Bring back the Premiership

The new play-off format has received it's fair share of criticism in the past few weeks.

Sunday's Club call announcement brings an element of unknown and excitement to the format, which is being dismissed by many - mainly because it results in too many unimportant and possibly repeated games.

If results go a certain way this weekend, and Leeds choose to play Hull KR, we could have an exact repeat of last weekend's qualifying play-offs - which were disappointingly attended, mainly down to the fact it wasn't majorly important whether you won or not.

St Helens journalist Mike Critchley sums up what many people are thinking quite well. He wrote: "The new fangled, unnecessarily complicated, over-blown top eight play offs received a resounding vote of no confidence from the absent fans at the weekend – not just at Saints, but also at Wakefield, Wigan and Leeds where crowds were substantially down on those posted during the regular season.

"In these cash-strapped times folk are clearly reluctant to shell-out for a game that, although important, did not progress the winners that much further to the final nor eliminate the losers.

"If this year’s Grand Final is not played out between the league’s top two then there are more than a few hoping that eighth placed Catalans make it all the way to Old Tafford simply to watch Super League’s spin machine talk about this ‘everyone must win prizes’ new system against the backdrop of a half empty Theatre of Dreams.

"Hopefully the powers that be will heed a simple lesson in future - if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!"

However, the inclusion of the top eight in the play-offs at least adds longetivity to the season. If it was top six, the last third of the season will have been virtually pointless for 8 of the 14 clubs (as it was, it was just pointless for Salford and Celtic).

Instead, the Premiership should be re-introduced. The Super League champions should be the team that tops the league ladder at the end of the regular season. The play-offs and Grand Final have been a great success, and this needs to be maintained, but the play-off games simply aren't drawing in the fans. Plus there are those that are disgruntled at the fact Catalans - who lost more games than they won this season - could come out as Super League champions, despite finishing eighth.

One player not happy was Saints back rower Jon Wilkin, who said: "I'm not sure teams who finish below halfway should be given an opportunity to win the competition and be deemed champions for the next year."

The Leeds and Saints game in round 26 which all but decided the minor premiers, could have been a superb title decider. It was a good game, but Saints weren't that bothered to have lost, knowing that it had little bearing on their quest to end Leeds' two year spell of mini-dominance.

So, award the Championship to the first placed team in Super League, and then let the top eight teams battle it out for the Premiership. 1st plays 8th, 2nd plays 7th, 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th in a straight knock-out format, adding an exciting finish for fans after a long season.

It's a system that has been in place before of course, so I'm told, and while I personally can't recall the Championship/Premiership days, it's the system that makes most sense to me.

With the abolition of relegation, and thus the demise of exciting relegation battles and intriguing promotion chases from the Championship, something needs to be done to ensure Super League doesn't turn in to a damp squib.

Either way, hopefully this weekend's do or die games return the element of excitement to the Super League play-offs, and we can enjoy a great fortnight of action ahead of the big day at Old Trafford on October 10th. See you there.

Barrow tick Super League box

After missing out in the Northern Rail Cup final, Barrow met the on-field criteria for a Super League licence application with their win over Halifax.

Their attention can now turn to building up the other areas of the club to meet the stringent needs required in the top flight. It eases the pressure on the coaching and playing staff, and means work can be done in the community, on the stadium and on the youth set up.

Jamie Rooney was a key man in the win over Halifax which sealed Barrow's Grand Final spot - and the subsequent right to apply for a Super League licence in 2012 - and it will be interesting to see whether the Raiders can retain his services. With the ever improving James Coyle as his half-back partner, Barrow could build a team round two very good British half-backs.

For Halifax, it means a high-pressure tie against Widnes or Featherstone next week, knowing that a defeat will mean they have just two chances to satisfy the on-field critera, and while Widnes and Barrow can enjoy a 2010 of building the foundations, Fax will have to worry about what they do on the pitch - and working under pressure is not something they have been good at in 2009.

It will represent a disaster if the Shaymen don't reach the Grand Final this season. They looked so good for the first half of the campaign, but have alarmingly fell away in recent months. In fact if anything, Matt Calland may wish to direct his "country miles ahead of anybody else" accolade to another team.

