For Cas fans maybe this is the case. Leeds has always been Cas’s Cup Final.

In Leeds fans eyes i’d say Wigan and Saints are two biggest fixtures, followed by Hull and Warrington. Cas is the 5th biggest game for us so you’ve hardly replaced the old Bradford derby.

I used to dislike Leeds a lot in the SL period. Especially McGuire and Sinfield. Plus a few controversial moments like Cardiff 2007. The CC Final was a special one too. But recently the Leeds club have been fantastic with us. Even as far as lending us paint for the pitch because we couldn't afford it at the time to loaning us 4-6 players last season when we were desperate for a squad.

Only by default, if Bradford got back in the league then Leeds vs Bradford would be the biggest derby in West Yorkshire by far. I recon most Leeds fans (including myself) root for Cas against Wigan and possibly Saints. In fact, if Leeds do not win the GF this year then I would rather Cas won it than Wigan, Saints and even Wire (would feel like they had 'bought it') or Hull (imagine the grief their fans would give everyone!)

Difference is that when Cas were at the bottom of SL, I (and most Leeds fans) didn't care at all about them, but when Bradford were around the bottom of SL it still felt like one of our biggest fixtures.

Beating Bradford in the 2004 GF after Harris went to Bradford 'for trophies' is still one of my best memories as a Leeds fan, and feeling absolutely robbed in 2005 is probably the worst.

Beating Bradford in 2004 is one of my favourite memories as well. But it's all to do with it being the first championship in my lifetime and nothing to do with it being Bradford or Iestyn Harris on the other side.
The chav element of the Leeds fanbase singing at Harris after that final was cringeworthy.

Its only a matter of time before the Leeds v Bradford derby's are back on now Bradford are on the up again

In the words of Yazz and her plastic population (how very apt) Bradford have fallen so far that, the only way is up.
When both clubs were vying for top spot, they were great games but, having no allegiance to either club, I'm happy just to see a decent, hard fought game between ANY well matched sides.
It may be that, even if Bradford could find their way back to the top flight and they have a great chance with Kear at the helm, that, some of the "magic" will have gone but, I'm sure that we'll all tune in anyway.

Bulls are more likely to go bust again, than reach SL.

Chasing dreams built on sand has put them where they are now and the arrogance of entitlement led to 3 financial meltdowns in 4 years.

I see no change and it can only end in tears.

I don't disagree regarding the arrogance of the 3 previous owners. Marc Greens actions were almost criminal and if you look at the liquidator/admin reports of one of his companies that went bust, it makes interesting reading of the mans business dealings. Still at least we had Steve Ferres which the RFL insisted on to assist us. Only thing he assited on was helping Marc Green kill the club.

Will this one be any different? Who knows. Well we've had no winding up petitions, wages paid on time. So, so far so good

Andrew Chalmers does seem to be taking a more long term approach rather than trying to get back up ASAP.

I've said before, i think we've got one of the best academies going. But off-field mismanagement has resulted in us losing the young players. If Chalmers can bring stability off-field, i believe we can get a HG team that can improve each year until we're in a position to challenge for SL again. 5 year plan

just lol, it might have been for a few years, people seem to forget that Bradford v Leeds were struggling to get 5.5k for this BIG GAME less than 20 years before Bradford became a big deal under Nobby. Even in the big city of Leeds the bigger draw was Hull, St.Helens and even Oldham at that time in the early 80s
This at a time when the big game was the Hull derby which raked in 20,000+ the same season of that 5.5k 'big game'
No, it's not missed because it's never being a big historic rivalry compared to other West Yorkshire rivalries or Hull/Rovers which is a far bigger miss.

Pres Super league.
Gates have risen under Super League to what they were in the 5 years before Super League

But Hull/Rovers we've still got, yes they had a year off but given they've overdone it with the constant Magic weekend games then a year off is arguably what the fixture needed.

What with the 5 games a year incl the friendly it was ridiculous and has put fans off from turning up to some of the games so the break from it will help this year but hopefully going forward we can avoid replicating the potential 5 FC/KR games.

ATEOTD there are bigger rivalries even just in West Yorkshire than the Leeds/Bradford one, it was a big deal for a couple of years and Bradford certainly had some big numbers attendance wise but aside from that small period the match was not really a 'derby' type match IMHO and has been small fry compared to others on either side of the Pennines.

Amazed that this thread has lasted so long without anyone uttering the immortal "Leeds-Bradford isn't a derby, it's an airport".

ah, Yeadon aerodrome, often a bit dicy landing there and several military marques were built nearby but mainly AVRO including hundreds of Lancs. I guess it was an ideal location for test flying post war given the challenges the weather often gave.