Are the RFL sticking with the derby format which is not the fairest system in the world?

Will they look to change it again or are they planning to stick to the derby system?

It's good fun to play a close rival but surely it's time to introduce it based on the 2011 league standings which is surely the fairest way and should(in theory) produce the closest games.

1v2
3v4
5v6
7v8
9v10
11v12
13v14 (14 being Widnes)

Seems like a good idea

How is that fair though?

Finish 2nd, play 1st? Or finish 3rd and you play 4th? Not exactly a fair system itself.

No matter what system you come up with, an extra fixture won't be "fair" so it might as well be as attractive as possible to the supporter. The Murrayfield fixtures were completely boring and contributed to many having a lack of interest.

Like you said, no system is ever fair but at least doing it this way will get good crowds as every game will be close

You could potentially have 1 v 14 how's that fair?

As it stands now

Wigan v Warrington
St Helens v Huddersfield
Catalans v Leeds
Castleford v Hull FC
Hull KR v Salford
Bradford v Quins
Wakefield v Widnes

Now there are some attractive fixtures and some not so but it is THE fairest system, we [WIRE will probably play Widnes this time round and although i really look forward to that fixture do you think that will be anything but a one sided affair?

Hull FC (2nd and Grand Finalists in 2006) played Hull KR (newly promoted) in 2007. We lost.
The fixtures were weighted in 2009-10 in Edinburgh. How many of them were close entertaining games? I much prefered the derbies personally. Fewer people are going to travel hundreds of miles to watch a normal league fixture against a typical SL side, as seen in Edinburgh.

You then have a Saint v Wigan fixture
v
Wire v Widnes fixture

If Wire won the league by 2 point or even 1 point how is that fair on teams like Wigan or Saints playing an extra fixture that is so much tougher?

What makes you so sure Wire will win the league

I'm talking just talking probables there are other examples i couldn't bring myself to write

Just pile everyone into the stadium and dont tell them the fixtures.

Draw the teams out like a lottery an hour before each kick off.

Creates a bit of suspense and excitement atleast.

You'd have to draw 8 teams out for one day and 6 for another day before hand though for those that only go for one day.

Meh, makes people want to go for the weekend...

Cardiffs a winner, Millenium Stadiums a winner and the RFL are a winner.

Cant see nothing wrong with the idea me.

Haha. We'll see on Sunday. Looking forward to it myself. Two best teams in the comp

That would be quite interesting actually.

I personally feel the millennium magic should host challenge cup fixtures. Say like the quarter finals to eliminate most of the most sided games we are seeing in the challenge cup.

Sell all the games to the BBC and have a huge annual event which could bring in thousands if marketed correctly. IMO it would be worth a try, I just don't like the idea of all teams not equally playing each other twice. Its not fair especially if they use derby games early in the season which does have a knock on effect on the derby games come Easter time.

I've said in the past that they should look to make the Challenge Cup a completely neutral-venues tournament one year as an experiment.

The 4th round should be seeded so that SL and CC sides are separate, but all SL sides are away from home. R4 played mid-March.
Then R5 all games at Millennium Stadium on the first May Bank Holiday, with the draw straight after in the stadium.
QF all at Murrayfield at the end of June.
SF double header at any available 35k+ northern ground (ie Bramall Lane, Elland Road, Anfield, Goodison Park, Eastlands) played mid July.
Final at Wembley.

Greater take up by neutrals. More passionate games than MM. Championship involvement at least at the R5 stage, with greater chances of upsets at R4 as all SL sides are away from home. Possible increase in funding as Welsh Tourist Board and Scottish Tourist board may both fund events as they did the Magic Weekend, as well as a possible bidding war for a SF double header.
Possibility of getting more Cup games on other BBC channels (BBC4 or the red button?) as the cameras are already set up.
Fans already knowing where the next round is so can plan accordingly, and neutrals may even buy in advance. Could even set up a CC season ticket.

At the end of the day, R5 and QF only get between 30-40k fans, so even if 20-25k a day turn up to each round it's still an improvement.

Reckon it's worth a go one year personally, even if only an experiment.

There are probably different permuations but it is a sound idea as something needs to be done to re energise the old cup (good god agreeing with the dark side) It may even tempt some decent sponsorship.

I agree with this, cracking idea!

Keep it at rivalries.

MM rivalries are good!

...for teams who have a rivalry, for teams who don't, it's a dull weekend watching your team in a half empty stadium, waiting for another game that doesn't involve your team, after spending 5 hours driving down to Cardiff, and spending considerable money getting there. Why not have a weekend of Double and Triple Headers at Larger grounds around the country?

Day 1

Hull FC v Hull KR
Huddersfield V Salford
Warrington V Widnes
Wigan v Saints

Day 2

Wakefield V Castleford
Harlequins v Catalans
Bradford v Leeds

massive crowds this year with the derby games?

I was told by someone from the RFL that those that played on the Saturday this year will play on the Sunday next time and vice-versa.

I assume Widnes will take Crusaders spot.

Sorry to be pedantic but Harlequins wont be there next season - it'll be London !!