Astute businessman and Raiders chairman Des Johnston, like him or loathe him, will relish the task that faces Barrow now. They tick the expansion box like Celtic before them, thanks to the fact there are no rival top flight clubs close by, but they now must work on their youth set up and facilities - particularly as the RFL appear keen to be more ruthless with their selection policy and attitude towards promises this time round.

At present, Craven Park is not a top flight rugby league ground (although are certain others currently in the elite 14?). But Barrow are in a relatively unique situation whereby they own their own ground, and are able to make improvements.

The benefits of reaching the Grand Final at the first attempt also mean that Barrow, like Widnes, can afford to blood any youngsters coming through relatively risk-free (although don't tell that to Leigh fans, it went very wrong for them this season).

Cumbria has been crying out for a Super League team since Workington's ill-fated spell in the competition, and with the RFL keen to spread top flight action far and wide, Barrow might well be the face that fits.

Whether or not you agree with the licensing system, it certainly keeps you on your toes - it's just a shame that the circus appears to detract attention from events on the field, and instead leaves fans obsessed with attendances, ticket prices, academies and finances. Whatever happens, it should benefit rugby league in Barrow, even if they don't make it to the big time.

Cougar Mania Take II

They are the club that built many of the foundations that professional rugby league enjoys today. They were the club that worked hard, creatively and efficiently to build an off-field machine to match their ever-improving on field product.

Unfortunately for Keighley, they were left unable to reap the rewards of their work. Instead, for the past decade or so they have been forced to live in the shadows and look on as their more illustrious rivals have made a great success out of things born out of Cougar-mania. Local rivals Bradford enjoyed great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s as Keighley fans watched in envy with the thought "it could have been us."

But after a difficult period, Barry Eaton's side find themselves just 80 minutes from the Championship 1 Grand Final and the opportunity to earn promotion to the second tier. The Cougars finished second behind runaway champions Dewsbury and host York City Knights at the weekend with the winner going straight through to the final - and the loser handed a second chance to progress against the winner of the Oldham-Hunslet tie.

Promotion would mean a return to the second tier after a six year absence, with their last appearance in National League 1 coming back in 2004, when they were relegated just a year after winning National League 2.

But 2009 appears to have been a break through year. Eaton has had his troops ticking all season, and the club are one of the most media-savvy clubs in the lower leagues, courtesy of former RFL man, John Huxley.

Helen Carter, the Keighley Cougars General Manager, said: “Having a winning team has clearly encouraged many more people to come to Cougar Park.

"Besides the excellent results posted by the team, they’ve also been producing an attractive brand of football and that too has brought people through the gates in bigger numbers. It’s something that we can build on in this year’s play-off series and in the 2010 season.

"The club is emerging from a very difficult spell in its history and all the hard work that is being put into rebuilding the club, as well as improving our facilities, is beginning to show some dividend for the Cougars.

"Our Community programmes such as ‘Sporting Chance’ and the highly successful Street Academies have also helped improve the public’s perception of the club.

"Now we have a platform from which to build for the future and while we realise that there is still a great deal more to do we’ve made an encouraging start to that challenge."

Keighley's attendances at Cougar Park in 2009 have totalled 13,187, giving a respectable average of 1,014 - a 28% increase on the previous season.

While it is a far cry from the 4,000 average back in 1995, it represents a step in the right direction. Back in those days, Keighley were attributed with introducing music, lively PA announcements, mascots and community work to the sport of rugby league.

Rob Wilkinson, who is now associated with conference side Bramley Buffaloes, says it was thanks to the Cougars that he fell in love with rugby league.

"In the early 90s the Keighley Cougars were the pioneers of a brand new approach to professional sport in the UK. It borrowed much from US sports marketing and wasn’t to everyone’s liking at the time. It ruffled a few feathers but look where we are now! The crowds flocked to Cougar Park not just for the quality rugby on show but for the atmosphere generated by the likes of Mike Smith, Mike O’Neill and the army of enthusiasts who operated behind the scenes. The club represented a blueprint for the future that was subsequently adopted, directly or indirectly, by almost every other professional club in football, rugby union and league despite not taking their rightful place in Super League.

