Joey wants top eight finals system scrapped

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns says he would be in favour of a top six system to stop teams with a losing record from being rewarded.

No matter what results occur during next week’s final round of the home and away season, the team that finishes in eighth spot will qualify despite having more losses than wins.

The Sharks, Titans, Raiders, Warriors, Dragons and Wests Tigers are all a chance to take the final spot in the top eight.

Meanwhile, if the seventh-placed Knights lose next week, they will qualify for finals football with 12 wins and 12 losses; just about the definition of mediocre.

Asked if the NRL should implement a top-six system to avoid scenarios where teams with a losing record can make the finals, Johns had a simple response: “Yes.”

“We’re rewarding teams who have lost more games than they’ve won,” he told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.

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“I think the Knights have a minus differential of about 130… so for me a top-six.

“I can only think of the Parramatta team from 2009 that came from eighth position and went through to the big one.

“I think a top six.”

The last time a team had more losses than wins and finished in the top eight, were the Broncos of 2019, with 11 wins and 12 defeats.

While Johns’ preferred system may ensure mediocre sides are kept out of the playoffs, Brad Fittler replied that there was one important reason the NRL will never cut the amount of teams in the finals.

“I feel finances may have something to do with how many semi-finals we play,” Fittler said.

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“They’re extra games. If you start dropping off teams, you’re dropping off games.

“Not every year you have a disparity like we have at the moment. It varies every year.

“This year more than ever, it feels like those top three teams have no problem with not many below them.”

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