Where have I said other clubs have diminished? I've said Leeds and St Helens' squad strength has diminished in 2009.

You said they both lost more games this season than in recent years, I stated that was untrue, that is where your statement didn't stand up.



You do the oldest RL competition in the world a dis-service in that case. A game (the Challenge Cup Final) the RL public still support in greater numbers than the SL Grand Final.

Did someone forget to tell Bradford and St Helens you can't win both in the SL Era? Or what about Broughton Rangers, Halifax, Hunslet, Huddersfield, Swinton, Warrington and Wigan in the pre SL days.




Odd time to stage a pre season friendly as it now comes a month into the new season for the SL club involved.

Yes if a Challenge Cup win is coupled with a Championship triumph, that's what the season is all about. Had Leeds achieved that I would have nowhere to go. They didn't, so I do.

This is the McClennan thread and I seem to recall you had plenty to say on that matter also. There's nothing much between our views only on the issues we've championed this season. Did Hetherington go into print supporting any of your concerns re the coaches performance or perceived strengths and weaknesses?

Losing at home (regardless of the opposition) is a poor attempt in a rightly targetted match.

My profuse apologies I got you confused with someone else......



On the second matter I did say I would stand to be corrected. Again profuse apologies...





For me the CC no longer carries the old distinction since being relegated to a early season distraction to the main events.





I should know better than to cross swords with a stats geek (King) OK its all but preseason though

It's the club's attitude that interests me rather than the fans. In that regard
I see no lack of desire or relegating it into a less important support event.

The form shift that usually follows the defeat whenever it comes along the journey is normally still there. It certainly was for Leeds last season and St Helens this after their respective semi final defeats.

I hear what you say regarding the clubs attitude but I feel this is a purely financial consideration on their part.

With regard to the players themselves, yes it would still seem to retain its old attraction as a prized career goal.

Perhaps it could be better scheduled within the SL framework or even before the league season commences.

I'd like to see it back in it's traditional early May slot.

And once the RFL abandon the hapless (IMO) Magic Weekend perhaps it will be?

The only issue then is justifying the whole GF play off concept when running a fair and level home and away League programme. Not impossible but more difficult.

what if they moved the magic weekend to be the opening fixture of the season and the challenge cup to may?

That sounds like a decent idea,i doubt the RFL are gonna ditch the magic weekend despite the bollox they spout about supporting international RL so making it the season curtain raiser could work imo.

Interesting.

I'd certainly prefer that to what we have now although you are more of a hostage to the vagaries of the British weather in late Feb/early March.

'Barcelona Bonanza'?

Sounds like a plan to me


and reduce the play-offs to top 4 only.



The GF as an event for me suffered because of the extra games played by the top 2 teams.

That's an idea i like the sound of

All fans are itching for their fix of RL come the start of the season, and what better way than opening it with the magic weeekend

If the RL wish to persist with the Magic weekend then they need to consider the fans, after all we have to find the cost of funding trips to not only the Magic weekend but also an away trip to Catalans and if your club are successful in both comps further trips to Wembley and Old Trafford, i go to the latter two each season irrespective of the teams playing, but i do believe that the CC and GF are too close together for most families and fans to be able to afford/attend both

the gf should be contested by the sl's top two sides only,but that will never happen cos sky wont allow it
where will the sl play off series end,will it be the top 12 next?

well done to all @ the club for the treble

amazing to read some of the regurgitated comments showing how some people are so clever to word their posts so as always to be proved right

And now Rob Burrow adds his two penath:

[i“There's no reason why we can't go on and win Super League for the next few years. The core of the squad's staying the same and hopefully we can improve with the addition of new players. We've still got things to achieve, we haven't won the Challenge Cup yet and that's something everyone wants to do. We want to win Super League every year, but we want to get the Challenge Cup as well, that's something all the lads feel is missing."[/i

I don't think they are done by a long way. Only really two players could be classed as "veterans", one of them still knows how to set his winger up as top try scorer in the league and the other is simply unbelievable.
A core of top quality players with no desire other than to stay at Leeds and win more stuff. We have some players to replace in the next 2-3 years, Ali and a couple of others, but no reason to think anything but good times ahead.

With the squad at our disposal next season, then surely a tilt at all 4 trophies is a possible goal for the club, but it would take one hell of an effort for any side to win all the trophies on offer under the salary cap constraints

I would love to retain the GF winners trophy first and foremost, with a much needed, and long over due CC win next in the order of priorities

As a WCC trophy success involves only a one off pre-season game, albeit against formidable opposition in the shape of the Melbourne Storm, then as were in it, we may as well aim to win it

It is also not out of the question or is it un-conceivable a thought that we could indeed end the season trophyless!

for me the GF is the top one. that is the one to aim at. if the draw is kind then yes i would love to win the cup but not at the expense of the GF.
the WCC i would love to win but i won't be gutted if we don't. it's a game played for nothing more than commercialism and bragging rights

For me in the SL era the CC has become a distraction.

Its ill timed and no longer suited in its present format to the modern championship style tournement.

Sure its a trophy..more for the players than anything. Its a fun day out for the fans but thats about it really.

What devalues it and places it as a minor event along side the GF is the fact that with luck you can be in the semis without facing any strong SL opposition and then you are one good game from a trophy but these days not one of any real value IMHO

Teams that play in the Challenge Cup play one game a week, teams that get knocked out get the week off.

Properly managed a Challenge Cup run needn't be at the expence of SL GF success.

The problem appears to me to be more in the mind when you get knocked out of the prestigious tournament, that's when you see some flat performances in the week/s that follow.

pretty much my thoughts. The CC hasn't really changed since the year dot. SL has just gotten better and the playoffs out kick it by a ways. Can't say I care for it much these days. Nice to win it but not fussed if we don't. In fact would rather win WCC than CC

Me too. I have a habit of such thing in finals.

On moving the Magic Weekend to the start of the season:

Wouldn't that cause a problem in that the only grounds big enough to host such an event will be hosting either football or Six Nations rugby at that time of year, and aren't going to want 7 games in 2 days chewing their pitch up?

Sorry to bring this old one up chaps.........

But i feel that this accolade should have already been awarded to him, Whatever bad press he received in his last season should surely not tarnish his record of delivering 2 back to back SL GF wins should it not?

Will Bluey now be awarded his place in the SS.COM hall of fame?

If not,then why not?

Thoughts please.........

yes, of course he should

Yes he should. Can't see why not