"The subsequent fall from grace can be traced back to this decision but now the club is very much on the up and progressing in the right direction with the outstanding approach to marketing and communication once again coming to the fore. The crowds may not be what they were but if the momentum continues then the people of Keighley will return in their numbers without a doubt.

"Keighley converted me into a fan of rugby league and I copied many of their ideas, especially the brilliant approach to community and educational development led by Mary Calvert and her team, when I was marketing manager of Leigh Centurions in the mid 90s. My experiences and memories of Leigh and its people will always be a great part of my life but it was the Cougars who set the ball rolling for me personally."

Cruelly denied promotion back in 1995, the Cougars are once again not in control of their Super League destiny, with the licensing system now firmly in place. As second division champions on the eve of Super League, they felt they had earned their place in the top flight, only for it to be denied. Instead now, if they have Super League aspirations, they must appear in a Championship Grand Final or win the Northern Rail Cup before being able to apply for inclusion in the game's elite.

The 2012 applications might come too soon for the Cougars, but promotion this year would give them four seasons in the second tier to get things right on and off the field, and maybe prove to people in the game just what they missed when Keighley weren't included for Super League's debut season in 1996.

Whether the days of Cougar Mania can be rekindled even in part remains to be seen. But Keighley don't look likely to shirk the challenge any time soon, and Eaton's men will know that the next two games they play could well have a decisive impact on the future of the West Yorkshire club.

Super League play-offs verdict

Whether or not you think eight teams is too many, the Super League play-offs get underway this weekend.

There have been grumbles about the fact more than half of the competing teams will take part in the end of season showcase, with the threat of a team who finished as lowly as 8th and 16 points off the league leaders reaching the season finale.

Then there is of course the controversial club call system, which makes an already confusing play-off format that more puzzling.

In time, I imagine we will move closer to the system employed in the NRL, but for now, we have this system - which pits 1st against 4th and 2nd against 3rd, with the two losers given a second chance, against the two winners of the 5th v 8th and 6th v 7th clashes.

Whatever format used though, the line-up is looking somewhat intriguing. Leeds and St Helens don't appear to carry the same aura as they have had in recent years, and the new kids on the block - namely Nathan Brown and Justin Morgan - will fancy their chances of moving within 80 minutes of a maiden Grand Final this weekend.

Brown has almost certainly got his hand on the coach of the year trophy after an impressive debut campaign, and his Huddersfield side will be buoyed by last week's defeat of Wigan which helped to erase memories of the Challenge Cup final defeat to Warrington. They will be looking for inspiration from their Challenge Cup semi-final win over Saints, while they did themselves no harm when losing 12-10 at Knowsley Road a few weeks ago.

However, the Giants will be missing Scott Moore, banned internally by the club for a breach of discipline. It puts more pressure on fellow Dream Team member Brett Hodgson to produce.

Meanwhile for Saints, Mick Potter will be looking to overcome the disappointment of finishing runners-up to Leeds by ending the Rhinos two year stint as Super League champions.

Leeds appear to be hitting form at the right time, and they face a Hull KR side - who like themselves - can boast four players in the Dream Team (Senior, Hall, Peacock and Sinfield; Fox, Dobson, Newton and Galea). Justin Morgan has done a fantastic job at Craven Park, with the Robins earning their way up the ranks via the traditional methods, and not the fast-tracking licensing way. They have built on the platform laid in National League 1, and they are the blueprint that many other Super League hopefuls will surely be following in future years.

Can anyone outside the top four challenge? If there's one man who knows his way through the play-offs it's Wigan coach Brian Noble, who could be on his way out of the DW Stadium if rumours are to be believed. He has been solid if unspectacular at Wigan, and the most successful British coach in recent memory will be hoping he can work his magic before the end of this campaign, and end a barren spell for the cherry and whites.

