30 replies to this topic

[Pride & Heritage]

Please can anyone tell me why the championship is still using the bonus point system?

When it was introduced, it was supposed to be an experiment for a season. Since then, I have heard nothing from the RFL and seen nothing published anywhere about the success or failure of the experiment and several seasons later we are still using it.

You may say this has been a successful experiment, therefore the championship is still using it. However, if that was the case, how come it has not been introduced in to Super League?

Surely such a successful experiment would have been adopted by the top tier?

Your honest opinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

If there is enough support to go back to the original points system of 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw; I hope to lobby the RFL to get things put back the way they were as this system makes the league and NRC a joke.

I may be flying against popular opinion though, so your honest input would be appreciated.

Edited by Pride & Heritage, 26 February 2012 - 03:36 PM.

[deluded pom?]

What I don't like is different rules for different comps. If we have BP then all leagues have BP. Each division should also follow the same playoff system. I didn't vote becasue the team I support doesn't play under the BP system so I don't believe it's the place of SL club fans to decide this.

Edited by deluded pom?, 26 February 2012 - 09:56 AM.

[Blind side johnny]

We could do with some facts to support the system, or otherwise, and these should be coming from the RFL.

One gripe that I have had since the system was introduced is that it is a completely one-sided incentive, rewarding only the losing side for not losing by too many yet not offering the winning side any extra for winning by more.

Whether it applies in SL or not is irrelevant, in my opinion.

[Stratobill]

I personally like the system as it keeps teams and players trying their best right to the final whistle, wether they are battling in defence or attack to secure or prevent an extra point.

It also helps a good club e.g York, Dewsbury who are maybe fighting off relegation (2010/11 season) to earn a point when they are not just good enough to win but are good enough to stay in the league to compete, as apposed to a team getting thrashed every week.

I know they only stayed up due to Barrows points deduction and Toulouse leaving the league but every year there are similar teams in their position.

[Phil Stone]

I sort of agree with BSJ but in a way it does reward the winning team by enabling them to deny the opposition a bonus point.
I think a couple of years ago Sheffield managed to reach the play offs based on the number of bonus points collected and that doesn't seem right when other teams had won more games.It does give fans and players something to aim for if they are trailing in the last quarter and i'm sure at Fax today if either team are winning by 12 with a couple of minutes to go the bonus point will be in the equasion for both teams.

[Simon Hall]

I personally like the system as it keeps teams and players trying their best right to the final whistle, wether they are battling in defence or attack to secure or prevent an extra point.

It also helps a good club e.g York, Dewsbury who are maybe fighting off relegation (2010/11 season) to earn a point when they are not just good enough to win but are good enough to stay in the league to compete, as apposed to a team getting thrashed every week.

I know they only stayed up due to Barrows points deduction and Toulouse leaving the league but every year there are similar teams in their position.

York actually won more games than Hunslet did last season, but Hunslet gained more bonus points so finished above them in the league. Had it not been for the demise of the Crusaders and the Barrow farce, York would have been relegated, so the bonus point system did us no favours.

[Darren Hill]

My only gripe with the BP system is the inbalance of points available in a game, i.e. drawn matches carry 4 league points (2 per team), a game in which a bonus point is gained also carries 4 league points (3 for winning team 1 for losers). Win by more than 12 points then only 3 league points are available.

[Griff]

Yes, it is a good thing.

Compared to the 2-1-0 system, you get an extra point for winning, an extra point for drawing and an extra point for losing by 12 or less.

If we went back to the old system, the only teams who would benefit are those who get stuffed. Why would you want to give them an advantage ?

It's OK saying that you're rewarding losers but that's ignoring the extra point winners and drawers get.

Edited by Griff, 26 February 2012 - 11:10 AM.

[Piggy's mate]

York actually won more games than Hunslet did last season, but Hunslet gained more bonus points so finished above them in the league. Had it not been for the demise of the Crusaders and the Barrow farce, York would have been relegated, so the bonus point system did us no favours.

Does this not indicate tho that Hunslet played "better" over the entire season than York? Don't get me wrong I'm not having a dig specifically at York. My own team Batley have benefitted and succummed to the bonus point in regards their league position, but overall I think the bonus point is beneficial to our game and should be adopted by Superleague.

[marklaspalmas]

It's a waste of time.

