Did you know that the first past the post method of deciding the champion in RL only existed between 1974 - 1997. Prior to that, it was a play off system.

Its like saying the 5 championships Hull won between 1920 and 1958 count for nothing.

The Challenge Cup has been undervalued by a contrived competition by Sky. Proir to Super League and even in the 50's and 60's the Cup was THE competition with the League second. When the Championship play offs were supersceded by The Premiership, teams hardly bothered. The big problem is that the RFL now seem to think Magic weekend is bigger than Wembley

Not saying that at all. I have watched all 3 systems, believe me when I say The Cup at Wembley was and is the competiton. Your proved to be the best by winning the league at the end of the normal season. Playing 3 more games and winning a play off doesn't make you champions. Canterbury Bulldogs were reknowned for putting everything into the playoffs and winning and the Aussies frowned upon it.

That is a massive problem. They've clearly swept the fact that the attendance figures cover 2 days and 12 sets of fans under the carpet!

Yet, do a search on RL champions and you will not see Wire in 2011 or 2016 or Hudds in 2015, you will see the play off winner.

Are you not defeating your own argument by saying the knockout cup competition was THE competition, yet another knockout (players isn't)?

RFL are likely to be bigging up the Magic weekend due to it being a Sky only event. Sky pay the big sponsorship deal, Ladbrokes / BBC I doubt will

Definitely won't be seeing Hudds in 2015. Mainly because they didn't win the league never mind the play off

leeds will be in the semi of the cup having played 2 lower league teams so I'm not sure how that can be the premier competition. If we'd won half the finals we'd played in I reckon the cup would hold much less prestige to us than the GF

Which ever year it was, you got my point

Didnt make myself completely clear - I love the CC but unfortunately missed Wembley as i was driving my family around Italy - was at Cardiff though which was an amazing experience. So weve now won the CC twice in recent history - time to win the ultimate prize - THE GRAND FINAL!!!! I would happily go out of the CC against Cas if it increased our chances of winning the GF.

Maybe not making my point clear Jakester. IMO opinion the cup was and is the holy grail. Wigan won it god knows how many times on the trot but they still enjoy the day/weekend out as would anybody. I missed one final of the modrrn era, 50's onwards, every defeat hurt like hell but every victory was savoured, last year more than ever. It meant more because of all the people I knew who never got to see it and every other win at Wembley, will produce the same sentiments. I cry unashamebly every time I hear "Abide with me". You can't recreate that at Manchester at a contrived premiership final.

Each to their won but the measure of the best team in the comp is the GF winner and that's the next big target for this club IMO

Totally agree.

If you asked me this time last year, I'd have said the same as Armavinit for the same sentimental reasons - the multiple failed attempts to win at Wembley. Now we've finally put that to bed, the priority has to be to become Champions.

It's the hardest comp to win. You have to firstly ensure that early season form is good enough to get in the 8 after the 23round cut-off, then you have to battle it out in 7 more games against the best sides to make sure you get the top4, then a semi-final and grand final. There's an added bonus of being able to compete to become World Club Champions.

I disagree with Armavinit that the GF is a contrived concept, it's Rugby League's traditional way of crowning a champion, baring a few intermittent seasons, dating back to what 1900(?). Maybe it's mainly those introduced to RL during those seasons where top spot meant the champion who feel this way, or maybe they look at what they do in Football?

Yeh and look how exciting the end to the premier league season was!!!! Boring

Yeh, exactly. I just wasn't sure whether the system they use in football was something some people were more use to, hence the apathy towards the playoff/GF.

Its very rare the best team in the comp dont win the grand final, imo

Maybe us fans may not be too bothered about going back to Wembley but tell that to the players, coaches and Pearson! If it helps bring in more revenue I'm all for another trip down to Wembley (plus no excuse from the rfl if we win it again and qualify for the GF and a aussie game)

I don't think anyone's said they aren't bothered about getting to Wembley, just that in their opinion they think the GF should be the main focus.

A good team will target all comps

Again, I'm not sure anyone has said they shouldn't try to win both comps.

No but posters are saying the club should prioritise the grand final so in a way they are saying forget the CC

I don't think they are.

I said the GF should IMO be their priority (as I feel it's more prestigious), not that it should be only focus. It's not a case of one vs the other. If I have a list of stuff to get done, I don't just do the top one and sack off the rest of the list.

Pearson once said that Wembley final brings in more money than the grand final. Isn't it great at the moment we can talk about finals and be genuine contenders

Id be happy to win either, don't think we are at the level yet, where a cup win of any kind is looked down upon.

If we won silverware this season and I had to choose between which one then the GF would be my preference. It would also be great to see a team win at OT other than leeds/Wigan/saints/Bradford

You do the whinos a disservice, they will have beaten 3 lower league teams to reach the semis thanks to being poor last year and having to start off early with trash like the dobbins this year. Your point is valid though, should the whinos win the cup this year it would be on the back of 2 hard games so not exactly a marathon effort. There are times though when the winner has truly earned the trophy and Hull's last 2 wins in it are shining examples of that.

Having said that, one thing that the Grand Final isn't necessarily a measure of who is the best team throughout that season, merely who is playing best at the end of the year with the whino wins from 5th spot in 2011 & 2012 proving that.

However its important to remember that if its a jammy or less impressive way the cup was won, that eventually gets forgotten but the winners name stays forever.

As for Hull I'd be happy with either, though both would be nicer. I can now go to Wembley in a far more relaxed mood now that monkey has gone and enjoy the day whatever. If I was pushed on which I'd prefer then now the CC at Wembley has been done then then it would have to be the Grand Final as it would complete the trophy set for the club.