We have played them too much recently, so it's hard to get excited weeks before hand, however, when it gets to 48 hours before kick-off, I guarentee, butterflies and banter will kick in, and no-one will want to lose.

Whilst I don't hold the RFL responsible for the current shambles of where a particular match shall or shall not be held. I do think we need to compress the CC into a more watcherable period for the casual watcher of the game. Or provide some event to advertise the game in it's best light on TV.

Union give back to back weekends with the 6 nations that people buy into whether they watch union or not.
Wimbledon for Tennis
World Championships for Snooker
Same for darts

We are spread far too thin for the casual watcher to come back for more.

My comment is more geared towards a close entertaining game of rugby. I'm sure if that was a success then the crowds would increase in the cup. RL fans have been starved of any action for months so they are more likely to spend money on a mis-match at the start of the season than they are in the middle of the season when they get used to watching the best players every week.

This is also how I think it should be structured, though I don't like the WCC in February.

I don't think you should have a cup game as the first game of the season. It devalues the competition imo.

Since when was round 15 the beginning of the season for magic weekend though?! IMO have the magic weekend but actually play it at the beginning of the season and not half way though!

I agree that the CC should be earlier in the year instead of dragging it out over months...