Slightly OTT but today shows why Leeds, Wigan and Saints HAVE to be our representative clubs in the WCC.

Finals and big matches that don't include the above are abysmal (see last year as well). It let's the sport down on the days when it needs a spectacle and doesn't help anyone.

Probably the worst loss since we got beat by Celtic in 2007(8?). And I'm including getting smashed by Catalan in that, at least they're a half decent side.

The above sides shouldn't lose to the likes of Cas and KR then.
It's the nature of sport in general that you get drubbings like the one today from time to time, but it seems British RL fans love nothing more than to wallow in their own self pity instead of reveling in the history of the occasion. What was the score in the SOO decider, or every Ashes test, or FA cup final, or world cup semi final?

On a side note, the rendition of 'Abide with me' was one of the most moving things I've ever been apart of. It was worth the trip just for that.

Wasn't it just.

The last FA Cup final saw Aresnal beating Aston Villa 4-0. Hidings happen in sport, all the time, this isn't just a RL issue.

I wouldn't say it was a black day for the sport. Anyone watching that will have taken it for what it was - a very good team beating a garbage team. Happens in every sport from time to time. I think we are the only team capable of preventing a Leeds double now.

Your team and one player in particular let the rugby league world down last year at OT in a more serious way.

If you don't want to accept that your club is second best, then denigrating the whole sport is one way to deal with it. But it lacks integrity. Which, by the way, is why your club is second best.

Been asleep for a year? Some of us have moved on....

Haven't re-watched the BBC coverage, but I just saw the Maxine Peake piece on the BBC website.

I ran into her at the Jungle last year when we played there, nipping round the back by the bar for a smoke at half-time (is there one of the few SL grounds you can smoke in now?), and we got chatting in the bar queue. She was charming and chatty (and very glam on that day; she looked a million dollars). I didn't give the guff about, I love your work etc, but I did recognise her.

So that took up the entire half-time, and I eventually got back to my mate on the terraces and was able to say, "I've just been chatting to Maxine effing Peake!"

She played for the Wigan ladies team in the 90s IIRC.

Yeah she did. So she's played the game, which is more than I have!

quite right we didn't even reach 2nd gear in attack,but defensively we were brutal

I think you need a referee that will allow 3 second play the balls and also plenty of laying on and niggly stuff around the ruck area for you to beat Leeds

But we've certainly got the players that can play that way too if needed

I do think that it will be a Leeds Wigan Grand Final

Funny you should say that as you needed the ref to help you over the line the last time we met.

Is there really any need for this bickering? Can't we just give Leeds the credit they deserve?

They were the best team in the cup and proved that by winning it. They can only beat what is in front of them. Yes Hull KR were very disappointing but they beat us and Warrington to get there and were fully deserving of their place in the final. It isn't like they fluked their way to the final with easy draws, they beat the best teams to get there until they met Leeds.

Well done Rhino's, it was an outstanding defensive and attacking display and the scoreline was justified by that. Hopefully it will be a Leeds - Wigan Grand Final to make a very entertaining match.

Exactly. Leeds did what they had to do and did it very well. HKR were poor but that's not Leeds fault, they played what was in front of them. We didn't complain when we put 60 on them at the DW earlier in the season.

No criticism of you lot intended. You did what was required without breaking sweat. Hull KR were shocking, but if they'd played better you'd simply have gone up a gear and would still have won easily.

I'm worried that this is one of the reasons the Cup has lost its magic compared to the Grand Final. It's happened too often in recent years that poor sides have reached Wembley.

Well that " poor side " beat us fair and square to get to Wembley and deserved to be there grass seed or no grass seed at the DW

Surely the Magic of any knock out competition is the fact that teams that aren't expected to do well, can surprise us and make it all the way to the final?

The BBC Breakfast team on Saturday Morning were creaming it over the romance of the underdogs maybe beating the favourites. What keeps that romance alive is that it does occasionally happen, I hesitate to mention 1998 but it is the proof of the pudding

If Leeds don't win the GF it will because Aiton got injured.

I suspect both the Beeb and the RFL would happily dispense with 'the romance of the Cup' for a full stadium and a very close, very exciting game.

1998, for all that it was a great result for the neutrals, was played out in front of an embarrassing 60,000 people.

So true. I didn't go because I was dreading a no-contest match. Feel sorry for Hull KR as they fully deserved to be there but this was terrible as a showcase for our sport. Would have preferred winning the cup by beating the Pies by a point!

Very one sided but again another cracking day out . Was sat amongst the HKR fans they never let their spirit crumble and kept the banter going all afternoon Great stuff

Regards , EW