Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:55 pm  

Yep it was top 4 proposed. 1v4 2v3
So still a max of 6.

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 6:56 pm  

How would Option 2 (2x12 and qualifying play-offs) work?
The clubs in each division would play each other home and away plus a Magic Weekend fixture (23 games) before splitting into three groups of eight for a qualifying play-off series. The middle eight would involve the bottom four clubs from Super League competing against the top four Championship clubs. The clubs would play each other once (seven matches) before the play-offs conclude in a 1st x 4th and 2nd v 3rd format with the winners contesting the Grand Final. To ease fixture congestion, the top eight Super League clubs would receive a bye into the fifth round of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup.


Seems you are correct good sir!!

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:04 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

How would Option 2 (2x12 and qualifying play-offs) work?
The clubs in each division would play each other home and away plus a Magic Weekend fixture (23 games) before splitting into three groups of eight for a qualifying play-off series. The middle eight would involve the bottom four clubs from Super League competing against the top four Championship clubs. The clubs would play each other once (seven matches) before the play-offs conclude in a 1st x 4th and 2nd v 3rd format with the winners contesting the Grand Final. To ease fixture congestion, the top eight Super League clubs would receive a bye into the fifth round of the Tetley’s Challenge Cup.


Seems you are correct good sir!!

top 4 is a good call, certainly puts a lot of pressure for teams to perform throughout the year, as opposed to a couple.

Challenge cup moving back would be good imo, magic weekend the first week of the split, and no silly club call!

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:37 pm  

So if MM was first week of the split, that would mean everyone in the top tier gets 3 home and 3 away fixtures with the odd one at MM.

I hope they can compress the CC down somewhat. I would like the semi's to be 2 weeks before the final, but is that feasable?

Also what if a club (lets call them Bull KR)

Gets to the CC final, but ends up in 8th place with a critical game the week after. Do they go all out to win the CC and risk not getting into the top 8, or chuck the final and go all out to stay in the top 8.

It's a tough call as from 8th you are unlikely to get into the playoffs the odds are against it, were as prize money from the CC maybe useful the next year and you should from being a 9th placed team get through the split.

Or do clubs fear the split and want to be assured of SL1 money next year far and above anything the CC could offer.

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:51 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

So if MM was first week of the split, that would mean everyone in the top tier gets 3 home and 3 away fixtures with the odd one at MM.

I hope they can compress the CC down somewhat. I would like the semi's to be 2 weeks before the final, but is that feasable?

Also what if a club (lets call them Bull KR)

Gets to the CC final, but ends up in 8th place with a critical game the week after. Do they go all out to win the CC and risk not getting into the top 8, or chuck the final and go all out to stay in the top 8.

It's a tough call as from 8th you are unlikely to get into the playoffs the odds are against it, were as prize money from the CC maybe useful the next year and you should from being a 9th placed team get through the split.

Or do clubs fear the split and want to be assured of SL1 money next year far and above anything the CC could offer.

I have no idea what's happening with mm - I'm only guessing that's the most logical week to have it (personally, I'd do away with it, but that doesn't seem likely to happen)

Don't teams get more for finishing inside the 8? Attendance revenue alone would surely outstrip any challenge cup prize money (and have to play a game less next year in the 5th round) - but winning the cup is winning the cup!

I think it will be near impossible (more so than it already is) to do the treble in the new system.

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:15 pm  

The only 'play off' game in the middle 8 is 4th v 5th for the final place in SL I think

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 8:33 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

So if MM was first week of the split, that would mean everyone in the top tier gets 3 home and 3 away fixtures with the odd one at MM.

Calm down, that makes far too much sense for the RFL.

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:28 pm  

DemonUK wrote:

The only 'play off' game in the middle 8 is 4th v 5th for the final place in SL I think

I think your right Del.

What a massive game that would be !

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:37 pm  

DemonUK wrote:

The only 'play off' game in the middle 8 is 4th v 5th for the final place in SL I think

Indeed so. It hardly makes sense to have "champions of mediocrity" for the middle tier!

Re: CHALLANGE CUP : Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:23 pm  

Magic Superbeetle wrote:

Indeed so. It hardly makes sense to have "champions of mediocrity" for the middle tier!

Mediocricy began to exist with no relegation and franchising.

Its a bit like having a top 8 play off between 14 teams at the end of season to fill a void.

Its also a bit like being in 10th to 14th place with nothing to play for towards the end of the season, knowing you will not be punished for being poor throughout !!

Lighten up !! RL needed a shake up, and it has got it in the best possible way even though it will still be very difficult for the Championship sides to get promoted to the promised land !