John Kear's achievements must not go unnoticed either. He has led Wakefield to a record points tally and a superb season, with a team built around the playmaking talents of Danny Brough and Sam Obst. Their problem will be that to reach a Grand Final, they will have to win away at one of the big four - a tough ask.

Castleford will be happy just to be there after a few years of instability going up and down the leagues - in fact their success, together with Wakefield, is a far cry from the end of the 2006 season when the Wildcats relegated the Tigers to a season in the second tier.

Cas travel to Wigan for what will be an intriguing encounter, while Wakefield face Catalans, who take part in the play-offs for a second successive year. They will find it difficult away from France, but they are another dangerous team - highlighted by their surprise triumph over former coach Mick Potter's Saints last weekend.

Predictions

Qualifying Play-off 1: Leeds v Hull KR (Headingley, Friday, 8pm)
Leeds by 6

Qualifying Play-off 2: St Helens v Huddersfield (Knowsley Road, Saturday, 6pm)
Huddersfield by 8

Elimination Play-off 1: Wakefield v Catalans (Belle Vue, Saturday, 8pm)
Wakefield by 14

Elimination Play-off 2: Wigan v Castleford (DW Stadium, Sunday, 7pm)
Wigan by 7

Championship play-offs verdict

After last weekend's relegation battle went down to the wire, attention now turns to the Championship play-offs.

The league has enjoyed one of the most competitive seasons ever this term, with the league eventually being won by Barrow, and just 14 points separating the top ten clubs, and just five points separating the relegation places and the play-offs.

Indeed it's a shame the regular season can't go on. Many clubs in the lower leagues have bemoaned the lack of games - although is partly subsidised by the Northern Rail Cup - while others have also complained about big gaps in their calenders.

Widnes take on Whitehaven in tonight's televised play-off clash after a three week break, owing to them receiving a bye for the final round of the season, and of course the previous weeks Grand Final. The Vikings thumped their Cumbrian opponents 58-10 at the Stobart Stadium in their last game and were handed what at one stage looked an unlikely home draw thanks to Haven's capitulation at the hands of relegated Leigh on Sunday.

Paul Cullen fancies his chances of guiding the Northern Rail Cup winners to the play-off glory, despite them finishing in 4th, and they have shown over the past two months their capabilities - thrashing rivals Halifax, Featherstone and Haven at home, while also triumphing over Barrow comfortably in the NRC final.

Cullen said: “We can win the Grand Final from fourth position.

"The three week break from matches has done us the world of good, although we have trained hard in the meantime.

"It’s a bonus to have a home fixture but there will be no over confidence in the camp. We need to treat Whitehaven with respect."

Whitehaven, meanwhile, seem to have gone off the boil after peaking mid-season, but coach Ged Stokes knows his men go in to tonight's game with nothing to lose.

The Kiwi said: "We’ve achieved what we wanted to in the league. We’ve made the play-offs and that’s been an exceptional effort by our players to do that. The contribution from the players this year has been tremendous.

"We’ve been written off and probably in some respects rightly so after our last two performances, but we’re fairly renowned for bouncing back from adversity."

The winner of tonight's clash will play the winner of Friday night's game between Sheffield and Featherstone. Sheffield have enjoyed an understated season, finishing the season in third place having earned a point in every single game - a feat that went unmatched in the Championship - winning a bonus point for losing by less than 13 in each of their nine defeats.

While some are still sceptical of the bonus point ruling, it has certainly benefited Sheffield, who will fancy their chances at the Don Valley Stadium, even if it won't be easy as director John Whaling inadvertantly claimed in his programme notes.

Halifax enter the play-offs on the back of two consecutive wins after seemingly pressing the self-destruct button when the league title was all but theirs. They were running away with the title at the height of summer, but a dismal turn in form which saw them lose five successive games ultimately cost them what would have been a well-earned piece of silverware.

However, they go in to the finals series with a few points to prove. Still licking their wounds no doubt from the NRC semi-final loss at home to Widnes, they travel to Craven Park seeking revenge from Barrow for stealing the minor premiership they felt was theirs.

