Top five play-offs
A play-off structure involving the top five teams was used to determine the winners of the Super League competition in British rugby league from 1998 until 2001. A top six play-off system was then introduced. Apart from the Grand Final all matches are staged at the home ground of the team placed higher in the final league table.
The same system was used in the NSWRL's Sydney Competition 1973–1994, the Super League in its only season 1997, the VFL, 1972–1990 and New Zealand's Lion Red Cup, 1994–1996, and Bartercard Cup, 2000–2006.
From week two on the Top five play-offs system reflects exactly the Page playoff system.
How it works
Week One
- Qualification Final: 2nd vs 3rd
- Elimination Final: 4th vs 5th
- Bye: 1st
Week Two
- Major Semi Final: 1st vs Winners of Qualification Final
- Minor Semi Final: Losers of Qualification Final vs Winners of Elimination Final
Week Three
- Preliminary Final: Losers of Major Semi Final vs Winners of Minor Semi Final
- Bye: Winners of Major Semi Final
Week Four
- Grand Final: Winners of Major Semi Final vs Winners of Preliminary Final
This is considered a good playoff system as it allows fifth place to take part while making it incredibly difficult for them to be crowned champions as they must beat every team from above them at some point.
Example
The 1994 NSWRL finals occurred as follows:
| Qualifying/Elimination Final | Major/Minor Semi Final | Preliminary Final | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||
| 1 |  Canterbury |
19 | ||||||||||||||||
 Canberra |
18 | 1 | Canterbury |
12 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 |  North Sydney |
12 | Canberra |
22 | 3 | Canberra |
36 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Canberra |
26 | North Sydney |
9 | ||||||||||||||
| North Sydney |
15 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 |  Manly |
4 |  Brisbane |
14 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Brisbane |
16 | ||||||||||||||||