The RFL have confirmed a restructure of the Northern Rail Cup which will see the final played at Halifax's Shay Stadium,and the implementation of a Northern Rail Cup Bowl final. The Bowl will be contested prior to the inaugural final on July 20th by the two Championship One clubs which topped their respective groups prior to the knock-out stages of the competition.READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

The RFL have confirmed a restructure of the Northern Rail Cup which will see the final played at Halifax's Shay Stadium,and the implementation of a Northern Rail Cup Bowl final. The Bowl will be contested prior to the inaugural final on July 20th by the two Championship One clubs which topped their respective groups prior to the knock-out stages of the competition.READ MORE ON THIS STORY....

Dead against any team having a home game in the Final. Just not right.

And it's not much of a day out for Fax fans if they get there.

Are there no $uperleague teams with decent grounds or summat ?

Why ?

There are a number of reasons, but to a Club reaching the Northern Rail Final, the actual financial return from the gate was exceedingly small, certainly far below the Ticket sales any finalists made. the reasons for this are that the costs of running the event in Blackpool were extremely high and to be honest the number of supporters relatively low.

The amount our Club received last year from the share of the gate was roughly 25% of our ticket sales and just about enough to cover winning bonuses

So it was decided not to use either a soccer ground or indeed a Super league ground for the this reason. . . too expensive

Mike R

Will the council before the final, get the North Stand sorted out? also provide the new scoreboard that has been promised?
and what state is the toilets etc in the Skircoat stand, will they need sorting before the final?
Not sure i agree with the Final been at the Shay. as i believe all finals should be at a netural venue.

I Hope the RFL will use the space behind the South Stand to create an entertainment area and maybe a section of the car park, to try and entice fans to the NRC bowl final etc

Colin Stout will be stomping in his romper suit over this news.

It could only happen to us in the championship the final wont be the same as it was at Blackpool A final should be at a neutral ground and all fans can enjoy something different it won't be a patch on last seasons final even if we are lucky enough to get there this season. I wonder why they didn't ask the fans and the players what they thought If Fax get there there in a no win situation playing at their home ground and I would of thought the players would enjoy it more at a neutral ground running out in front of there fans as its something different Anyway I would like to get to the final again and hopefully win this time but not too fussed if we don't make it I am interested how this thread goes and the opinion of your fans

Mike's point says it all really. If we cant stage a proper final at a neutral venue because the reward is eaten up by the people staging the event then we need to look at other options.

any team who wins a final should have not only the prestige of been crowned champions but also a nice wedge to top up the bank account.

last year we won, and gained little other than a large hangover!

this year if we win we will profit.

Halifax is a great day out, its a great stadium which will only be improved before finals day! i say good on the clubs to stand up and make a point.

I think I read somewhere that the use RFL paid £50k to hire the Blackpool ground

Mr Simms have you been on the 9% Cider again? Not impressed with this at all, just wont be the same if fax get to the final.

Do the RFL cover ALL the costs of the final or do the clubs have to pay anything?

No dispespect to the Shay , but if Leigh make the final I wont now be attending , I dislike Blackpool as a place more than most having worked there for a couple of years , it is a dump , but it is the perfect venue for the ' Junior ' Cup Final , and did generate interst among lapsed and potential new fans of the clubs playing

I cant see the Shay doing that , also how will they allocate the 2 Bowl finalists money ?

Clubs pay half each, pal.

It is not inconcievable that a reduced attendance will negate the financial saving