McNamara unhappy with new structure

6:30am Tuesday 2nd December 2008

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Steve McNamara believes Super League’s radical new play-off format – where one team CHOOSE their own opponents – is going to heap “undue and unfair” pressure on coaches.

The Bulls boss is startled the groundbreaking system, believed to be unique in world sport, was passed by the Rugby Football League for 2009.

As expected, the play-offs have been extended to take in the top eight teams now Super League has increased from 12 to 14 clubs.

But the major talking point is that the highest-placed side after the first round will get to select their next foes.

Such a brave concept is guaranteed to bring attention to the sport and whip up excitement while drawing some fascinating prospects.

But no team picked will ever need any extra motivation to cause an upset and McNamara admitted: “It’s not ideal by any stretch of the imagination.

“All the fans and the crowds will be excited by the idea of a club choosing a team to play but from a coach’s point of view it’s tough.

“I’ve spoken to some and they don’t favour it. I certainly don’t agree with it and can’t see any of us being in favour.

“I’m all for innovative ideas and I like how this play-off system generally looks, with the top four getting an advantage.

“But this other part of it just puts unfair and undue pressure on the coach to make them choose. Maybe it should be up to the chairman to make the call!”

According to the RFL, all 14 clubs have been consulted about the revolutionary new format, which sees all eight qualifying teams involved on the opening weekend.

The league leaders face the fourth-placed team, second play third, fifth tackle eighth and sixth battle it out with seventh.

Matches involving the top four teams will be qualifying play-offs, with the winners going straight through to the third week of the series.

The losers in these two games have another chance in the second week when they face the winners of the elimination play-offs, which involve the next four teams.

In week three, the winners of the two qualifying play-offs meet the week two victors, with the highest-placed team allowed to select their opponents from a choice of two.

McNamara said: “I just think it’s not how it should be. You play all season to finish where you finish and if you get to the stage where you’re playing whoever, then that’s who you should play.

“But this is what has been decided so we’ll all get on with it and see what happens.”

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood explained: “This new eight-team play-off series is a tremendous development for the sport and the competition.

“It will create great drama and bring an added dimension to what is already the most exciting period in the season.

“The increase in play-off places will also add more interest to the regular season by giving more matches added significance as clubs battle through the weekly rounds to give themselves a shot at the title.

“By introducing the element that allows the highest-placed qualifier to select their semi-final opponents in week three, rugby league has once again shown it is a highly innovative and progressive sport.’’ The play-offs, expanded from the five and six-team systems in operation since 1998, climax with the Grand Final at Old Trafford on October 10.

NEW PLAY-OFF STRUCTURE – Week one: Qualifying play-off 1 – 1 v 4 (winner receives a bye to week three), Qualifying play-off 2 – 2 v 3 (winner receives a bye to week three), Elimination play-off 1 – 5 v 8 (loser goes out), Elimination play-off 2 – 6 v 7 (loser goes out).

Week two: Preliminary semi-final 1 – QPO 1 loser v EPO 1 winner, Preliminary semi-final 2 – QPO 2 loser v EPO 2 winner.

Week three: *Qualifying semi-final 1 – QPO 1 winner v PSF 1 winner, *Qualifying semi-final 2 – QPO 2 winner v PSF 2 winner.

Week four: Grand Final – QSF1 winner v QSF2 winner.

* Subject to choice of highest-placed winner in week one.