Yep.
As mentioned it's not exactly the way I'd like it to be but I think it's still a good move and the possibility of being involved excites me already!

The Broncos have to win at Melbourne tonight to and hope another result doesn't go against them (Warriors winning by 8 points more than them on Sunday night) just to get 8th spot......I don't see why the NRL couldn't insist their G-finalists and best placed other take part....or is this a way of getting teams to fight hard for 8th spot?

Makes Saints' wretched performance even more frustrating. Not sure about the timing of the announcement though, I'm sure some teams would have had more of a go at finishing top had they known about this at the start of the season.

Yes but if it works it will make it better to finish top every season and they should make the tickets cheaper to try to fill the grounds

am i right in thinking that leeds' loss last night in the play offs rules them out of the world club championship next february?

The criteria was supposed to be Grand Finalists plus the highest placed non-finalist. So if they stick to that Leeds won't be included. Saints are guaranteed a spot, if they reach the GF then so will Wigan, if it's a Wigan v Saints GF then Hudds would be the third team.

Challenge Cup winners to be awarded a WCC game instead?

The difference between 4k-5k turning up at Huddersfield or 18k-20k turning up at Headingley?

No brainer, unless you want to kill off the concept with reference to the acute embarrassment of empty stadia.

This expanded WCC format didn't have Whipping Boy SL Rabble participation in mind when it was conceived anyhow.

The Rhinos, although very well supported (apart from 7k for their play off defeat), appear to have joined the "Whipping Boy SL Rabble"

Although an expanded WCC is a great idea, it is designed mainly as a cash generation exercise, rather than proving the World Club Champions.

Well if it's a cash generating exercise we have to hope huddersfield don't qualify.

It'll end up losing money.

As I alluded to on the Leeds forum, GH didn't get where he is today by organising events for irrelevant toe-rag SL clubs who can't even buy a decent home attendance unless admission costs a fiver via wowcher or groupon, or Ken Davy gives them away on a Sunday afternoon in lieu of a 3pm kick off.

Leeds V Brisbane it is then.

Everyone knows it makes sense.

It wouldn't surprise me if Leeds end up being involved. If it's true that the SL club have to foot the bill to bring the NRL team over (£185,000 has been mentioned), then would Hudds be up for that? If it ends up Wigan, Saints and Warrington then those three will definitely go for it, and probably so would Catalans. If Cas or Hudds qualified I could see them giving it up as an expense they could do without and be unlikely to recoup. I could be wrong, but like I say, I wouldn't be surprised if Leeds are one of the 3 teams involved.

Exactly!

Huddersfield couldn't even come close to generating £185k if that's just the break-even figure.

An 18k attendance at Headingley based on an average of say £20 per ticket produces £360k in revenue. Huddersfield would struggle to reach £100k from ticket sales. Castleford would do better, but not much better.