The fundamental issue isn't the million pound game itself but the fact that relegation (however decided) causes huge issues because of the gulf in funding/quality/exposure between SL and the championship.

In some ways, I think the build up was better than the game itself.
Having to win 4 from our last 6 games and get some help from Salford (who beat Cas to ensure that there was a last chance saloon to drink in), set the game up nicely for Trinity.
Cas were on the slide and relatively speaking, we were on the up and with Kear full of confidence (at least outwardly), the game was set.
Belle Vue full to the rafters, supporters trying to get a glimpse of the action from wherever they could, it was fantastic.
But, the tension, during the game was unbearable and even though they are our our closest rivals, you had to spare a though for the Cas fans.
Trinity had sent them down (again) and another of the "Cat's" nine lives had been used up.

Thanks for the tips guys

Joined that site and watched the original MPG back, for the first time in ages.

Interesting to hear Eddie and Stevo being as negative about Wakey as they've continued to be to this day; in the opening few minutes, Stevo says "it's good to see this place with an atmosphere for once..."

The most striking thing about that team though, is that it contained only 1 British born player in the starting 13 - it's a good thing that can't happen any more.

Although, if I remember correctly, Kear went on to build a predominently British squad which did very well.

For me, the most memorable recent Wakey game is definitely the 'original' MPG vs Cas. Very scary and tense although I always felt we would win even though Cas were leading at HT. I couldn't get to the Bradford MPG, being based overseas but watched a live stream. I like the concept although I don't want us to be there again thank you very much!

There were three British born players in the 17 that night, Jamie Rooney, one of the March's and Kevin Henderson.


Wakefield: Halpenny, Demetriou, Evans, Henderson, Tadulala, Rooney, Jeffries, Watene, Obst, Korkidas, Solomona, MacGillivray, Betham.
Replacements: March, Elima, Catic, Latu

I wasn't nervous for this game as I always had faith we would win. The MPG against Bradford was a different matter. 80 minutes spent touching cloth.

Wonder if the atmosphere was as great as that that Stevo experienced week in week out from the 450 spectators at Crown Flatt???

Complete opposite for me funnily enough. Always knew we would beat Bradford, they were awful.

Are you kidding? If Bradford's kick from Addy had gone over I think we'd have been turned over.

Yet we'd put 50+ past Bradford a few weeks earlier. I was quietly more confident of beating Bradford than Cas.

I know - that's why I specified "in the starting 13."

It's not a criticism in particular - they were the rules at the time and every club used a lot of overseas players; I'm just glad it doesn't happen any more to the same extent.

That statement is completely without context though! Yes we'd walked over Bradford, but Tim Smith was magnificent that day and played in the proverbial DJ. We then had the 'incident' and the club took the brave decision to part company meaning many approached the final game with trepidation - especially as we had been dire at Sheffield the previous week (although this hadn't really mattered).

I was fortunate to be at the club the week leading up the game and, having seen the sad, bowed faces following Smiths departure, I saw spirit and and a bonded team and thought that we would be ok. Having said that, the game was much closer than I expected and we were on the knife edge until Scott Moores try. Oh how sad that his own career should come to a similar end!

it is on youtube, do a search for crowt123

Just watched it back and it's amazing just how much you dont remember.
Many, many thanks for sharing the info.

Just watched it back now and all we had after was how tragic it was that cas were relegated and all discussing scrapping relegation, im preety sure if wakey had lost the discussion wouldnt have been like that. Fast forward 10 years and the same comments after the Hull Kr v Salford million pound game when the year before when Wakefield beat Bradford not a thing was mentioned.