Widnes CEO calls for Super 8s change

Widnes Vikings CEO James Rule has called for a change to the way that the Super Eights section of the season is structured.

He feels that the teams in the top eight of the Super League table should not be able to carry their points into the second phase of the season.

Rule’s Vikings are now 10 points adrift of the top four, and have only six games to launch an unlikely bid for a semi-final spot.

For the Qualifiers section, often referred to as the Middle Eights, the teams do not retain their points from the regular season.

“I would change it. The interest in the Middle 8s is because of the jeopardy,” Rule told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“I think after this weekend, realistically, if Saints beat Catalans and Wigan beat Castleford – I’m not saying they will or they won’t – that is the top four done.

“So the Super League will be finished two rounds into the format.

“I think that you could create a League Leaders’ Shield at the end of 23 rounds and then create a top eight road to Old Trafford, where everyone starts on zero points.”