Did anyone else get the feeling that the ex-pat and the cheshire cat were starting a crusade, (more so than usual) to have the CCF moved once again or scrapped altogether. During yesterdays televised game it was time again "this is not a level playing field, due to the closeness of the CCF". Which, said game, Sly dont have the rights to. Their analysis totally tainted by the GF as the outstanding competition is bordering on the ridiculous.

I think they personally like the cup, but professionally have to belittle it for the sake of the person who pays their wages. Its a shame, but he who pays ....

I agree with them and the Leeds fans. The Challenge Cup is Mickey Mouse.

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You really are a sad sod

very sneaky too



=white[size=59(And it has been since 09/08/09.) (very nicely put)[/size

I was more taken with Stevo's description of the touch judge as "a 9 iron with ears".

I think that since our sacrificial act of losing for the good of the game, it has become obvious that fans and teams alike don't actually think the Challenge Cup is crap. In fact, they are all delirious that two other teams have gotten through and of course the fans of those two teams are extra delirious. The fact that actually everyone loves the Cup has really peed off Sky and, good corporates that they are, Eddie and Stevo make themelves look even bigger plonkers by bleating on about fans paying for the full season and how unfair it is to fans that the teams are so exhausted and how the most important trophy is yet to come ....

Meanwhile Wire fans continue on, happily doing the conga around the Piedome, not really caring whether their team is beating Wigan or not! Loved it.

Wish I had the werewithall to post photo's on here, I'm sure I have one from last years CCF with the "cat"and the "expat" at opposite ends of the VIP area, clapping their little hearts out as Kieron lifts the cup.
But as St Lexus put it

Go and get it out. I'm sure someone will be able to post it for you.

Going back to the thread proper:- I don't remember them saying much the last couple of years about it being an uneven playing field. Now that they think it is affecting Huddersfield chances of going for both they have been ranting on about it. For me the CC is at the wrong end of the season. I am sure something better could be sorted out. The CC is classed as a blue Ribboned comp. and has to be aired on Terrestial TV. If that is the case then why can't the RFL dictate when it gets played or at least dictate when the final is going to be and then let the BBC or whatever fit it in their schedule.

If Sky had the cup rights it would be the greatest most historic comp ever. Of course it is in their interests to belittle it and hype up the GF as much as possible to make it appear more significant since they have the exclusive rights for it.

In Skys eyes the NRC has more prestidge then the CC.

these are the same two ar*eholes who pontificate about "OUR GREAT GAME " and how we should be spreading the word, but when it comes down to who pays the bills then its fek the challenge cup , what a pair of two faced barstewards. as well as being total knobs.

The CC has been a fantastic event this season. The SKY idiots SHOULD be there to promote the game of RL and not just the games they cover. Eddie and Stevo do not like the fact that the coaches of the teams in the final are prioritising the cup over the league (who can blame them, especially Tony Smith)

Found it, it's 2007 final but the content is there ...so if someone wants to email or pm me I will forward it for posting.

I preferred the Challenge Cup when it was played towards the beginning of the season.

IMO Eddie has a point in that it does interfere with the play-offs in its current guise. It is clear at the moment that it is simply not possible for a team to concentrate on SL and the CC at the same time and be successful in both competitions. Hence Leeds and Saints sharing the honours for the past two seasons (Saints had no real credible competition in 2006

).

The real Mickey Mouse event is Murrayfield/Millennium Magic - there would be no point to this if the CC was held at its traditional time in the season. If the CC had been held at that time this year the winners would have been decided by the Leeds-Saints match. Playing a knockout competition across 7 or so months doesn't make any sense to me. This way both competitions are kept distinct and clubs are not penalised in the league for progressing well in the cup.

Very well said

She wore , she wore, she wore a red and white ribbon in the merry month of MAY !

winning the CC and SL should be difficult, thus making winning the double the ultimate achievement.

The ultimate is winning the cc, the league leaders shield, the sl trophy and then teh wcc , surley ?

The CC is a Fantastic occasion and day/weekend out. Eveyone gets into the spirit and enjoys themselves, all fans from all clubs, it is far better than the Grand Final.

Correct. Maybe over time the GF may go the same way, unless the RFL scrap the format and go back to first means first and we enter the premiership play offs? The CC has a gazillion years of history whereas the GF doesnt.

I doubt it very much , a wet night in manchester in october , is never gonna compare with a weekend in the capital IMO .

Capital gets my vote every time

Agreed.

Hasn't it always been like that though? As long as I've been watching RL there has been talk of 'Wembleyitis' and teams looking ahead to next week's semi final. And that was in the days when 2 points lost in a league match could very realistically cost you the title.

Leave it as it is, I say. It's part of the magic of the cup and part of the challenge of success. It's why only great teams win the double.

On the pre semi final weekend Boots N All they never mentioned the games until the minute the programme went off when they offered a belated ' good luck' to the 4 teams.

Frankly, if they think it detracts from the league they should scrap the top 8 play off and crown the league leaders as champions and Hey Presto ! Every game is then important unlike the farce we have now where in theory someone can finish 8th, lose more games than they win and be ' Champions'

Ask supporters of Wire and Huddersfield if the cup is a second class competition !

You can't scrap the Grand Final. It's one of only 2 glamrous occasions in the RL calendar. The timing of it is the only thing that needs moving.

Have the Challenge Cup Final in July so teams have time to recover from it and build towards success in the playoffs.

Not that it's going to be much of a concern to us in the coming years unless we start signing some players.