I wasn't a big fan of the middle 8s concept. However, the top 4 aspect of it did seem to stop the complaints about 'meaningless games'. In our glory days under TS when we used to win most weeks, the victories felt a bit hollow as there was always the feeling that it was 27 or however many games of going through the motions before the season started, when Leeds who had been mediocre all year would suddenly start winning.
Even now I think there's a weakness that whilst there's a big fight to get in to the top 4, there isn't that much reward for finishing higher within that - its just about getting a home fixture in a one-off knock out, where everybody is equal and one slip and you're out.
I wonder if it would be worth bringing back the old top 5 system that they used when they used from 1998 to 2001.
Then you had:
[note - team finishing higher in the league always has home advantage]
Week 1 [team finishing 1st has week off]
Qualification playoff: 2 v 3 (winner progresses to qualification semi final, loser progresses to elimination semi final)
Elimination playoff: 4 v 5 (winner progresses to elimination semi final, loser OUT)
Week 2
Qualification semi final: 1 v winner of qualification playoff (winner progresses to Grand Final, loser progresses to preliminary final)
Elimination semi final: loser of qualification playoff v winner of elimination playoff (winner progresses to preliminary final, loser OUT)
Week 3
Preliminary final: loser of qualification semi final v winner of elimination semi final (winner progresses to Grand Final, loser OUT)
Week 4
Grand Final
Although it looks complicated when you first see it, its pretty straightforward. The first two weeks there is a game where you are playing for the right to a week off, and if you lose you have a second chance next week; and a game which is to stay alive in the competition. Then it gets to 3 teams left, one gets knocked out in week 3 and the last two standing play the Grand Final.
This system provided a staggered reward where each team gets a distinct advantage over the one that finished a place below. It is very difficult for a team finishing 5th, or even 4th, to win the Grand Final, they had to go on winning streaks playing away from home.
I think a 5 team playoff would be the right number in the current standard of SL.