The criteria was supposed to be Grand Finalists plus the highest placed non-finalist. So if they stick to that Leeds won't be included. Saints are guaranteed a spot, if they reach the GF then so will Wigan, if it's a Wigan v Saints GF then Hudds would be the third team.

Challenge Cup winners to be awarded a WCC game instead?

The difference between 4k-5k turning up at Huddersfield or 18k-20k turning up at Headingley?

No brainer, unless you want to kill off the concept with reference to the acute embarrassment of empty stadia.

This expanded WCC format didn't have Whipping Boy SL Rabble participation in mind when it was conceived anyhow.

The Rhinos, although very well supported (apart from 7k for their play off defeat), appear to have joined the "Whipping Boy SL Rabble"

Although an expanded WCC is a great idea, it is designed mainly as a cash generation exercise, rather than proving the World Club Champions.

Well if it's a cash generating exercise we have to hope huddersfield don't qualify.

It'll end up losing money.

As I alluded to on the Leeds forum, GH didn't get where he is today by organising events for irrelevant toe-rag SL clubs who can't even buy a decent home attendance unless admission costs a fiver via wowcher or groupon, or Ken Davy gives them away on a Sunday afternoon in lieu of a 3pm kick off.

Leeds V Brisbane it is then.

Everyone knows it makes sense.

It wouldn't surprise me if Leeds end up being involved. If it's true that the SL club have to foot the bill to bring the NRL team over (£185,000 has been mentioned), then would Hudds be up for that? If it ends up Wigan, Saints and Warrington then those three will definitely go for it, and probably so would Catalans. If Cas or Hudds qualified I could see them giving it up as an expense they could do without and be unlikely to recoup. I could be wrong, but like I say, I wouldn't be surprised if Leeds are one of the 3 teams involved.

Exactly!

Huddersfield couldn't even come close to generating £185k if that's just the break-even figure.

An 18k attendance at Headingley based on an average of say £20 per ticket produces £360k in revenue. Huddersfield would struggle to reach £100k from ticket sales. Castleford would do better, but not much better.

As ever RLs gone into something potentially great half-cocked. Selecting teams based on nothing immediately makes it a non-competition. Shame.

This expanded version is wholly intended to be a revenue-generator, nothing more, nothing less. It involves the original WCC between the two Grand Final winners with a couple of exhibition games thrown in, just to make a revenue-generating weekend of it.

Nobody in their right mind can take this format seriously as a bona fide expanded WCC competition. The inclusion of Souths and Brisbane (no matter what) is sufficient proof of its lack of integrity. As a revenue-generator however, it requires the best supported teams in SL taking part and that would necessarily include Leeds (no matter what).

Quote ="William Eve"Exactly! Huddersfield couldn't even come close to generating £185k if that's just the break-even figure. An 18k attendance at Headingley based on an average of say £20 per ticket produces £360k in revenue. Huddersfield would struggle to reach £100k from ticket sales. Castleford would do better, but not much better.'" this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings

Quote ="William Eve"Exactly! Huddersfield couldn't even come close to generating £185k if that's just the break-even figure. An 18k attendance at Headingley based on an average of say £20 per ticket produces £360k in revenue. Huddersfield would struggle to reach £100k from ticket sales. Castleford would do better, but not much better.'" this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings

Quote ="number 6"looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" And hull?

Quote ="number 6"looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" And hull?

Quote ="number 6"this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" Wont pi55 me off one bit.Anyone with half a brain cell should be able to see through these two extra games as glorified warm ups and i personally would have no interest in the game at all, the actual WCC game is the only one that sparks interest imo. The points made by Billy and others on here are well made though.GH was the main flag bearer of this concept and he will find a way for Leeds to be involved i am sure.expect an announcement that the CC winners are included in due course, however i won't be rushing to buy a ticket myself.

