[PopTart]

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:56 am  

I have to say though, stress of failure apart, I'm really looking forward to the middle 8. It will be a great battle for places.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:01 pm  

TRB wrote:

If we get off to a flier - then we go for the 8 - it can be done, but we need luck with injuries etc.

If we don't - then we may need to adjust targets and timings of peak conditioning to ensure that we are at our best for the Super 8's. That is going to be a real pressure cooker and will not be a formality for any team in there!

… and there in lay the issue of the new league structure. Iif/when it becomes impossible for Trinity to make the top 8, when do they start resting key players in preparation to go full tilt in the middle 8. “Every Minute Matters”? Not quite.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:19 pm  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

… and there in lay the issue of the new league structure. Iif/when it becomes impossible for Trinity to make the top 8, when do they start resting key players in preparation to go full tilt in the middle 8. “Every Minute Matters”? Not quite.

Yes - agreed - always thought that. There is an advantage to coming 9th or 10th with an extra home game, but that is all.

I've always felt there should be some points to carry through - say 3 for coming 9th, 2 for 10th etc, but that wouldn't have it quite so dramatic in the 8's themselves. If you are playing the last 3 rounds of the regular season, with no chance of the 8, then you would rest anyone who was carrying injuries.

I don't think you can avoid meaningless games altogether though and think this system is as good as any. As said above, the middle 8 is going to be dramatic / nerve jangling - and that has to be good sport!

[PopTart]

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:29 pm  

Giving points for position penalises the championship teams though.

The dead games are only the same as the playoffs now. You can of course rest players, but in my mind, those players need to be battle hardened ready for the playoffs or Middle 8. Resting them is not valuable for me, unless they have minor injuries, which is a good idea either way.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:39 pm  

I think being in the middle eight could be more lucrative if it means meaningful games against Featherstone Castleford Bradford a home rather than Catalans Widnes and Salford in the top 8 with no chance of finishing fourth.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:46 pm  

I like the idea of the split, but key to it all was equal central funding. That would certainly create drama.

I still think rather than just the top three retaining their position or getting promoted, they should evolve the structure so they have a grand final much like the 8's above and below.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:36 pm  

Every minute matters!! A team could save all its money and play juniors through the first stage then recruit some top players on huge short term contracts for the mid 8 series.

The mid 8 should play 8 games, home and away against the other half of the table with points won against the other 3 teams in their section carried forward. This would exclude, of course, any points won at Magic Weekend which is a complete nonsense and distorts the league.

[PopTart]

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 3:27 pm  

I'm happy how it works now.
Anyone that actually plays juniors would see that reflected in their crowd takings.

The RFL already have a signing deadline to stop people recruiting for the playoffs. It would just need to apply for the dates of the middle eight, which I think are similar anyway.

Re: Aspirations for next season : Tue Oct 28, 2014 5:47 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I'd be happy with 8th, but I'm realistic enough to know we'll be 9-12.
I'd hope for a competitive run in the middle 8 and aim for top spot.

Would prefer to leave the 4th v 5th million pound game to someone else this time.

Agree.

IF we can put a few wins together to start the season and ease the tension & gain some confidence, you never know. Hopefully the team can get on a bit of a roll and stay relatively injury free and we might surprise ourselves. Like you say I'd be happy with 8th.