Quote: sergeant pepper "I'm not a fan. Seems to be the use of a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
1. Why, in this modern age of "player safety", are we adding another competitive fixture into the mix?
2. Why, after years of being told there's more to rugby outside of SL, are the lower divisions now so keen to integrate?
3. Why should the SL side have to play away? As great as it is as a fan to potentially see some new grounds - is it not the same, but in reverse for fans of the championship teams? I bet some of their lads would love to run out at a Wigan, Saints or Leeds.
Would it not just be more sensible to add our reserves into L1? On a good day there are plenty of stars that could be playing for our reserves. Robin Park would be one of the best grounds in that league too.'"
They would be competitive on a good day but it would mess up the league as there is a drastic difference in quality of a reserves team week to week as players get loaned out, called up due to injuries etc. I know the quality of every team fluctuates but nowhere near the way reserves teams do. One week Keighley are facing Farrimond, Walters, Forber and Eseh, the next Oldham (fighting with Keighley for top spot) are up against a load of kids.
Not sure which League 1 ground you think Robin Park is better than? I'm not saying it's unsuitable for League 1 but I can't think of a League 1 ground it's better than.
I'm not in favour of this change to the CC either. A weakened SL team hammering a league 1 team away is a waste of everyone's time.
) at the third round draw. The first bag contains remaining lower league clubs (×20) the second bag contains SL clubs (x12), the first twelve balls pulled from the first bag guarantees both separation and an 'on the road' fixture of a SL club. The remaining eight balls are pulled in order from the first bag ensuring four lower league fixtures. It's so simple even the RFL couldn't screw it up.
