After watching the NRL play offs albeit a 16 team league we would be better with a 14 team SL and top 8 playoff or at least top 6 as this seems to work better and offer far more interest than our current model.

Ok the NRL is of a higher standard, yes the 8th placed team can win the Grand Final but surely from a fan and TV perspective it’s far more interesting than just the top four playing off.

This means that we would have the minor premiership (league leaders shield) the Premiers (Grand final winners) and Challenge cup as at the moment but with 8 places the interest in the season plus the BOTTOM team relegated means it should go down to the wire in the top, middle and bottom of the table.

No relegation exemptions for anyone worst team goes down.

I far enjoyed watching RL when we ran a similar system ....

I agree with having a 14 team league but top 8 play offs were too many. As a fan of one of the top teams it made way too many regular season games meaningless to me as I knew that even if we had a very bad year we would make the 8. In a 5 or 6 team play off even the big boys know they can't afford too much of a slump.

A 14 club comp makes all the sense in the world, with or without N. American sides.
An even fixture program, with no loop fixtures and therefore not as much repetition in the fixture program.

Mind you, with less cash swilling around, it's probably more likely that there will be a further "cut" down to 10.

We should have gone to 14 clubs at the last change to the league structure.

Top 5 play off seems about right though, top 8 is crazy.

not enough quality players for 14 teams, or coaches.

Cannot see many heads of SL clubs being willing to share the TV revenue with another two clubs.

14 is the ideal number for me, but as previously said, no way will the cubs reduce the money they take from Sky.

So unless we see France and/or North America add to the pot, or we see Sky up their funding considerably, I can't see it happening in the short term.

I agree and as this is a discussion forum throwing around possibly unrealistic wishes is more than welcome. I often think that the issue is not so much the number of teams who can play in the top division but about developing the bottom half of the Championship to create the competition that would improve standards to allow promotion and relegation to work properly. At the moment all you need to get into superleague is the ability to beat the one or two clubs with money and then sign the players who have just been relegated from the team going down. Unfortunately that means that the club going up is almost certain to go down again.

There were some disasters when we had 14 clubs including Bradford, Crusaders, London and half an appalling season from Wakefield.

I think it's a massive YES to 14 if we can find 14 clubs that can compete, and keep financial stability. You going to risk naming them???

Well we did once run with 14, I suppose the idea may be less game but better crowds per game?

As for money on the other side of the coin, York Newcastle and Leigh have the private money to put into the game.

I dont think that there is a "proper" way of promotion and relegation working.
If there was a similar investment in the Championship, in terms of TV revenue, then, the "hit" wouldn't be so bad but, that is never going to happen.
The best that you can have is a decent parachute payment to soften the fall of the relegated club.
Even in football, where you may think that promotion/relegation "works", there have been some spectacular falls from grace.
Bolton Wanderers are a good recent example.
Having said that, it's better have relegation than never have the chance to be promoted plus, it sustains interest in the comp.

I the Championship was stronger then, it may give promoted clubs a better chance of surviving but, there would still be the "loser" and they have to adapt quickly (or gain promotion) or they are in deep trouble.

The discussion about 14 clubs in SL is worthwhile but, you are right about clubs not wanting a reduced share, which means that anything is likely to change.

Already we may see a reduced TV deal AND assuming that Toronto are replaced or comeback into the top flight, there is already an extra share going to be needed.

Tell me about it


From Big Sam's All Stars to a pub team in 13 years!

Maybe the question should be asked, if a current SL Club cannot survive & operate on a 1/14 split with gate receipts, ST's , Corporate & Sponsors then, are they fit to be in Super Dooper League ???