Innovative or just plain crazy - ESL's new top-8 play-off format

[Big-Hitter]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/nov/30/rugbyleague-superleague

Talk about thinking outside the box! Could this be the sollution that the NRL has been looking for or is it just plain crazy!!!

 

[krudmonk]

Haha, I love it. That's a ton of pressure on the higher seeds. The chosen opponents will no doubt be insulted and motivated. A loss to the lower team would be greater embarrassment. I imagine that the first club to lose to their selection will lobby to abolish the system.

 

[Loudstrat]

Imagine that system in this years NRL. Both Manly and Melbourne would have wanted to play Cronulla!

 

[Bulldog Force]

Very Crazy IMO.

 

[Big-Hitter]

Very Crazy IMO.

Do you know what, I like it. Can you imagine the viewing figures if they broadcast the selection press conference live? The suspense/sense of theatre could be amazing.

 

[brendothejet]

I dont mind it....

Would be great to watch a team pick a side that they always beat, and then lose to them. lol

there will be a lot of media coverage before and after this event. Will be interesting to see it play out.

 

[Big-Hitter]

I dont mind it....

Would be great to watch a team pick a side that they always beat, and then lose to them. lol

there will be a lot of media coverage before and after this event. Will be interesting to see it play out.

This will gain some extra coverage over in the UK initially, but not loads as the game is so marginal (I don't think a lot of Aussies realise how small the game is in the UK).

However, in the NRL the media buzz around this event would be MASSIVE!

Can you imagine the talking points created and the mindgames amongst the players and coaches?

Somehow, against all expectation, I reckon the UK administrators have stumbled across an idea that could be truly exciting.

 

[Jono078]

That would be awesome. Very much brings more passion and hype into the game!

 

[alexc]

This would be awesome in the NRL. Be awesome to have all the coaches/captains in the one room explaining their choice while the opposition listens from across the room.

 

[jono]

So who are each of the current NRL "bunnies" (Not Souths!)
I'll start with Parra selects Tigers
Tigers select Sharks

 

[westie]

First reaction was naturally... WTF. But it's a great idea.

Obviously the draw is a brilliant concept in itself, but getting a fairer fixture is an improvement on what can happen in our premiership.

 

[Pierced Soul]

i like it, adds a whole new dimension to the offield tactics used.

if you knew one of your stars was out who was really good at conatiner a particular opposition player you may opt to play the other team, or all things being equal you may pick one team cos their half is playing injured.

broncos would avoid melbourne and the warriors

 

[wittyfan]

Completely insane.

Only the British could come up with this.

 

[Perth Red]

There nothing if not imiganitive in SL!

Could be a brilliant innovation, could fall on its backside. Good on them for trying something different, RL has always been about evolution.

 

[Where Eagles Dare]

Sounds just like something the WWE would come up with, and probably have. I'm unsure on the idea.

 

[cb4]

Imagine that system in this years NRL. Both Manly and Melbourne would have wanted to play Cronulla!

how could melbourne have wanted to play us
we went thro to the semis

 

[cb4]

read the first paragraph



The highest-placed winners from the first round of the play-offs will now choose their own opponents in the third round, with their decision likely to be announced live on Sky Sports News.

 

[Monk]

im not sure i understand it, could someone please post an example of the system using NRL clubs.

 

[Brownie.Kougari]

Unsure how it'll be recieved, sounds like an entertaining idea though!

 

[Quidgybo]

im not sure i understand it, could someone please post an example of the system using NRL clubs.

Top Eight 2008
=========
1. Melbourne
2. Manly
3. Cronulla
4. Easts
5. Brisbane
6. Canberra
7. St George
8. NZ


Week 1 - home team first
=====
1st vs 4th Melbourne vs Easts
2nd vs 3rd Manly vs Cronulla
5th vs 8th Brisbane vs NZ
6th vs 7th Canberra vs St George

Highest winning team from week 1 chooses their week 3 opponent. Because 2nd play 3rd and one of those teams must win, essentially that limits the possible highest winning team to 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

So if Melbourne win they get to choose their week 3 opponent, if Melbourne lose then the winner of Manly v Cronulla gets to choose their week 3 opponent.

Assuming that the home team wins each match, Melbourne and Manly go straight thru to week 3, NZ and St George are eliminated and Cronulla and Easts get home advantage in week 2.


Week 2 - home team first
=====
Cronulla vs Canberra
Easts vs Brisbane

The article doesn't actually say who plays who in week 2 other than the two top four teams that lose in week 1 get home advantage. I've assumed that the higher finishing team Cronulla get to play the lowest finishing Canberra.

Assuming Cronulla and Easts both win at home, Melbourne as highest the winner of week 1 get to choose which one of those teams they play.


Week 3 - home team first
====
Melbourne vs Cronulla or Melbourne vs Easts
Manly vs Easts or Manly vs Cronulla

It's Melbournes choice which two games are played. If they thrashed Cronulla in week one and the Sharks struggled to a win in week 2 then Melbourne might go for a re-match. On the other hand if Melbourne would rather not meet Manly in the Grand Final and Manly have been struggling to scrore points then Melbourne might choose to put whichever of Easts and Cronulla has a better defensive record up against the Sea Eagles. There are any number of possible scenarios here that could lead to one decision over another.

Leigh