They're Kath Hetherington's balls Yob.

This bleating looks sad as fook, it really does. Some of the whining on here is embarrassing. Get over it. Move on. Let's concentrate on what we do - on what we can control rather than what fat Nigel might possibly cooking up in his Jabba chair. Thankfully those who run the club have got more important things to distract them rather than these whimsicle notions of conspiracies.

The RFL.


To ensure that no NL club ever make the finals of a prestigious (i.e. Super League) competition.



Yes, and yes. They are also responsible for the death of Princess Di, the moon landings and the extinction of several species of small furry creatures. Did you know Nigel and Dickie have sharks in a large tank with a trapdoor above it in the office at red hall especially for NL chairmen. Didn't you wonder where Howard had gone?

I personally don't think the draw is rigged but the RFL haven't covered themselves in glory by doing it away from public view.

Infact it takes a bit out of the cup really as I always liked listening or watching the draw as it added that bit of excitement.

When the Rd.4 Draw was done live at Headingly and they had coaches there to interview when their team was drawn (Brian McClennan for example) I thought it was an excellent way of doing it. And the Journalists probably liked it too as they got the coaches reaction straight away for some of the big games.

This rd.5 way is shocking and shouldn't be repeated, After Leeds vs Saints all the rounds ties were complete and the draw could have taken place immediatley.

Not sure what the thinking behind the RAF Base idea was.
If they wanted a behind closed doors draw then why not just do it at RFL HQ?
To stage it at RAF Leeming, with the balls flown in by a Hawk jet would not have been cheap. I really do not see what the RFL have achieved by this, other than the shear dismay to the true RL fan.

The services have a thriving rugby league set up at the moment and the venue and arrival of the balls would have been very entertaining, but only if screened live on TV.

Looking forward to the draw for the quarters!!
Any ideas?

There is absolutely no way its rigged, yes you are right lr.

HOWEVER, the rfl have again done themselves no favours and this latest draw is a complete f*****g shambles. What is embarrassing lr was how this latest draw was done - all announced last minute and totally devoid of any professionalism...though im sure a piece by look north's own special team will see to that.

In their quest for quirky marketing and pushing the boundaries, thay have recently done one draw in a Johnny Vegas type's front room and another cloak and daggers draw in a Hangar.

To the draw, Im not a big fan. Would have preferred a home draw - not because it would give us a better chance of a win, but because the club deserves a big day down the shay, and would make us a more appealing hook for the BBC.

2000 we beat Cas 11-10 at Wheldon Road and it was on the Beeb. It was a heated affair with Jamie Benn decapitating Cardiss who was stretchered off (once they had found his head), but Benn stayed on and nearly went on to win the game for Cas. Sampson's finger also got well involved with Peewee's eye that day.

The next round we lost gallantly to Bradford but that game wasnt on the beeb despite it being the best match by far - they aired wire v salford and wigan v hull instead as we had been on the previous game...a precedent perhaps?

must admit, thats not a nice area to watch a game. It was there I first saw any trouble at a ground apart from at Hull/Hull KR (granted this is going back to late 80's)

So Leeds v Saints was Rigged?

Surely if they're going to fly the balls in and do something a little different, publicity is important? What is the point in doing it othewise?

It's all one big farce!

no far from it m8 but i get the feeling that the RFL didnt want Fax v Wigan at wembley this year, the teams left in the draw , any one, with a bit of luck could have gone to Wembley and i dont think they wanted the risk of Oldham v Fax for a final.

just supposing this is what could have been drawn then 4 non super league teams go through then a bit of luck in draw and them 4 play each other,then 2 play in semis and 1 gets to final simples !!!!

Gateshead v Oldham

Batley v Featherstone

Halifax v Wakefield

Rochdale v Sheffield

The CC is the only thing some Ex-RL fans still look out for and make a weekend of.

There are people owh only ever go to the CC Final and that's it.

To not make a big thing of the draw, when it would have been so easy to do so, was a massive wasted opportunity.

I didn't even know that the balls had been flown in by the RAF! If they must make a big show of it, at least let people know about it, and what they could have done is have somebody parachute in with the balls, into a stadium!

lets face it, if two all NL1 teams had been drawn together, and then again in the semis u could have had a NL1 team in the final. Not good for the RFL as they want two super dooper league teams in the final for so so many reasons!



the whole thing smells of a fix - other wise why do it behind closed doors!

Fix fix fix fix i say

(oh don't u just love a bit of contrevrsy!)

however lets stick it to em and beat cas - its the cup its all about the underdogs, lets go out there and do our club proud

commmmmmmmmmmme ooooon uuuuuuuu bllllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuessss

Halifax will need to keep more than our scrum half quiet to win. A lot more than that. We have players all over the field that can turn the game our way. I'm sure Halifax will do their homework and do their best like any team does when playing another team.

The thing is, if a NL1 team met a SL team in the Final or even the Semis, there would probably be a LOT more interest. It would show the fans that there IS a future for Clubs who aren't in SL YET.

All this about "Flying the balls in"

Where did they come from??? Red Hall International Airstrip?

SNAP!!!!!!!

Thinking about the draw more, its one of the best draws we could have hoped for. An away team against a local side where they will turn up in big numbers as will our away support. Cas have improved greatly but if they conceded 20 points against Keighley they must be defensively frail in some part.

However the biggest positive for the players at least is that they will be playing the first game of the season where they aren't the favourites. All the pressure is on Cas to produc the result, the pressure is completely off our boys and will do them wonders.

Remember the 2005 play off game, between Hull KR V Fax? All the pressure on the Robins and what happened? The play off game at Wheldon Road that followed it? Very nearly the same. I can't wait!!

my choice would of been an easy tie this round but that never happens for us so it would have to be wigan at home

TV Games Confirmed on RFL site

Wakefield v Wigan - Saturday 9th May 2:30pm BBC 1
St Helens v Catalans - Sunday 10th May 3:15 BBC 2

Predictable enough. Anyway not being on the box should increase the crowd and therefore increase the money we make out of the gate.

Yer provided we get our share of the true crowd figure!!!

RL Clubs are notorious at not paying their way 'allegedly'.

We are OK. ClareFaxFan has already stated earlier in the thread that Cas 'don't generally fiddle with attendances'.



So on that basis, I'm happy!

Yes, because there was definitely less there at the untelevised, Friday night cup tie against Widnes than there was at the televised, Thursday night league game against Widnes. Definitely, 100%

That crossed my mind when told they were flying the balls in. Spoke to a coupleof people and turns out the Hawk Jet took off from RAF Leeming, did it's usual training circuit and then landed again. Fantastic Spectacle!!!

The RFL are incredible. They just released a report detailing why GB did so poorly in last years world cup. The conclusion says "The players simply did not perform". No Poo sherlock. How much did that detailoed investigation cost?

guttedit aint on tv. ill have to come back from newcastle to watch it now