Re: New structure for 2019 : Fri Sep 14, 2018 9:56 pm  

ALAW wrote:

So if your in 6th lose a couple of games for an easier year after then,?

...and your alternative is?

Re: New structure for 2019 : Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:18 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

The top 6 from one season play each other one more time the next season (albeit that's only 5 games). Same for the bottom 6 (sorry, 7-11 plus promoted team). Games spread through the season rather than been all at the end.

We did use a similar system to that for a while but it always resulted in one club getting a good season due to playing the bottom half in their extra games and finishing usually 5th or 6th. The same club would then finish bottom two the following season due to having to play all the top teams in their extra games. That scenario would create the issue suggested by Alaw whereby a club would look to avoid climbing into 6th place if in 7th or 8th with a few weeks to go.

Grimmy's suggestion of odds v evens for selecting the extra games (so Saints would play this season's 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th placed clubs in their loop games next year for example) seems more likely. As you correctly say the loop games would be spread over the season (as they were the last time we had them) I don't know why some people seem to think they will be the last 6 games on the fixture list.

Re: New structure for 2019 : Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:19 pm  

The end is nigh.

Re: New structure for 2019 : Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:29 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I'd hope odds vs evens based on previous years' finishing position, so that, in theory, you get a fairly balanced fixture list. Probably not though

If wigan don't get St Helens, Leeds and Wire at Home I suspect the system will be tweaked in a year or so....

Top 5 play offs : Sat Sep 15, 2018 7:28 am  

I am not a fan of this system at all and think it is a mistake to move away from the top 4 we currently have. In comparison it adds 2 weeks onto the season before going into internationals where any players not involved in the play offs will not be match ready. 2nd chances also create dead rubber fixtures. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs

I am not a fan of this system at all and think it is a mistake to move away from the top 4 we currently have. In comparison it adds 2 weeks onto the season before going into internationals where any players not involved in the play offs will not be match ready. 2nd chances also create dead rubber fixtures. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs

Re: Top 5 play offs : Sat Sep 15, 2018 8:16 am  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote: I am not a fan of this system at all and think it is a mistake to move away from the top 4 we currently have. In comparison it adds 2 weeks onto the season before going into internationals where any players not involved in the play offs will not be match ready. 2nd chances also create dead rubber fixtures. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs It is far better because it rewards finishing 1st and 2nd as it rightly should. Winning from 5th is near impossible. The only second chance is for 1st v 2nd and some of those games in the past to get directly to OT have been the best i have ever seen, see wide to West and the leeds v saints 8-6 which was awesome.

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote: I am not a fan of this system at all and think it is a mistake to move away from the top 4 we currently have. In comparison it adds 2 weeks onto the season before going into internationals where any players not involved in the play offs will not be match ready. 2nd chances also create dead rubber fixtures. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs It is far better because it rewards finishing 1st and 2nd as it rightly should. Winning from 5th is near impossible. The only second chance is for 1st v 2nd and some of those games in the past to get directly to OT have been the best i have ever seen, see wide to West and the leeds v saints 8-6 which was awesome.

Re: New structure for 2019 : Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:40 pm  

Is the Championship funding still loaded to the top 4? While it is a problem (Leigh and Featherstone potentially going bust) Toulouse, Toronto, London and Halifax deserve to be rewarded for their top 4 finish, as per the funding structure which was planned at the start and throughout this season.

Re: New structure for 2019 : Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:52 pm  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Is the Championship funding still loaded to the top 4? While it is a problem (Leigh and Featherstone potentially going bust) Toulouse, Toronto, London and Halifax deserve to be rewarded for their top 4 finish, as per the funding structure which was planned at the start and throughout this season.

Very clever, and in the end you've asked a question and answered it as well hoping for a contentious reply. You've failed though.

Re: New structure for 2019 : Sun Sep 16, 2018 6:01 pm  

So how will the Championship funding work in 2019?