The bigger disgrace is the RFL imposing commercial terms on some clubs without imposing the same on all clubs.

If the RFL is forcing Toronto, Toulouse and Catalans to agree to sell 10,000 tickets (or whatever the figure is) or face a financial penalty, that term should apply to every club in the competition.

All of this hides the elephant in the room anyway. The RFL keep telling us that the CC Final is a "blue ribboned" event - why aren't they confident about selling it out themselves? Why does Red Hall need clubs to agree to subsidise its inaction?

Out of interest, would Toronto of got their money back if they didn't reach the final? because that's what it was all about, Wembley being empty if they somehow got there.
Also, I asked before, Toulouse didn't play in the CC last season, anyone know what was the reason for that because there were no sanctions on them then, it was just there decision, if I remember right.

Shame (typical) that this quickly descended into slating the RFL, Toronto and Tolouse. The post was actually about the great potential in Belgrade and across the Balkans.

It's great to have Red Star in the comp but, "great potential accross the Balkans" is massively over egging the inclusion of Red Star, who, like any other lower league side, will crash out when they are tested against either a top Championship or SL side.

As I say, great to have them in the hat but, what will they actually bring to the comp.

Regarding Toronto and Toulouse being "forced out" of the competition is a bloody disgrace.

If "we" are going to carry on with forcing out clubs, who cannot sell their ticket allocation fro the final, it's time to scrap the Challenge Cup altogether.

Standard entry fee, with the possible rider that overseas clubs have to forfeit their home advantage up to the quarter finals but, ALL clubs should be allowed to enter at the appropriate time and just as another poster has suggested, this gives our two overseas promotion hopefulls a free week, while their competition are getting battered (physically).

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Well Mr saddo you really are a typical RL fan, I'm sure anyone reading this will rush out to their nearest super league club, or in your case run from Warrington to St. Helens.

St.Helens and Warrington have played in 21 and 17 finals (3icon_cool.gif total, compare this with Salford's 7 finals and other than one St.Helens final against the mighty Wigan you have a total of 1 (one) higher attendance than the 97,939 that watched Salford V Castleford.

I'll even give you 2 if you include the wire halifax replay at Bradford depending on which team your following.

Obviously Toronto and Toulouse gain an advantage by having bye weeks so perhaps they should be docked 4 points to even things up.

Another shocking effort by the game.

Fundamentally, you cant invite clubs into a competition and then start to impose such "restrictions" on their entry.
Either these rules should apply to all clubs, which could have a massive detrimental effect on the competition or, to none.
I'm comfortable with the overseas sides having to forefeit their hom advantage in the early rounds but to caharge some astronomical fee is quite ridiculous.
What really irks is that "we" were happy to take the publicity and additional media coverage following Catalan's success last season and yet we then look to punish the overseas entrants.


Wrong, wrong, wrong

Saddo is still right in what he says though.

Salford, Wakefield, Huddersfield and London should all also have to pay to play in the cup

I'm really not sure what relevance the attendance at a cup final 50 years ago has today. I'll stand by what I said, Salford's pathetic following couldn't muster more than 6,000 for a cup final these days. The club probably won't exist in 12 months anyway, so it's a mute point.

Making overseas clubs pay to enter the Challenge Cup, hidden behind some facade about 10,000 spectators attending the final is ridiculous when there are so many UK based clubs who couldn't achieve that. Why does anyone have to pay to enter? Why not just market it properly and sell a decent number of tickets regardless of who gets there? Absolute worst case, Toronto v Toulouse, or Salford v Huddersfield, the RFL should be able to manage 50,000 ticket sales.

The sport will be semipro again within 5 years if the clowns in charge of the RFL now are allowed to continue.

When Hudds were there in 09 there was 77k in attendance not 50k (And even that was over inflated to save the embarrassment of the real figure), last time London were there it was 73k, last time Wakefield were there it was 94k (Granted a long time ago). Your obsession with the likes of Salford, Wakefield and Hudds is hilarious, I imagine that you have now changed alias once again to save the embarrassment of your previous "Everything revolves around Toronto" posts Lebron/Jean/RL Realist/Canoeman...

#RUNWITHTHEPACK

Who is this lebron everyone is talking about?

just an argumentative that supports stains and changes his identity on here

I wish it was a mute point then I wouldn't have had to read the e.

What does it matter that it was over 50 years ago in a hundred years your two massive clubs have had one better attendance in 38 attempts !!!

What's so hard to grasp ?

And In 10 years they have had more fans turn up than you have in a hundred years

then we should include all clubs lower than the ones mentioned where does it end, RFL has caused this argument I'm surprised no one has bothered to challenge them with this ridiculous new rule

Red Star Belgrade plays against the Cumbrian team Millom in Challenge Cup Round One which takes place in late January.

Who is going to win that game?

Agreed

First of all, "we" invite overseas clubs to join our comp and then we penalise them for how difficult the logistics can bee to have supporters attending games from distance, quell surprise !

I agree with the other poster that a "fine" should apply to any club reaching the final that cannot sell the required amount of tickets or to none at all (which would be better).

If our sport is incapable of selling tickets in good number for ono of it's major finals, it's a poor do but, just who is responsible for selling tickets for these events anyway ? and if Catalan (or whoever else) cant shift 10,000 tickets, it almost shouldn't matter as, the other 80,000 should already be sold

(if only) .

The sensible approach would be to have sufficient time between the semi finals and final, to market the hell our of the event, or better still, have enough tickets sold in the first place so that it doesnt matter who actually plays



Also, "we" should be putting more onus on every club to sell tickets for the final, with some reasonable incentive, which would help massively with the promotion of the event, with the same for any internationals. Sadly, this concept seems far too difficult for those in charge to grasp

4 page thread for a club that'll probably get eliminated in round 1... LOL

Why are you so sure that an obscure Cumbrian team named Millom can defeat the legendary Red Star Belgrade?

Legendary??

Yes. They have risen from obscurity to become the Balkan Super League and Championship champions in 2018. That is the stuff of legends.

Have you been at the boutique beers again Jean?

Yes. But my admiration for Red Star Belgrade preceded that.

I was amused by your answer, but I think the tag of "legendary" applies only in their own neck of the woods.