Big clubs looking down

IF you like your rugby raw, on the edge and with potentially everything at stake, then this weekend cannot be missed.

There are five games left before Super League splits, with the bottom four then facing a Middle 8s relegation nightmare.

The first year the system was introduced, everything went as expected – Widnes, Hull KR, Salford and Wakefield all failed to make the cut.

All four went on to save their top-flight lives.

But last year was when it really started to get interesting. Champions Leeds amazingly found themselves in the Middle 8s, while Hull KR crashed into the Championship as Leigh were promoted.

That was the sort of drama the game’s bosses had hoped for – but now they’re starting to get twitchy because

names could find themselves in trouble, proving that Leeds’ troubles last year weren’t a blip.

When they brought back promotion it was never in the RFL’s plans for one of the money-spinning clubs to fall victim to the system.

They would never admit it but they’d clearly prefer a club with a smaller following, and less financially stable, to disappear from the top flight rather than a big-hitter. But Warrington, Catalans, Wigan and St Helens are all flirting with danger around the top eight cut-off point this season.

There’s already talk of Super League being expanded again to 13 or 14 sides, presumably to make sure the big clubs don’t miss out.

But surely sport has got to be about survival of the fittest. And if the big clubs mess things up then so be it.