New Proposed League Format : Tue May 21, 2013 12:54 pm  

I think the two divisions of 12 playing each other once, then splitting into 3 divisions of 8 is a great idea, and will almost certainly make every match competitive. The salary distribution of SKY money is the big issue with me, as the lower 4 from the original 12 when the leagues split, will presumably still be on the original sky budget as they will have bought the players in at the start of the season.
As far as Castleford are concerned, if we did get relegated into the second tier of 12, surely we could finish in top four of a division of eight, and make Super league following season.

I think the new format would bring the crowds bacik, evey match would have something to play for, no meandering through a season like now. We have had nothing to play for since we got knocked out of the Challenge cup in March, still 17 league games to go and our season is over. Why put your body on the line, lets be honest we haven't a chance of top 8 this year.

Re: New Proposed League Format : Tue May 21, 2013 1:10 pm  

thing for me Scab's is that, they haven't given the franchise system enough time to generate a competitive league.

What is it we want exactly?????

The league wants all teams to be able to provide competitive matches - we competed with Wigan (league leaders) and beat leeds this years (champions.

So surely the franchise system is working! we have competed with the two best teams in the league, beating one of them! No matter how big/small you make the league, there will always be a team at the bottom, that struggles to pick up wins.

It isn't the structure of the league that is at fault for us being bottom.

Franchising takes a long time to work if you want all the teams on a level playing field. Look at the NRL - Souths were bottom five years ago, Roosters were bottom a few years ago, Cronulla are always tipped for a low finish but get their share of wins.

Franchising works, the 12/2 then 8/3 thing is farcical. Having more play off games doesn't make things more competitive - it devalues the quality OF the play offs.

Seriously, at the start of the season I think every team in the league expect 1/2 will have thought that 8th was achievable.

Cas fans did, wakefield fans did, Widnes fans did, HullKR fans did....

If that isn'tcompetitiveness then what is!?

Like I said, with a 14 team league and a top 8 play off - there will always be a bottom team (or a few teams) that by half way are off the pace.

Castleford expecially have nobody to blame for our season being over but ourselves and our own terrible performances.

That being said, we are only 4 wins away from the play offs! I know they're hard to come by, but how much nearer can we be by being useless?

Re: New Proposed League Format : Tue May 21, 2013 2:03 pm  

Promotion and relegation. Best way, go back to that.

Re: New Proposed League Format : Wed May 22, 2013 9:00 am  

Warrington, Wigan and Widnes don't want option 3 and Cas Tigers coach Powell has sais he doesn't like it. What about the other clubs reaction to this proposal?
I would prefer 14 teams with P & R (one up - one down) but cannot see that happening to be honest.