I come from Widnes. And moaning? Do yourself a favour. Understand my posts have everything to do with a love of not only my club but as importantly the game itself. Since when have you had a monopoly on what represents "pride" in a club? My guess is your subservience to the Red Hall edict is very much a minority view in this town, matey.

I'd just love to know what Steve O'Connor really thinks, freed from the shackles of having to say "all the right things".

I'm starting to wonder whether you are just trolling now.

1. I've never questioned you being from widnes or not. But since you've felt the need to mention it, I'm now starting to wonder.
2. I've never mentioned pride, I've never clarified whether I believe you have any or I have more or less, MUCH LESS believed I had some sort of monopoly on pride. Its a nonargument whenever it comes up and I haven't.
3. Subservience to Red Hall? That is a joke and a half. You have no idea about me and if you think that you are showing how clueless you really are.
4. There are no shackles on Steve O Connor. He is just showing a knack for diplomacy which you completely lack so far. When things don't go your way for whatever reason, you can either stamp your feet, moan and shut yourself off from the world or you can pick yourself up and move forwards. I had a good little moan at the time of the franchise announcements but the world has moved on and you need to move on as well. Stop dragging it up. We can't change it. It was a ing travesty but we can't do anything about it. All we can do is come out fighting. We're eligable to apply now, and we have so far the strongest case by a distance. So show your support in other ways, don't drag the mood down join in with the better mood.

That is, if you're not as I suggested earlier a troll account from one of the usual suspects.

You need to stop suggesting things.

Definitely trolling. That was quick.

What exactly is "trolling", fella?

troll (COMPUTING)
verb [I or T]
to leave an intentionally annoying message on a part of the Internet in order to get attention or cause trouble

You can be certain I have one intention only: to maintain an awareness of the longer-term dangers to the well-being of not only my club but RL itself from the maladministration of the game over the past 14 years - and counting.
I seek nothing for myself in this.

"I can't see a reason for them not to allow us entry."

When there is a preset agenda of the nature espoused by the current crew at the RFL, one given priority despite a club like Widnes Vikings fulfilling any eligibility criteria for the award of a franchise, these people will find a reason should they need one.
And everyone knows it.

So basically your issue is that the final is in Augsut instead of April/May?

Jeeze. It is still the same tournament, and the crowds for the final are as big as ever. Stop being a drama queen.

My team is involved in the semi this week, and the excitement around the town is as great as any previous semi final, whatever the date was.

I can see both points tbh.

I cannot be d with the challenge cup, or SL.

I don't really support the sport of Rugby League. I support the Widnes Vikings.

Before the last time Widnes got screwed I used to go to the odd grand final, but now I am just not that interested.

I just don't really care for SL, and the RFL in general, and would rather support my club, rather that a sports governing body who have seeked to screw my team over time and time again.

I'm not bitter about it, I've just lost heart for the sport in general. So if Widnes are not involved, I don't really care.

Never has a truer sentence been posted. 3-4 years ago, friday night i would watch Sl religously with my dad etc, nowadays I'll see whats happening on Albert sq or in the rovers.

"Drama queen" - how novel. How inappropriate. There is no "drama" involved in the points I make, you noodle. And, if you can't see that the August shift is detrimental to the competition as a whole - for Christ's sake why such an illogical gap between the quarters and semis/final, which actually is a half-baked attempt to give them exclusive importance, something no other body in charge of an outdoor team sport but ours could dream up - then you're welcome to the hysteria you say your town is experiencing at this time.
It isn't just about it being in August, it is a whole modus operandi. Where manipulation to promote not only Sky's agenda but the personal ones of, hilariously, folk who know f**k all about RL. And this results in change for change's sake.
The Challenge Cup has been degraded. Laughably, for the sake of a Grand Final system where THE most prestigious achievement, that of being the showcase league champions, now means nothing.
You go and enjoy your semi-final tomorrow. Just don't think your fleeting enthusiasm represents anything like the genuine passion RL's once-beloved Challenge Cup used to engender; across ALL of RL.