Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 7:59 am  

Given that we all agree that under the current system it is very unlikely that a Championship club can be promoted.

I have the following suggestion to amend the middle 8s, hopefully the RFL are looking at a similar idea.

The 9th and 10th placed Super League clubs play the 1st and 2nd Championship clubs home and away (Pool A)

The 11th and 12th placed Super League clubs play the 3rd and 4th Championship clubs home and away (Pool B)

After the 6 games the top 3 placed teams in Pool A go into Super League, the 4th placed team in Pool a play the 1st placed team in Pool B for the final Super League place in the MPG.

This would mean 1 less game for each side but would guarantee a Championship team being promoted each year and would not mean automatic relegation for a Super League team.

Agree?

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 8:21 am  

The only flaw in the system is that one SL team would be relegated. They won't vote for that. It may have been possible in years gone by when the teams at the bottom could be predicted but with teams like Leeds and Hudds near the bottom nobody will go for it.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 8:36 am  

Indeed, it may be turkeys voting for Christmas but it comes down to who runs the game - the clubs or the RFL?

Sadly I know the answer to that...I would guess that Gary Hetherington would be happy with this system, but not if it was in place for this season.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 8:44 am  

Actually Pool A 9th, 10th and 11th in SL and 1st the Championship I could go for. A penalty for finishing bottom of SL and a prize for finishing top of the Championship. As long as the salary cap is not restricted to a lower level in the Championship.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 10:07 am  

I think if the format is to remain then all championship vs SL games should be at the championship ground - they've played better than their SL counterparts so should get the benefit for that

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 10:39 am  

I'm happy with the system we have but I do think if a club can prove it can spend at SL cap levels, it should be allowed to...obviously under a lot of scrutiny and assessment.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 11:38 am  

Wire Yed wrote:

I'm happy with the system we have but I do think if a club can prove it can spend at SL cap levels, it should be allowed to...obviously under a lot of scrutiny and assessment.

I presume as a Wire fan you would happy with the system as it is, but if clubs such as Wakefield were not getting the SL funding they would not be able to spend up to the cap and therein lies the problem, without a rich benefactor a championship club has little chance of promotion.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 11:46 am  

Wire Yed wrote:

I'm happy with the system we have but I do think if a club can prove it can spend at SL cap levels, it should be allowed to...obviously under a lot of scrutiny and assessment.

They are allowed to.

[Bulliac]

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 11:56 am  

Wire Yed wrote:

I'm happy with the system we have but I do think if a club can prove it can spend at SL cap levels, it should be allowed to...obviously under a lot of scrutiny and assessment.

I think we [this is the game in general]] have been down this, 'scrutiny and assessment', path before with the cap.

One thing which seems to be obvious is that, if a club or owner goes out to deliberately cheat the system then it's very difficult for the authorities to even find out who they should be scrutinising, let alone actually doing so. The RFL only has the right to check clubs' accounts and can't insist on checking the accounts of any third parties who may be putting money in - even if they actually knew who that third party was.

The only things necessary to get away with a scam like that are a willing 'third party' and a minimal amount of brass neck. This 'third party' could just be a paper company set up specifically for the purpose. The cap is a good scheme when everyone can be trusted to play ball, but falls apart as soon as human nature is involved.

Re: Middle 8s - a fairer system : Tue May 31, 2016 12:06 pm  

DemonUK wrote:

They are allowed to.

Is that Salfords salary cap