I am....but it's a fairly educated guess. The cut-down game really isn't that big (and hasn't been since the glory days of the World Nines and pre-season Sevens tournaments), and would you really travel to Edinburgh to watch Wakefield in a meaningless competition over watching Wakefield in a game with something more important at stake?

can not answer your question 100% , i was going to go to edinburgh had the ticket n travel paid for. I was left with a delima and decided not to go. i went last year and it was good and an experience that being a wakey fan we seldom enjoy . however i fear that whilst the novelty wears off the crowds will get lower.
i was opposed to the grand final but at least that as grown with time .
the magic weekend seems dead now its been done .

how about holding a european championship in Scotland or wales ? . none of this 1 game here and one there.

although i still don't think it would work . the sport as been Friday night viewing for 20 years on satellite TV the biggest medium available yet sadly still no interest

Thinking about expanding the game in the local area and getting people more aware of the game how about holding a tag rugby tournament for local schools? Either outside the ground like the tag tournament was this year or even better on the pitch at half time of the games.

If we could get some retired players from some of the top clubs to go up to the area for a few weeks before to provide training and gather local interest amongst the school community (and beyond) and then perhaps give the children and their families free weekend passes for the games it would get more locals aware of what is going on and how much fun the game can be.

I'd go back to Cardiff but move the first round of play-off games there instead and sandwich between each couple of games the NL finals. Wales is the best potential growth area by far and even if this meant changing the playoff structure again it would be worth it imho.

I think back to Cardiff but use it as Round 1. Roof closed, start the season with a bang.

Err – am I misreading this or are you suggesting that the Championship should not be decided until the year after the season ends, just so that the grand final could be squeezed in between a couple of the next season's first round SL games?

Quote ="gateaux"Thinking about expanding the game in the local area and getting people more aware of the game how about holding a tag rugby tournament for local schools? Either outside the ground like the tag tournament was this year or even better on the pitch at half time of the games.'" That's exactly what they did do, or at least they said they were going to: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13865 Quote Tag Rugby A number of Rugby League legends including Paul Sculthorpe, Alan Tait and Graham Steadman will be coming out of retirement on the Saturday to play in the engage Magic Weekend Fans’ Tag Tournament. Featuring 16 teams the tournament will kick off at 12.30pm on pitches next to the Fanzone. On the Sunday, Scotland’s biggest ever Schools Tournament involving 14 Primary Schools will take place in the same place so get there early to see some stars of the future. All games will be finished by the opening fixture of each day.'"

Quote ="gateaux"Thinking about expanding the game in the local area and getting people more aware of the game how about holding a tag rugby tournament for local schools? Either outside the ground like the tag tournament was this year or even better on the pitch at half time of the games.'" That's exactly what they did do, or at least they said they were going to: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13865 Quote Tag Rugby A number of Rugby League legends including Paul Sculthorpe, Alan Tait and Graham Steadman will be coming out of retirement on the Saturday to play in the engage Magic Weekend Fans’ Tag Tournament. Featuring 16 teams the tournament will kick off at 12.30pm on pitches next to the Fanzone. On the Sunday, Scotland’s biggest ever Schools Tournament involving 14 Primary Schools will take place in the same place so get there early to see some stars of the future. All games will be finished by the opening fixture of each day.'"

Quote ="SEB"That's exactly what they did do, or at least they said they were going to: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13865'" We looked for that but no sign of it when we were around there at 11:30.

Quote ="SEB"That's exactly what they did do, or at least they said they were going to: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13865'" We looked for that but no sign of it when we were around there at 11:30.

He said the first round of play-offs

Right - my mistake. So a team would qualify for the play-offs – and then not actually enter them to win the comp until the next year, when they'd transferred players in or out (and indeed if it's a franchise year, possibly entered an entirely different league) during the closed season – except it wouldn't be the closed season, just a four month break in the season, between the regular league fixtures and the playoffs.

So at the end of, say, 2010, you'd ask: "who's won the championship" and be told "We won't know until next year sometime".

Now I see how it makes sense.

No. What he is suggesting is play the NL finals (Championship and second tier final) between SL first round play off games.

Ah - sorry: I thought he was on the 'magic weekend should be the first round of league games' line, not a new 'magic weekend should be the first round of SL play-offs"

Great idea.

I want the derby games back too.

Some of the games just didn't have that buzz about them.

Cardiff was made for the Magic Weekend, Murrayfield (although I did enjoy it) is not. I just hope the rfl, if they did bring it back, could get a brochure together of all the hotels in and around Cardiff to make it easier for fans.

That's two really bad and completely incorrect reads you've made there, tb! Unlike you.

But the derby games were stale and dull, certainly last year, the only games to really do anything were the two Quins vs Catalan games.



The RFL got lucky with the weather, it rained all week the week before and it has rained/hailed/snowed all this week too, even one day of rain would have made the outcome a very poor indeed.

I know...
Let's play all regular 26 rounds on the road icon_eek.gif
Then Salford, Castleford, Wakey, Saints, Hull KR, Celtic, Bradford can all bin their plans for a new stadium.
Super-Pikey-League.........

always on the road!

Great idea!

Let's get rid of this traditional home and way league style system, and have 13 games (13 being the RL number after all!) all on the road! It will reduce player-burnout and give us a big event all over the country after all!

Cardiff, Murrayfield, Wembley, Croke Park, Parc de Princes, Nou Camp, St James Park, Anfield, Elland Road, Eastlands, Villa Park, Celtic Park and Hillsborough.

No home games. No away games. All neutral. The only fair way!

No, it wouldn't work.

People wouldn't have the money for a start.

Besides a club would not survive without any home games.
=white[size=9Come on then, who's going to think I'm being serious[/size

How about instead of SL matches we play a CC round?
Would get a different mix of teams, aim for 8 matches so 16 clubs. More interest for neutrals than a SL match...

I like this idea, 6th round has 8 matches so that would be ideal. Or somewhere with two decent stadia (london with wembley and twickenham) do the whole 5th round of 16 matches!

I really like the sixth round idea as well - it would be brilliant for our game if the beeb could transmit all 8 games even via red button.

More controversially perhaps the top eight super league teams should start their campaigns in the 6th round and the draw for the sixth round for those teams should be made in december with balls for 8 qualifiers in the bag at the same time.

That way some would play each other whilst the rest would have to wait until after the fifth round to find out their opponent but the rfl and fans could plan most of the event.

It would also give every game the extra spice of a win knocking the other team out.

If we had 8 CC matches over a weekend, would 70k fans paying £25 each split btwn 16 clubs (approx £1k to each club) be a worthwhile return for the clubs involved?

How much did the clubs receive for their fifth round games this year as they gave free tickets to season tickets holders.

I think if a knockout competive element was added to every game at Magic we would see bigger attendances.

Also their would be NL representation.

And If we switched the sixth round and allowed the top eight to enter at that stage we could schedule a clear international weekend and the top eight teams would play 2 less games MM and the fifth round.

Kills a number of birds with one stone.

The CC ticket was included in the price of a season ticket, it wasn't free.

I agree, whoever mooted this idea in the first place was obviously onto something ... just need to sort out some details and pass it on to Richard Lewis - where's Albert when you need him.