Of course you have. Stop being silly.

Where should it be moved to? If its moved earlier in the season (which we've already tried) it just becomes a pre-season comp. If it's moved further back in the season the CC Final starts to interfere with the Grand Final.

Ask Warrington fans if it's lost its sparkle, or Saints fans, or even Hull or Huddersfield fans.

Its lost it sparkle as its too near to the end of the season, Huddersfield after the final went to pieces

if the final was moved to the middle of the season then teams could focus all their attention to the business end of the season and be on a level playing field

The CC Final had a much higher attendance than the Grand Final.

I'd guess it also had a much bigger TV audience.

Why do you think its' lost its' sparkle and are you concerned about the Grand Final?

Are you suggesting that all the teams in the Challenge Cup aren't already on a level playing field? How so?

So let's say we take the final away from being on a Bank Holiday weekend (either May or August) and have it in June/July. When do you want the early rounds to start, and how close together should they be?

Moving the final as an isolated act will have feck all effect on the way clubs and fans view the earlier rounds.

well the TV audience is due to a bigger channel if the Super League final was on the BBC im sure we would have higher ratings for that rather than the CC final

im not concerned about the Grand final as we in the game know this is how the league season finishes now and got used to it

I have alreasdy mentioned in this thread why it has lost it sparkle

We already tried moving it to the beginning of the season, it was a disaster, thats why it was moved back. The whole point of having an additional competition is that it should be difficult to win both in a season. Huddersfield went to pieces because they cr@pped themselves on the day of the CC Final and didnt play anything like they had done up until that point. It was that loss of confidence rather than the final itself that brought them down.

The Final is in exactly the right place. In the middle of summer, toward the end of the season but not too close to affect the Grand Final.
It should be hard to win both.

You don't address the issue. Why did the Challenge Cup Final get such a bigger attendance tham te Grand Final if it has "lost its' sparkle"?

What do you mean by "we in the game" and what on earth does your middle sentence have to do with the discussion?

Huddersfield went to pieces after they qualified for the final

If anyone thinks Huddersfield would've done any better in the playoffs without making the Challenge Cup Final then they're deluded.

I dont think we would. They may be similar but I dont think they'd be any higher. The Challenge Cup has an attraction for people outside the sport. The people who laughed at the name Super League and who dont like the idea of playoffs but can relate to a cup competition. These people will still watch a Cup Final, especially one played at Wembley, rather than a Playoff Final.

the middle of summer is August Bank holiday weekend?

6 weeks from the Grand Final is too close IMO

So answer the question I posed on the previous page then Loz, where should it go and how should it be structured and timed?

It's ok taking pot shots, try coming up with answers rather than complaints.

Why id the grand Final taking precedence over the CC final when fewer attend it and fewer watch it? Should you be asking why is the Grand Final so close to the Challenge Cup Final?

Is it because Leeds win one and not the other?

Football has the FA Cup Final and Champions/Europa League finals coinciding with the run in to the end of the league season - does one detract from the other?

Avoiding the "you said", "no I didn't" argument that isn't really addressing the issue here, the CC has not yet been delisted, these are as yet recommendations.
Therefore, if we want to try to influence the decision, as I stated earlier, people should contact their local MP to ask her/him to lobby to revoke this recommendation.

Ask Lawrence. I am sure he could provide a coherent, well constructed and deeply considered answer.

I am just [ipis[/ising in the wind on this thread re-hashing other people's opinions, sound bytes and cliches. Lawrie wouldn't do that.

I'd be amazed if my local MP even knows what Rugby League is to be perfectly honest.

Well what better way to inform him/her?

OK maybe not exactly the middle, but its still bloody hot and encourages people to go.


Why? If a team cant get over a loss or a tough game in 6 weeks then they dont deserve to win the Grand Final anyway.
Leeds have managed to get over a tough game AND a loss against Saints in the playoffs with just 2 weeks, so whats so bad about 6?

The 6 nations is not part of the list now, only wales games, and only showed in Wales.

The RU world cup is however to be shown in its entirely.

According to rhinoms (page 5, this thread), bbc "breaking news" has confirmed that it has already been dropped.

Quote ="Clearwing"According to rhinoms (page 5, this thread), bbc "breaking news" has confirmed that it has already been dropped.'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8358364.stm Still just recommendations at this stage, pending approval from the Culture Secretary. Noises that the ECB might consider launching a restraint of trade challenge in the courts if home Ashes tests are put back on the list, could be interesting.

Quote ="Clearwing"According to rhinoms (page 5, this thread), bbc "breaking news" has confirmed that it has already been dropped.'" news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8358364.stm Still just recommendations at this stage, pending approval from the Culture Secretary. Noises that the ECB might consider launching a restraint of trade challenge in the courts if home Ashes tests are put back on the list, could be interesting.

Whether the ashes get listed or not, this will not go away. The CC's listing is clearly very much threatened. In view of the pressure to cut spending at the bbc I'd guess it's only a matter of time before it's de-listed regardless of what happens with the ashes.

Yes is the answer to that - wait and see how many teams in the bottom half of the PL field weakened sides in the FA Cup. They know staying in the PL is paramount and they cannot afford a run in the FA Cup to ditract from that. The sooner thay can get eliminated from the comp the better which devalues the whole comp