Our Tie to be played on Wed June 5th any insider guesses as to where ?

I would just give it away if possible. A pointless competition now.

I agree play the Reserves

Such enthusiasm.

Be fair griff, we know it is a squad. But Bradford will be brutal, and the following Sunday. Leigh, Sheffield will not be an easy game . 3 games in 8 days ? Your unrealistic, besides if Fax put out not their first 17 it should be easie r for your lot to progress, unless you don twang to of course.

Gosh - like it's never happened before.

Same for us - we've got the Widnes game to fit in.

For whoever wins - it'll happen again three weeks later.

It's like having three Easters in a year.

Not sure what point was being made here - I was assuming it was poor old Fax having to play three games in eight days - just like Sheffield.

But - as you've raised it, I couldn't agree with you more. The 1895 Cup is fundamentally flawed

1. It's on after the big game, not before, so there'll be a (relatively) few fans rattling around in a 80,000 capacity stadium.

2. There's no sponsor so the financials are crippling

3. There's no room in the calendar for rounds 2 and 3 so they're shoe-horned in between weekend rounds.

Apart from that - smashing idea.

The problem is, what if Bradford feel the same. We could both try and throw it, play the kids and it finishes 64-60.

It's clearly about helping to fill Wembley. Which is ironic as that's the last thing it'll be by the time the 1895 final kicks off.

Bradford ?

You think they're not interested in the Challenge Cup ?

Sorry that was clumsily worded. We could both try and throw our respective 1895 semi finals depending on which one of us prevails in the challenge cup.

Dunno what you're trying to say. Whoever wins the QF gets a shot at Wembley in the Challenge Cup on the Saturday. If they lose that, they'll get another go in the 1895 Cup on the Wednesday after - if they're still in it.

If you get that far, why would you want to "throw" your 1895 Cup SF ?

What player doesn't want to be able to say he played at Wembley ? Even if it is only in front of a dozen folk ?

Only the RFL could shoot themselves in the foot like this.

This is clearly the real reason I believe that Toronto was excluded from the CC this year but in typical British, sorry European..erm with Canadian, let's agree to call it Northern hemisphere rugby league irony 1 part time champ team will have a one off shot at the challenge Cup final. Meaning that one team might end up being in 2 finals.

Thank the rugby gods that these 2 part time championship clubs actually run a reserve grades.

But I have to put out the obvious here , if the reserves play and get far , if they got to Wembley and the more likely events take place in the semis of the CC then will the first grade sit back and allow the kids to play at Wembley whilst they watch their in some cases last chance past them by.