New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:44 pm  

So with just a few weeks now until the season gets underway, what are people's thoughts on how this season will pan out and how well the new format will go down?

I was quite sceptical when i first saw the announced proposals last year, although i certainly believed we needed change. The top 8 play off format had gone from being a bit of, to a lot of a joke and i have always been a believer in promotion and relegation, but it seemed on the face of it very radical with the split mid season etc..and a lot to get the head around. After having a few months to take it all in and re charge the batteries i have to say i am looking forward to the season with much more hope and excitment tan in recent times. For starters the top end of the league looks set to be very tight, and with just 4 teams now contesting the end of season play offs and Wigan,Leeds,Warrington,Saints,Huddersfield and Catalans all having realistic ambitions to figure in them it should be a good battle throughout and mean very little 'coasting', all good in my book. Teams such as Cas, Salford both Hull sides have made interesting signings and all 4 have a good chance if things go there way of upseting the other 6 and doing a 'Cas' from last season so things are certainly not set in stone. And then there is the most ambitious part of all this format with the Championship's top 4 challenging the bottom 4 of SL to take their place the following year.

So, in conclusion it could very well work.Equally it could go horribly wrong but you can guarentee one thing, whichever way it does go we will be doing something completely different sometime soon, this is RL afterall folks! for now though i just can't wait for the season to begin in stark contrast to stale feeling of recent times and for that i am happy!

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:24 pm  

The end of season could be excellent viewing. I just hope that after the first three or four games, it's not really obvious who the top four will be.

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:21 pm  

I still don't have a clue how it all works.

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:10 pm  

I don't either I need to see it working

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 8:16 pm  

As I go to nearly every game, it's good to know my support may have some influence on our season. In recent years it's begun to feel like I'm just financing the players till the back end of September. 2 points means 2 meaningful points, and not just a little shivvy into 5th or 6th spot and glory or failure through the back door. Am I looking forward to Hull K R, big time. No more coasting or " hitting our straps" at the " business end". if you lose a game it costs you big time, especially if you're sitting 6 th or 7 th and no chance of making the four with a few games to go. Will the format be a success, I don't ply my trade on Blackpool seafront, but it could be the most exciting season or the biggest stinker dependent on results and placings.Let's hope we don't get the stinker when my season ticket could have cost me 15% more.

[Frosties.]

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:06 pm  

I think that it's going to work very well. having just one play off at the end before the grand final should be a massive boost to attendances in them games.

The qualifying 8 is going to throw a few surprises, with Bradford, London, featherstone recruiting well, as well as Leigh carrying on from their excellent season in 2014.

Re: New League Format : Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:14 pm  

Frosties. wrote:

I think that it's going to work very well. having just one play off at the end before the grand final should be a massive boost to attendances in them games.

The qualifying 8 is going to throw a few surprises, with Bradford, London, featherstone recruiting well, as well as Leigh carrying on from their excellent season in 2014.

I agree on the first point, it should get a decent crowd for the playoff games and make the regular season more important.

On the second, despite much more funding and some decent signings for some of the top Championship clubs, I'd be suprised if there's more than 1 "upset" during the Middle 8 matches.

Re: New League Format : Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:31 am  

Him wrote:

I agree on the first point, it should get a decent crowd for the playoff games and make the regular season more important.

On the second, despite much more funding and some decent signings for some of the top Championship clubs, I'd be suprised if there's more than 1 "upset" during the Middle 8 matches.

If the challenge cup is anything to go by then I am not convinced you will see an up turn in attendances for the play off semis

Re: New League Format : Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:30 am  

I think the theory behind the structure is good.

Making the play-offs more elite is a good idea. Still mkaing the top 8 something to aim for is good, as is trying to bridge the gap between SL and the rest.

Whether it turns out that way is another matter. It should be given time to see long term benefits though

Re: New League Format : Fri Jan 16, 2015 10:12 am  

Quite like it in theory. I always felt that the regular season tended to drift during the height of summer. The new format will hopefully give a new focus part way through. Like the notion of promotion being a possibility and the play offs being truncated although I could see a reversion to five teams if it proves too big an ask for the big four to fill the top four places.