No trouble at the Liverpool V Everton semi in April (and it isn't quite "the friendly derby" that it gets made out to be). The final was moodier but that's largely because Chelsea fans over the last few years have developed a bizarre obsession with wanting us to be their biggest rivals. I don't know why because we aren't on or off the pitch as far as anyone I know is concerned.

Anyway, as I said elsewhere - I've attended the League Cup Final, FA Cup Final, Challenge Cup Final and Grand Final in 2012, plus all semi finals (including home and away V City in the LC) and the only place I saw trouble INSIDE the ground was Saturday. The main reasons were Leeds fans and Widnes fans supporting Leeds in our end. Segregation is required.

Unbelievable amount of pondlife suppporting many different clubs. Depressing that so many associate themselves with RL. Won't being going to GF at Old Trafford again, whoever is playing.

I definately won't be going to OT again! There is just something about the place that makes me feel uneasy. It's almost claustophobic the seats are that tightly packed in, I don't know what it is....... My daughter was sat somewhere completely different to me and she felt the same! Maybe I still haven't got over the scene I witnessed a few years back when Saints and Wigan were playing, it was very unpleasant. Glad to say I didn't see any bother on Saturday and think it's very sad that there was so much trouble.

If everyone gets drunk then there will be no more problems. I was plastered and don't recall seeing any trouble

Apparently the Wire lad that had the living bejesus knocked out of him, was beaten up by set of Wigan fans not Leeds fans

I've obviously been to the last 6 GFs before is one and I've see trouble at all bar the one in 06. Yet it still remains the only trouble I see at the rugby! For some reason, the grand final does seem to attract a bit of a football atmosphere (last year we were even sat between loads of football fans that spent the afternoon singing united songs and smoking weed). The mixed seating doesn't help either. I find myself wondering every year why so many oppo fans choose to come and sit in our end, it doesn't make sense, especially as someone mentioned above, we've been in the same stands every year! Nutters.

...because the Wolfs won't be going back.

#Ageing

I saw some of the trouble in the Stretford end, didn't see what started it but it made me glad I didn't take my family with me. I sat in the North West Corner with Leeds fans to the right of us and we had no trouble, no antagonising of each other when our team scored. At the end of the game when we were leaving congratulations were exchanged and best wishes given to the Rhinos fans which is how it should be in our great game.
This was my first GF in the SL era and the atmosphere was a tense one throughout the game totally different to the playoffs pre SL era which I attended on a regular basis.

As for moving the kickoff forward, will this really help I remember the trouble in the Warrington end at Wembley 2010 rival fans fighting once again.

Incidentally I think this is a ridiculous idea. Nowhere near as many neutrals would go six weeks after Wembley if it was that far away, and neither club would take 20,000+ fans at one week notice all the way to Cardiff either.

The Millennium Stadium, and Cardiff in general, is well liked by everyone I know who has been there, but this game needs to be in "rugby league heartland" or the you'll struggle to get more than 30,000 there.

Old Trafford is a great ground that generates a great atmosphere anyway. It's the ideal venue.

Old Trafford is a huge ground that generates an unpleasant (in my experience) atmosphere. I accept it's the only realistic venue, but a long long way from being ideal.

I've heard it might have been amateur club related if it is the same incident. If so it makes the 'not RL fans argument' more ridiculous.

Incidentally, I didn't see any trouble on Saturday apart from the Leeds fans right behind the sticks antagonising those around them when Leeds scored.

In fairness the "not true fans" argument is for holier than thou biffs in any sport. Just because they're not the same [itype[/i of fan as you does not mean they're not a fan at all.

You sir, are an absolute legend! That post is the first thing to cheer me up since the final defeat. Can we not have a 'poster of the year' debate now the season is over. DM gets my vote without question.

Our under 20's won their Grand Final and finished top of the league..
So don't you worry your little head about any of our players ageing...

City of Manchester Stadium or would you say it's not big enough?

47,000? Nowhere near big enough.

Now I couldnt give a monkeys where the next GF is....I wont be going.
Was in the NW upper tier, surrounded by Leeds fans, which to start with didnt bother me as always had some good banter....wrong....
Was like being back in the 80's a football, hate to say it but segregation has to happen - shame but at occasions like this you get too many NON RL fans who dont know how to behave.
Cardiff as a venue...brilliant - why?? IMHO you get RL fans there.

As the 'Showcase' of the RL season, afraid it was complete poop.

How can a stadium generate an unpleasant atmosphere? Surely it's the people inside it.

Yes, you're right about the unpleasant atmosphere, it is the people rather than the building.


I may be making some assumtions here which may well be wrong, but I wonder how many of the supposed Leeds fans at the Western end of the stadium where full time Rhinos fans (there were a few - I noticed some 'dads and lads' in Rhinos jerseys) and how many were part time/full time Leeds United fans. I have had the misfortune to sit with Leeds Utd fans watching a couple of football matches in the past and they do come across as a little 'different' to your typical league fan.

Considering the ground is so 'big' I felt hemmed in and claustrophobic and had to sit forward just to get a decent view. And we were not in the cheaper seats either.

There's a picture in todays Guardian of a bloodied and battered Wire fan.

I had a great time at thenGF and never saw any trouble, loved the atmosphere and leeds out played us for the win.

I used to go the GF as a neutral until about 3 years ago. There's just so much tension built up around the last game of the season and that resonates around the ground and the fans. Previously I've found it very intimidating and won't go unless we get there, as I like to wear my wire top but this just attracts trouble.

Personally I don't think that the GF is a day for the Rl family to go and support this great game, that is the challenge cup. The GF creates a unique tension and I have seen more violence at GF's than any other game.

Forget the booze and segregation debate as we don't get that level of trouble at other games where beer is in full supply.

The showcase event for portraying RL is the challenge cup..... If you want intensity and tension then go to the GF

There are plenty of JCL's at Grand finals, and the fact that people have been drinking longer also makes a difference. I know a lad who is a Leeds United regular and he said the attendance was was down for the game against Barnsley, that suggests that there was quote a few of the football lost at the game. I also saw Man City/Wire fans I know who seemed intent on defacing the home of England's most succesful club with stickers.