Super League: Stefan Ratchford and Jordan Turner pleased by new format

Warrington's Stefan Ratchford and St Helens' Jordan Turner says the new Super League format means more excitement at both ends of the table.

The Super League play-offs will now be contested by just the top four teams, while the bottom four sides will face play-offs against the top four from the Championship in order to decide the make-up of the 2015 top flight.

Ratchford, 26, told Sky Sports News HQ of the shake-up: "I think it's going to benefit the competition. Obviously there are fewer teams so the teams that are in the competition are really strong.

"When it gets to July and it splits it to a top eight, you can see that you can't afford to do anything besides hit the ground running.

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"We're confident. We've always been a confident group and in 2012 and 2013 we came up just short having been in good positions to win the game.

"We've got two or three good recruits with Daryl Clarke, Ashton Sims and Gary Wheeler. We've lost Michael Monaghan who is real quality but we've signed the current Man of Steel (Daryl Clark from Castleford) so he's going to be a really good signing for us.

"Wigan have been made the favourites and if you speak to them, they'll try and put the tag off. They've been a strong side the last few years. As for Catalans, Todd Carney has been a player of the year in the NRL and he's going to be a challenge to play against."

Turner, who helped St Helens to Grand Final glory last year, added: "I think it's really exciting. The thing that stands out for me is that teams can get promoted and relegated again. Those games will be as exciting as the top games.

"I remember going through promotion at Salford a few years ago and it's a great feelings. It's life changing. That's one of the joys of that system.

I remember going through promotion at Salford a few years ago and it's a great feelings. It's life changing. That's one of the joys of that system.

"We had so many injuries at Saints last season. We had to change our whole structure and it was the greatest feeling of my life. I know Stefan's played in a few himself and will tell you the atmosphere is unreal.

"If I ever got the chance to go back there again, I'll be a lucky man. It's quite surreal. A few of the older lads told me you won't remember it and the game will go quick - and it did.

"At the end of the game I went up to my family and it was a dream come true. I've wanted it since I was a kid."

Looking ahead to the World Cup Challenge, with Saints taking on South Sydney Rabbitohs on February 22, live on Sky, Turner added: "The World Club Challenge is fantastic.

"It's expanded and all three English teams go. We're playing the champions in South Sydney and they have some superstars. It's big for us to have it at Langtree Park.

"I've never played in a World Club Challenge but I think the nerves will be there. All the Grand Final preparation was the same - the only difference was the surreal atmosphere. It was a bit of a shock to see so many people there and the noise was deafening."

Watch the World Club Challenge, starting on February 20 at 7.30pm with Warrington v St George-Illawarra, Sky Sports 1