Is when you were favourites for the cup and have had all the hype around you. 2014 you challenged but were underdogs not really expected to win. Plus this is almost a new side since then with only 4 survivors from the 2014 CCF still at the club.

Leeds also crumbled in numerous challenge cup finals between 2000 and 2014. Saints did in numerous Grand Finals. In knock out rugby anything can happen. But you have gotta be in them to win them Right? Sadly our cup dream is over but this year, I am still hopefully that we can reach old Trafford and have another crack at a final.

I think its a shame Cas won't get to Wembley as they are easily the most entertaining team to watch, and we need Wembley to be a showcase.

Personally I think Powell is savvy enough to use this to adjust the way the team play (or at least react) in tight games. The main thing they need to learn as a side is patience, keeping calm and sticking to your plan, and not trying to score off every set. It sounds simple but it clearly marks consistently good sides (and players) out and yet is obviously very hard to achieve.

However though Castleford lost the match fair and square, the 8 point difference between the scores of each side was not tries but goals. Castleford gave away too many penalties.

My fear for Cas all year has been that when the big games come round will they be brave enough to still play that ultra entertaining, risk taking brand of rugby league that they've been playing all year. To me that's their game and they should stick to it. They wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for that attacking style they employ and there's a fine line between them showing more patience and them going away from their style of play by being too reserved.

The brand of rugby league they play can go badly wrong if you have an off day and that's why I say they need to be brave in the huge games. They were on Sunday and it didn't come off but they should stick to it IMO. If Cas start playing for completions and territory in the super 8's and play offs, I think they'll find it tough to get past the likes of Leeds and Hull. We (Wigan) play that way and we've been murdered twice by Cas this season. It looks unlikely we'll trouble the top four but if we did and we played Cas, I'd be delighted if they changed their style of play and reverted to a more patient approach.

The problem with their brand of rugby is that it doesn't work against all teams. They need a plan B and I'm nit sure they have one. Hulls big lads seem to know how to nullify Cas and other teams will start to do the same, Powell needs to work out how to adapt Cas's style in game for these type of games.

And it should never be forgotten that OT, should Cas get there, is more often than not a cold gloomy October night often a damp one too which doesn't really lend itself to a free flowing expansive game. They are often tight affairs, at least for the first hour and Powell rightly eluded to the exact moment his team didn't play the game situation on sunday when they were leading 18-16 after an hour bringing the ball back and gifted the ball and field position to Hull and the game swung on that one instance. That's what it takes, and that is where Cas have to learn. If they do they certainly have the ability to get over the line.

I'm not sure where this impression comes from that it's always cold and wet at the Grand Final.

Is it?

Its in Manchester

So is anyone actually bothered about discussing the CC semi-finals or is this just a thread to inflate the ego of Nottingham's finest "Legal Eagle"? In case anyone had forgotten the two ties are......

Hull v Leeds
Salford v Wigan

Thoughts?

I'm just shocked that the ties are being played in sensible locations on sensible dates.

I blame the RFL.

cup semi final thread = 7 pages about Cas. Only on the vt!

Could be because nobody really cares that much about the CC until the final?

The semis are interesting. Hull and Leeds are seemingly on a par excluding vs Cas (Hull have a big edge there), and each other where Leeds have had the edge recently.

Salford and Wigan I guess comes down partly to who is back for Wigan, and just as importantly how good Salford actually are.

So Salford are above both Leeds and Hull in the table yet still being questioned about how good they are?

I'm no way implying we're going to win the league or the CC but I still think it's disrespectful to put down the achievements of the current Salford team. You can add the general belittling of Wakey's progress to that gripe as well.

And Leeds only beat Salford earlier in the season courtesy of a terrible refereeing decision btw. Assume you didn't see that over in Brisbane......

I think you've taken that post the wrong way, I thought it read as how well will salford play on the day, we already know they are capable of playing great rugby and have tonked Hull at home but were on the receiving end at their place so though above Wigan they like other teams have being fairly variable at times.
Wigan if they have a full strength side are clearly going to be a tough team to beat, i don't know what there long term injuries are but the semis are another 6 weeks away.

More a case of the games are still several weeks away and plenty of important league games inbetween now and then. What shape each team will be in fitness and form wise could change a lot from now.

In case you want to relive it

Not forward at all

You'd think Sinfield was still playing.

we lost a couple after that because of poor decisions. all evens itself out.win some lose some

Make that 7.

Just stringing you along to snap the streak at OT



Seriously though, we were second best all over the field again best team won.

I said at half time that whoever scored th next try would win. Hardaker came up with s big play and Cas were able to take the momentum of that and score again.

Marwan's saying Salford have nearly sold out their allocation. Surprising.