Martyn Sadler Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Should the RFL and the Super League clubs have adopted Marwan Koukash's proposal for the Super 8s? I think it would have made the competition far more exciting. In this article I explain why and look ahead to the 2019 season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krzzystuff Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 Just cut the points in half at the split and go from there. you still get "rewarded" for your pre 8's success but there is still "hope" for the team in 8th to win it. Playoffs are playoffs. if you make it you should have just as much of a chance of winning it as anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM2010 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 I actually like that idea. You still get rewarded for your performances in the regular season but it gives teams something to play for in the 8s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Tonks Sidestep Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 But it doesn't address the short notice for fixtures that many on here assure us is the problem..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 This system produced the most thrilling end to a league season in the sport's history so the article is factually incorrect for starters. It's not a failure of this system that the top 8s are going to be relatively uncompetitive - it's just a function of league systems. Sometimes they produce amazing tension, sometimes they won't because teams accumulate certain numbers of points which precludes excitement. You certainly can't retrospectively look at how a league table has ended up and decide that, because of the spread of points and places, an alternative would be better. Under Koukash's system the top three would have nothing to play for, more than a third of the teams, totally compromising all the fixtures involving them in the middle 8s; that's certainly not the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TboneFromTO Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 37 minutes ago, Krzzystuff said: Just cut the points in half at the split and go from there. you still get "rewarded" for your pre 8's success but there is still "hope" for the team in 8th to win it. Playoffs are playoffs. if you make it you should have just as much of a chance of winning it as anyone. I'd go further and just reset to 0 ala the qualifiers, where the top teams just get the home turf advantage. Proper second season stuff! That or have a playoff bracket (1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5). Maybe home and away series? Highest remaining seed always plays the lowest remaining seed (keep the qualifiers for the bottom 4) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM2010 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 I think there needs to be some reward for final league positions. If all the teams knew that the points were getting halved then once they're safe in the 8s they would still have to make a big push to either put as much daylight between themselves and the teams below or make as much ground as possible on the teams above before the split. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 15 minutes ago, scotchy1 said: The most exciting end to a season in the sports history didnt happen because of the structure, it happened because of the game. Had leeds put 30pts on Hudds in a comfortable victory nobody would have remembered it as the most exciting end to a season in the sports history. Absolutely - which is why bemoaning the 8s for producing "as much excitement as hoped" is bonkers. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. It's nothing to do with the 8s - but LEx has been against this system since the start so anything to suit that agenda. There are myriad problems with the 8s alongside its undoubted strengths and these are what should be addressed rather than giving the top three teams seven weeks off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris22 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 It's almost, but not quite as a bad as a recent suggestion I saw on RLFANS, which lambasted the RFL for not deciding the play-off structure mid-season to ensure that they can get the most exciting system! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 14 teams. Play each team twice to have 26 games. Top 6 make playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn Sadler Posted August 9, 2018 Author Share Posted August 9, 2018 5 hours ago, M j M said: This system produced the most thrilling end to a league season in the sport's history so the article is factually incorrect for starters. It's not a failure of this system that the top 8s are going to be relatively uncompetitive - it's just a function of league systems. Sometimes they produce amazing tension, sometimes they won't because teams accumulate certain numbers of points which precludes excitement. You certainly can't retrospectively look at how a league table has ended up and decide that, because of the spread of points and places, an alternative would be better. Under Koukash's system the top three would have nothing to play for, more than a third of the teams, totally compromising all the fixtures involving them in the middle 8s; that's certainly not the way to go. I assume the most thrilling end to a season in the sport's history was 2015, when Leeds won everything. And of course it was thrilling, particularly for Leeds supporters, which is why, I assume, you liked it so much. I don't understand the point you make in your last paragraph. How could the top three conceivably have nothing to play for? And how does that compromise the Qualifiers? The problem we have with the current system is that the Qualifiers are consistently more exciting than the top eight, principally because the Qualifiers clubs all start on zero points. Koukash's proposal would bring excitement back to the top eight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roughyedspud Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 If marwan wanted a say in how the sport was run he'd have stayed on at Salford... But he didn't...and now just drunk tweets about the RFL... Bore off you idiot.. OLDHAM RLFC the 8TH most successful team in british RL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stanley30 