Barrow themselves have stuttered in their last two games, after yet more unprofessional turmoil within their ranks - caretaker coach Steve Deakin departed the club over an apparent argument with chairman Des Johnstone over player selection. It has meant the return to the head coach role for Dave Clark, who was stood down from the role earlier in the season despite leading the Cumbrians to their first final in more than 25 years.

Defeats to Gateshead and Sheffield in the final week of the season are hardly the ideal preparation for the Raiders, who host Halifax next Thursday live on Sky.

My Predictions:

Thursday 10th - Widnes v Whitehaven (Stobart Stadium, 7.30pm)
Prediction: Widnes by 16

Friday 11th - Sheffield v Featherstone (Don Valley Stadium, 8.00pm)
Prediction: Featherstone by 6

Thursday 17th: - Barrow v Halifax (Craven Park, 7.30pm)
Prediction: Halifax by 4

Gateshead Thunder on the up

Gateshead are turning their sights to a Grand Final appearance in 2010 after surviving relegation in their debut season in the Championship.

Thunder won promotion from the then National League 2 in 2008 after a superb campaign which saw them claim the league title, but a close season of turmoil ensued when head coach Dave Woods was dismissed.

However, the club re-grouped under Chris Hood and despite a slow start, the appointment of Steve McCormack coupled with the addition of a few fresh faces to the playing staff in mid-season ultimately guided Thunder to safety.

It was the superb Bank Holiday win over Barrow that proved decisive - the 16-12 win at Craven Park putting their fate in their own hands ahead of the final weekend, which eventually saw Leigh relegated.

Five-year plan

Planning has already begun for 2010, and chief executive Rod Findlay is pleased with the progress the club is making.

He said: "we have a 5 year business plan and we are quietly progressing against the targets we have set ourselves. The first aim was to avoid relegation and we are now building a squad to aim for the Grand Final and Northern Rail Cup final in 2010 – but that is every team’s aim!

"We have set up an Under 18s and an elite Under 16s training squad. Thunder has increased average crowds by 60%, increased revenue, introduced several new sponsors and partners to the sport and have a vibrant community department with full involvement of the full time 1st team players. We are in discussions with Gateshead Council about improving the stadium. We are well run financially and off the field. We genuinely feel we are well placed to achieve and better the levels Thunder were at when we were formed in Super League in 1999."

But Gateshead won't be rushed in to pursuing a Super League place. To satisfy the criteria for the 2012 applications, they must either win the Northern Rail Cup or appear in a Championship Grand Final, and while that is what they aim to do next season, Findlay says any Super League push will be dependant on the club being ready.

"Like a lot of clubs we have ambitions to return to where it all began: Super League. Having said that, we are really enjoying participating in the Championship and Northern Rail Cup. The licensing criteria are what any rugby league club should be aiming for in any case: a competitive team playing in front of a strong crowd in a first class facility. And behind the scenes junior production, community activity and a well run business. We will work towards Super League and will apply if entitled to do so.

"However, if that comes in 2012 or 2015, we want to be ready before we move to Super League. The North East has already once had Super League taken from its grasp despite doing everything that could be expected. When Gateshead Thunder returns to Super League, we want it to be for good this time."

Heartbreak

Gateshead managed to end the season on a high with a 56-0 thumping of Doncaster - the first time the club has nilled a side in their history - while rivals Batley and Leigh also won, Thunder's superior points difference saw them claim a 7th placed finish.

It was heartbreak though for Leigh, who went down despite a 47-14 win over Whitehaven, with fans at Leigh Sports Village left broken by the news filtering through from Featherstone that Batley had claimed a decisive win.

What was all the more frustrating for the Centurions was that they finished the season above Toulouse - exempt from relegation in their debut season. But Thunder chief Findlay believes the inclusion of the French has been a positive for the Championship.

He said: "Toulouse’s introduction into the Championship was discussed in detail at the club meeting in October 2008. No-one should be surprised by their exemption from relegation. They were the rules we all agreed to. If their introduction into the Championship is to assist the development of French rugby league, which will be of benefit to the entire sport, then it is only appropriate for them to play at this level."

