Didn't see that result coming.

Why did you forget it was on

Joking aside that’s ended any chance of Feathstone getting into Super League for years if ever.

As much as I want Catalans to win it will be a sad indictment for us if Catalans were to win a Grand Final before us.

I sort of understand the sentiment but Catalans have been steadily building and consolidating for a good few seasons. They appear a well run, wealthy, club with a good, ex-international standard coach and strong support base. They continue to strengthen their side with astute signings and ruthless in removing players they don't believe are good enough (namely to us). A rock solid pack and flair and pace in the backs. They have made top 4 in the last 4 seasons and top 2 in 2 of the last 4. This season they have beaten Wigan and Saints away twice each.

By contrast we have been the inverse. Generally replacing players with lesser quality and unable to beat Wigan or Saints away or home. Basket case signings and mentally weak players in comfort zones.

I hope they win and end the 17 year oligopoly.

Very well run club Catalan I think, much of that - I assume - down to McNamara. He's recruited very well. Be an interesting 2024 for them considering the players they are losing (Pearce, Tomkins, Whitley etc), but he has recruited well over the past few years.

Steve Price (201icon_cool.gif joined us the year after Catalan brought in McNamara (2017), Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I would have laughed it off at the time, but I think we would have been in a much stronger place had we brought in McNamara in 2017 - not that we would have replaced Smith following a Wembley appearance and LLS in 2016.

Catalans were a perfect fit for McNamara. Their fans are passionate bit not as aggressively negative as many UK RL fans, and of course in France he didn't have the 'McBanana' baggage from having led the national team. If he had come her3 and lost two or three on the trot early on he would have had the fans on his back.

We lost lots on the bounce with Powell this year and the true supporters on Facebook were still demanding "to give him time". Some posters on here were adamant he would see out 2023. Facts are that Powell lost 31 out of 54 games (win rate 43%) before he was finally dispatched after a season and a half. I don't think our fan base is as ruthless as you suggest.

Yorkshire RL is really in the doldrums at the moment. With the exception of Hull KR (I know it's Humberside, but I'm going by the old definition, of whether you played in the Yorkshire Cup or Lancashire Cup) their teams have all sunk to the bottom end of Super League this season, and now they won't be getting anyone promoted either. Not so many chants of "Yorkshire! Yorkshire!" to endure these days, thankfully!

Why? Nobody has a divine right to it, despite what those in WA9 may think! Any side that recruits sensibly, has a decent coach and a passionate, dedicated owner/backer deserves a shot if they earn it. Yes it helps massively that they don't have the baggage and the spotlight that, for some reason, we do, with others frothing at the mouth with joy when we fail to achieve once again. I don't understand why the same doesn't apply to Hull FC, Leeds, etc.

Even if Catalans do not win on Saturday, then you will have to ask yourself the question, who did the smart thing:

Catalans for offloading Kasiano, Drinkwater and Dudson?
or, Warrington for recruiting Kasiano, Drinkwater and Dudson?

championship semi finals were way more entertaining than the SL ones.

In hindsight, arguably yes.
I do think there's much more to it than that.