This isn’t a pre-season friendly though. Not really. If Christmas & Boxing Day weren’t public holidays with a tradition of playing on Boxing Day then this fixture wouldn’t exist. It would be left until
Much closer to the start of the season like all the other friendlies. It doesn’t benefit pre-season preparation. Half the squad will have barely trained, if at all.

This game is entirely meaningless.

Agree on the bragging rights. Anyone claiming bragging rights from a friendly is very much clutching at straws.

Since the end of winter rugby, the Boxing Day game has always been about getting some fresh air and seeing the friends rather than the family.

This year is no different, the players are incidental.

Oh get off your collective high horses - Leeds fans are and always have been the games most joyless fans.

Of course there are some bragging rights all be they short lived and only valid for about two hours on the pub after the game.

You seriously telling me you wouldn’t enjoy seeing your team send us lot back to BV with our tails between our legs. If the answers no then you’re a liar.

It’s a bit of fun on Boxing Day that usually ends with one set of fans happier than the other. So it’s not meaningless on the day even if it means nothing regarding the seaon to come - but then most of us already had the good grace to enjoy it for what it is.

Now go and suck a lemon or whatever it is you do for fun

This. Whether we beat Wakefield or not. Who plays well or not really makes no difference.

Wow, sorry Mr life and soul of the party.

Oh and the game is meaningless but enjoy it all the same.

Well I won't be attending but I'm looking forward to all the comments about the stadium and Southstand in particular

Liam Sutcliffe to 2nd row could be significant; Handley and the Other Sutcliffe preferred in centres from the team sheet at least. Or, it could just be a configuration which best fits the available players. Bit gutted I can’t go this year. Yes, it is “meaningless” but we’ve often seen a young gun appear in these games and it’s a precious break from the family stuff..!

With Watkins and Hurrell obviously 1st choice centres and young Harry Hewman looking a great prospect, I can’t see Sutcliffe getting much game time at centre this season. It looks like another year another new position.

Im definitely going this Year only to see what changes Furner is trying to implement.
A few beers with friends a new HB partnership and some youngsters getting game time that'll do for me as long as they have a dig.

Personally I couldn't give a steaming one about the result Vasty. I'm going to check out the new South Stand. Got a seat in G block. Will be good to see a game again but I care not about the result. In fact if you ask me who won the Boxing Day games for the last few years I couldn't tell you. Anyone remember the results?

In the 50s and 60s the Lazenby cup both clubs and fans and players used to take it seriously . 20k crowds ! Harry Jepson said some players missed the big KO because they were Injured in the game. Such was the rivalry between Leeds a d Hunslet then

Even as an opposition fan I'm going to be interested what impact and how Furner has you playing. Granted we're only 3 weeks or so into preseason and most of that will be taken up with fitness work, rather than on-field attacking/defensive structures, it'll be interesting to see where you're heading.

As for bragging rights, obviously it's good to come away with a win - rather than a 40- 0 trouncing but we are where we are in preseason. Tbf though if you come on here after the match for the last decade, there's always plenty of posters from both side giving it the big one, depending who won. Especially when you lot used to turn us over with a load of youngsters in.

For all the blasé attitudes, it's not that many seasons ago that toys were chucked out of the pram following a defeat. Evidence of McDermott's shambolic coaching, apparently.

As always, I'd rather we won. Looking forward to it but as of now, another sloe gin's in order. Merry xmas all including wakey fans

That was all down to the build up bigging up the game after a dismal 2016 then nobody could be d on the day & in the aftermath dismissing it as a training run.