At least the fixtures, dates and venue is announced in plenty of time. Something which the RFL has been poor at. So well done RFL for that.

As for the fixtures, I agree they could do with a change. It's tricky because obviously they want some big games in order to get the crowds in. But I don't agree with it being the same each time.

The fixtures apart from Catalan v Wakefield are pretty even.

From this season it's 1v2, 3v4, 5v6
The Hull derby is always unpredictable, Salford v Widnes shouldn't be too bad either.

Our Hotel' is already booked.

Disappointed with these fixtures.

They should have been:

Huddersfield v Catalan
Widnes v Warrington
St Helens v Wigan

Wakefield v Salford
Leeds v Castleford
Hull FC v Hull KR.

I think it would also be a good idea to let the winners of the Championship Shield season before ( for extra incentive) and losers of the million pound game play each other in their championship round game at Magic weekend. So this year would be Bradford v Fev.

Tell you what Hotels have been snapped up fairly quickly haven't they?

Managed to book our hotel 4 minutes after the announcement so suspect we got the 'non event' price. Checked 20 minutes later and the hotel was fully booked.

So glad we booked hotel last night

I don't understand why it isn't drawn like a CC round. It seems questionable for it to be decided behind closed doors.

Because it's just like the rest of the league fixtures. The only difference is that it's a showpiece round so they want a couple of attractive games to get people to attend

Same day as the FA Cup final, should get loads of media coverage

I reckon we'll end up in South Shields again.

I disagree with the opening comment and agree with the second. It is a show piece so they cobble together a mixture of notional derby games and eye candy games. A random draw would throw up variety and make it slightly fairer across the piece pitching Wigan against Leeds every season disadvantages both teams because it will be a hard fought encounter, whilst others get an easy weekend. Now we have the super eights this extra round has no point for mine. Have the magic weekend but just take the fixtures for a middle of the season round and play them all in one place.

Hey up to$$pot we have beaten Saints at their place this season. How do you come to that conclusion .

It has been done on league finishing positions. If you had finished 5th as you normally do, you would have been playing Warrington.

give us a shout and I'll give you a hand down from the end of that rod