Of course the novelty has worn off......playing in a WCC final for the first time was exciting because it was new.

Now this is the 5th time we have played in it - the novelty is bound to wear thin.

For those who wonder if GF loses it's novelty value - then no, obviously not - it is a prestigious competition.

However, the WCC is nothing more than a glorified friendly. I want us to win, but I am not fussed if we don't. I would rather win the challenge cup or the GF (again).

The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.

That would be my understanding and highlights the apparent availability of spare capacity within it despite plenty of renegotiated contract announcements already this year.

Hopefully by the end of the year Mr Hetherington will have made good on his 'spending the full cap allowance again' claim.

Quote: Him "The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.'" There you go. In all it's glory. rfllive.dyndns.org/~rflmedia/doc ... on%20E.pdf

Quote: Him "The prize money provided by the RFL will certainly be excluded from the cap. Not that it specifies this in the rules but I'd have thought the extra Hetherington wants to give to the players will probably have to go on the cap.'" There you go. In all it's glory. rfllive.dyndns.org/~rflmedia/doc ... on%20E.pdf

5.7(c). If Hetherington gave the players an additional bonus over and above the prize money (doesn't sound like Hetherington) that additional bonus would be included, The prize money wouldn't.

Re Elland Rd as a venue & falling attendances.
Like many I went in 2005 because it was our first ever time in the WCC so I didn't baulk at paying prices far higher than I was used to paying at Headingley to sit further away from the action in a cramped & uncomfortable seat.
We then missed a few years so forgetting the discomfort & the extortionate prices I paid again in 2008. It was freezing cold & even more uncomfortable than I recalled previously.
So when we went there again in the next 2 years
a) I could still recall how crap the seats & legroom are
b) it was no longer a novelty &
c) the prices to sit where I prefer to sit were still far in excess of what I pay to be comfortable at Headingley
For all those reasons I did not go in 2009 or 2010 but was delighted to go in 2012 to Headingley, where I had a cheaper, better seat & an all round more enjoyable experience.
& to top it all we won.