In fairness, we didn't exactly have too many big hitters playing either - mainly youngsters, trialists and players returning from injury. The idea isn't bad in theory and I like the idea of an Anglo-French version of the World Club Challenge, but the timings of the two seasons means it's going to be pretty difficult to achieve whichever way you look at it.

Hence my post earlier Matt, a double header sponsored by cheapo airlines, featuring cup winners and Championes

What was the combined attendance of all the matches being played?

773 at Leigh was their lowest turn out in 14 years. Half a team out and a lad of 16 playing in the halves and still a 34 point margin.

What a complete and utter farce made none the more bearable by the fact that this was easily predictable from the word go. Where on earth does the RFL dream up these half-baked ideas from? I mean to say, whats next - franchising?

So you admit, a stupid idea

With the weather so poor today I hope all you supporters of this new Anglo French ' tournament ' will either be heading down to PO road or at least tuning in to Premier Sports ( if you can actually access it ) to see Featherstone take on the Champions of France ( except of course they arent actually playing the French Champions, Sheffield played them yesterday ) ?

Isn't that the clubs fault for playing a weakened side then? If fans know that, why turn up. The RFL can't win. They try new things and people crap on them without giving them a go.

A weakened side that still won at a canter, in a match with no meaning, what sort of attendances do you get for academy friendlies?

That's the whole point, we rested a ton of players and still won by a big margin. Would have probably had at least 70 with a first choice side out.

Not sure how it's the RFL's fault that the people of Leigh are so insular and xenophobic they won't even come out and see their team play against a team of foreigns.

Of course, if no such competition had been organised we'd get the usual moaning from the flatcappers that the RFL don't try to improve the commercial value of the Championship.

Nope, fans of Championship clubs are obsessed with and only interested in Super League. Super League which, bizarrely, they all hate. It's a very odd complex when you think about it.

No idea, I don't have time to go watch them!

I'll let you explain how this series of non competitive matches improves the commercial value of the Championships?

Away you go

You can't see that a 'European Championship' would have more commercial value and interest, to the non-initiated or to a potential sponsor, than the usual M62 flatcap fest?

I'm happy to concede that the format needs some work, but building the profile will take time and perseverance. Of course, the usual Championship deathriders described it a farce just as soon as they found out some of the games might not be within a ferret's length of their house.

A ' European Championship ' would be what SL is, a competition between Europes best clubs, so what would you suggest a series of games between the lower clubs in Europe with nothing at stake be called?

FFS even the RFL dont have the fixtures or results on their website, a crap idea that achieves absolutely nothing

The non initiated? , what you think the non RL fans of Leigh,Fev,Fax or Sheffield will head out in their droves to watch a match against a minor French team in a non competitive game? Havent you heard of the Champions League in football?

You think that a sponsor would be interested in this, FFS even SL cant bring in a cash sponsor, sorry you are an idiot, do you work at the RFL?

I'd say he's still at school with odem

And the typical " I know considerably more than you" SL fan spouts the same crap.
I take it Warrington fans would ve turned up their 1000`s to watch basically a senior Academy game, with a more important League game 5 days later?

Not knocking the concept in some format but the timing and formula leaves a lot to be desired.

"GATESHEAD"

Would you like to explain the relevance that this comment has to do with the post you quoted? Or are we just saying random words and laughing for the sake of it?

The post you've quoted has pretty much said exactly what you've said in bold? So why the reverse-snobbery SL fan bashing? It just highlights the huge chip on your shoulder.

No , its just a bad idea , we already have a premier European Competition , it's called SL , it features the best club RL sides in Europe , anything else tried below it is just a waste of time and money , Championship clubs need money spending on them to get fans to attend the matches they already have , not more meaningless matches

At best that's ignorance, at worst insulting.

Nowt to do with xenophobia and everything to do with knowing we'd win at a canter, even with a scratch side. Or maybe you're right after all and we're the ones at fault - presumably to back your point up they actually missed a zero off the crowd of 300 in Toulouse last night for their game against Halifax?

The last time they tried this it was called the Treize Tournoi and it did have a final featuring Chorley/Lancashire Lynx. It was played at Toulouse before a crowd of just short of 10,000 so the potential is there.

I agree that this latest edition was dreadfully badly promoted and the format is nuts. You need a winner and a final. They should re vamp it and try again. European competition could be a plus and an added attraction for Championship teams. Who wouldnt fancy a weekend in the South of France as a change from an away game at Batley, Dewsbury, Keighley and others.

They could start by promoting it heavily on Sky and AlJazheera as well as in the media in the location of the games themselves. this does not appear to have been done this time. I hope they are not as bad as this in the run up to the WC next year.

Toulouse for SL it is then Matt

No chip on my shoulder dear boy. You`re just one of the many VT SL alleged fan with superior knowledge of the game, in your own worlds of course.

a complete waste of time and money. Glad that we (fax) didnt pick up any injuries.