The start of the new rugby league season below Super League has probably caused more eager anticipation than for some time.
With a new-style Championship having been formed and League One consigned to history, it’s seen as an opportunity to further the ambitions of clubs, especially those who had been playing in League One.
Both Workington Town and Whitehaven fill that position, while Barrow have their own goals after proving themselves capable competitors in the old Championship over the last few years.
Barrow will start at home with a visit from Workington while Whitehaven also have a home game against Sheffield Eagles.
Today the RFL confirmed the 10-team play-off structure format which will be in place for the end of the season.
Using an extended and amended version of the McIntyre system, it will see four weekends of play-off action, culminating in the Championship Grand Final on the weekend of October 10 and October 11.
Week 1
- Teams 1 & 2 bye – through to Week 2
- Qualifying Semi Final 1 – 3 v 5
- Qualifying Semi Final 2 – 4 v 6
- Eliminator 1 – 7 v 10
- Eliminator 2 – 8 v 9
Week 2
- Qualifying Final 1 – 1 v Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
- Qualifying Final 2 – 2 v Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Winners
- Elimination Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Lowest Ranked Eliminator Winners
- Elimination Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Semi Final Losers v Highest Ranked Eliminator Winners
Week 3
- Winners of Qualifying Final 1 & 2 – through to home semi finals
- Sudden Death Play Off 1 – Highest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
- Sudden Death Play Off 2 – Lowest Ranked Loser of Qualifying Finals v Highest Ranked Winner of Elimination Finals
Week 4
- Preliminary Final 1 – Highest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Lowest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
- Preliminary Final 2 – Lowest Ranked Qualifying Final Winners v Highest Ranked Sudden Death Play Off Winners
Week 5
- Grand Final – Highest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals v Lowest Ranked Winner of Preliminary Finals
The challenge for all the clubs is to make the top 10 and then take it from there.
The only thing to be resolved is, with a different fixture format, what happens to clubs due to play twice the now absent Featherstone – like Barrow – as Workington and Whitehaven were among those not due to play Rovers.
