: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:52 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

I agree gutted to have lost but there is the small consolation of time off.

Yes absolutely, keep on rolling!!

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:55 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Probably not but quality of coaching may make up the difference.

At the moment the performance has been greater than the sum of it's parts for the last three weeks.

That's usually down to good coaching.

Bearing in mind we've finished top 4 years running and won the cup 3 years running, maybe it's Leeds' performance that has been greater than the sum of it's parts on a couple of occasions at Old Trafford . . . . .

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:04 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Bearing in mind we've finished top 4 years running and won the cup 3 years running, maybe it's Leeds' performance that has been greater than the sum of it's parts on a couple of occasions at Old Trafford . . . . .

No doubt and it all counts.

The finishing top was fairly marginal in 2007 and 2008 though so neither team were exactly without hope at Old Trafford. St Helens involvement in the CC possibly worked to Leeds advantage then as well. So Leeds will be praying for another Saints hangover/overconfidence meltdown come October.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:06 pm  

morpeth rhino wrote:

its an anachronism thta is holding back british international RL. It should have gone with the switch to summer rugby. We can lose in the first round every year from here to eternity as far as I am concerned. If we are forced to keep this relic from the 70s competition

Yes absolutely because the Challenge Cup and Rugby League itself didn't exist before the 70's.

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:09 pm  

morpeth rhino wrote:

its an anachronism thta is holding back british international RL. It should have gone with the switch to summer rugby. We can lose in the first round every year from here to eternity as far as I am concerned. If we are forced to keep this relic from the 70s competition (with its relic qulaity of coverage from the bbc) leeds should have used the comp as a way of blooding more youngsters like Arsenal do with a similar meaningless competition in the league cup.

I assume the WCC is important? Actually, probably not since you lost it this year.

Was the CC mickey mouse when you beat London? Or did it only become mickey mouse when you realised you couldn't win it any more no matter how hard you try?

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:21 pm  

morpeth rhino wrote:

its an anachronism thta is holding back british international RL.

How is it holding back international RL? The 2 finalists have to play a maximum of 5 games in the CC.
Last year in the cup Saints played:
4th Round v London Skolars
5th Round v Warrington
Quarter Final v Hull KR
Semi-Final v Leeds
Final v Hull

and Hull played:
4th Round v Rochdale
5th Round v Widnes
Quarter Final v Bradford
Semi-Final v Wakefield
Final v Saints

The Aussies play 3 State of Origin games. Mid-week. Not to mention the higher standard of competition all season long.
Which is the tougher game?
Rochdale or New South Wales?

morpeth rhino wrote:

It should have gone with the switch to summer rugby.

Why? Not all change is good you know.

morpeth rhino wrote:

If we are forced to keep this relic from the 70s competition (with its relic qulaity of coverage from the bbc) leeds should have used the comp as a way of blooding more youngsters like Arsenal do with a similar meaningless competition in the league cup.

You're conveniently ignoring the FA Cup. (you know, the one thats similar to the RL Challenge Cup.) How are Arsenal treating that this year?

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:25 pm  

morpeth rhino wrote:

its an anachronism thta is holding back british international RL. It should have gone with the switch to summer rugby. We can lose in the first round every year from here to eternity as far as I am concerned. If we are forced to keep this relic from the 70s competition (with its relic qulaity of coverage from the bbc) leeds should have used the comp as a way of blooding more youngsters like Arsenal do with a similar meaningless competition in the league cup.

Did you watch Rugby League before you got Sky?

: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:27 pm  

The Challenge Cup is a showpiece event broadcast nationally and with a 70k plus attendance.

Anyone who doesn't want that for their club or doesn't think the game needs it is an idiot.

Mind you, I'd still take a Grand Final win over it...

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:14 am  

morpeth rhino wrote:

If we are forced to keep this relic from the 70s competition (with its relic qulaity of coverage from the bbc) leeds should have used the comp as a way of blooding more youngsters like Arsenal do with a similar meaningless competition in the league cup.

I think you'll find that the CC is a tad older than 30 years. I think it goes pretty much right back to the beginning of rugby league as a sport. Didn't Batley win the first Challenge Cup trophy? That'll give you an idea how far back it goes!

And I didn't think the BBC did too badly on Sunday, even if they were naff on the promotion of it. It's also the comp which brings maximum exposure for the successful teams and it's got a buzz about it still that the Grand Final lacks.

The Grand Final is very much about the Superleague; the Challenge Cup is a celebration of RL in its entirety IMO. I think this is why I feel the Challenge Cup is still very much worth keeping.

The RFL should put some serious effort into reinvigorating the comp so that all clubs feel like they may just be the giantkillers this season and they should be more proactive when they renegotiate the deal with the BBC so that they take us more seriously.

: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:33 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Didn't Batley win the first Challenge Cup trophy?

Yes they did.