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 5 hours ago, Martyn Sadler said: I assume the most thrilling end to a season in the sport's history was 2015, when Leeds won everything. And of course it was thrilling, particularly for Leeds supporters, which is why, I assume, you liked it so much. I don't understand the point you make in your last paragraph. How could the top three conceivably have nothing to play for? And how does that compromise the Qualifiers? The problem we have with the current system is that the Qualifiers are consistently more exciting than the top eight, principally because the Qualifiers clubs all start on zero points. Koukash's proposal would bring excitement back to the top eight. Not even in the same category for thrilling as the 2016 million pound game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Browny Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 12 hours ago, scotchy1 said: Off the top of your head and without checking does anybody remember all the other seasons where the LLS was decided on the final day? The 2016 Super 8s were also very exciting, with the LLS won only on the last day when three teams could still have won it. Leeds fans won't remember this. I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 I read that article twice and I don’t get it in the slightest. There’s people who said the current formats of the eight was too confusing, but that idea is beyond comprehension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number 16 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 I like Marwan's idea. If the Super 8s stay I'd run with either that or bonus points based on final regular league standings, from 8pts for first down to 1pt for the last qualifier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM2010 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 It's probably irrelevant anyway as it looks like the 8s aren't going to be around from next season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Stottle Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Simples, award the league leaders sheild to both the SL and Championship after round 23, the Qualifiers then all start on zero points, BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT COMPETITION, treat the Super 8's in exactly the same way, start them all on zero points for the right for the top two to play at Old Trafford, there is absolutely no need to carry points over, the league leaders will have had their reward at round 23, all clubs in the SL will be ENTERING A DIFFERENT COMPETITION. All the clubs will have a chance to get to Old Trafford, just think if it was in this season Catalan coukd have an opportunity to "do the double" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 6 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said: Simples, award the league leaders sheild to both the SL and Championship after round 23, the Qualifiers then all start on zero points, BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT COMPETITION, treat the Super 8's in exactly the same way, start them all on zero points for the right for the top two to play at Old Trafford, there is absolutely no need to carry points over, the league leaders will have had their reward at round 23, all clubs in the SL will be ENTERING A DIFFERENT COMPETITION. All the clubs will have a chance to get to Old Trafford, just think if it was in this season Catalan coukd have an opportunity to "do the double" That devalues the first twenty-three games. As long as you’re in the eight in any order come Round 23, you can win the title. The hubcap means nothing when awarded at Round 30, it would hold less creidance at Round 23 as there’s no bonuses to finishing first ahead of the 8’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM2010 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 I read somewhere on here that each team plays each other twice with 6 extra games to make 28 followed by a top 5 play off. Can't remember if this was someone's idea from this forum or an actual proposal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Stottle Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 13 minutes ago, Oliver Clothesoff said: That devalues the first twenty-three games. As long as you’re in the eight in any order come Round 23, you can win the title. The hubcap means nothing when awarded at Round 30, it would hold less creidance at Round 23 as there’s no bonuses to finishing first ahead of the 8’s. Oliver you are considering it is the same competition, read back, In my proposal the first 23 rounds is a seperate entity entirely, the teams will have left that comp behind just as tge do when entering the bottom 4 do for the qualifying 8's, the SL clubs start again for the right to get to Old Trafford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dealwithit Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 The system is fine, just include all 8 teams in playoffs. 1v4, 2v3 - loser gets a second chance 5v8, 6v7 - knock out matches. It’s not ###### hard. You aren’t “innovative” if your creative solution to a problem is convoluted and confusing to spectators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 27 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said: Oliver you are considering it is the same competition, read back, In my proposal the first 23 rounds is a seperate entity entirely, the teams will have left that comp behind just as tge do when entering the bottom 4 do for the qualifying 8's, the SL clubs start again for the right to get to Old Trafford. Even so, it devalues the first “competition” and is utterly ludicrous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev p Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 If they keep the super 8s, top 3 qualify for semis after 30 games with team with most points from super 8s only. So all get rewarded for all games. My personal preference would be reverting to 6 team play offs with loser of 1v2 getting 2nd chance with winner going to GF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manx RL Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Good to see such united opinion as to the right competition structure. Hope the RFL member clubs can be just as united. - Adepto Successu Per Tributum Fuga - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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