I've never had a problem with either Cas or Whitehaven fans.

On the Terraces, yes, they are passionate, and you'd expect them to be.

At Whitehaven, you wouldn't think they were the same people you were drinking with in the bars before the game. Back in the bar afterwards it's the same.

They're Kath Hetherington's balls Yob.

This bleating looks sad as fook, it really does. Some of the whining on here is embarrassing. Get over it. Move on. Let's concentrate on what we do - on what we can control rather than what fat Nigel might possibly cooking up in his Jabba chair. Thankfully those who run the club have got more important things to distract them rather than these whimsicle notions of conspiracies.

The RFL.


To ensure that no NL club ever make the finals of a prestigious (i.e. Super League) competition.



Yes, and yes. They are also responsible for the death of Princess Di, the moon landings and the extinction of several species of small furry creatures. Did you know Nigel and Dickie have sharks in a large tank with a trapdoor above it in the office at red hall especially for NL chairmen. Didn't you wonder where Howard had gone?

I personally don't think the draw is rigged but the RFL haven't covered themselves in glory by doing it away from public view.

Infact it takes a bit out of the cup really as I always liked listening or watching the draw as it added that bit of excitement.

When the Rd.4 Draw was done live at Headingly and they had coaches there to interview when their team was drawn (Brian McClennan for example) I thought it was an excellent way of doing it. And the Journalists probably liked it too as they got the coaches reaction straight away for some of the big games.

This rd.5 way is shocking and shouldn't be repeated, After Leeds vs Saints all the rounds ties were complete and the draw could have taken place immediatley.

Not sure what the thinking behind the RAF Base idea was.
If they wanted a behind closed doors draw then why not just do it at RFL HQ?
To stage it at RAF Leeming, with the balls flown in by a Hawk jet would not have been cheap. I really do not see what the RFL have achieved by this, other than the shear dismay to the true RL fan.

The services have a thriving rugby league set up at the moment and the venue and arrival of the balls would have been very entertaining, but only if screened live on TV.

Looking forward to the draw for the quarters!!
Any ideas?

There is absolutely no way its rigged, yes you are right lr.

HOWEVER, the rfl have again done themselves no favours and this latest draw is a complete f*****g shambles. What is embarrassing lr was how this latest draw was done - all announced last minute and totally devoid of any professionalism...though im sure a piece by look north's own special team will see to that.

In their quest for quirky marketing and pushing the boundaries, thay have recently done one draw in a Johnny Vegas type's front room and another cloak and daggers draw in a Hangar.

To the draw, Im not a big fan. Would have preferred a home draw - not because it would give us a better chance of a win, but because the club deserves a big day down the shay, and would make us a more appealing hook for the BBC.

2000 we beat Cas 11-10 at Wheldon Road and it was on the Beeb. It was a heated affair with Jamie Benn decapitating Cardiss who was stretchered off (once they had found his head), but Benn stayed on and nearly went on to win the game for Cas. Sampson's finger also got well involved with Peewee's eye that day.

The next round we lost gallantly to Bradford but that game wasnt on the beeb despite it being the best match by far - they aired wire v salford and wigan v hull instead as we had been on the previous game...a precedent perhaps?

must admit, thats not a nice area to watch a game. It was there I first saw any trouble at a ground apart from at Hull/Hull KR (granted this is going back to late 80's)

So Leeds v Saints was Rigged?

Surely if they're going to fly the balls in and do something a little different, publicity is important? What is the point in doing it othewise?

It's all one big farce!

no far from it m8 but i get the feeling that the RFL didnt want Fax v Wigan at wembley this year, the teams left in the draw , any one, with a bit of luck could have gone to Wembley and i dont think they wanted the risk of Oldham v Fax for a final.

just supposing this is what could have been drawn then 4 non super league teams go through then a bit of luck in draw and them 4 play each other,then 2 play in semis and 1 gets to final simples !!!!

Gateshead v Oldham

Batley v Featherstone

Halifax v Wakefield

Rochdale v Sheffield

The CC is the only thing some Ex-RL fans still look out for and make a weekend of.

There are people owh only ever go to the CC Final and that's it.

To not make a big thing of the draw, when it would have been so easy to do so, was a massive wasted opportunity.

I didn't even know that the balls had been flown in by the RAF! If they must make a big show of it, at least let people know about it, and what they could have done is have somebody parachute in with the balls, into a stadium!

lets face it, if two all NL1 teams had been drawn together, and then again in the semis u could have had a NL1 team in the final. Not good for the RFL as they want two super dooper league teams in the final for so so many reasons!

the whole thing smells of a fix - other wise why do it behind closed doors!

Fix fix fix fix i say (oh don't u just love a bit of contrevrsy!)

however lets stick it to em and beat cas - its the cup its all about the underdogs, lets go out there and do our club proud

commmmmmmmmmmme ooooon uuuuuuuu bllllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuessss

Halifax will need to keep more than our scrum half quiet to win. A lot more than that. We have players all over the field that can turn the game our way. I'm sure Halifax will do their homework and do their best like any team does when playing another team.