I don't think this will be as one sided as most people are predicting. As for the format I don't see why the matches have to be decided so early, Why can't it be a 1st plays 2nd - 3rd plays 4th etc... Keeps it competitive and makes nearly every game an important 4 pointer. Maybe set the match ups 3 weeks-ish in advance to allow coaches to prepare. So go on the position at week 10 or 11.

Simple, because it's all about the crowd. If you wait until 3 weeks in advance before deciding what the games are based on league position, fans don't know if they are playing on the Saturday or the Sunday, so will withhold buying tickets (except those going for the full weekend). There'll then be a 3 week mad dash for people to buy tickets for the day their team is playing on, as well as potentially booking hotels and transport.

The only way you could leave the exact matches until later in the season is if you picked 6 sides to play Saturday and 6 sides to play Sunday early on, and then decided the matches from those 6 closer to the day.

What possible evidence do you have that brings you to that conclusion?
You have seen us play right?



Although this makes perfect logical sense, when has that ever applied to the RFL? And how would they be able to sell weekend tickets, hotel breaks, etc, if people did not know what day their team would be playing on until a few weeks before?

Let's see if Dane can make an impact.

If I'm honest, I'm a bit annoyed that people have vindicated this disgrace of a fixture by going in their thousands. It wasn't a fair fixture when we had a full squad, it's a bonkers fixture without one. Yes I get wanting to support the lads, but giving the RFL the bumper crowd doesn't feel very productive for our club.

Even for the RFL it makes no sense to have the best supported teams play one another, as the aggregate gate for the other day will be absolute pants.

Personally, I'm very interested to see the crowd figure on Sunday. Sure there'll be a few from the Saturday clubs that have bought weekend tickets, but other than that there's only Halifax who are likely to take any kind of following. Dewsbury, Batley, Swinton & Sheffield brought hardly any to Odsal and I assume won't take many to Blackpool, whereas Toulouse will be lucky to hit double figures I would think.

I agree with you on the first point though, I would have actually liked Bulls fans to give a big two fingers up to the RFL for the unfair fixture and all refuse to go. Over 2,000 of them going though means the RFL will continue on that path.

I'm stunned that we only have 50 tickets of our allocation left to sell.
With everything that's gone on with our club recently and the sorry state of affairs our squad is in right now, I really can't get my head around all those Bulls supporters bothering to go. I mean, each to their own, but they must all be gluttons for punishment.

I'm not even planning on watching our game on tv, never mind spending all that time, effort and money on heading over there.

I think some of us are probably too old and cynical now. Whereas we were once bright eyed and optimistic and went to lots of away games we now have other matters to attend to and can see through the bull.

Judging from the 19 man squad, you would assume Halafihi is playing in the centres again. Wonderful.

James Bentley
Cameron Smith
Johnny Campbell
Dane Chisholm
James Davies
Vila Halafihi
Sam Hallas
Joe Keyes
Liam Kirk
Jordan Lilley
Iliess Macani
Jon Magrin
Scott Moore
Mikolaj Oledzki
Ross Peltier
Brandon Pickersgill
Colton Roche
Ethan Ryan
Oscar Thomas

I'd go with this:

Thomas
Campbell
Bentley
Ryan
Macani
Chisholm
Lilley
Magrin
Moore
Kirk
Smith
Roche
Hallas

Oledzki
Peltier
Keyes
Davies


Bentley would be a far better option in the centre the Halafihi. He's quicker, a better defender and is used to playing out wide.

Not sure what's up with Caro?

Despite Halafihi at centre and Macani on wing, it's actually a strong squad the rest of it. Good to see Bentley back. Missed him massively and interesting to see Moore in there. Damage limitation this game, but squad strength wise, we look pretty good for the crunch game against Dewsbury. Confidence wise, different story.

Just to rub a little salt in the wounds too, Danny Addy & Kieren Moss named in KR's 19 despite having been out for a few weeks prior.

Ben Cockayne
Liam Salter
Ryan Shaw
Jamie Ellis
Nick Scruton
Shaun Lunt
Maurice Blair
Danny Addy
Jordan Abdull
Zach Dockar-Clay
Robbie Mulhern
Andrew Heffernan
Joe Wardill
Jake Butler-Fleming
Joe Cator
David Hodgson
Kieren Moss
Ben Kavanagh
Josh Johnson

No doubt we'll get stuffed but glad to see Bentley back. Hopefully Oakes or Mendeika back for the Dewsbury game.