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.

Keep up....the reference is to our Sheffield game.....

I know. That's what I'm saying. See my post below.

Put it this way. If we and Barrow and Halifax all appear in the 2nd semi-final of the 1895 but before the league game, it stands to reason one of us if not all will need to prioritise the Challenge Cup Semi first or later. So that means you play one semi-final on a Saturday and then the semi-final is on the Wednesday before or after. You have a simple choice then between playing the one or the one AND the other. Either full team or playing the young lads.

The only other way to do it, is to play both cup games before Halifax were due to play. Then at least you’ll know who is to play before despite playing either of them.

My head hurts...

Crikey, I'm off for a pint!

The weakness in your plan is it's already been decided that the Challenge Cup semis will be played on Saturday and, if a team is still in both comps, the 1895 semifinal will be the following Wednesday.

I said this earlier.

So I would imagine that, if Fax happened to lose the Challenge Cup semifinal, they'd be quite keen to win in the 1895 Cup.

Just my opinion, obviously.