With Rovers now well and truly in line for a SL return I guess there are a few implications. Firstly a Good Friday derby at Craven Park, almost 3 years to the day since they last beat us in a competitive game. We'll get a Magic weekend tie against them rather than Saints (hopefully can't be any worse than this year's horror show). Whilst their relegation drama has been the source of much fun/mockery for the fans, FC's board will be delighted to see them back from a financial and media perspective. Pros and cons but they surely bring more to the table than Widnes or Leigh? Hope Catalans survive though, McNamara not having much impact yet

I'm not overly fussed if they get back up or not. I think we've come on enough in the last few years that their presence wouldn't cause us many problems. I'd imagine the first derby would pull in 20k+ but then by the following year the novelty would wear off again and we'd all be back complaining there's too many derbies.

Still a long way to go anyway. Slip up to London or Featherstone and it would take the shine right off today's win. Thought they were quite lucky today that their last try stood. No idea how Scruton's play the ball wasn't given as an error.
That been said Leigh had more than enough chances. Tactics by Rovers in the final minute to just lay on until the ref blew his whistle were spot on, and something that if they did for just 1 tackle last year again Salford would likely have stopped them getting relegated to begin with.

You do like to point out the timeline since our last victory

I can hear the Tim Sheens "triage of doom" right now. Anyone with an injury in the month up to Easter will be instantly classed in post match interview as long term/season-ending. Then on Wednesday..you know the drill


Welcome back lad

Not missed the derbies. Not missed the "banter". Thought it was a poor quality game today TBH.
Glad we didn't get Cookie as attack coach now


I'm sure AP will be happy if they do it, but I've enjoyed not having the distraction of that lot this year.
The RFL would have done their best to get them up anyway.

If they get rid of the friendly game, and we don't get the derby forced upon us at Magic weekend then I'd be happy for them to come back up. They need a lot of players though

No interest in KR, another 2 points, were aiming higher than "local bragging rights"

they raised their game v leigh, most probably will against other SL teams in the middle 8s

yet struggled v a fellow championship team in their first game, if they dont back it up next week v london, todays' win will be wasted

as for the derbies, not missed them at all

Agreed.

We've got another Cup final in a couple of weeks and hopefully a top four play off to come. Who cares about the little clubs like Leigh, Rovers, Halifax, London etc.

Like I say, I think the RFL will get them up anyway, via a restructure, either this year or next.
The Dobbins will be happy to have their cup final back.
Like as had been said earlier, we need to move on from local bragging rights and cement our place as a powerhouse in the Super League.
Another Cup Final, a top four finish and playing in Australia will hopefully help us do this.

I'd much rather they don't come back. Still there's an awful lot of work for them to do if it does happen, their pack is as feeble as ever. Terrible game today - thrown away by Leigh and another quite dreadful refereeing performance by Smith.

They need us more than we need them. At the end of the day, if they come up then it's likely to be 4 or 6 free points on recent history.

No they don't, they need SL.

I'd guess that they've brought far more to our ground than we have to there's since DL began.

DL?

I don,t get certain people at times why would,nt you want the derbies,besides the financial benefits for both clubs, I would rather watch hull vs rovers with a big crowd at the kcom or caravan park than hull vs London or any other club that don,t bring any support to the game.You cannot beat the build to the game between the two sets of supporters to which is the biggest derby in super league.Just hope they would vary magic weekend a
bit more

Personally, I've always loved the Derbies. They add to the season and I enjoy the build up and day itself, especially Good Friday.

They are always memorable and most of us will still be able to discuss Derby incidents going back many years, more so than other league opposition.

There's also the financial benefit, with an additional 6-8,000 fans for a league fixture,, that's £100k+ to the club.

So if they win promotion, I'd welcome the return of the Derby

Not bothered either way, if they go up they deserve too, probably offer more to SL than Leigh, extra money and points come in handy too, hopefully if they do, we have just two derbies.

Apart from that, we now are on a different level to teams like Rovers, who is reality will always be scrapping for a 7th/8th position regularly, whilst we should be competing for the next few years, with the squad and set up we have on and off the field.

You do surprise me Erik I love your hatred of our club it's so bitter if you win at Wembley and you post I bet you mention us oh and there's one member of our feeble pack that would walk into your team

Which one?

Maybe Masoe, but he would have to be better than last time in SL.

My take on this subject is I've much preferred this season without Rovers in SL as there has been no bitterness and the ridiculous back biting from that side. I'm not bothered one way or the other if they come up or not.
If they do then I hope we don't have a pre season game as it's just too many games with them.
We have moved on as a club I feel the old days of the big crowd is no longer as big a factor as it used to be.
If I had to make a decision on whether I'd prefer them in SL or not, personally it would be not.

Anyone know our average attendance and how it compares to last year?

Sounds familiar



Next year will be very interesting IMO for SL. Some of the lower teams this year like Warrington, Catalans (if they survive). Hudds all with potential. Salford have shown glimpses of excellence Wakey also. Saints strengthening well. Intriguing season next year IMO.

You also wouldn't want to be in the championship with Toronto likely to be there, along with Toulouse (who I'm sure will strengthen) making it a tough competition.

Have I missed the last 5 games of the competition or something? Some ups n downs for all involved yet. Not bothered who comes up,like to think we have bigger ambitions now.

... Catalans might be added to that list as well. If rovers make the top 3, then 2 SL teams will more than likely be in the playoff, which might sound improbable, but has, I think, happened before.