Challenge Cup 2019

Quote: ThePrinter "They didn’t trumpet the Ladbrokes one. If you actually bother reading the article BramleyRhino linked then it just reads “the deal is believed to be worth in excess of £1m a season”.....no actual quote from anybody or exact figure....exact same as today’s announce. You’ve just read what you wanted to read. Could even be exactly the same amount per year so why they’ve not come out saying it’s more (but doesn’t mean it’s less either)

As for Catalans, doubt the RFL have got £500k out of them, but who knows they may still have got a little something off them. Kind of life a transfer fee, say a players value is £300k then you’re going to get more than if you come out and say his value is £150k'"

They shouldn't be asking or getting a penny out of Catalan just to "allow" them to defend the cup.
It was a stupid decision to ask and has seen Toronto and Toulouse drop from the competition, a massive backward step and fundamentally wrong.
If the fixtures happen to give either of these sides and advantage in the Championship, there will be uproar (and rightly so).
Lets imagine that either side are down to play, say ,Halifax, the week after a round of Challenge Cup fixtures.
Should Fax play a weakened side in the cup to "save" themselves for the more important league fixture or, be disadvantaged in the battle for promotion.
Equally, if the overseas sides wish to be part of SL or The Championship, they shouldn't be allowed to cherry pick the competitions that they wish to enter.

Also, the elephant in the room would still be the prospect of Catalan or, at some point in the future, Toronto making the GF. Old Trafford would have more empty seats than full ones.

Maybe Catalan should be stumping up another £500k, just in case