to the cap.

The only answer is to generate money through sponsorship as the NRL has but with the lack of intensity in our weekly rounds, I fear that won't happen and we are destined to remain the poor relative for the distant future.


I have loved the NRL on Premier this season and will continue to get the majority my RL enjoyment via that avenue.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:36 pm  

a top five system would not just be about improving the post season but would mean that every point gained by the teams chasing a playoff place could make or break their chances in the playoffs.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:37 pm  

In the old top 5 setup, these are the games: (winners in green for the sake of it [I think this is right])

Week 1:
Warrington vs Saints
Catalan vs Leeds

Week 2:
Wigan vs Saints (Winner to GF)
Warrington vs Leeds

Week 3:
Wigan vs Leeds

Grand Final:
Saints vs Leeds

No duplicate games, no boring games. I'd pay to watch every single one.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:38 pm  

Horatio Yed wrote:

Would people accept Leeds as finalists more if they came from 5th in a top 5 system? Genuine question.

Would I be correct i saying the 5th place club in a top 5 play off would have to beat 4,3,2 & 1st (all away in consecutive weeks)to claim a grand final win.

Now that would be some achievement

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:40 pm  

wiganrlforever wrote:

Would I be correct i saying the 5th place club in a top 5 play off would have to beat 4,3,2 & 1st (all away in consecutive weeks)to claim a grand final win.

Now that would be some achievement

Thats correct.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:52 pm  

A return to the top 5 system is a must, some of the results in the first week were embarassing.

How can results like Wigan 46 Catalan 6, Leeds 42 Wakefield 20 and Hull 46 Huddersfield 10 be seen as entertaining. Although it was gutting to be on the wrong side of the scoreline I'd rather see plenty more games like Friday's where you had no idea who was going to win even in the dying moments of the game.

I know people say that you need a top 8 to keep fans interested in the results of teams in the lower section of the table, why not as alternative do as the Premier League do in the football and award prize money depending on your clubs finishing position in the table at the end of the league rounds?

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 6:54 pm  

A Top 5 wouldn't generate enough games for Sky. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it but realistically Sky will dictate the format of the play offs.

This thread has put into words exactly how I have felt since July.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:00 pm  

TonyM19 wrote:

A Top 5 wouldn't generate enough games for Sky. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it but realistically Sky will dictate the format of the play offs.

This thread has put into words exactly how I have felt since July.

The problem is SKY's top 8 play off system is driving people away from attending matches. It's awful going to games and seeing loads of empty seats, must be bad for players having to perform in an atmosphere like that when come the business end of the season you want to see packed crowds and feed off the energy from the stands.

LISTEN TO THE FANS, BRING BACK THE TOP 5 PLAY OFF SYSTEM!!

That's if we have to even have play offs as the team finishing top of the table should be regarded as champions.

Re: BILKO : Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:22 pm  

Bilko wrote:

Well I'll bring this back round to my fuss being over the regular season. Leeds to me for two years now have had zero incentive to go for 4th place. They to have been quite happy to sit in 5th and get a home game first rather than have to travel straight away to Wigan/Warrington. I think they realised the chances of beating either of us two twice are far less that one off. Thats not their fault but its one of the big flaws in this current system. Thats my main point. Warrington also had a big chance to go for 1st place after beating us, but didn't bother with it because they didn't need it. Seriously, look at the second half for the season and find me a match featuring the top 5 that counted for anything.....I can't remember any.

I know what you're saying and i share some of your frustrations but even you would rather have had your path than say

Playing Wakey week 1
Away at Catalan week 2
& Leeds away week 3.