johnh1 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 The race for the top 5 has suddenly become very interesting. If Saints had already been confirmed as champions, there would be a lot of meaningless games coming up. As it is, with the relegation issue to be decided as well, pretty much every game has a lot standing on it. What would people prefer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnh1 Posted August 11, 2019 Author Share Posted August 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, Saint 1 said: Top 5 for me. I like the fact that playoffs require you to be consistent enough to qualify while also having to be able to do it when all the pressure is on. Top 4 I dont think rewarded the top team enough, but Top 5 I'm a fan of. I agree. And it’s great that a Saints fan agrees as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denton Rovers RLFC Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 League leaders. By all means have a mini knock out comp but the best overall team should always be champions IMHO. Some years the play-offs are entirely predictable and 'resting' players as some have whined about has come about due to current system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I believe it should be the team that finishes top, they have proved themselves over all games in different conditions not 2 or 3 games at the seaons end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 The Grand Final is the biggest game in our calendar, it’s not going anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshmagpie Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Lift a championship trophy at Belle Vue? or at Old Trafford? Top 5 for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrispmartha Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 It could only be league leaders as champions if it’s straight home and away fixtures. Playoffs are the best imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo5 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Top 5 for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpool Rover Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Another one for the top 5. There is no way that I would go back to first past the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sentoffagain2 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Old 4 cups was League winners,Top four play off winners ,County Cup winners and Rugby League cup winners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M j M Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Top 5. League leaders is a decent achievement but giving it the title of champions doesn't really reflect our history as a sport - moreover winning the Grand Final shows if a team can display champion qualities when everything is on the line. As Cas showed a couple of years ago, they didn't have the qualities they needed to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris22 Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 In theory, I would prefer the league leaders to be the champions. But without having anything else to play for below (like European competition qualification as in football or rugby union) it doesn't really work. For that reason, it's probably best to stick with the play offs. And the top 5 rewards a higher placed finish incrementally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17 stone giant Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I don't follow closely the club game, so I've just been reading upon on the various systems that they've used over the years. It says that they used a Top 5 system from 1998-2001, but then switched to a Top 6. Why did they do away with the Top 5 playoff last time? Have they ever done a Top 4 but with 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd, home and away - like the football playoffs? That gives two "semi-finals" 1st and 2nd leg, and then a Grand Final. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs Are they planning to call the matches how they are referred to on Wikipedia? - Qualification Final, Elimination Final, Major Semi Final, Minor Semi Final, etc. I guess no system is completely perfect. I do like the Grand Final, so I wouldn't want to see that disappear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooleboy Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 1 hour ago, Clogiron said: I believe it should be the team that finishes top, they have proved themselves over all games in different conditions not 2 or 3 games at the seaons end Totally agree, top team champions, then play offs for the Premiership as it used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Picture Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 3 minutes ago, Gooleboy said: Totally agree, top team champions, then play offs for the Premiership as it used to be. Sorry, but playoffs which don't crown a champion is a stupid idea. Crowning a champion is the only reason to have playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie RL Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 I've come round to enjoying play offs over the years having originally thought league leaders was best. So Top 5 for me. What is the history if any of GF winners from positions 3 to 5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB Knight Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 This comes around most years and I make the same point each year. Playoffs all the way, the grand final is the biggest event in the RL calendar and it would be a shame to get rid. If there were strong enough leagues in other countries (other than Oz) resulting in a ‘european’ cup I’d be all for league leaders as champions because most teams would be battling for the title, a place in Europe or relegation. The leaders being crowned champions in the Premier League works because you have teams fighting relegation, teams who know they can’t get in to the Champions League so aim for Europa, teams who know they won’t win the title so can target Champions League....in the end there’s only a handful of clubs who end up mid table obscurity. In RL it’s not the same, if St Helens were already crowned champs it would be so boring for the rest of the season other than the relegation battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
17 stone giant Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 13 minutes ago, Charlie RL said: What is the history if any of GF winners from positions 3 to 5? I was looking at that the other day, so I've just checked again. If I'm not mistaken, it's: 2005 Bradford from 3rd place 2011 Leeds from 5th place 2012 Leeds again from 5th place 2013 Wigan from 4th place Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev p Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Play offs work in rl. League leaders would only make sense if all teams had the same programme, everyone home & away. As someone said earlier if league leaders were champions the season would be pretty much over. No champions league or europa league places to play for. In other seasons relegation could be decided by now also. So a month of meaningless matches. 70k at old Trafford works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannerboyuk Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Top 5 PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF http://www.rugbyleaguecares.org/ and http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/article/8790/join-team-wales-for-2013 Predictions for the future - Crusaders RL to get a franchise for 2012 onwards -WRONG Widnes Vikings also to get a franchise - RIGHT Crusaders RL to do the double over Widnes and finish five places ahead of them -WRONG Widnes Vikings NOT to dominate rugby league in years to come! STILL TO COME http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/cardiffdemonsrlfc/ http://www.walesrugbyleague.co.uk/ I promise to pay �10 to the charity of Bomb Jacks choice if Widnes Millionaires finish above the battling underdogs Crusaders RL. I OWE A TENNER! http://www.jaxaxe.co...89/Default.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gittinsfan Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 How a team finishing 5th could be hailed as champions just beggars belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moove Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 2 hours ago, M j M said: Top 5. League leaders is a decent achievement but giving it the title of champions doesn't really reflect our history as a sport - moreover winning the Grand Final shows if a team can display champion qualities when everything is on the line. As Cas showed a couple of years ago, they didn't have the qualities they needed to have. Spot the Leeds fan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUBRATS Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 If Wigan or Leeds finish top , a play off , if they don't , then top finisher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Plow Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 Got to be top 5 playoff and Grand Final although I think the league leaders should receive and actual trophy and not the dogs plate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moove Posted August 11, 2019 Share Posted August 11, 2019 You simply cannot beat the all-or-nothing emotional rollercoaster that is 80 minutes of everything on the line knock out rugby. As much as I hated the lows of repeat losses to Leeds, the GF has also given me some of my best memories of live RL. When you see the teams come out at Old Trafford it feels like RL was just made for an event like that. With the Challenge Cup you get a sense of the sport's history but the GF is pure sporting theatre. Unless you have the main prize on the line for that I don't think it could ever be the same. However I do think the way we treat the regular season borders on farcical at times. Whether it's the god-awful 'trophy', the prize money, the way even the RL media treat the achievement or the dismissive attitude of fans. At times it makes you wonder why anyone bothers going to any games until September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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