Can't wait for Saturday. It's a new experience for Wire fans and I was wondering how it compares with the Wembley CC final, as regards occasion, build up, status and overall experience.

Wembley seems to be traditional with "abide with me" and the relatively low key celebrations at the end. From what I've seen on telly, the Grand Final has more "razamataz".

What do you Rhinos think of it?

No-one over here is taking anything for granted as you have made this comp yours in the last few years. Hope it's an enjoyable day and game for all regardless of the result.

Whilst I'm probably slight biased by the fact we've had so much success in this final (comparatively) I just love the GF. It's usually cold dark and wet the atmosphere is amazing.

Hopefully you'll enjoy the experience too (not too much tho!)

Hopefully, there won't be a drunken idiot sat behind me at Old Trafford like there was at Wembley.

Wire can win in the somewhat relaxed warm sunny atmosphere of Wembely, but will they be able to beat us on a cold wet October night in the cauldron of OT?

The CC final is a nice day out as much as the game. The GF always feels much more intense, and far more about the match iteself than the day around it.

No contest GF every time.Presumably those Wire fans who thought they were the "Champions" last year won't be attending in protest and will acknowledge Wigan as the Champions this year.

GF for mine. Win the cup and a few weeks later it's all about the playoffs.

Win the GF and it leaves a glow all through the off season. And then there's the WCC to look forward to.

Atmosphere-wise, proximity to the drummer is key.

The Challenge Cup is about the occasion. A day out in the big city, at the height of summer. The trophy is important (they all are), but is not necessarily a measure of a teams quality due to low number of games and potential low quality of opponents. The game tends to be more open, with better conditions and less at stake.

The grand final is a different matter. Its a chilly autumn evening game, so the atmosphere feels even more special. The stadium is much closer to the pitch so you feel on top of the players.
There are far fewer neutrals at the game, so its all about the two teams involved. The game is completely different usually too. Its usually a closer game, where you are more likely to take the 2 if offered. every point matters. This is a game that takes a good group of players and turns them into a great group of players. Its a season defining game. The last game of the season, you cannot afford to leave anything on the pitch. When you lose its hurts, for a long time. You can see the dejection on the faces of the losing players, a season's down the drain. To win it though is ecstasy, the top team, with the chance further enhance your reputation against the Aussie champs in a few months.

I like both, but they are very different occasions. As others have said, the CC final has an atmosphere of a jolly boys' outing and a bit of a carnival atmosphere. It's a good day out, the rugby almost seems secondary at times.

The Grand Final is a totally different level of intensity, both in atmosphere and the action on the pitch. I guess there is razzamataz, but to be honest I've never noticed it. The atmosphere is absolutely electric.

I can certainly tell you which feels worse to lose as a fan. At the CC final (as much as it's getting a bit old after 8 defeats now....) it's disappointing to lose, but you still feel like you've had a grand day out. At the GF I think because there's less of the day out about it, you focus far more on the match itself and it's more disappointing when you lose. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good occasion, and there's always the banter among the fans, but there's less to distract you from the result.

Of course, thanks to Kev and the boys, I've only had the misfortune to support the losing side in a GF twice.... Keep it going lads!

As has been said, both are very different. Both are enjoyable but I much prefer the GF. Perhaps that is bias because of our success in that and lack of success in the CC but as has been said it feels like the pinnacle because it comes at the season's end. It feels much more intense. Night game, under the lights.

It also affords you the right to call yourself champions and compete for the WCC.

That said, I wouldn't mind a win in the CC for these Leeds lads before they hang up their boots.

OT is a lot more cramped than Wembley!

The grand final for me! As others have said, its more about that game than the day out.

The atmosphere is much better at OT for me, maybe due to the game been at night!

The CC final is a much more of an event in terms of day out etc. It's bank holiday weekend, saturday afternoon, in the height of summer.

The grand final is a cold, wet night in manchester, it's all business. It's all about the game and who becomes champions.

Soon find out.

