posted Dec 3, 2008

Dont look now One_Beat but you're actually making MeatHills arguement for him, that's exactly what he's saying and he's right. Ok he forgot to mention all the rediculous scenarios in which it happens in others sports as well but that only serves to further illustrate how sport in general has been overrun by money because that's what all these daft play off systems are about at the end of the day. It has nothing to do with the sport or the spectators and everything to do with marketing and cold hard cash.

I know we just have to accept that that is the way of things these days but it doesn't make it any less rediculous that the team which wins the league through consistently producing the best results over the course of a long, drawn out season is instantly and virtually forgotten IF they do not then succeed in winning a couple of games of knock-out rugby.

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posted Dec 3, 2008

Can I start by saying that for most of my sporting life, I've been a football (round version) fan and have watched in horror as the value of being the league champions has diminished season by season since Sky "gained control" of the sport back in 1992.
I do avidly watch SL and I agree with some of the comments on this post, namely:
It is (probably) THE best spectator sport in the country (and I include Premiership football in this - let's face it you could list the "top 4" on day 1 of the season most years) and is one of the few sports where any team can beat any other team on their day.
What concerns me in all this is the "value" being seemingly placed on the Grand Final to the detriment of the team that wins the league. How can you be the most consistent team week in and week out but maybe for reasons beyond your control (e.g injuries) you don't get to the Grand Final in what amount to 2 rounds of "Cup Rugby"? Surely the greater test is being top of the pile after a sustained effort over a number of weeks?
Extending the play-offs to include the top 8 teams seems insane to me - you may as well extend it to include all 14 and do away with the league programme.
The times I have seen SL, I have been impressed with pretty much everything and I just think - if it ain't broke don't fix it.

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posted Dec 3, 2008

I bet this is the top eight that the powers that be would like.
St Helen
Leeds
Catalans
Wigan
Bradford
Warrington
Dragons
Salford
and the rest can fight for any scraps they can.

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posted Dec 3, 2008

Stop bleating. You're team has bottled it year after year, so of course you don't like the play offs. Surely you don't want to deprive the rest of us? I have'nt stopped laughing yet

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posted Dec 3, 2008

Shaylaner at least get your basics right when putting points across. the grand final aint on 28 october 2009 and are the catalans not the same as the dragons in your top eight.

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posted Dec 3, 2008

sorry,i meant crusaders

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posted Dec 3, 2008

Whilst this system has its quirks lets avoid silliness. RL for most of its long history has crowned its champions via a Grand Final in preference to first past the post.....just ask Dewsbury!

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posted Dec 3, 2008

Shaylander, what sort of a top 8 is that
salford and celtic in the play offs :S !
i think the top 8 will be
Saints
Leeds
Wigan
Warrington
Catalans
Hull FC
Bradford
Wakey
and i also believe the new top 8 structure is great as it allows lesser temas to break in to the play offs

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posted Dec 4, 2008

Your all nuts in my eyes
I think the top 8 will be:
leeds
saints
catalans
wigan
warrington
bradford
giants
wakey
Huyll kr and hull fc may get there but hopefully not

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posted Dec 4, 2008

Polly Tunnel,the lowest placed team to win the grand final was 4th.so as i keep saying its biased to the top four.and the rest make up the numbers.

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