Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:01 pm  

William Eve wrote:

This game doesn't mean anything.

Perhaps they'll turn up next week instead when it does mean something?

Fair point.

Please re read my post after they lose next weekend.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:04 pm  

I don't get the "this game is meaningless" thing. Granted you don't get eliminated when you lose but,
Win and you're one HOME game away from Old Trafford with the a week off to prepare whilst your future opposition have to play the previous week.
Lose and you have to play at home against probably Leeds or Wire (both more playoff experienced that Hudds) and IF you get through that you then have to go away again, possibly to the same team who have just walloped you.

If you were a coach which scenario would you prefer?

The format might be flawed, but some of the teams attitude and effort shown on playoffs game is the bigger flawed. You can't just blame that it's "no elimination" tonight. It was elimination in 2012 when this same Hudds team travelled to Hull and were equally as dire as tonight. Hull returned the favour in 2013 shipping 70+ in a game where you lose and you're out.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:08 pm  

LeedsDave wrote:

Fair point.

Please re read my post after they lose next weekend.

Leeds don't like playing Huddersfield and I expect they'll make hard work of it next week like they did at the same irrelevant stage of the play-offs a few years ago.

Wigan V Leeds and Saints V Warrington in 2 weeks time is when the real stuff begins.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:20 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

I don't get the "this game is meaningless" thing. Granted you don't get eliminated when you lose but,
Win and you're one HOME game away from Old Trafford with the a week off to prepare whilst your future opposition have to play the previous week.
Lose and you have to play at home against probably Leeds or Wire (both more playoff experienced that Hudds) and IF you get through that you then have to go away again, possibly to the same team who have just walloped you.

If you were a coach which scenario would you prefer?

The format might be flawed, but some of the teams attitude and effort shown on playoffs game is the bigger flawed. You can't just blame that it's "no elimination" tonight. It was elimination in 2012 when this same Hudds team travelled to Hull and were equally as dire as tonight. Hull returned the favour in 2013 shipping 70+ in a game where you lose and you're out.

The game was meaningless to wigan, but not to huddersfield.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:22 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Leeds don't like playing Huddersfield and I expect they'll make hard work of it next week like they did at the same irrelevant stage of the play-offs a few years ago.

Wigan V Leeds and Saints V Warrington in 2 weeks time is when the real stuff begins.

So the season finally kicks off in 2 weeks time!

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:26 pm  

Same reason we struggle to attract sponsors, fans don't have the disposable income to spend or even if they do they lack the sense to save up for the knockout games the same way they would for a season ticket.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 9:35 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

So the season finally kicks off in 2 weeks time!

Sure does.

I've maintained for a long time that we have to endure 27 meaningless regular season rounds of crap followed by 2 rounds of play-off crap until the season kicks off for real.

You can't run a viable 14 team competition and an 8 team play-off format when at least 10 of those teams are hopeless.

It works better in the NRL but it's still not without it's issues.

It works fine in Aussie Rules but it is after all a format they came up with to suit the relative strengths and weaknesses of their competition.

We had it spot on when it was Top 5 and so did the ARL (now NRL).

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 10:30 pm  

William Eve wrote:

We had it spot on when it was Top 5 and so did the ARL (now NRL).

Agree our top 5 system was spot on.I couldn't believe it when NRL switched from the mcintyre(?) System which i think had a fair rewarding system for a top 8 format.Moving to what we have now is a mistake imo but given the quality of their top 8 it doesn't quite look to have as many flaws as SL.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:09 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

Agree our top 5 system was spot on.I couldn't believe it when NRL switched from the mcintyre(?) System which i think had a fair rewarding system for a top 8 format.Moving to what we have now is a mistake imo but given the quality of their top 8 it doesn't quite look to have as many flaws as SL.

ARL switched from a Top 5 system to a Top 8 system in 1995 because the comp increased from 16 to 20 teams when Auckland Warriors, Perth Western Reds, South Qld Crushers and North Qld Cowboys were admitted.

I think they even had a Top 10 play-off one season. I'm sure Canterbury reached the Grand Final from 10th! Wonder what repercussions there would have been had they become champions from that position?

The decision to expand to 14 teams in Super League in 2009 was lunatic asylum stuff. The prime movers and shakers in favour of franchising created 2 extra places which provided the necessary majority required to rubber-stamp all the bollox.

The game has suffered ever since as the rewarding of mediocrity and the levelling down of playing standards have gone hand in hand. It could take years to repair the damage. Some clubs need to re-educate themselves on what sport and competition is all about because many have just been collecting their guaranteed licensed Sky money and tossing it off/going through the motions for years.

Re: Why do RL fans not go to games that mean something? : Thu Sep 18, 2014 11:30 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Leeds don't like playing Huddersfield and I expect they'll make hard work of it next week like they did at the same irrelevant stage of the play-offs a few years ago.

Wigan V Leeds and Saints V Warrington in 2 weeks time is when the real stuff begins.

I would agree with you on the last four. But I reckon it will be Saints v Leeds and Wigan v Warrington.

Reckon Saints will fancy Leeds at home rather than risking meeting them at Old Trafford again

*Edit: In fact, we would be the lowest ranked team left in that scenario, so even more chance Saints would choose us over Warrington!