Until you can comprehend many things including the following: the disgraceful treatment of my club at SL's inception and since; the farce of last year's "criteria" being preset to favour certain agendas, these even then hilariously being turned on their head through the selective re-interpretation of an already ludicrous logic where, for eg, not having a stadium to standard is discounted as a negative providing (if you're Salford and Celtic Crusaders) you can theorize about having one; that history doesn't count unless the RFL this time, can theorize about some club, some time building one (ironically because Widnes, say, have had over 100 years building theirs so it's only fair); that the idea a bloke from tennis is fit for purpose to run RL after being sacked from a similar position in his OWN sport (that non-elite game known as tennis) can only be preposterous, then you'll just merrily go along seeing Warrington win diddley-buck in a sport laughably run by people you couldn't make up.
The real disgrace covers 2 things: "rules" implemented in SL's early days yet subject to any interpretation by Lindsay, Caisley et al in order to make "special cases", then changed because of the predictable uproar that followed - these then subject to any interpretation the RFL felt like to make more special cases, cue uproar and so on ad infinitum: secondly and from this, the way bitterness has infested the game at a lower level, not just from earlier maltreatment, but as each club has polarized itself and its fans from all others such they bicker about who has the best case to be in SL, citing their own umpteen re-interpretations of past and current "rules", none of which have had, do, or will have any credibility anyway.
And guess what? Now SL clubs and fans are at each others' throats in the same ways because the relegation/promotion format has been terminated (disgusting) and several now see a certain date next year as a potential doomsday.
Not your club, mind, eh? You're alrighty so it's easy for you to talk of the Challenge Cup in glowing terms even if you deceive yourself in doing so. Celtic Crusaders, Catalans and a host of others will be fine too.
But that's the real rub; SL clubs and fans in the majority couldn't give a toss about the lower divisions or the clubs in them. So you can tell me as often as you like about how you care for RL, the game. Try doing it like I genuinely do despite the suffering of my own club - one of RL's most famous.

Whilst I can certainly understand any lack of trust you may have, I genuinely believe that Widnes will be in next time. As a club you have got your head down, the fans have supported the team, and you have done well.

You already have things like finances and stadium in place, and the excuse of liquidation will not be there next year when decisions are being made.

So basically your issue is that the final is in Augsut instead of April/May?

Jeeze. It is still the same tournament, and the crowds for the final are as big as ever. Stop being a drama queen.

My team is involved in the semi this week, and the excitement around the town is as great as any previous semi final, whatever the date was.

I can see both points tbh.

I cannot be d with the challenge cup, or SL.

I don't really support the sport of Rugby League. I support the Widnes Vikings.

Before the last time Widnes got screwed I used to go to the odd grand final, but now I am just not that interested.

I just don't really care for SL, and the RFL in general, and would rather support my club, rather that a sports governing body who have seeked to screw my team over time and time again.

I'm not bitter about it, I've just lost heart for the sport in general. So if Widnes are not involved, I don't really care.

Never has a truer sentence been posted. 3-4 years ago, friday night i would watch Sl religously with my dad etc, nowadays I'll see whats happening on Albert sq or in the rovers.

"Drama queen" - how novel. How inappropriate. There is no "drama" involved in the points I make, you noodle. And, if you can't see that the August shift is detrimental to the competition as a whole - for Christ's sake why such an illogical gap between the quarters and semis/final, which actually is a half-baked attempt to give them exclusive importance, something no other body in charge of an outdoor team sport but ours could dream up - then you're welcome to the hysteria you say your town is experiencing at this time.
It isn't just about it being in August, it is a whole modus operandi. Where manipulation to promote not only Sky's agenda but the personal ones of, hilariously, folk who know f**k all about RL. And this results in change for change's sake.
The Challenge Cup has been degraded. Laughably, for the sake of a Grand Final system where THE most prestigious achievement, that of being the showcase league champions, now means nothing.
You go and enjoy your semi-final tomorrow. Just don't think your fleeting enthusiasm represents anything like the genuine passion RL's once-beloved Challenge Cup used to engender; across ALL of RL.