Leeds Rhinos boss backs Super League play-offs change

There is a growing feeling in the game the number of fixtures being crammed into a short space of time not only puts players’ health at risk, but also lessens the quality of rugby on show. One solution would be to reduce the number of regular season matches and expand the play-offs, from top-four into a six-team competition, using a format where the leading sides have byes and a second chance if they lose their opening tie. With crowds still banned, there would be no major financial disadvantage to clubs in the bottom five whose season ended early and they would avoid dead rubber fixtures. Super League bosses recognised the possibility of not all teams completing the revised 20-game regular campaign by changing the format so win percentage - rather than competition points - will decide the final table. Leeds reached the 15 game qualification mark last night, but their rivals for fourth spot, Catalans Dragons, have played only 12 - and matches against Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and Hull have been called off and may not be rearranged. Speaking after Leeds’ defeat at St Helens last Friday, when he rested most of his senior players, Agar said: “We’ve been having talks internally and think a good way to look at the competition now would be, with the backlog of fixtures, perhaps looking at starting the play-offs earlier with more teams in it.” The Leeds boss feels the current fixture list, on the back of a Challenge Cup final win, will leave Rhinos “in a fair old state” ahead of the play-offs, if they do manage to finish in the top-four. He added: “The whole points percentage stuff is getting called into question. If we play [all our] games and Catalans finish with 15 and have dodged all the top five or six on the way in - and that’s not their fault, by the way - then the fairness and integrity [is in doubt]. But if that’s the way it ends up, we all knew that and we’ll just do our best to try and win our next game. “It’s not for us to decide.” Support the YEP and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news and the latest on Leeds United, With a digital subscription, you see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.