The thing is how many teams have slacked off going into games this year as they are in a comfort zone. So teams slacking off will not be uncommon.
For example, Next week is Widnes v Hull KR.
So what are the odds Widnes will put out a weakened side as the CC is due the following week and they have a cushion beneath them already???
Whether there was relegation or not, Bradford and London are with several games to go in a position of a lame duck.
Hull had a good performance tonight, but come 4 weeks time may also be in a position where they can no longer make the playoffs.
The new system puts more meaning back into the league fixtures, but in any system there will be redundant fixtures.
As for the difference in salary caps. Do 12 teams pay out 1.8 million currently????
I'd be surprised if they do and the difference between 1.8 million is closed by raising the second tier up to £1 million.
To be critical that they stand little chance under the new system, were as currently they stand no chance, seems somewhat ironic.
There will never be a cure all system. If we had a league of 24 - 28 teams people from both ends would moan, about dilution of the top end and little chance of the bottom end progressing.
What I like is that my team can't sit on it's backside for 50% of the season safe in the knowledge that they are better than 50% of the league and therefore only need to put the effort in for the big games.
Under the current system rightly or wrongly there is the impression that it's not close at the top due to teams competing for top spot, but it's close at the top due to teams not being fussed about finishing top.
I'm happy to see were we are in 3 years and before the profits of doom come out and say it will be a disaster, we don't know that, it's just what you think. No matter how many times you say fact.
The biggest issue that is still not pinned down for me will be season tickets and how clubs go about selling them.
