Radical change on the way? : Sun Oct 25, 2020 10:57 pm  

From tomorrow league Express

Another radical change to the Super League season could see the campaign come to an end this weekend, with an extended play-off structure brought into place instead.

League Express can reveal Super League’s fixtures working group has explored the possibility of shortening the season and adding additional teams to the play-off picture.

Initially, talks had been kept informal but key figures from several clubs, including Leeds and Warrington, have shown support for an extended play-off system that would reduce the number of games players are being asked to play while adding a level of meaningfulness to the remaining fixtures.

Five clubs are currently chasing four play-off places and with no relegation at the end of the season, some remaining games are effectively dead rubbers.

With player welfare already a concern, and Covid-19 cases continuing to wreak havoc across the competition, there are growing calls to change the structure again.

That could see a five, six or even eight-team play-off structure put in place to fill the two weekends that would be left vacant by cutting the regular season short.

As it stands, there are five weeks of the season remaining, with the Grand Final set to take place on November 27th at the KCOM Stadium.

Currently, there are two weekends scheduled for the play-offs, but five, six and eight team formats are all based on four weekends of action.

Clearly, a change to the schedule would mean all clubs haven’t played each other twice, but with Catalans already having five games cancelled, including many against top-half sides, it is not perceived to be as big a concern as it would have been in other circumstances.

It means players are also not being asked to put their bodies at risk for meaningless games after a brutal schedule, while it would mean that Sky Sports would have a set of fixtures that all have a clear importance, as opposed to the current format.

Though a decision hasn’t been made yet, talks are set to take place this week.

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Re: Radical change on the way? : Sun Oct 25, 2020 11:42 pm  

Unless there is a big change at Catalans it's possible they won't be able to compete regardless of the final format.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:02 am  

Would like another bash at Cas before they do this.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:04 am  

Also wouldn’t we miss out on SKY money? Typical big club greed.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:14 am  

Willzay wrote:

Also wouldn’t we miss out on SKY money? Typical big club greed.

Must admit, that was one of the first things I thought. Trinity, along with most clubs, have pulled out All the stops,, to ensure the Sky contract is honoured. No club should miss out on any TV money if this latest idea is implemented.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 11:46 am  

Dunkirk Spirit wrote:

Must admit, that was one of the first things I thought. Trinity, along with most clubs, have pulled out All the stops,, to ensure the Sky contract is honoured. No club should miss out on any TV money if this latest idea is implemented.

Agreed
Any change shouldn't be used to give more monies to the top 6 and less to the clubs lower down the league table.
This has the usual whiff of greed from the big 4/5 clubs, who are likely to play just as many games but, no doubt, be wanting to gram a bit more doe.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 3:35 pm  

From a players welfare perspective it does make sense. Especially if we want as little disruption to next season.

But aside from the money issue, it would also render the club’s efforts to keep the game going pretty redundant.

Re: Radical change on the way? : Mon Oct 26, 2020 4:49 pm  

Willzay wrote:

Also wouldn’t we miss out on SKY money? Typical big club greed.

You seem to have made your mind up here, if the Sky contract has been filled every club would receive their fair share, however if the play offs are played for additional prize money then surely that would have been set out before the comp started and would only affect the clubs involved, like the prize money from the top club to the bottom decreasing in value.