I know it was £100,000 when we won in 2009, not sure how much its gone up since then

Back in 2009 the winners got £100k and the losers £35k so I would guess the losers will get at least £50k this year.

Gate money is 15% of the attendance for each club, but after the RFl take a 10% cut, so something like 14% each. I would guess that should be worth close on £200k.

Don't know what merchandising monies we would make, but surely not less than £50k.

So that lot adds up to a minimum of £300k for the loser, perhaps £400k for the winner


But there is also a big return in other areas that isn't immediately obvious. Is there a clause in our sponsorship / advertising contracts for a bonus assuming a final appearance? Even if not, it will allow us to ask for more next year from existing clients and allow us to attract new ones. We should also get an increase in attendances for our last 4 home matches of the season at the HJ. ST sales will be higher when they come up for renewal in Sept/Oct. Similarly it will be easier to sell the hospitality suites for 2017. Publicity for the club will also be important as we get splashed around on TV, radio and the news rags - not just over here but in Oz. Finally it will be easier to compete for and sign up both established footballers, and up and coming youngsters from our local area and further afield. There is probably lots of other stuff I have missed out, but the real and hidden value for the club reaching Wembley is big.

Do you know what the actual take up of the game is worldwide Chas? Is it shown in many countries as a live match or as optional viewing such as being available to watch on request in overseas countries ?

Sorry, don't know much about that. I remember Aussies saying that they stay up and watch it live and it would make sense that it is beamed over there at least. Don't know about France or NZ though.

Out of interest the winners of the hubcap now get £100k after the prize money was doubled in 2015.

I won't buy any of it personally, but you'd be more likely to buy merchandise for a day out with four weeks notice than a 20 minute trip down the road with one week notice. Add in terrestrial TV exposure and the "glamour" of Wembley, and it's easy to see why the club could generate more money from a CCF than a GF regardless of result.

On the flip side though, if you manage to win the game then surely ending the season on the greatest high possible and being able to then advertise season tickets to "watch the champions", plus host the WCC the following year, means a Grand Final victory would have greater long term benefit in that sense I think.

You could see by the reactions of the players on the winning sides in the semis just what it means to the finalists in the Wembley final. Nice weekend in the summer sun in London versus a cold damp night for a couple of hours in October Manchester....Grand Final is just a Sky enterprise to drain the last drop of blood out of the sport. Mind you without the Sky cash we couldn't afford to import a load of tattooed 20 stone south sea island monsters without a single rugby brain between them.