The Grand Final is by far the better event. The Challenge Cup is more relaxed as it's generally sunny and losing isn't particularly disastrous as it's not that important. The Grand Final is a great event, held in a superbly atmospheric ground. You're not telling me it's not special when your side walks out onto the pitch? Given the importance of the Grand Final, it is a lot more tense and nervous. Losing it is a pretty horrible experience, but when you win it, it's incredibly special, far outweighing the feeling of winning the Challenge Cup.

Whether you enjoy the day is down to what you do. We've usually gone early and had a meal at one of the restaurants on the road to the ground from the motorway. Always full of league fans in various kits discussing the game. Then walked down to have a pint or two at the pubs near the ground. Wembley is utter rubbish in that regard, there is nothing at all to do around the ground.

Your opinions will probably change once you win it.

Old Trafford's a sh*thole. And I'm not basing this on any football rivalry. Everywhere feels cramped, the seats, the concourses, the turnstiles. Compare this with the spacious and open Wembley and you feels like you're a sardine.

No flags on sticks as well? I know that's a small thing but it adds atmosphere and colour to the day, something that Wembley has in buckets.

obviously winning the gf is better than winning at wembley but yes wembley is clearly the better day

[i]Challenge Cup

Problem with this is: the 5 games to win the Challenge cup can be Batley, Rochdale, Broncos, Saints, then Featherstone but the 4 to win the GF will only be the top 8 and if you win outside the top 4, it is significantly harder.
Don't get me wrong, the CC final is awesome and am sick as a parrot that we have lost 3 on the trot but it is certainly not harder to win. It is simply a performance on the day...again.







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Good, but could be better

Logistics are a nightmare and the stuff at halftime was hopeless, there were interview, presentations and a raffle to win a years supply of Heinz Big Soup, FFS

70,000 people turned up and saw a game which I was far too nervous to enjoy but I'm pretty sure I would have loved watching as a neutral. The volume was far louder than Wembley. The Super League Champions were crowned.

It's an absolutely brilliant event.

Agree with all of this I was left feeling slightly underwhelmed long before it was clear we were not going to be Champions.

I thought the Trophy presentation was small time, why they make players do this stupid American thing of speaking to the fans on a microphone I'll never know.
Get the whole team up not just the Captain and for Fecks sake the Boards they get the team to stand behind and infront of for the celebratory photos get some bleedin proffesional ones done. they looked like a junior school kid mocked em up after watching blue peter.

the only good thing about the GF is the stadium looks full on the TV pictures so it looks good for our game, it also give us a lot more exposure than a firsst past the post system would give us. ....So my only gripe is find a better stadium than a big hole in salford and have a look at the NRL and try and put a bit more effort into the pre match than a warble of Jerusalem and six fireworks.

It felt marginally bigger than a Wires Wigan Game at the halliwell jones........

Personally prefer OT to wembley. And that's from a Leeds UTD fan!!

Didn't enjoy a single moment of that game, never felt like that before, not the stadium or the nobs or anything like that, just the pressure of it all, it felt like an ordeal, i was drained at half time and full time wiped out.

Would sort of agree, wembley feels like a fun day out. GF you can feel the tension.

Fantastic occasion - nervous as hell but enjoyed every second.

What an atmosphere, what a noise - so what if the HT entertainment wasn't up to much, but that s the time to take a rest from such an intense game

Obviously losing the game affects your opinion, but it is one stunning event

By the way, we drove there, parked for free, got away easily and were home by 9

Same next season for me

This.

People coming out with drivel about it hurting less than a Locker Cup defeat, it feeling like a normal loss to Leeds, and other such tripe are either just not that passionate or are absolutely kidding themselves.

It was the biggest game we've played in my life and I wanted the world to open up and swallow me as I walked away from the ground.

Even before the cretins turned up, or the match started, I felt completely underwhelmed by the whole event. It may have been a fantastic game but considering this was supposed to be the pinacle, the ultimate, the biggest and best game/event of the season it all seemed such an anticlimax. Old Trafford may be big, but as a stadium it's nothing special. Too many idiots and not a huge amount to do in or around the stadium.

The best games I have ever been to, as a neutral, were the Challenge Cup finals at the Millenium Stadium. A modern comfortable stadium in the city centre with loads to do right on the stadiums doorstep. The distances involved would also go a long way to deter the numpties who's only interest seems to be to get as bladdered as possible and cause problems with other fans. As a venue for a big game, the Millenium Stadium wipes the floor with Old Trafford and IMO should should host the Grand Final

I've been saying this for years.

The Grand Final is great for tension but I always feel its an anticlimax. I don't think playing it in the evening helps (not least because it means we have idiots that have been drinking since 1pm and are already smashed by the time they are in the ground).

The NRL do their Grand Final much better than we do.

I also feel like the trophy presentations are a bit rushed, and everyone is in a hurry to get out if they need to catch a tram as the queues are massive, even if you're in the car the congestion is dire.

What would be wrong with having a 1pm kick off and then they could extend the occasion a bit.

I preferred the CC when played at the millenium and murrayfield stadiums. OT has been expanded beyond its purpose (more about cramming fans in than spectator experience) the top levels behind the sticks offer poor and some obstructed views. The North West may be prime RL territory but the occasion is let down by the stadium, would fans travel south to Wembley or the millenium for a GF? On the plus side your team and fans did contribute to the best GF for years