thats my thinking

Nah leave the cup as it is. Whilst earlier round cup attendances aren't good they appear to be following a trend that affects other sports in this country too. FA Cup earlier rounds aren't as well attended as regular league games too. I think there has been an increase in season ticket holders compared to "pay on the gate"ers and so if it's not on the season ticket people are reluctant to pay extra since playoff games are generally less attended too.
The semis and final of the cup are doing fine though. The Challenge Cup Final (especially now it's back at Wembley) is still a big draw for people and 80 odd thousand people at the final is good enough for me.

I think a bit of tweaking around ticketing, marketing & ticket prices for the earlier rounds would be beneficial but I wouldn't agree with any major changes.
Although any tweaking is not helped by the dubious attitude the BBC appears to have towards the Challenge Cup.

Obviously, what with the easy draws Leeds always get in the cup. Like being drawn against Hull, Wigan & Saints last year.

Why?

The balls would still be chosen at random?

For me, all Super League teams should be drawn away from home to a Championship/1 side, still giving them a good chance of going through, but giving the Championship sides a chance to upset the big boys and make some money.

Just using FC as an example this weekend, chances are Oldham will lose money on the game with us this weekend with all of our pass holders getting in for free. If it was played at Oldham it would (probably) be a sell out and would give them a big pay day if nothing else.

And all your pass holders would still get in for free , except the White Bank stadium only holds around a 1,000 , so how would that make any money for Oldham ?

Its another of tricky dickies stupid ideas,oh lets get the crowds up for earlier rounds they all get in for free,so were is the so called benefit for the lower league teams,oh I forgot we don't count just as long as the figure munches can claim the game is growing by giving away even more free tickets.....can't wait until its a quid to go to wembley at this rate

Has some merit. Would benefit championship clubs instead of hindering them. There is a lot to be gained from a super league club visiting moreso if it's a local one.

Last time I heard the idea about championship clubs scrapping for a mere one place in the challenge cup against SL teams the argument was that super leagus clubs shouldn't be lowering themselves. That wasn't the wording, it was nonsense about prestige and lower crowds than usual, even though many championship clubs recieve a life line by playing one fixture a season against SL oppo.

I'd be more comfortable with the same amount of games being played but with a local rivalry twist. It wouldn't be completely exact of course but it's good thinking nonetheless.

You mean random as in Keighley getting a French team in the 3rd round 4 times in a row, including one after a re-draw when a ball was mysteriously found in the bag at the end.

We've had French teams in 5 of the last 7 3rd round draws and foreign teams 8 times since 2000. It's getting so farcical we're predicting it in rladvance.rl

I'd give teams a points start depending on the league they play in

10 points per league
Wire play say Leigh or Widnes, they get a 10 point start
against say Keighley 20 points.

Yet another stupid idea

i should have added a wink, it's fine as it is

I keep saying it but the only way to make rugby league stronger, Super League stronger, the Challenge Cup stronger, the player pool stronger, England stronger is by improving the Championship and making it strong enough so that clubs can interchange between divisions without contracts going null and void, with no fear of facing the wilderness.

We need to get the Championship to a level where clubs in the 2nd division can spend to say a £1m salary cap, with their own TV contract, strong sponsorship etc.

We certainly do , can you tell Richard and Nige please , because they obviously think the opposite

Considering were arent that much ahead of that point with SL, any idea how we get there for the 2nd division as well?

Its just not only very unlikely, but largely not a priority.