If you lose, you lose.

All leagues should have the same scoring system.

I suppose if you enjoy seeing a side 14 points down trying to kick a late penalty goal, then it works, but apart from that, nothing.

[Griff]

York actually won more games than Hunslet did last season, but Hunslet gained more bonus points so finished above them in the league. Had it not been for the demise of the Crusaders and the Barrow farce, York would have been relegated, so the bonus point system did us no favours.

The bonus point wasn't introduced to do York - or indeed any club - favours. Whatever the system, someone's going to finish in the bottom two. This notion that "I don't like this system because we'd have finished higher if we had the old system" is just nonsense.

[TaxiEgg]

I think last year if you took off the bonus points it actually only made the difference in final league placings to two teams so like the bloody margin metre a complete and utter waste of time .

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

..If we went back to the old system, the only teams who would benefit are those who get stuffed. Why would you want to give them an advantage ? ....

But it wouldn't give teams who 'get stuffed' an advantage. Points difference takes care of that!!!!!

[frankb]

After leading 22-0 at Sheffield me and few Leythers were walking quietly back to the station after our defeat 23-22 desperately looking for a cat to kick. Everybody was moaning and really depressed then suddenly someone said well at least we got a bonus point so we nipped in to Sheffield Tap for a celebration pint.

[Birchy]

I wasn't sure when it began, but now I think it's great.

I think it adds a new element to the match, when you beat someone you get extra bragging rights if you deny them even a bonus. Yeah ok it rewards failure, but also rewards the consistency of performances. Dont roll over and let it become a whitewash and get a reward. Shows ammore ruthless streak when you deny the point.

[Griff]

But it wouldn't give teams who 'get stuffed' an advantage. Points difference takes care of that!!!!!

Only with other teams on the same points.

[Griff]

Yeah ok it rewards failure.....

Suppose we had 2 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a defeat by 12 or less and -1 for a defeat by 12+. That would kill off the "you shouldn't get anything for a defeat" argument.

Positions would be the same as we have now. We'd just have 18 less points each.

[Blind side johnny]

I think last year if you took off the bonus points it actually only made the difference in final league placings to two teams so like the bloody margin metre a complete and utter waste of time .

That was kind of my point really. Unless we get some fairly straightforward breakdown of the actual effect then the debate is purely subjective.

[D4vid]

good point BSJ, never thought of it that way, maybe have a BP for a team that wins by a certain margin. the ammount of times ive seen a team walk the 1st half and let teams off in the 2nd half. if a bonus point was available then both teams would be trying hard till the end

[Pride & Heritage]

That was kind of my point really. Unless we get some fairly straightforward breakdown of the actual effect then the debate is purely subjective.

Fair point BSJ, what I was trying to get at, on balance as a fan of the game, does the current bonus point system's good points outweigh the bad points.

On the pro side, in some cases it can keep teams fighting for something up until the final whistle and it rewards teams' who run there opponents close even if they lose.

On the down side, if a team is losing by 14 points it pays them to take a shot at goal rather than trying to score a try, in the hope of gaining something from the game. If a team is winning by 12 it also pays them to take the safe option, going for goal or drop goal to deny the other team a bonus point. It also means, a team theoretically, could lose every game in a season and finish half way up the league, above a team who may have won several games over the season. I feel the team who has won more games over the season should finish higher in the league than an opponent who has won less.

Personally, I would prefer it if a bonus point was given to a team for every 5 tries they scored in a game. For example, if team a won the game scoring 10 tries, they would be awarded 2 bonus points (1 point for each of the 5 tries scored) plus the 2 points for winning the game. If the team that they had beaten, also scored 5 tries they would also get a bonus point regardless of how behind they were, rewarding them for there attacking prowess. This system would reward attacking play, therefore even a team getting beaten or winning easily for that matter, would have something to fight for and keep going to the end of the game, either by earning or denying extra bonus points.

I feel quite strongly against the system, for the reasons stated above. I think the negatives far outweigh the positives. However, my views are irrelevant really, if I am in the minority of fans; I guess I will have to learn to live with it. But, if most fans feel the way I do, I will try to get the system scrapped.

The purpose of this though, is simply to get a view of what other fans genuinely think about it.

Edited by Pride & Heritage, 26 February 2012 - 04:05 PM.