Maybe he has decided it would be better to have a media blackout?

Surely it's better that the coaches and players do their talking on the pitch than to the media?

Why was it a farce? Had he been told to be there by the RFL or SL, then he would have been. What's arrogant about it?

Wasnt well organised. I remember the first one when they were all sat round a desk, the reaction of the opposition when Heatherington announced it. Maybe its just like Madge putting a media ban on this week.
Do you think he should have attended?

I dont see the problem to be honest. He hasnt done anything wrong, we all think its a sh*t concept so we can hardly call him for not caring about it.

and the only ones that saw it were people who wernt at the game today.

ang on..........maybe thats were all our fans were......anticipating a win, and not wanting to miss club call

Agree with this all the way. The same thing will happen each year. Only a deluded fool would pick anyone but the lowest placed team left in the competition.

In that case there were several deluded fools on here from Warrington last week, assuring us that in the unlikely event we beat Catalan, they would rather play us than Leeds. Yeah, right.

Smith wasn't obliged to attend the announcement, since the RFL said from the off that the chairman makes the decision (in public anyway). Stop picking at things that aren't there and worry about Saints next week.

Look at Brian Macs reaction... He knew he was up against the Wire all along.
Should go back to 1v8 and no second chances.
THIS CURRENT SYSTEM IS A FARCE.

Completely agree. If you pick anyone other than the lowest ranked team and lose, all hell will break loose.

I bet you wish there were this time next week

What's so funny about that?

Not really

There are several deluded fools on every site (yes, even this one!), no-one in their right mind would select the side who finished second at the end of the regular season.

+1

I'd say he's hankering on pure hope rather than expectation on that one.

I'm expecting a Wire v Wigan Grand Final.. Monster of a game!!

I'm not, I'm looking for a repeat of the challange cup final, was hoping for Sts v Wigan

And yes, a few days rest and several of the Wigan players showing some niggling injuries, I would have taken Wigan this week rather than face them at Old Trafford, where my players are inexperienced and may be a little overawed.

To me the thing is stupid. Way it was done was fair enough got to point straight away every had a guess that once we had won easily it was going to be Leeds. If we want to make anything out of it all 3 sides left in the comp should be up for picking!!

Smith wasnt execatly going to turn up and say well leeds are rubbish and we fear Wigan so thats the choice we went for!!

I could have seen Warrington picking us, had our defence leaked like a sieve, scraped a win, (helped by Ganson), picked up a few injuries, 2 days less turnaround, then just maybe.

The choice Leeds or Catalans would have been less straigt forward though.

Not a fan of this "pick your opponents" lark. Or the expansion to the top eight clubs playoffs. Both are just a money spinning exercise that offer little for proper fans or anyone over the age of six.

Lets get back to the top six playoffs, no gimmicks, and get on with it.

The Club Call announcement was yet another example of the appalling mismanagement of RL in this country.

Why did it look like the room was prepared for a press conference that no-one other than a couple of bored looking coaches had bothered to turn up to?

Why was the announcement made in the commentary box after the game?

The whole thing looked trivial and mismanaged.

Our game is constantly sabotaged by the amateurism of its administrators.

I reckon the club call system should be that at the end of the year the team that has won the league chooses its Grand Final opponents there and then from anyone in the top 8.

I wonder now if Smith blames the bloke with the wig on for choosing Leeds. Thats right Tony,

the messenger!