Looking like we will feature in the relig8 semi finals with a trophy up for grabs for being the best of the worst..........it really makes the sport look stupid.

Totally agree Jim, could not care less if we win. I would use it to try a few things/play a few youngsters with an eye on next season

Gf if you don't like the competition structure stop following it. Lots of folk disliked the franchise system but we didn't keep bleating on about it, the RFL and rugby league throughout history have tried different formats and structures some good some bad, but it's still just rugby league the best sport in the world.

Not sure if you noticed that leigh have the league leaders shield, what's the point? They are 13th
Most competitions I have been involved in often have a cup comp, then a plate final for those that go out in early rounds then even a bowl, it makes tournaments more interesting for the lower standard teams that are never gonna win the tournament. So its not a new idea and not sure why it upsets you so much, none is under the illusion that if we "win" the bottom 8 that it's the 3rd level trophy but it's a way of keeping an interest in this part of the season.

Point of order.
Plenty of folk whined about licencing....resulting in the RFL binning it after 4 years.

Leigh won their division and are entitled to a bauble. Leigh, Bradford, Sheffield and Halifax have earned the right to contest for a place in SL, but the relig8 trophy is a meaningless competition. Handing out a trophy doesn't change that.


This is the national league competition, not a tournament or cup competition. We've played the other teams twice....seems good enough for a great deal of sports who have "losers" competitions in their cup formats.



It's a stupid system that the RFL emailed me about today claiming "sold out" games and every second counting when in reality Halifax and Sheffield (maybe Bradford too) are about to have 500 points stuck on them over 7 games in return for hosting the massed away fans of the Salford? As for keeping us interested in the competition? 543 hardy souls bothered with the last game of the regular season, giving us a grand total of 8,050 fans in attendance over 11 games.....we are already virtually(2 wins) assured of a semi-final spot so I suspect that the 731 average will get pegged back a tad over the coming months.

Interesting factoid for you buddy.

A grand total of 9 more fans visited the hive this season over 11 games than attended David Hughes first game in sole ownership of the club.......now that's a spectacular fall if ever there was!

drone drone drone drone sad no personality or life drone

Keep up the good work.

Whey hey, you managed to get David Hughes in to the thread well done, it would not be the same unless you did that.
By the way you can unsubscribe from the rfl newsletters if you want

Why would I unsubscribe from the RFL newsletter? I love reading the spin....the particular gem this week was



...referring to the WCC games so as to paint picture of sold out SL games. Genius stuff.

The RFL and Solly in particular have hung their hats on this new system, which to date has delivered less fans and lower TV viewing figures. If they get the scheduling wrong for each sub-division, then this could end up on the scrap heap quicker than Licencing.

In the releg8, Doncaster are relegated and 3 of the 4 semi-finalists are already know before a game kicks off.......gripping stuff
in the Middle 8, SL clubs are signing players until the end of the season specifically to keep them up.....with the different caps in place, it's highly unlikely that anything other than Leigh v Wakefield will be the end game and Wakefield are getting stronger with each passing week.
In the top 8, 3 of the 4 are pretty much bolted on again with no shocks.......No amount of spin will change procession that will see 2 from Wigan Saints and Leeds will be at Old Trafford.....while FC and Catalans are just happy to not have to visit Halifax!

As for me mentioning Hughes? Rather than comment on the true point made, that we attracted 9 more fans across an entire season than we did for our opening game in 2008, you concentrate on the Hughes factor?

It's a long river in Egypt Michael.......

No what I meant was the rewards are greater the higher up you finish. Financialy you'd rather be 'Fax or the Eagles, looking forward to seven straight defeats but a larger wad of dosh than being in (or even winning) the Championship Trophy. Lets face it the 3rd 8 is really the "Avoiding Relegation Eights".

The releg8's!

The competition is what it is. Probably another failure, but were init, so we might as well try to win it? As we barely have 17 fit players after yesterday it will be a challenge, but may give some of the youngsters an opportunity, as posted on another thread Matt Davis gave his all yesterday. It gives Henderson 7 more games to assess who to let go, who he needs, so for no other reason it's useful

We have to swallow our pride. What is done is done. We are in the competition that really we should not be in. But we are.

Let us take the opportunity. It is a fresh start, a new competition. so we must endeavour to win the thing.

Bostwick I agree with you

I agree as well.