The Easter Embarrassments and Widdop for England? by Steve Mascord AFTER some of the scores on Easter Monday, and as a dumb foreigner, I am intrigued to find out how attached Super League fans are to the idea of two complete rounds over Easter. The wins by Widnes and Salford late last week should have helped attract sponsors, season ticket holders and new fans. Instead, they didn’t have one working day before losing again – in the Vikings’ case, very heavily – to capitalise on these results. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

The Easter Embarrassments and Widdop for England? by Steve Mascord AFTER some of the scores on Easter Monday, and as a dumb foreigner, I am intrigued to find out how attached Super League fans are to the idea of two complete rounds over Easter. The wins by Widnes and Salford late last week should have helped attract sponsors, season ticket holders and new fans. Instead, they didn’t have one working day before losing again – in the Vikings’ case, very heavily – to capitalise on these results. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Absolutely, I've long thought 1 round is all we need at easter, and big it up, the derby weekend!

The biggest competition England will face is the futile squad selections by Steve McNamara, you just have to watch one Melbourne game to realise Widdop is class and rightfully belongs in the worlds best club side. English rugby league supporters and coaches have bemoaned the lack of quality halves over the years and when one emerges with real talent we pick an out of position forward in their place, McNamara is clueless.

yep, and as for games over the weekend, it should be
Friday Wigan v Saints
Saturday Leeds v Bradford & Catalan v London
Sunday Wakefield v Castleford
Monday HullFC v HullKR & Warrington v Widnes

ALL ON TV. 1 round, THE DERBY WEEKENDER! simples.

Do not see why we can't just merge the Magic Weekend and the Easter Fixtures. We have 4 days over Easter when we can play Rugby League so can't we have the Super League and the Championship games played over the Easter period. Have the derbies from the Super League with the derbies in the Championship merged together.

Could be like this: Friday - 2 Championship games and 1 Super League
Saturday - 2 Champ 2 SL
Sunday - 1 Champ 2 SL
Monday - 1 Champ 2 SL

On the Widdop debate i think we should be talking more about combinations than just individual players themselves. I agree he should be given a go but he needs a dominant team-running 7 to play alongside him in my opinion. From what i have seen that isn't Chase (who injects himself when he feels like it), nor Myler (maybe in time but not yet) but could be Brough if he is on form? That would also solve the goalkicking hole left by Sinfield if he was left out.

Sinfield could play 13 but S'OL is definitely first choice there, although there's a good chance he will be injured again come the end of the season.

It's good that there is a debate to be had at least, it shows we have more choices than before.

got to cut down to just the 1 game the hull v rovers derby must take it out of you physically its knackering just being an airlie bird follower never mind a pub team supporter like the dobbins

To answer your question Mr Mascord, I hate the Easter double header & would far prefer your suggestion of games played on Friday, Saturday,Sunday & Monday.
The second half of the current Easter round or the return local derby fixtures could be played instead of the magic weekend on the Friday, Saturday Sunday & Monday of the late spring bank holiday weekend & do away with the now redundant magic weekend concept.
That may have had legs when played in Cardiff or Edinburgh but has no expansion benefit so long as it's played in Manchester.
I bet that the crowds over both rounds would eclipse the Easter Monday & Magic weekend crowds.

totally agree with your coments about easter and for the clubs who have a real derby it can be a killer like HKR found out who before anyone says wigan had to do it have a much stronger sqaud the rovers and where not carrying as many injuries to has many key players, l like the idea of 5 games on tv all over easter as well giving each club a real chance to promote it, the game has moved on now and is too demanding to have 2 games in 3 days, widdup should be in the england team at 6 and sinfield at 13 roby 9 and danny brough 7 if macnamara does not pick these guys he is as we all know a crap coach and a joke, to even think of letting danny brough play for scotland is a joke he is the most natural 7 in the comp, also peacock and morley should be thanked and shown the door, a warm up game with all available NRL players playing for england over in aussy should be arranged for later in the year possibly cc cup weekend with the players of the finalist exscluded only against aussy, great colum steve enjoying the read