Sat 14 Sept: Championship Qualifying Play-off: Toulouse Olympique v York City Knights KO 2pm (OurLeague App)

[gavin7094]

4 minutes ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

 

My sympathies, gavin7094!  It seems odd to me that there is a constant referral back to regular season places.  Without that, York victory in Toulouse followed by defeat in Toronto would, indeed, have seen you play Toulouse again, if they won match D, but this time in York. 

I agree.  I accept that finishing higher in the league must be rewarded.  TO's reward is a home tie and a second chance.  Fair enough. However, should York win that then shouldn't Toulouse lose the home advantage?

[GeordieSaint]

42 minutes ago, gavin7094 said:

I agree.  I accept that finishing higher in the league must be rewarded.  TO's reward is a home tie and a second chance.  Fair enough. However, should York win that then shouldn't Toulouse lose the home advantage?

Yes they do - return fixture would be in York if that's how the rest of the qualifiers pan out. 

This is the format that used to be used in SL; always thought it was the best format for the play offs. Much better than the 6s or the 8s format as it better rewards finishing top and is a right lick out for those teams in 4/5 to get through to the final.

[TboneFromTO]

Just now, GeordieSaint said:

Yes they do - return fixture would be in York if that's how the rest of the qualifiers pan out. 

Do they? I thought the higher seeded team always played at home - read it some where (can't remember where) and that's why Toronto are able to guarantee 3 home games in a row regardless of who they play (could be York Toulouse York even!)

[gavin7094]

12 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Yes they do - return fixture would be in York if that's how the rest of the qualifiers pan out. 

This is the format that used to be used in SL; always thought it was the best format for the play offs. Much better than the 6s or the 8s format as it better rewards finishing top and is a right lick out for those teams in 4/5 to get through to the final.

That's not what I understood, though I'm happy to be proved wrong.  Do you have an authoritative reference for this info. please? 

[spanishknight]

38 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Yes they do - return fixture would be in York if that's how the rest of the qualifiers pan out. 

This is the format that used to be used in SL; always thought it was the best format for the play offs. Much better than the 6s or the 8s format as it better rewards finishing top and is a right lick out for those teams in 4/5 to get through to the final.

No your wrong, the higher placed team will always have home advantage, no matter what, thats why the Knights will go to either Toronto or Toulouse but they wont have to travel to England.

[GeordieSaint]

9 minutes ago, spanishknight said:

No your wrong, the higher placed team will always have home advantage, no matter what, thats why the Knights will go to either Toronto or Toulouse but they wont have to travel to England.

Apologises if I am then. Following the RFL schematic on possible routes; states the Game E home team is the Loser of the Game D Toronto/ANO (same model for SL I think). They must have changed their mind since they implemented the actual structure.

[TboneFromTO]

32 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Apologises if I am then. Following the RFL schematic on possible routes; states the Game E home team is the Loser of the Game D Toronto/ANO (same model for SL I think). They must have changed their mind since they implemented the actual structure.

If York win then lose I hope you're right and I'm wrong (for York's sake)

And your info looks pretty legit!

[kiggy]

41 minutes ago, TboneFromTO said:

If York win then lose I hope you're right and I'm wrong (for York's sake)

And your info looks pretty legit!

Nope, the home advantage is given to the team that finished higher in the normal league. It's good for TO but I don't agree with it, but I'm not sure how you would do it otherwise. You lose and have your next game away?  is the only other way.

[TboneFromTO]

26 minutes ago, kiggy said:

Nope, the home advantage is given to the team that finished higher in the normal league. It's good for TO but I don't agree with it, but I'm not sure how you would do it otherwise. You lose and have your next game away?  is the only other way.

Well that's what I thought too, but the rfl website says below, which supports  not always having home field advantage

[gavin7094]

The most worrying thing here is that we don't know the structure.  I hope you're right.  I'd love to see TO at York. 

