I'm gonna say it.

[Duff]

I think the loser of our game is in a lot of trouble.
I wanted to come 5th. The Cows will have a training run against the Donkeys and then get to play a physically bashed and bruised team that just went through all that for a loss. There's two easy games in a row and you're in a GF qualifier.
I don't think the venue matters that much to the players.

 

[Stevo]

I agree completely Duff

 

[Cletus]

It's a much better system, just look at the games. The cowboys are the only team you say are outright favourites and it feels like a must win game.

 

[Frank]

Manly play home finals at the SFS,not Homeless Stadium

There is no way the NRL would have played this game at the SFS. Dogberg would have seen to that with cries of "you will be locking out fans." Hope I am wrong but I don't think we'll see a crowd of 45,000+ getting there tonight.

..... Dogberg

If that's how you spell it then how do you pronounce the dots?

 

[simon_eagle]

I think the loser of our game is in a lot of trouble.

If we lose tonight we play the Cowboys or the Broncos at the SFS for a chance to then play in a Grand Final qualifier.. That is easy enough.

Ask me in a month, but I believe its a much fairer system.

 

[bob dylan]

I think the loser of our game is in a lot of trouble.
I wanted to come 5th. The Cows will have a training run against the Donkeys and then get to play a physically bashed and bruised team that just went through all that for a loss. There's two easy games in a row and you're in a GF qualifier.
I don't think the venue matters that much to the players.

Big advantage for 5th team.

 

[north coast eagle]

Stevo is dead right - this system means that we are little hope of recovering from the first game because of injuries, suspensions.

 

[Utility Player]

Gould is as big a prick as he ever was, his Doggie bias stood out like dogs balls

 

[Ralphie]

Stevo is dead right - this system means that we are little hope of recovering from the first game because of injuries, suspensions.

It's not just us. Souffs are in the same boat. Count me as against this new finals format. The reward to the losing teams in the top 4 is that they get busted from a much much tougher game and then come up against a team with nothing to lose and momentum in their favour. At least souffs will get a home game, Manly on the other hand will be the ONLY team in the top 6 who didn't get a home final.

I predict an emerging trend of losing top 4 teams going out in straight sets because of this. The AFL isn't as brutal a game, that's why they haven't struck this problem.

 

[ABTK]

I'd have preferred to have kept the old system but changed it so that teams 5-8 couldn't have had a home final regardless of how far they went.

 

[Stevo]

This system worked so well in the AFL as it is not such a physical game. They are morons at the NRL.

 

[Kiwi Eagle]

Every system has its pros and cons

5-8 have to win 4 games to win the comp, 1-4 have to win 3, that seems fair enough to me