RUGBY league’s Super 8s concept is set to be ditched after this season.
Currently, the 12-team competition splits with the Championship, with the bottom four playing the top four of the second tier.
But sources told SunSport the current make-up, which also sees Super League’s top eight play each other before the semi-finals and Grand Final, may be ditched in favour of a top six play-off for 2019.
And the Million Pound Game is set to become a straight shoot-out, rather than clubs going through the Qualifiers.
Clubs discussed the future of the 13-a-side code and it is understood they want rugby league’s top tiers to stay at 12 clubs, but with only two divisions and not three.
All 38 existing sides discussed what they want the future of the game to look like, with a controversial two x10 set-up put forward by Wigan’s Ian Lenagan, Hull’s Adam Pearson, Hull KR’s Neil Hudgell and St Helens’ Eamonn McManus.
But it is believed the preferred option was to stick with two tiers of 12, meaning 15 sides will end up in the third tier, which will receive no central funding, as a New York-based side is likely to come in.
Top flight clubs, led by Lenagan, also presented what they want rugby league to look like beyond 2021, when the next TV deal kicks in – and it looks like the Super 8s are destined to be scrapped.
It is believed more talks will take place over the course of this year before a decision is taken.
Meanwhile, Chester and John Duffy will today be named new joint head coaches of Scotland’s rugby league team.
Sources say Scotland Rugby League has gone with the pair because of Wakefield boss Chester’s knowledge of Super League and Featherstone chief Duffy’s experience in the Championship and League One.
The first test for the new duo will be the European Championship at the end of this year, which doubles as qualifiers of the 2021 World Cup in England.
Leave a comment