[kiggy]

7 minutes ago, TboneFromTO said:

Well that's what I thought too, but the rfl website says below, which supports  not always having home field advantage

 

http://secure.rugby-league.com/ign_docs/2020 League Structure.pdf

.

read the tiny tiny small print *All Play Off games will be played at the ground of the highest ranked team. With ranking decided by league position at the end of the Regular Season

[gavin7094]

2 minutes ago, kiggy said:

http://secure.rugby-league.com/ign_docs/2020 League Structure.pdf

.

read the tiny tiny small print *All Play Off games will be played at the ground of the highest ranked team. With ranking decided by league position at the end of the Regular Season

Damn. 

[GeordieSaint]

29 minutes ago, kiggy said:

http://secure.rugby-league.com/ign_docs/2020 League Structure.pdf

read the tiny tiny small print *All Play Off games will be played at the ground of the highest ranked team. With ranking decided by league position at the end of the Regular Season

Thanks - had missed that. Is it applicable to SL as well?

Definitely a change to the last iteration of Top 5 playoffs and not a good one IMO.

[wasginger]

Good luck to York. They'll need it with the ref they got,I didn't used to believe in home birds with referees, but after last weekends performance how the hell has he been given Toulouse again. Unbelievable.

[Tex Evans Thigh]

19 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Thanks - had missed that. Is it applicable to SL as well?

Definitely a change to the last iteration of Top 5 playoffs and not a good one IMO.

It's ridiculous. If a team wins away they should take home advantage from the other team should they meet again. 

Repeat fixtures are the worst thing about this format, which could be somewhat tempered by reversing the home/away aspect if the away team won the first game.

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

20 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Thanks - had missed that. Is it applicable to SL as well?

Definitely a change to the last iteration of Top 5 playoffs and not a good one IMO.

Remember back around 2000 Widnes won at Hunslet, lost at Dewsbury and then had to go back to Hunslet.

Where we lost!!!

[DEANO]

Then a few years later you were promoted mid season

[Lamport Life]

13 hours ago, Tex Evans Thigh said:

It's ridiculous. If a team wins away they should take home advantage from the other team should they meet again. 

Repeat fixtures are the worst thing about this format, which could be somewhat tempered by reversing the home/away aspect if the away team won the first game.

Agreed. Even though I'm a Wolfpack supporter I don't think the team should host the final if they lose the semi final but then win the preliminary final.

[kiggy]

York have a chance, Ilias Bergal, who has been fantastic since his comeback from injury, broke his leg against Fev last weekend

[Tex Evans Thigh]

I wouldn't be surprised if both teams were happy with a loss here. Nobody wants to go to Toronto twice in a couple of weeks and I wouldn't want to go there, get pumped and then have to come back against a fired up Toulouse/York/Fev/Leigh.

York in particular are probably better off losing here and preparing for Leigh or Fev at home then having a proper crack at Toulouse (should they beat Leigh/Fev) after they've been to Toronto.

[Simon Hall]

1 hour ago, Tex Evans Thigh said:

I wouldn't be surprised if both teams were happy with a loss here. Nobody wants to go to Toronto twice in a couple of weeks and I wouldn't want to go there, get pumped and then have to come back against a fired up Toulouse/York/Fev/Leigh.

York in particular are probably better off losing here and preparing for Leigh or Fev at home then having a proper crack at Toulouse (should they beat Leigh/Fev) after they've been to Toronto.

I'd prefer us to win all our play-off games. 

[Just Browny]

I give the RFL a fair bit of stick, but if I were an RFL employee reading this thread I would be incredulous at the whingeing.

After years of moans about it being important to reward performance during the league season, everyone now wants to overturn the league placings to help 'Little York' during the playoff series.

This is the right format and it will be a great series.

[The Phantom Horseman]

Interesting take on the OurLeague broadcast that the hot weather was a disadvantage to Toulouse because they had had to train in it this week 

[ojx]

Crowd looks pretty poor for a play-off game. Maybe Toulouse aren't SL ready.

[YCKonstantine]

Can anyone shed some light on how a Toulouse player tackling a York player while he's trying to play the ball is a penalty to Toulouse?