Thunder were thrashed 52-16 at home by Toulouse in the first meeting, but gained revenge in France in August - another result that sent Thunder on their way to survival.

Findlay added: "They have been massively competitive in their first season particularly after they had no pre-season games. They were in the mix for the play offs before running out of steam. They will be tough to beat next season. Their presence in the Championship adds extra interest to the competition. I fully support their place in the league and their exemption from relegation despite misgivings when the idea was first raised - and Thunder could have been the team to go down from 9th."

Experiments

And Findlay believes it may even be time to re-introduce the system that saw the second-bottom placed National League 1 team compete in the National League 2 play-offs to determine whether they are relegated or not.

"This is a tough one. On the one hand the teams in Championship One need to have a realistic opportunity of promotion every few years. On the other, two teams being relegated out of 10 English teams leaves a fine margin for error – particularly this year when three teams were separated on points difference.

"Leigh were competitive and I think all 3 teams added enough for them to feel that they deserve their place in the Championship. We were all closer to the top team than the bottom team and only five points off the play offs. Maybe the two teams in the relegation positions should be dropped into the Championship One play offs to play to retain their place? That perhaps balances the needs of both leagues."

The Championship has set the benchmark for experiments this season, with the bonus point system an understated success, perhaps reflected in the fact the league has been as competitive as ever. Sheffield Eagles earned a point from every single game they played this season, despite losing nine games. Perhaps a return to the suggested promotion/relegation format could act as an experiment to a similar system being implemented between the Championship and the top flight.

With the salary cap set to be lowered next season, a competitive competition will be ensured once again. 2010 is the last chance saloon for those yet to fulfil the Super League criteria, and it's going to take a brave man to bet for or against anyone next campaign.

Monaghan finds his form

Michael Monaghan arrived in Warrington at the beginning of the last season handed with the task of partnering the evergreen Lee Briers at the heart of the Wolves team.

And it was that pairing that effectively won the Challenge Cup Final for the Wolves at the weekend, with Monaghan edging his team-mate to the Lance Todd Trophy.

With Briers demanding the number six shirt for the past decade, much of Warrington's form over the years has been down to him. But to take the side to the next level, they needed to find a playmaker who could work in tandem with the Welsh international.

Nathan Wood showed the blueprint, forging a reasonably successful partnership with Briers in a three year stint at the club before injury cut short his stay. The problem for Warrington during those few years was that they found themselves often at the wrong end of the table.

Monaghan showed great promise at the beginning of his Warrington career following his arrival from the NRL's Manly Sea Eagles, but bad luck with injuries hampered his progress.

Just like with his predecessor, fellow Australian Michael Sullivan - now with Canterbury Bulldogs, it seemed that his style of play was more suited to the hooking role. It seemed just Warrington's luck that their second successive Aussie import to fill their number 7 shirt would instead inadvertently add competition to Jon Clarke for the number 9 role.

Injuries played their part across the Wolves team over the past 18 months, and this season has seen Clarke ruled out for large chunks of the season, with rotation hooker Mickey Higham also out for the past 10 weeks - before his return to action in Saturday's final.

It has meant a re-shuffle in Tony Smith's line-up, and has resulted in Monaghan leading the Wolves from dummy half. His urgency at the play-the-ball and his intelligence around the ruck was evident on Saturday as he guided the forwards around the pitch, enabling Warrington to stifle the go-forward threat of Huddersfield. It gave Briers the chance to boss the backs and create the plays that guided Warrington home.

It was a moment of brilliance that brought Monaghan his first half try, while he read the game superbly to send over Vinnie Anderson for what was the game-clinching try in the second half.

Monaghan's future at Warrington was surely rubber-stamped by Saturday's performance, but with the arrival of Richie Myler imminent, it remains to be seen just where the Australian will fit in. Just like Sullivan, he is far more useful to the Wolves at hooker - but with Clarke and Higham in the team, just where will everybody play?

Either way, it's exciting times for the Wolves, and with Myler set to arrive, a partnership between him and Briers next season will have fans licking their lips in anticipation.