The Super 8s league structure has come in for some strong criticism of late: but one Super League player has thrown in a strong defence for the system’s merits.
Wigan’s Sam Tomkins is currently playing in the Super 8s for the first time, given how he was still playing in the NRL during the inaugural year of the structure last year.
But he has told Wigan Today that you simply can’t keep everyone happy in a league structure, irrespective of its format.
He said: “I know there are a couple teams now who can’t make the top-four, but you can’t keep everyone happy. “People put a dampener on it, but if they’ve not played well enough all year they don’t deserve to make the top four. That’s the way it goes.
“The way we have it now, teams are desperate not to get in the bottom four of Super League – that was exciting – and now they are in a real battle.
“If we want more people watching this sport, we need more games that matter – and we’ve certainly got more games that matter now than we had a couple of years ago.
“Something needed to change from what we had, and the Super 8s was a good way to keep more teams involved. It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Tomkins will be involved on Friday night as Wigan look to strengthen their grip on a top-four place when the Warriors host St Helens in a huge Super 8s derby.
