The way the draw has been done this year is that the games have been allocated a number, rather than the teams, so the winning team has taken that number in the draw. This means that had we beaten Salford we would have played Widnes at home in round 5, Keighley in the quarters and would now have Cas in the semis.

The Widnes game would have been far from a formality, and the Cas semi would be a very tough game. But what a good opportunity we have blown to reach another final.

If my auntie had a clacker bag she would have been my uncle......

Yes and if we had beaten Warrington we also could have got to the semis then both clubs could have got knocked out I think you maybe clutching at straws a bit

would say our route last year was harder than the one you've mentioned

In fact our run in 05 was much harder than in 08 and last year but was the one we actually won

Just the way sport works, besides we have been beaten by Widnes and Cas already this year

Season over in that cup defeat by Salford. Rarely has the consequence of our failure to secure a general been as obvious, glaring, frustrating and costly as in the last 20 minutes or so of that contest.

It's not really clutching at straws, it's just an observation. We shouldn't have lost that game, we conceded with seconds remaining and even led after the hooter until a touch line conversion tied it up. It's just another thing to add to the list of frustrations, and kind of sums up our season. All we had to do was defend one set, and we couldn't do it, and if we had we would likely be sat here 80 minutes from Wembley.

So what you are saying is if that we had beaten Salford and then in that alternative reality the balls came out in exactly the same pairs as the actual reality and then we beat Widnes and again the numbers came out in the same pairs and [ithen[/i we beat Keighley and then yet again the numbers came out in the same pairs and [ithen[/i we beat Castleford we'd have reached Wembley?

.....and it wouldn't have rained.

I've just seen the draw and dates and once again think that the RFL is made up of numpties.Ties to be played over the weekend of the 9th /10th August.Two weeks before the final.What consideration is there for the finalist's fans in two weeks to sort out transport and accommodation.Right in the middle of the main two weeks holiday period.This also limits the club's to cash in aswell.Did'nt we once make quite a bit of money from merchandizing(which would come in handy to any club in these hard times).Once again the lunatic's have taken over the asylum.

and if i had done another 6 numbers in last nights lottery i may now be a millionaire

Eh?

The numbers and hence the draws would have been identical regardless of who is in the draw. For example quarter final 1 is allocated ball 1. So the winner is represented by ball 1 in the semi final draw.

All I'm saying is we blew a great chance to have a good cup run.

Doesn't matter how the balls had come out as were so wouldn't of beaten anyone

Why would we have been quarter final 1?

That was just an example of how the numbers work. Surely it's not that hard to understand? Had we beaten Salford we would have had whatever their number was in the 5th round, then Widnes' number in the Quarter and Semi.

I wish I had never bothered now.