I suspect you'll be right about Manchester getting more support, if only because it's easier (and less expensive) to get to.

If it had been in Cardiff again I would have given it a miss; too far and too long on the coach for a day out and neither me nor the wife really fancied the weekend in Cardiff as it just isn't really a 'destination' city with lots of attractions like Edinburgh. I do think the cost is becoming more of a problem too with the way things are. The annual trip to Perpignan is.., well, I was going to say sacrosanct, though that's probably putting it a bit strongly, and if it came to the crunch then it would have to be given a miss, but it is very enjoyable and I would hate to miss it, so if it comes down to cost cutting MM would go first for me.

All in all it's difficult for the RFL to bring in initiatives in a recession and whilst the move to Manchester will, no doubt, be called a retrenchment back to the M62, it's a sensible move to me.

The thing is, (and the marketing people at the RFL, who have been organising stuff with some very decent success of late, will clearly know this), they will always end up getting called, whatever they do, so they might as well just get on with it. They could get a 200,000 crowd while England thrashed Australia in Paradise Stadium with free admission, food, drink and transport for all, you would still get whingeing.

Personally I think MM has become a fixture, it is one rare upmarket, positive event which attracts a bit of wider publicity, and I am sure the fact it is in Manchester is a merciful and wise nod to the recession and people's wallets.

Well done RFL.

think the rfl need to focus on areas close to heartlands ie. brum south yorks and cumbria.

before moving back on with the magic gubbins in cardiff, london and edinburgh

What sized economic margin are we talking when comparing the income from the magic weekend and, say, an 8th-place play off qualification?

I still think its a development event. After all there are no Rugby League clubs in the city of Manchester.

This is a polite request for someone to fall into my trap.

I didnt say winning away games, one step at a time with both developments, the Bulls and the game. On the Bulls, fighting talk from Platt and Donaldson in the T&A today, so I wish that it turns into good games for them both this season.

Not much difference from the semi-pro blue square north football league which has similar away trips and similar attendances.

No it isn't. Workington to London? Whitehaven to South Wales? Add to the list four more back of beyond places for 2013. Can you imagine the expense involved following a CC1 team from 2013 onwards? But as usual if the RFL deems it is 'for the good of the game' then the loyal fans of existing CC1 teams will just have to lump it.

You could always move to Toulouse . . .

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the soccer people have north and south versions of their 'conference' leagues, which I'd think would be the equivalent, in the sense that they are part-time, of the championship teams. Difficulty for RL would probably be the lack of clubs to make up two regional divisions. It's big price for the Championship teams to pay though.

Workington to Bishop's Stortford, Blyth to Gloucester.. its not far off. Though Bishop's Stortford are in there because of an administrative mess up, Gloucester genuinely are in the northern part of football at that level.

I wouldn't call Northampton the back of beyond either, can't get much more central than that in England!

I don't see how they cant have a northern conference and southern conference could pave way for more teams to join, or RU teams forming RL teams as the competition for places wont be as fierce.

Then the winners of each division have a playoff and they winner of that goes into the championship. Have a money prize depending upon where they finish in the league would be more appetizing for amateur teams to compete.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that the ticket prices will increase now it is going to be in Manchester only due to the face fair amounts of the support wont have to fork out for accommodation.