No offence but I just don't think the BBC or sky really care about anything below super league. They will pick the games with super league interest.

Obviously it could be one of the all-time classics in the challenge cup, but I think they will go for the games involving super league teams.

I'd have actually preferred an away draw for us, the DW will be like a morgue!

I'll get shot for this but we should play it at Wrexham, or Orrell.

Surely Orrell is too small. Wrexham has a capacity of 10,500 (15,500 with the kop open).

I expect a sub 5,000 crowd.

I think we should play it at Wrexham and turn it into a celebration of RL in Wales. Zero point in playing this at Wigan. Give the smaller club a pay day.

Playing it at Orrell is a no go though.

Orrell wouldn't be big enough. I'd be surprised if the safety certificate allowed any more than 2,000 in that ground.

I thought it was around the 4K mark, I might be wrong though.

Not even close these days, I believe.

But isn't the capacity at Orrell around 1,500?

I think a bit more than that...what did we get for the Barrow game last year, about 8k? I know they brought quite a few, but I think we still might get about 7k for NW. Still gonna be dead, though, even with the Brigantes that turn up!

We did but that was free admission for season ticket holders. They have scrapped that now. So I reckon about 4-5,000 ish.

That game was free for season ticket holders. This one is not. The crowd will be sub 4k.

Ah yeah, I'd forgotten that. You're probably right

I think the challenge cup needs livening up a bit. I would like to see the 4th round being drawn locally to create either big local derbies or a Wigan v Leigh kind of situation.

I guess it was because the smaller clubs were losing out on money from the from the free tickets scheme but the RFL should be doing everything possible to significantly boost attendances in both the early rounds of the cup and the end of season playoffs. Don't think many people will be too bothered about paying £18/20 to watch what will probably be a complete blowout.

One thing we can be certain about is that Shaun Wane will not be underestimating North Wales Crusaders.

He'll be putting out a full strength under 18's side

No. It's a cup competition. You don't mess with the draw.

Spot on, that's what makes it so special when it throws up a rare Fev-Cas tie and the like.

I agree. That would be a good idea all round. A big game for what is essentially a new club, a good pay day for them to boost the coffers. Atmosphere with a parochial home Welsh crowd would be likely to be a lot better. The old SL club used to hold events for kids outside so there would be the room for the celebration of Welsh RL outside as well as in the ground. Holding it as a celebration of RL in Wales also would fit well with the tie up we have with the Wales RL body. Maybe we could see if Billy Boston would bring out the match ball for the game.

BANG

THE POINT OF HAVING A DRAW IS THAT YOU GET DRAWN HOME OR AWAY...WE GOT A HOME DRAW.

soz..cap locks........but who do we blame IF we give up home advantage, play the kids AND LOSE ??????????????

sounds like a cracking idea to fire up the crusaders...jesus wept

i dont give a monkeys about putting cash in their pocket, i care about breezing through to the next round where we might meet a proper team to test us

good place to start my annual crusade.......maybe if they gave ticket priority in later rounds to the ones who attend this the attendance might go up?

and if anyone who doesnt attend, season ticket or not, expects to be gifted ticket priority later, then i;ll call you two faced and hard faced in advance

They could try dropping the entrance fee to a tenner to get a bigger crowd.