I don't know where people get the idea that the play offs are the culmination of the league season to decide the champions.

No it's not. It's a cup competition in which, in theory, any one of eight teams can win and as a cup competition the CC beats it hands down for drama, history and romance - when aussies come over here thay come to play in CC finals because there is no other comp like it.

I'm not against the concept of a grand final but until the format means it's the incumbent champions (team that finishes top) versus the best of the rest in a one-off event, instead of the product of 3-4 weeks of mosyly pointless games for the benefit of SKY, it will always feel a bit jaded unless you're a neutral.

And yes, if we'd won I'd have been estatic but more ecstatic than the Huddersfield CC win that confirmed our re-emergence ..... probably not.

Enjoyed the day enormously , but then I would say that as I'm from Leeds.
Old Trafford is ok, personally I prefer the Etihad though.
We decided to leave Manchester late. Parked the car at Rushholme where the curry mile is and walked to and from Old Trafford.
Had a few beers in the city centre before and after the game,chatting with many Wire fans who were all friendly enough.
Finished off with a curry at mid-night and back to Leeds for 2.30am

Because the winners are given the SL Trophy and called the Champions. Hope that helps.



And because when they were growing up, the only big english RL game they watched on telly was the CC Final, because the SL Grand Final only started 15 years ago (and when RL last used playoffs and final to decide the champions - i.e. most of the sports history - these games were not televised)



I agree the format needs looking at. In principle I like it because it gives most of the teams in the league a chance to qualify for most of the season and progressively rewards final league position with benefits in the playoffs. But in practice, the fans don't turnout, too many teams underperform and there doesn't seem to be enough reward for finishing top.



But that's probably because that was our first major trophy for 35 years. Had we won the Grand Final as our first major for so long, I'm quite sure would have been just as ecstatic.

Meanwhile, Andy Gatcliffe agrees that the Grand Final experience needs to be improved and has emailed the RFL about it

The Cup Final doesn't suffer from being an earlier kick off and that too is played on a day with Premier League football. Also, yes there are drinking places in walking distance of Wembley and you get people drinking all morning on coaches, minibuses and trains. Others spend their time in London before travelling to the stadium in the last hour, much like people do in Manchester.

Moving the kick off would be a huge improvement.

I thought it was fine. The tram afterwards was mither though. Great stadium, great occasion. The event was soured a bit because we lost, I'm guessing we'd all be loving the event had we won. Funny how the CC final has never been crap.

1990 - losing in the Challenge Cup final to Wigan felt like poop (maybe part of it is because it was Wigan) because "we had just lost the cup final". Losing a CC final HAS felt crap.
2012 - losing to Leeds felt to me like we had just lost to Leeds NOT that we had just lost the chance of becoming champions.

I was there in 1990 and wasn't massively gutted, we weren't favpoured at all that day although gave quite a good account of ourselves.

Next time you go and you win,as I am sure you will quite soon,you will change your opinion.Believe me

Another one who is either kidding himself or is just not that passionate. We DID lose the chance of becoming champions on Saturday.

For the first time since the 1950's.

How on earth anyone could possibly say it felt like any other run of the mill defeat I have absolutely no idea. Hull at home in 2005, Huddersfield at home in 2010, Leeds at home in 2011 and last Saturday. My four worst days watching Warrington. Worse than 72-2 at Knowsley Road (I wasn't at 80-0). Worse than the only previous final I'd seen us lose (1995 Regal Trophy - we all expected to get beat really so just enjoyed the day). Worse than wallowing in absolute rubbish in the late 90's and early 00's because we had no real hope or ambition then anyway.

Last Saturday was the hardest of the lot and I will keep feeling kicked where it hurts the most with every single defeat of that type until we finally DO become champions.

Yours,
Absolutely gutted and most definitely not over it

It's taken almost a week but I think I am, just. I actually felt OK about the result Saturday night, just a little disappointed, didn't feel too bad Sunday or Monday (way too busy working to think about it), but I woke up Tuesday morning and it hit me. I may watch the game on TV tonight for the first time, if not then I'll definately be watching it over the weekend. I tried watching it on Wednesday but gave up whilst the opening titles were still playing.

I haven't seen a second of it since I left the ground and I have desire to do so. Rugby can honestly do one 'til February now as far as I'm concerned.

I've taken this quite badly!

Event I felt was a bit underwhelming, but then again we lost!
The Activity/ fan area was sectioned off so I suppose if there was more of it dotted about the ground, would build the event more.

Really felt prematch wasn't up to its potential, again, need more than 6 fireworks (even if they did make e jump a little as didn't see the players start to come out).