The opening three games are at Headingley.

Hull Kingston Rovers v Toronto Wolfpack­­­ (1pm KO)

St Helens v Catalans Dragons (4:15pm KO)

Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos (6:30pm KO)

2021 season will start on 18th February, 2 weeks later than usual.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"The opening three games are at Headingley. Hull Kingston Rovers v Toronto Wolfpack­­­ (1pm KO) St Helens v Catalans Dragons (4:15pm KO) Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos (6:30pm KO)'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/53196901 Says "Neutral Venues" in that article If Leeds get to play at Headingley, its a complete sham. What was wrong with the HJ for those games?

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"The opening three games are at Headingley. Hull Kingston Rovers v Toronto Wolfpack­­­ (1pm KO) St Helens v Catalans Dragons (4:15pm KO) Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos (6:30pm KO)'" https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/53196901 Says "Neutral Venues" in that article If Leeds get to play at Headingley, its a complete sham. What was wrong with the HJ for those games?

Neutral venues are an issue for me considering the season has already started.

Using ourselves as an example....

We played Castleford away. Small pitch, vocal crowd, crap facilities, horrible place to go, massive advantage to them.

Leeds for example will play them at a neutral venue where Cas lose that advantage. It might only sound like a little thing but it instantly changes the whole dynamic and as I said on another post the integrity of the competition goes out the window.

Some sides have already travelled to France and had the issues that causes, others will play them over here where being away from friends, family, home comforts, I wouldn't be surprised to see them take some hidings.

It just doesn't feel right to me for it to come back in any form other than games at home grounds (not sure why we can't play at home but Latics can) with crowds. If that can't happen then for me it's a sign that it shouldn't be coming back.

I said that to my dad, Cas are losing out more than us though as that is a fortress, still its the same as the Aussies and they have coped ok and enjoyed the return

Cas lose out massively yeah, as do Leeds without the South Stand officials. Although they look as though they'll be playing at home in the first game even if they are in the away dressing room.

Aussie clubs tend to share grounds and don't get the sort of vociferous support that we get. Canberra and the Warriors have had it worse off really although from the next round they'll be back at home.

Would Leeds not be playing at one of the other venues? If not that’s a farce

Well apparently the first 3 games are at Headingley and one of them is Huddersfield v Leeds. Again, not sure why Huddersfield can't play at home when Huddersfield Town manage to.

That’s terrible the Leeds game should be at one of the other stadiums being used

As I posted yesterday

That’s poor, neutral games except the first day

unfortunately Leeds are 2 games behind most so need to catch up . I am sure you are not that worried about the Rhinos .

No one is saying don’t play the game just play it at a neutral venue like everyone else has to

What other stadiums are available that weekend that have the required facilities to be able to follow the social distancing/covid rules?
Also, there could be higher costs to play the games somewhere else(?)

Football grounds will not be considered for any behind closed doors games even though there season will have finished by the time we start. just let fans attend games from August and be done with it save all this messing about.

Makes sense I suppose with the number of people in and out the stadium

Whatever they do, this season won't be exactly 'fair'. But they are just trying to get the show on the road, and keep the sport alive. Arguing about whether Leeds have some unfair advantage from playing at Headingley behind closed doors is a piffling matter in context.

I haven't actually given any thought about our prospects prior to now but I actually think there's a very good chance we'll win it. Saints' front row has been broken up, Gildart is back and we probably have the best squad depth in the competition which will help us.

A couple of things from the press release which I dont think has been picked up on here - back to a top 4 playoff this year and Elstone seemed to say in his interview that there are no loop fixtures next year due to the late start and the World Cup.

Its only starting 2 weeks later next year so dropping the loop fixtures may not work entirely and how will that go with forever whinging fans?? Paying more for les blah blah blah.

Not sure the clubs would be happy losing 3 home incomes especially after this season.

Maybe they'll shift the playoffs back to top 4 like this year that way it takes 2 weeks instead of 4 which makes up the time.

They'll probably chuck in a magic ticket and think that will suffice.

Agree totally i would have thought the same structure would be used with possibly bringing easter monday back and throw a midweek game in or to be played on a cc weekend when knocked out which makes up for the 2 weeks lost? Plenty time for that as it seems this year isn’t finalised yet.

Not sure that will prevent them coming out in force, love any opportunity.