Apart from between the late 70s-90s, rugby league has always had a play off structure just like near enough every code of football in the world apart from the obvious exception of soccer.



Of course some games will be treated as big and others less so, but that will always be the case unless you want a burnt out squad come July. Tell me, in December will Man City approach a game v whoever is at the bottom of the table in the same way as they would approach a derby?



I work in Liverpool and it seemed for the last two months of the season everyone was more worried about what another club did and the effect that had on the table. With knockout football we are the masters of our own destiny. For the past three years we didn't win when it matters and that's just sport, a lot of our supporters need to get over that.



As for Thursdays, they've been advertised long enough. People go to the cinema, restaurants, the pub etc on Thursday nights and it's no big deal. I'm baffled as to why RL fans react as if they've been ask to walk across a mine field blindfolded at 2am when we are asked to play at any time other than 3pm on a Sunday.

They have a championship knockout cup competition already.

I've not been to a single game this season and cancelled my Sky subscription. I found myself bored at too many games last season.

May go to Bradford on Sunday and hunt some glory.

Firstly, just because its happened, doesnt make it right. Obvious exception of soccer......the biggest revenue generating sport in the world. In many of the sports where a play-off decides the champions, at least recognition goes to the teams which finish the season at the top of the leagues.







But we are not talking about derby games and others. Would Man City treat a game V Watford in December as they would V Watford in April. Speak to anybody at Man City and the answer is an undoubted YES. Every result counts towards the final outcome. Tell a soccer team "its doesnt matter what your results in November" as your will win enough games to qualify for the champions league and watch those numbers plummet like stone







Whereas in Manchester all the talks was about,,"we need to win here and we need to beat". I think it says more about the mentality of Liverpool fans than it does the structure of the competition.







Yes, and all those things are done by adults. Rugby tries to sell itself on being a family sport. Little Jimmy's dad aint going to take him to a Thursday night game if he knows a) Jimmy is going to get tired an whingy and/or b) Jimmy has school the next day. I wonder how many teenage fans would decide not to attend a Thursday game because they are currently sitting GCSEs and have an exam on the Friday.



Attendances will continue to fall (or at least wont increase) until fans once again think a) they can afford to go the games and b) they get excited about the games. That's not going to happen until a) the government gets its finger out and b) the games governing body gets it finger out. Fans will continually feel disenfranchised from the game for as long as the desires of SKY or put ahead of those of the spectators. Can we survive without SKY ? Possibly not but probably yes. Can we survive without the fans ? Why would we want to ? Now tell me who should be the more important.



As regards naming an "unimportant game" this season Warrington V Salford (away), Warrington v Hull KR (home) to name two

If Agar becomes our No1 it will fall by 2 more.

The reaction on here after that KR game would say otherwise.

There were probably more "its less than 1/3rd into the season/the season starts in September" comments than "we're dooooooomed"

Will try and respond to each point you make but it's a bit difficult on my iPad. Sorry if it looks like a dog's dinner.



-You contradict yourself there. What if soccer went the other way, would it be even bigger? Would rugby be the bigger code if there hadn't been the schism? Would RL be the biggest sport in France if not for the Vichy government? All academic.

-We do have recognition- the League Leaders Shield. It's presented at the last match like the EPL, what more do you want? RL arguably decided in terms of popularity, coverage and financial viability during the FPTP years. Of course, there were other factors which eke to that.

-I don't watch the Premier League but I think it's impossible in RL to play full steam February-October, and win anything, regardless of the league structure. For what it's worth I sit next to a Man City season ticket holder!

-I know kids are wrapped in cotton wool these days, but when I were a lad I was out at some kind of club or birthday party etc every night of the week. How many kids have football on a Sunday? A major problem in London has been Saturday games clashing with the amateur RL scene. I've missed plenty of Sunday games due to exams over the years.

-I'm baffled as to how you think rugby league can continue as a full time professional sport without Sk. BT might put together a close deal, but it would be nowhere near. Then look at their viewing figures for RU. What if BT Sport failed like all these other channels which have come and gone, do you go back to Sky grovelling?

-I agree that the top eight system came way too soon and has done a lot of damage to the credibility of the finals. Next year will be a different kettle of fish though, and eventually wire fans will stop sulking about 2011. With a decent marketing strategy there's no reason why a town this big can't push to fill the HJ every week.



Anyway, that's my twopenneth!

Just seen a good example of a reason for poor attendances Hull KR away is on a Friday night & it isn't even on Sky. Why ? Are these fixture planners brain dead ,a Sunday afternoon would have been much better .

It would appear that to include the criteria "Dont put West v East on a Friday night" is a step too far for the big fixture generating computer. Can it be played on a Sunday ? Computer says "no".



The reality is that Hull KR play Bradford on Sky on the following Thursday night. Having the game on the Friday instead of the Sunday gives them the extra time to recover.

so ask a city fan now youve topped the league you have a top 8 play off to deter who are champs...what do you think the answer would be..consistancy needs rewarding

Personally annoyed by that one. But two years ago Hull FC moved to Sundays in the hope of attracting better away crowds. It turned out to be unpopular with Hull fans and visitor numbers didn't change.

Other than a challenge cup game, I can count on my middle finger to the schedule of how many Sunday SL games we've played.

By July I'd be able to count on my middle finger and index finger!

Take note RFL and further more take note our club and open your mouths about it and strongly request Sunday is our preferred day of play.

I much prefer Friday and Saturday night games. Usually a better atmosphere, more intense under the lights. For me Sunday afternoons only get the edge in the height of summer when it's shorts and ice cream weather.

I'll flip the coin.

In Feb Mar Apr Sept Oct Nov watching rugby a few degree's warmer in the day is preferable to a cold dreary dark evening.

I was shocked at how many Bradford fans were there yesterday. I checked the BBC when I got home and it says the attendance was just over 5,000. So much for the nice weather, 3 o'clock(ish) Sunday kick off argument.



Unless the Bradford fans are boycotting.

across the board cc att have been poor.