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I know it dosn't matter but I was bored, but it makes you wonder why we are 3 points and how the bonus point effects the outcome.

1. Featherstone 30 pts
2. Halifax 22 pts (1 game in hand)
3. Barrow 21 pts (2 games in hand)
4. Leigh 21 pts
5. Sheffield 17 pts
6. Toulouse 16 pts (1 game in hand)
7. Widnes 14 pts (2 games in hand)
8. Batley 12 pts
9. Dewsbury 4 pts
10. Whitehaven 4 pts
11. Keighley -2pts (9 points deducted)

Just a bit of fun.

I was just thinking about the bonus point system.

Why has it been in the Championship leagues for 4/5 years and yet not been employed at SL level ? I don't think it's used at reserve, academy or amateur level either.

If it works and produces better matches then roll it out across the entire sport. If it doesn't really improve games then scrap it. What is the RFL's justification for persisting with it in just 2 leagues in the country ??

I personally don't think it offers much and in many cases rewards teams who deserve nothing. Leigh at home being the perfect example. They were totally outplayed for most of the match but got a point out of it on the back of playing panic/suicide rugby that came off in the last 10 mins.

Bonus Point system is flawed. Theoretically a team could play 20 games and gain 20 bonus points having won none of the games. A team could win six games gain no bonus points and get relegated.

didnt we win the league last year by a bonus point?

I agree as you only have to look at the difference in the tables. I know it was brought in to make games more exciting but if it has worked then why is it not adopted by SL?
Is this just a way of promoting marginal teams into a false position in the league!
If I get time I will look at last few years.

Super League are adopting it from next season onwards.

Agreed. Deeply flawed and a waste of time.

Continuing the theme of high improbability, if this theoretical team also gets nilled every week but never concedes more than 12 points in any match, they could get 20 bonus points without ever actually scoring any points at all in the field of play! It shouldn't be possible to get a bonus point if you've been whitewashed.

Doesn't matter whether we've benefitted from it or not: Either apply it to all games or scrap it. If it isn't being used as an experiment for application at the highest level, then it serves no purpose whatsoever. It's just a gimmick.

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It appears as the years go on it has become all about the bonus points. By the trend teams seem to play for the bonus and this brings scores closer in the games. This would make for closer games but also means some teams win less games than teams below them!
Is the game about winning or gaining points?

my own personal view is, you play for the win....after that you try and keep the score as close as possible because of points difference.....or as it is now, keep it close to get the bonus point, I really don't understand the controversy. In the old days, it was to have a healthier points difference....now its to have a healthier points total.

The big loser through this in the past couple of seasons is Toulouse. Where does that fit in the 'it's a RFL conspiracy' theory?

Yes I agree, Im not having a go at the bonus system just looking at it. the difference with the old system is that the points difference only came in when teams were level on league points. If this was the case then maybe the bonus points should come into play in the event of two team tied on points and not added to the running points total in the league. ;)

In theory wouldn't Keighley only have been deducted 6 points to represent 3 losses?

Yeah I think it used to be 5 points. My mistake on that one. Same with Doncaster (not that it effected the table)

Fev last year would have finished 3rd - not 6th
This year we'd be out of site and the pressure would have been off for weeks - theoretically we can still be caught under this system.

I'd have though Fev are possibly the ones to lose out most wi this daft system!