I thought Fax were deserved winners with Lachlan Walmsley getting us over the line with one of his specials. Unfortunately I couldn't get down and watched the game in a pub in Sowerby Bridge but i've got to say I thought the referee/linesman got three or four decisions badly wrong in London's favour, any of which could have swung the game towards your lads. Fortunately for Fax we had just enough to overcome it and gain the victory. Does anyone have the attendance figure as you couldn't tell owt from the TV pictures.

Is appearing at a final,one of 4,played in London on the same day,with a not hugely significant financial reward a better opportunity to promote the club,or would it not be better to focus on reaching the play-offs and really going for promotion to Super League?

I understand your frustration but looking at your remaining fixtures I think I know where your club priorities may be.

Keep the faith.The year could end a good one.

I think we could have done with Butler, who was cup tied or at least one of Napoli, Waine or Albert who were all injured to give the other forwards a rest. Bringing Stock off for Davies is not a like for like although could work but as you say we seemed a little flat or devoid of attacking ideas. Didn’t think Norman was as dominant as he has been. Defence wise neither side could be faulted but very little attacking threat. We didn’t come out the second half as fired up as them and they clearly had the better of the first twenty without being amazingly threatening but it got them the two penalties which gave them. Cushion. I Remain unconvinced by Ranalui although he seemed more involved. I thought he was going to be a big player for us but I’m sure that’s happened. Did Whare come on? If so, not sure he was influential. We have quite a few big units amongst our younger recruits but I assume we felt this was too much of a risk.

I think you were definitely the better side second half but it was a war of attrition. Not sure it was either teams finest hour but ultimately we were the home side and should have made that count and didn’t. As you may have seen from they’ve coverage,it’s a very odd and delapidated ground. Difficult to say how many. It was pretty full but how many that is - probably 700. There was a train strike. It was raining and most fans don’t come from the immediate area so it is what it is. The atmosphere was pretty flat Ithink because the layout of the ground doesn’t lend itself to allowing a significant number of fans to congregate in one area. Anyway good luck in the final.

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The number of games being played on CC finals day is symptomatic of the RL heirachy’s inability to think clearly. As one of only about 5000 people who stayed for the Sheffield/Widnes final a few years back I take the point about the level of impact of the 1895 final but it would have been nice. Coming sixth and getting turned over by Rovers or Toulouse I’m not so energised about. In any event I think we might be too far back to get in the six.Hopefully we will win majority of our remaining home games which at least will help to stabilise attendance rates-although the much touted 5,000 remains, sadly, pipe dream.

Yeah I think we missed the size and impact of Ethan and Rob and Emmanuel to an extent. I thought Halifax controlled the ruck pretty well and it had an effect on our energy and concentration levels.

I think Whare was on at the end, played the last 20 mins or so. Probably wise in the conditions and on that pitch not to risk it too much.

Agreed on Rawalui. I was excited when he signed but I was also unsure he was the dominant 7 we needed. Pretty telling he's been shoveled out to the centres and I'm not sure he'd be my first choice if Ethan or Emmanuel were fit. Could see him as a utility off the bench maybe, or to 13 if we needed to.

Disappointing result yesterday but the priority has to be the championship.
Despite a dodgy start we’ve picked up really well and are only a point behind Fax. At the start of the season I’d have been happy to have avoided relegation!
Lots of home games to come, and while I’m not normally given to optimism I’m in no way ruling us out from a playoff place- apart from Fev perhaps we can beat anyone on our day, in the case of Toulouse we’ve done it twice.
Our league form is good of late so I’m going into the final games of the season with hope!
COYB!!

"A great opportunity to promote the club missed. Not good"
1895 cup will get zero press interest.

Arguably our last Wembley appearance cost us our best investment opportunity in Branson and Virgin,

Well NB, if you remember the Championship Shield Final, where we played and lost to Fev. Prior to the game Broncos got a lot of press both on TV, radio and the papers. Publicity that we never normally get.
Us making it to Wembley this season would have given the club something to sell to the Media.

On the subject of Branson/Virgin and the Broncos. 911 did for his involvement. The club had mounting losses and owning numerous businesses which were destined to suffer badly from the after effects of the 911 atrocity, Branson pulled the plug on Broncos and some other businesses he was involved with. David Hughes was left to pick up the reins.
Branson I believe, was not that great as an owner. Under his tenure we made it to the Cup final, for which he soaked up all the attention going, as is his way. Yet the club sold thousands of tickets for Wembley, they failed to garner any information on who bought them. Therefore failed to have any way of following up these sales and using it grow the fan base.
Richard only ever attended televised games, he did bring the club into the spotlight and bought in some good players, it was never going to last though. He was always going to lose interest in RL and the club. 911 just bought it to an end sooner rather than later.

Yes that was my feeling too. Well maybe a similar chance will come around again in a couple of years. In the meantime we have York at home. Not feeling the love for the game after this disappointment I have to say.

Say what you like about David Hughes but he stayed sat in the main stand all game. Branson wouldn’t have put up with that. That’s commitment....or insanity!

No other news papers apart from the standard RL press has any interest at all In the 1895 Cup. I put money on the women's final may get a mention but other than that nothing. Yes it would have been nice to see them play at Wembley but as for making any difference to the club It would have achieved very little.
The only way broncos will get any press is if they go full time again! For that you need an investor with very deep pockets and a dream! Until then we rely on Mr Hughes like it or not.

Actually, we did get a quarter page report in the Sunday Mirror, under the three quarter page report on the Leigh v St Helens game.
On the facing page, was a big article on the, yet to be played, Wigan Hull KR tie and opposite us, a quarter page artivle on the Youk v Batley tie.

As long as Branson got publicity for himself and the Virgin brand he was happy - at least that's how it seemed to me.
Remember him at the CC final at Wembley, still makes me cringe!