A few things put me off...I don't like driving so to get to Manchester by train by 12pm would have been really squeaky for me unless I stayed overnight.

I think its a bit much have another big RL event in Manchester when we already have the Grand Final which I found underwhelming.

Still it sounds like they made a better effort with the fan-zone this year and I guess the weather would have helped (anyone remember how freezing Edinburgh was?)

I will give it a try next year though I wish it was in Cardiff, so you can all get together in the pubs...2 miles a bit of a walk to the pubs!

BTW - all the beer in the Twickers pubs was £4.50 a pint last Sat...blimmin racketeering!

Ah - so it was you in front of us!

Haha, could you hear us? We were doing our best. Especially when the mascot walked past.

The other reason for moving to the opposite side was that we ended up surrounded by a St Helens old womans club all chatting away on some nonsense. The people in the shade were much nicer, including the two mums and their sons from Harrogate, all of whom supported Leeds except the smallest kid who supported Wigan. Black sheep obviously.

Really enjoyed both days, drove up Friday night and came back Monday. Prefer Cardiff as its 20 miles from home but felt Manchester was more compact in as much as everything you wanted on the day was there and no need to leave the stadium and immediate area. Can't speak for the nightlife as my 15 year old son with us. Hopefully it settles in one place, as a concept I think it should just be a festival of rugby league and we need to fiind other ways to spread the word.

We took the train Saturday, stayed over Sat & Sun and came back Monday, total £48 - I think we could have had the same price coming back Sunday.


Stayed in "The Place", tripping distance of Piccadilly, nice rooms, wi-fi, gym access (unused ) and despite several Hen Night parties and a wedding, not that noisy - £170 for the two nights.

Thought the weekend was brilliant!! Found it really funny sunday morning watching the Catalans coach turn up and then drive past the entrance! We drove up and stayed the weekend in Bolton (it was nice, honest!) and parking was so easy in the school opposite. Easy to get to, easy to leave and 'stuff' to do during the day. Loved the mascot races and the cheating, loved the Stobart trucks - nice to see which players had been chosen. Fantastic weather and 'comfy' seats (padded) hope its there next year too!