You would think with CC being "more relaxed" it would be easier to win than a GF but it doesnt seem to be the case for Leeds, could just maybe be its too relaxed for them?

The CC is about tradition and a nice sunny day trip to London, but for me its a distraction and since the introduction of the GF is meaningless in the scheme of things. Aside from the national exposure the CC brings (although thats dropping away) I'd happily see the CC dropped entirely or made a competition for lower leagues only. The loss of these fixtures would benefit the International scene and take the pressure off our top players. The GF is the be all and end all for SL and OT on a wet saturday night is hard to beat

isn't old trafford more of a day out?

coaches seem to get there about 4 hrs b4 and 2hrs b4 at wembley

Used to be a good atmosphere at the top of the road when drinking was allowed and it wasn't raining (heavily)

Although 2 of the last 3yrs @ wembley I've gone for a weekend or public transport to have a day of sightseeing too.

Not much to see in manc land

I suspect that the supporter that posted that comment was posting that it was "more relaxed" for the supporters,

Unless the supporter that posted the comment was really one of the Leeds players, which I doubt.

Warrington are the new saints circa 1996-2007. They win pretty much every final they play in.

As a Wire fan for me the Grand Final is the holy grail.

Watching us win the challenge cup for the first time in my life time in 2009 was an emotion I never thought I'd feel.

But I've been to several grand finals and challenge cup finals and the atmosphere always seems much more tense and somewhat surreal at Old Trafford.

Can't wait to sample it with my team playing there.

Does the CC feel like a day out mainly because you travel 4-5 hours to get there and many tend to get there the night before? Friday to me feels almost like a Catalan trip but Saturday is all business and I have nothing else on my mind than the game.

I've yet to be taken in by this "increased atmosphere" at OT - obviously this could be due to our lack of presence there but I think the feeling more rides on the result. If you lose at the CC, you can refocus on the league. Lose at OT, and it's see you next year to try again.

In terms of the players, I don't think it will be any different playing at Wembley in front of 80K or OT in front of 70K. Wembley is RL tradition and OT is the pinnacle of the season. Both very important for different reasons to the guys on the pitch.

As highlighted though, the weather is more often that not the difference and as we all know in RL, rain tends to level out the contest a little more.

Bring on Saturday!
ISWT

The missus and I go to the CC Final every year, if Leeds play or not.

We've only ever gone to the GF when Leeds have been there.

The GF is all about becoming the sports' champion and you can feel it - it's far more intense than the CC final. The atmosphere is so different to Wembley, more electric, more focused and more passionate.

I like going to Wembley, we always make a weekend of it - it's like a mini holiday but OT is all about the rugby. I much prefer the night in Manchester than the weekend in London.

Agree with Fat Boy. We went to GF when it was Wigan Saints and me n my old man ended up just stood at the bar under the stands for the second half, felt really hard to watch a game there not involving Leeds. CC final has the carnival atmosphere and is about the party.

I love the nights at Old Trafford in October watching Leeds. The ground crackles with anticipation.

I think the new Wmbley is a marvelous stadium,but I dont think the atmosphere is as good as the old Wembley

The thing I always find disappointing about the Grand Final is at the end, it feels like its over too quickly, its a bit of anti climax. One team wins (usually Leeds), the other teams supporters mill out of the ground quickly (which IMO is a lack of respect, in Cup Finals I always think neutrals and opposition fans should stay to watch the presentation and celebrations) and suddenly bang its the season over you are just stood at a freezing tram stop and thats it.

Not sure what else I expect to be honest but I always feel a bit disappointed at the end, it's like we had the whole season, the champions are decided and now everyone goes home for the winter. I'd rather the GF was played on a Saturday afternoon, maybe there would be a bit more hanging around afterwards rather than everyone rushing off home.

It's worse when you lose at OT than at Wembley in my opinion. Probably because as others have said Wembley can be a trip that includes a rugby match whereas Old Trafford is all about the game.
Maybe I've just got to used losing at Wembley though