Jimmy Lowes today slammed the play-off structure that he claims is spoiling rugby league.

The Bulls star believes the current system is unfair and unnecessary and was simply introduced "to copy the Australians".

"In what other sport would you have a situation where a team finish top of the league but are still not the winners," said the combative hooker.

"I don't think the Grand Final structure is representative. You can be the best team all season and then still come away with nothing - it's a joke.

"They wouldn't allow it in football, but it is just one example of the way rugby league is run in this country."

And the 31-year-old believes the format can lead to mid-season complacency by sides only interested in a top six finish, but not in finishing first.

"We want to finish top but it doesn't mean as much as it should because you get nothing for it," said Lowes, a professional rugby player for 17 years.

"I don't think St Helens would have played that weakened team against us if there was a title at stake.

"They were still going to make the play-offs whether we beat them in that game or not.

"It would have been different in a straight winner-takes-all league format."

St Helens famously fielded a weakened side against the Bulls a week before the Challenge Cup Final and were soundly beaten 54-22 at Valley Parade.

The Saints currently sit two points behind the Bulls in Super League, which is obviously good enough for the play-offs.

"I am all for taking what we can from the Australian game," said Lowes, a Great Britain international.

"There is a lot we can learn from them, but I don't think bringing in the play-offs just to copy their format is the way to do it."

Lowes wants to see a return to the World Club Championship format where the top teams from both hemispheres play off against each other.

"It would be a better idea to have the sort of thing they have in football," said the fanatical Leeds United fan.

"You win the league but the top few sides go into Europe; we should do it with the top few sides playing against the Australians but the winners of the league remaining the winners."