Quote ="number 6"this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" Wont pi55 me off one bit.Anyone with half a brain cell should be able to see through these two extra games as glorified warm ups and i personally would have no interest in the game at all, the actual WCC game is the only one that sparks interest imo. The points made by Billy and others on here are well made though.GH was the main flag bearer of this concept and he will find a way for Leeds to be involved i am sure.expect an announcement that the CC winners are included in due course, however i won't be rushing to buy a ticket myself.

Quote ="number 6"this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" It might annoy hetherington because he helped create the concept but Leeds fans aren't really bothered either way because the actual title won't be on the line. Also, notice how leeds have won a major trophy but theres still inquests going on and talk of failure. The leeds fans may not be too bothered but missing out on this extended format will not sit very well with leeds players or hierachy.

Quote ="number 6"this the huddersfield bank rolled by ken davy? he alone would probably foot the bill, i do hope he does just to p!55 off all the leeds fans and hetherington! looks like leeds will have to wait until 2016 and if their ageing squad can qualify then! www.superleague.co.uk/article/31 ... s-failings'" It might annoy hetherington because he helped create the concept but Leeds fans aren't really bothered either way because the actual title won't be on the line. Also, notice how leeds have won a major trophy but theres still inquests going on and talk of failure. The leeds fans may not be too bothered but missing out on this extended format will not sit very well with leeds players or hierachy.

not a concept im expecting hull to be taking part in for years!

it was merely a dig at leeds fans expecting to be a part of the series when the clearly dont deserve to be finishing 6th!

hetherington and the leeds players need to take it on the chin then, just because hetherington devised the format, he should have been aware that leeds may not qualify, he cant just move the goal post when he sees fit!

Leeds won't be involved, it's just a troll winding people up.

I hope the Giants do get to the WCC just to all the naysayers off

The John Smith's would get plenty in even if only to see an Aussie team

I don't think it would annoy anyone, afterall hudds did finish third.

I think a more apt word to describe the experience would be depressing. And embarassing.

Could I just ask one question, what is the point?

Surely the game between the G.F winners of both competitions is the only one of relevance, the other two matches – who cares.

People can’t even be bothered to attend the play-offs as it’s not part of the season ticket, why would, for instance, Warrington fans be bothered to watch their team play an undercooked Brisbane side?

A truly irrelevant concept, with the main event the only game that matters, with the added handicap of the Aussies still in pre-season, to even up the contest.

Are people that desperate to watch their team against Aussie opposition

I do. It's something out of the ordinary and we play few enough internationals as it is.

There is no getting away from the fact that the format for next year is the WCC plus two friendlies and the teams taking part in the two friendlies won't be getting a trophy while one of the two in the WCC will. As it stands my team may well be one of those taking part (only if it is a Warrington v Catalan GF will we not take part in some capacity). If we do qualify but not as champions and have to play in one of the friendlies I will still be happy to attend. We will be playing friendlies anyway and the prospect of a friendly against an NRL club would be a bit more appealing than watching our second string or under-19s take on a semi pro outfit.

The format is what it is and it seems likely that the Aussies wouldn't go for a proper tournament so this was the compromise and is the first step to show them that a proper tournament would be worthwhile and financially viable. The video that was released alongside the announcement called it the World Club Series so maybe there is a plan to have all three results used to determine the winner of a further trophy for inter-competition bragging rights (that you could at least get media interest for). Maybe there isn't and it will just be a WCC and two friendlies and nothing else.

Either way like anything else in our sport we either support it and it continues and maybe grows like the GF concept or we whinge about it and call it rubbish and a waste of time and don't support it and it disappears like the roses matches. Only time will tell.

Well said I say bring it on and lets hope it stays and gets better every year

I hope they get it too, it would be hilarious.

Agree, thinking back didn't many Aussies think Origin wouldn't work either.

"Many Aussies' = self-centred Sydneysiders.

There are lots of Aussies who love the international side of the game, it's just that turnips like the head rugby league writer at Sydney's biggest paper and others like him actively talk down rugby league outside of Sydney.