No surprise really, RFL good at changing the goalposts, don't know why they didn't just say we'll pick who we want from the start instead of the usual "we'll make things up as we go along" attitude they have to all things Rugby. It would have been nice to have competed in it and I've no doubt Wire will give a good account of themselves, but originally I thought it was the 2 finalists and the highest ranked team based on League position. not on the whim of the RFL who clearly can't make a decision and stick to it.

would be nice to have some actual statement from the Giants about this, if we didnt want to be in it then fair enough but if the RFL have moved the goal posts then it stinks

Well it looks like that's exactly what they are saying - about right really- small club with a small club mentality?
so all Lancashire sides in GF and in WCC.

What an absolute joke but I think there's 3 parties to blame for this.

1st - The RFL - Let's be honest they wouldn't have ever wanted us in this competition, we're hardly seen as a glamour team are we! I'm pretty sure as soon as we raised our concerns about the competition they were already on the phone to Warrington. Could they have given us more time? Could they have even helped us finance it?

2nd - The fans - or should I say the lack of. Let's be honest the main concern would be money and the simple fact is that we don't have the income stream that the top clubs have. I just watched the Wigan documentary on Sky and they took 2,000 to Australia, we struggle to get 500 to an away game. I'm not sure how we can attract more fans maybe the people of Huddersfield aren't bothered.

3rd - The Club - In the end this comes down to the club. It's their job to attract the fans and keep the club financially healthy. The fact that they couldn't decide speaks volumes of how bad the management is. They knew there potentially was going to be a decision to be made and should have had a yes or no answer. I've thought for a while that Richard Thewlis should get out. Do we not have any spare money because of the Keith Mason case? who's fault was that? because the money we threw at that could have been used. Again, lack of ambition from the club for a second time this week.

One positive is that it won't be a distraction at the beginning of the season.

Gutted about this. If there was ever a time to try and get more fans through the gates, to me this was a way to increase our stature.

If the RFL have moved the goal posts, as fans we should know. If not then we should also know. I hope either the RFL or the club can clarify the situation.

All I knew was it was the "next highest ranked teams based on league positions". I assumed like many that it meant just off the league table and not the playoffs, but it can easily be ready as though league positions will be used to decide out of the 2 losing semi finalists

Highest in the league of the semi finalists...Wire.

If you hadn't been beat by Catalans, then you'd be there.

....especially if it suits the RFL agenda...

Typical RFL.

How can we stop this great game being run by such a set of, shall we say, individuals?

due to kens uncertainty / paying the £175,000 to be part of it the league offered it to warrington due to them being the highest placed loser of the semi final
Giants had 1st refusal however chose not to partake

like i said, something needs to be said officially by the club about this... if its as simple as we didnt want to pay the money and compete then fair enough but would be nice to let the fans know how the hell things seemed to have changed!

I hope this is not true and just one of those forum rumours. I feel the club need to state if they had the opportunity to enter but turned it down or not?

Souths would murder us. Think positive - not participating means we don't have to watch a 60 point pumping from a team that's barely out of first gear...

You wouldn't play Souths

GF Winner (Wigan) v Rabbits
GF Loser Saints) v Bulldogs
Wire v Broncos