The initial idea of the top 8 and qualifiers was fine, but with the play off game involved the RL was hoping that we'd see the 3 SL sides already safe, and the SL side beating the championship side to retain the status quo.
The scenario yesterday I'm sure was the nightmare one, and to be honest I don't like it. The football play offs have grown on me, but some times the outcomes seem unfair, with 6 place going up. It is what it is though, these are so different, and more so in this sport where the players from both teams were staring at losing so much money due to contracts being ripped up, and having to go part time. Look at those that have gone down recently Bradford and London, I'm sure most people felt that the Bulls would come straight back up, but they haven't and don't look likely to either. Plus what's the incentive for say Hull KR to stay full time next season? None, as winning the championship isn't a guarantee of going back up and reclaiming the higher income the Super League offers.
Straight up and down offers that incentive, and is how things were done for years, before the great and good of sport bowed down to the television money. I would say I'm a bit of traditionalist, but where progress can be made for the good of the game then lets do so, but this isn't one to progress the game.
As for the trouble, this is the second instance this season with Salford fans, now I don't know if it were them that started it yesterday, but it isn't something that has blighted the sport over the years, even in the dark days of the 80's. Punish those involved, but don't try and stop the pitch invasions at the end of the game, that's been part and parcel of the game for years, and always was friendly.