They should do it "Royal Rumble" style, I reckon.

All you know is which day your team is playing on, and the first the supporter knows of which teams are playing a particular game is when they come out onto the field. Games drawn at random in the morning to ensure fairness.

At least you'll have a full stadium before each game as the supporters wait to see which teams come onto the field.

Or something.

Look, you can't please everyone. Personally, I see the Magic Weekend as a great pair of days out, and last year, something like 60,000 Rugby League fans thought the same thing.

So, please stop whinging.

I like the idea of picking teams on the day but unless it [iis[/i random or (and I'll keep saying this until someone takes notice) CHALLENGE CUP 5TH ROUND, I won't be bothering.

I've already shelled out for the WC (Cardiff, our place & the final) & renewed the season ticket for next year, so even a modest extra with a completely disrupted weekend is difficult to justify.

I can't see coaches ever agreeing to that. Today you're playing such and suchabody but you have no time whatsoever to prepare. Off you go.

Oh, and it would almost be as cringeworthy as club call.

60,000 pack into Madchester to soak up the excitment of the draw & watch the resultant games: Wigan v Cas, Saints v Hull KR, Leeds v LOndon, Wakey v Wire, Hull v Cats, Salford v Hudds, Widnes v Bradford. How many would be there next year?

You don't do 'tongue in cheek' do you?

Nope

i quite like the random draw aspect!

Does this mean we get Leigh as a surprise return entrant and Toulouse make their shock debut towards the end?

I like the random draw aspect too, how much prep to these professionals need. They know they are playing a game. When I was younger we had this kind of round robbin tournement. We did not have a clue who was next.

However I accept that as RL we change too often and many fans may not buy into the concept.

Whilst I like the IDEA of a random draw, it could never work in reality.

Someone said earlier that it would guarantee a full house. Well, yes it would, but (and here's the big thing) ONLY for the first game.

Say, for instance that you had every second team from last season on day 1.

That gives Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Salford, Castleford, Widnes (added as one of the 2 days has to have an extra game).

Now, let's say that Wigan v Saints comes out as the first game - Great game, BUT around 30% of the crowd may very well disappear afterwards.

Second game comes out as Leeds v Huddersfield - Nice Yorkshire derby.

However, you now have 3 teams with virtually NO travelling support, plus Castleford, who have a "smallish" support.

Basically, by the time you get to the last match, you could feasibly have a stadium with no more than 1-2000 spectators left.

OK, so it's a slight exaggeration, as you'll have a few supporters who will stay for all matches, regardless - Maybe - but is not at all beyond the realm of possibility.

For that reason alone, the RFL would not (and in my opinion, COULD not) go for that idea.

Now, as much as I'll be at the Magic match - whoever we get - It definitely needs to change.
I can't abide the fact that it skews the league.

They need to either
a. Switch a match (home team one year, away team the next) - Never happen, due to lost revenue
b. Play an entire round of the Challenge Cup there, instead - Possible, I suppose
c. Make it a yearly knock-out tournament - This would just turn in to an U20 7's tournament though.

Frankly, I cannot see how it can possibly continue, as it unfairly affects the table, every year.
Wigan v Saints - Toss Up. One team or the other in the title picture is guaranteed to drop points.
Warrington v Huddersfield (Easier match), Salford (joke) or Widnes (Utter F'ing joke) - Basically, an almost guaranteed 2 points to Wire, unless they screw up.
Catalans v London - Only 1 team in with a realistic chance of that win.
Leeds v Bradford - Joke
Hull FC v Hull KR - Great game, but not generally title-affecting.

Basically, I'm saying that out of the entire weekend, under the current format, ONLY Wigan and Saints out of the title contenders, face any true opposition every year.

For me - Scrap it.