I really enjoyed the event in Manchester but I think the weekend hit home that to me the event is all about spreading the game to different audiences whilst giving the usual fans the opportunity to head to new places and mingle together. I've been to the lot and whilst Edinburgh was really poor due to the stadium location I think Cardiff and especially Newcastle far outstrip staging the event in Manchester.

I'm all for games being easy accessible but if people want to stay local for games there's 13 or 14 home games plus Wire, Saints, Salford and Widnes to go at each year. I just don't see what 'extra' benefits we get out of staging the event in Manchester.

I think 9's gives us the opportunity to showcase the most skilful aspects of the sport to people who don't understand the technicalities of it, whilst also not comprising the integrity of the league table. Using the Aukland tournament as a blueprint, you have 16 teams playing over two days with every team guaranteed to play at least once on both days. It would need to be heavily backed to ensure that it was worthwhile winning so that teams played their "stars".

Another idea is to integrate it into the league format better, which would probably mean moving it to the Super 8's stage so that it serves as the 7th fixture, with everyone playing 3 home, 3 away and one neutral. This would work better if the CC final is moved from August back to May to spread the big events out better over the season.

I love the MW as a concept but my main bugbears with it in its current format are the additional game added to the league, which isn't fair when relegation is at stake, plus the fact that there's a lack of transparency with how the fixtures are selected.

Can't argue with much of that. We certainly don't need any additional fixtures so to cut it back by one would be a shout.

The only thing I can't go for is a nine comp. I think it works in the NRL because it already has a decent profile compared to over here. I don't think we'd get enough casual viewers to make it work and I think a lot of magic regulars may turn away from the event. I don't in all honesty think it would be for me but you never know. I'm a cricket fan as well and even with it's huge profile I've never been able to see T20 as more then a laugh and even the world cup feels like friendlies to me with Test matches being the 'main event'. I suppose what that does show though is these things can work because T20 is huge and appeals to the every day man in the street but again I'd g back to the fact the game has a big profile already from which to build when compared to league.

Here's the thing with Nines for me. I loved the first Auckland Nines. I thought it was great fun (and way more satisfactory than RU 7s). I watched every game. The second year I watched most of it. Still enjoyed it. Next year, I doubt I'll be too bothered. And I expect many fans (and sponsors?) may well feel the same. I might be very wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Auckland Nines didn't tail off and die after three or four years.

While i will be the first to admit that the Edinburgh Magic Weekends were probably the worst of the weekends so far (with the exception of Cardiff in February. Who ever thought of that one wants shooting) i cant understand the people who use the excuse that the stadium location as an excuse . Its as close to the city centre in Edinburgh as the Etihad is to Manchester .

AND its only 400.75 yards from my house

Regards , EW

I think it is our duty to look upon these weekends as missionary work and need to use our time wisely to convert the uneducated to the powers of Rugby League . Spent all weekend trying to explain the finer points to Rugby Union fans . Newcastle and the stadium were great . I would move the fan zone to Northumberland Street and get the kids of the Saturday/Sunday shoppers involved in the fun and show the people of Newcastle what a fun time being a Rugby League fan really is .

Thought the stewarding inside the stadium was a bit over zealous at times (to start with) but once the stewards realised we were not football fans and there for a party they bought into it big time .

Regards , EW

well, if we're trading frozen wastes trump cards, I was on Hermaness on Friday & the northernmost human in the UK (for about 30 minutes).

(and Antarctica is pretty cool too)

Aspull is pretty cold at this time of year. I drove through there last night.

You want to try to play bowls there your so wrapped up in all winter clothes you cant send your bowls properly.

Tbh I'm glad we're only debating where it could be and what the format of it should be. When it was first announced as Newcastle I thought there was a real possibility we could now be talking about scrapping it.

Whatever format they use and wherever it is, I would definitely look to move it slightly later into the summer and bring the CCF forward to May/June. We know how much the CCF can affect league form and there's no way it should be slap bang in the middle of the Super 8's stage (not that it is going to affect us this year )

May: Challenge Cup Final
July: Magic Weekend
October: Grand Final