it looks like sky has finally achieved its goal of killing off the CC. What with the advent of the GF, purely to compete with the CC and its better broadcasting, the most prestigious rugby comp in the world is virtually dead and bruied. No one turns up anymore, unless its a good semi or final...

Sad really, but all attendances this weekend will be poor. My first final was 1987, still have better memories of that day than my first GF in 1999.

The Halifax - St Helens final was a good one from what I recall. The John Pendlebury tackle on Mark Elia that was fit to win any game, even a final. 'The Wombat' lifting the cup and Chris Anderson calling the shots. Poor Alex spitting feathers on the St Helens bench .... cheating tw*t.

I still enjoyed the '99 GF though despite the low score.

Mick Withers - did he or didn't he knock on?

The appointment of Dave Campbell as the video referee was a controversial decision (what with his links to St Helens) and was the taste of things to come.

That said I agreed and called it a knock on also.

All the above subject to closer scrutiny like. There could be a jumbling of memories in my advancing years.

Things change.

As has been mentioned elsewhere the Cup for a long time had a big, dramatic, televised final. The league Champions for a long time didn't have that. A title could be won in front of 4,000 at the Watersheddings or 9,000 at naughton Park.

But then came the Grand Final and boy did the game need it. How anyone can argue that the Grand Final has been anything other than a roaring success is beyond me. So we now have two high profile, well attended finals.

But the romance of the cup has gone and it has gone because it was always a facade anyway. Perhaps this is why an historically soft leeds team could win the cup but not the championship. String 4 wins together, many against pish poor opponents, and you're the cup holders. Does anyone analyse what Warrington had to do to win the cup last year? Might be romantic but it's hardly awe inspiring. Becoming champions, on the other hand, is irrefutably a proper test of a team's mettle. You endure a domestic season and compete against all opponents, you qualify, you play the best in the competition and you then have to raise yourself in a winner takes all final.

Modern day Rugby league fans can properly appraise which has most merit now they both have a prestigious final and the votes are overwhelming.

Of course, being nostalgic, you'll look back upon the 1987 Cup Final as your favourite but that is largely irrelevant. It's pure nostalgia and young supporters from this generation will have very different memories to look back upon.

I look back fondly on winter rugby, on fat props who could slip a pass, on all out thuggery on the pitch, on regal trophy ties, on big, steaming germ filled post match baths, on being able to see past my belly at my penis. Looking back fondly doesn't mean it's wrong to move on or change priorities.

The cup is, i am afraid, a secondary competition. We should accept that for what it is. As long as the Final continues to be broadcast nationally , well sponsored and well supported I fail to see why people should get so excited about poorer early round attendances.

They certainly are:

1998: GF: 43,553, CCF: 60,669
1999: GF: 50,717, CCF: 73,242
2000: GF: 58,132, CCF: 67,247
2001: GF: 60,164, CCF: 68,250
2002: GF: 61,138, CCF: 62,140
2003: GF: 65,537, CCF: 71,212
2004: GF: 65,537, CCF: 73,734
2005: GF: 65,537, CCF: 74,213
2006: GF: 72,582, CCF: 65,187
2007: GF: 71,352, CCF: 84,241
2008: GF: 68,810, CCF: 82,821
2009: GF: 63,259, CCF: 76,560

2006 CC Final St Helens V Huddersfield - say no more.

One year at a dump of a ground that a lot of neutrals refused to visit as a matter of principle?

Hardly a great example.

(Unless I've completely missed the point, which is not unheard of

)

No point really.

On that basis it appears the CCF has drawn the bigger attendances of the two events where they have co-existed on the SL calendar. That nicely supports/contradicts G1's point depending which way he decides to get out of bed in the morning.



However some of those Old Trafford attendances were limited by the Stadium reaching it's capacity. I well remember the 2004 GF being sold out and having to source tickets on the black market after my Fantasy League prize, courtesy of RLFans, failed to materialise because someone forgot to order/beg/borrow or steal them in the preceding 12 months.

total embarassment biggest game of the season as well. well done on wigan coming thorugh on their numbers as usual during this tough recession.

anyone aware of football has seen similar changes in priority betwen the FA cup and Prem League titles in attendance/importance?
I am intrigued to know if its the unique RL issues or the general media coverage and Tv broadcasting changes is affecting sport on a wider platform and maybe are they then linked .

I love the Challenge Cup.

Kudos on the most spectacular missing of a point in a while on here.



You took one phrase, in isolation, from a post as in depth as my previous one then trotted out a lot of numbers to dis-prove a point i wasn't even making.

Somewhere a village is missing it's idiot.

Not as embarrassing as an half empty Saints end for the 2009 GF!

Aint that the truth!

Boosh! get that into ya saints fans!

www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17851 At least your players are up for the game.

www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=17851 At least your players are up for the game.

They were more determined than ever last year as well, when they went out at the first round!

I've come to learn with the CC talk is cheap with leeds.

Top quality post, I agree with everything in it apart from the words.

so can you pay on the day to get in then?? I'm fuc*ing confuddled!!!

You will be able to buy a ticket from the office before the game but you wont be able to pay on the gate I would imagine

I`d ring beforehand though because I have just read an email the rhinos have sent and it said theres only 700 tickets left!!

I did say when the 10K limit was put in place that being a Bank Holiday it would p*ss down so there would be no cricket anyway so whats the point in reducing.

On the plus side there will be 2500 very soggy pies at the end of the game

You got your wish. Just watched the forecast & it's rain rain all day - certainly no chance of cricket today!!!!!!!!!!

thinking the same thing, can we have a p.a. announcer now??

Will they still cap the capacity even though there will be no play at the cricket?

Hope you sell the other 700, it would look full with a stand closed and still have that big game atmosphere, which stand is full? If its the one at the side with all the seats, id hope the BBC have the common sense to have the camera's facing the south stand.........

BBc and common sense