Its a hard one to call, its been a while since we had a cup run, if we beat Widnes and get another home tie against a non-SL or even an out of form SL team we can go one further.
Any sort of cup run would enhance our profile, and develop interest in the club.
We will pick up injuries during the season, that is part and parcel of the sport.
The priority has to be winning the NR Cup and the Grand Final but I'm sure any fan would like a full shay, against a SL side, on TV where we give them a game, possibly even win.
Over the next 3 seasons we won't have many "Big Games" down at the shay so we should make the most of a possible cup run.

I'm with you on this one. We aren't going to win the CC but injuries and a heavy fixture list with an already sp squad may well do more harm than good

Then again I would still like to stuff em

Why are most people not bothered abot winning this game? Where has the magic of the cup gone? Are we not bothered about a money spinning tie in the next round? Will there never be another giant killing performance from our club? Why do we bother entering the CC?

Come on guys and gals, get behind the team, bring a friend for a tenner and shout Fax to victory.

If the players read any of this the apathy will spread through the dressing room like wildfire.

COME ON FAX!!!!!

the boys are up for this game, i can asure you

I for one am really bothered about winning this game. I think it is important to the team and the fans to maintain a winning team, especially against teams in our or lower divisions.

I would accept that if we had drawn a superleague club we could have gone into the game with the "loss" in mind, but hoping to perform well, but for this game we have to go ready to win.

As do Widnes of course.

Agreed, if we were away at Saints in this game then yes, don't risk any injuries etc etc.
But at home to our biggest rivals in our division we have to win for lots of reasons, bragging rights, momentum, show that we are better team etc.
Widnes will be fired up and so will we, if we are to win on friday night i feel we will have to play the best 80 minutes so far this season, fewer mistakes, better ball control and better decision making.

As was mentioned earlier, if we do progress on friday night, there is as much chance of drawing a championship side in next round as there is of drawing a SL side, which in theory should mean us going one stage further again. Raising money and more importantly the profile and interest in the club

As people have mentioned this is the important factor, any positive coverage in the media is a bonus. Plus with the bulls doing poorly of late we may get some of the floating public back who want to watch a winning team rather than a struggling SL team.

Can't believe some people aren't too fussed if we win or not, I want to see my team win every game they play, whether it be a pre season friendly against the giants reserves or a challenge cup final against saints.

I feel the magic has gone due to Sky, as well as the RFL to some extent basically brain washing people in to thinking SL is the be all and end all! The Challenge Cup has been moved all over the place and the BBC are crap at hosting TV games and very rarely show teams from outside SL.

Also games between SL Clubs and championship clubs are often too easy to predict and the rules are unfair. For example a SL club is allowed a number of overseas players, yet a championship side only allowed one! So this rule lessons the likely hood of an upset.

I also feel the cup lost some magic when it moved away from the original Wembley being played in Cardiff, Tw##+***m and Edinburgh. The New wembley is impressive but outside its soulless with no grass to sit down on and no real decent drinking areas. Nice Modern Stadium but just lacking character for me. I have been twice.

When did SKY last mention the challenge cup, They don't even mention it in commentary.

Because they dont Broadcast it

They used to show highlights of the game late at night on the same day, dont know if this is happening this year.

I'm astounded to be honest. Do we think that just because we have won our opening two league games and 5 cup games against some garbage teams (Barrow were garbage that day) we are now something akin to a Premiership football team who do not care about the FA Cup, as it doesnt pay as well as Europe?

If I think back to memorable fax games I have seen, the majority are challenge cup games.

I cant believe the wengeresque attitude - shameful

I believe Matt Calland is playing his "NRC" squad on Friday. Resting his senior players for the more lucrative "Champions League".

His post match interview will simply sayI didn't see that particular incident[/i"