The 'fuss' (if protecting the integrity of the comp can be termed a fuss) is about the RFL setting a precedent last season and then not following through in exactly the same circumstances this year (should that happen.)

I don't have a copy of the RFL's reasoning as such but through Leeds' local evening paper (Yorkshire Evening Post) they printed an article on the 28th August 2008 in the build up to the Wakefield game that stated:

[i'The final week Super League clash between Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Leeds Rhinos has been re-scheduled to Friday, September 5 at Belle Vue, 8pm kick-off. The original fixture was planned for Sunday, September 7, but to maintain the integrity of the competition the fixture will now be played at the same time as the St Helens-Wigan game. St Helens need to avoid defeat against their arch rivals to retain the Championship trophy they have won for the past three seasons. However, a defeat could open the door to the Rhinos, who need to overturn a points advantage of 51 to claim top spot.'[/i

Despite the position of the teams being reversed this season it appears the same situation to me and it would be pretty ridiculous for the RFL not to make the same provision. Integrity isn't something you can pick up and put down from season to season on a whim. You either have it as a ruling body or you don't.

why haven't you deleted it? last chance.

Oh Yeah, market the game as the only way to see the side potentially lift a trophy or say dont bother paying it will all be done again for free the day after, wonder which is best?



Ive never been to a "homecoming" I prefer to see the side lift the trophy on the day
if you are interested, buy a ticket!

Last chance for what?

Did they show the 2004 presentation of the League Leaders Shield to Leeds live on Sky?

I don't recall them doing it then either.

Are you for real ??

It's just the hubcap. It isn't important.

but.. but... it shows who the real champions are cos they've been the best all season and not just a one off lucky game...

It's the League Leaders Shield and it should be and is (IMO) important to the team that wins it each year, perhaps this year the most significant LLS since 1998 and more noteworthy than any of the recent St Helens successes which were all tarnished by the lopsided format.

That said it is not that important to the eventual Champions whoever they may be and that includes whoever won the LLS in the first place.

The Champions is the thing to be at the end of the season.

Hetherington, McClennan and Sinfield all indicated last week that winning the Shield would still matter a great deal to the Leeds club though.

To say I been to every game bar one this season and already have my ticket for salford. Hth.

They just want to shut Jon Wilkin up as well (although not as much as Keith Senior obviously).

nope they didn't. it wasn't a sky game

I think TVOC' s point is well made. This year more than any the League Leaders shield has a meaning in that it reflects a balanced fixture format.

The inclusion of Murrayfield Mayhem (or whatever it was called) does however have a distorting effect nonetheless I don't think the fixture format has ever been as 'equal' to all clubs in the superleague era as it has been this season. Highly appropriate therefore that the Rhino's should land it - even without replacing Gaz and Toops

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

We should win comfortably

Looking at the SL Era overall, in 1996 and 1997 (SL 1 & 2) the title was decided on a strict home and away fixture format based on the finishing League table after the 22 rounds.

In 1998 there was a single 'on the road' fixture for each of the clubs added (similar in a way to this season's format) which is why I referenced since the 1998 season in my post.

1999 onwards until this season started we've had a variety of extra match formats where some 'random' clubs were played three and even four times a season.

does anyone think salford will put up much of a fight?

I wouldnt mention the word fight if i was you,wilkins ar5e might go again

Ah...indeed, thanks for the clarification

So I guess in terms of the value of the League Leaders trophy it could reasonably be argued that only in 1996, 97, 98 and 2009 has this competition held any real meaning in the sense that it is based on all clubs facing the same fixture list

Makes sense to me

If there is no future precendent for presenting it live then I am ok with that, but either way I do feel it should be presented at the game at which it is likley to be won. I say likley because on paper Saints could still win it but you can only have the trophy in one place (actually, thinking out loud, you could have a replica made for the on-field presentation if it required it!).

Might not be an issue now and I suspect that if Sinny did no play on Friday, he would come on to accept the hubcap.

[url=http://www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=15258These lot do.[/url

As long as both games kick off at the same time on Friday (as they surely will) take the trophy to Salford, keep an eye and ear on procedings at both matches and make an educated guess, followed by a legal dash if the trophy needs to be elsewhere.

It can't be much more than twenty miles and half an hour between the two grounds.

Nice