Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:43 am  

Bloody glory hunters.

How many of those moaning, went to the Warrington Leeds match in March? That was a Friday night with over 10k inside.
What about the 12k attendance for Saints Leeds Friday night classic back in April? Can't remember too many fans complaining then.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:03 am  

I think most of the outrage from the Leeds fans is that the stadium is only 7 miles from St Helens, Leeds have not had that advantage since 2006!
Huddersfield is actually 18 Miles+ from Leeds, not so close as a lot of you think. Further to that our 'Yorkshire' Semi final in 2013 was in Doncaster - 31 Miles from Leeds. The last time Leeds had a Semi Final as close to Saints/Warrington was way back in 2006 at Odsal.

I actually thought Leeds vs Saints will be BBCs pick, presuming the put more ££ into the pot, and as such will be on the Saturday. Could you imagine the Headingley attendance if Wire vs Hull KR we're playing there on the Friday night, the stadium would look empty, so I can understand this.

One side had to lose out and unfortunately thats Leeds. Saints massively have this one in their favour. The game prior to the Semi finals Leeds play on Sunday, Saints play on the Friday. I doubt Leeds will ask to move this fixture forward as they have a family day already planned and will expect a 'bumper' attendance.

Yours to lose Saints

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:46 am  

RhinoNeil wrote:

I think most of the outrage from the Leeds fans is that the stadium is only 7 miles from St Helens, Leeds have not had that advantage since 2006!
Huddersfield is actually 18 Miles+ from Leeds, not so close as a lot of you think. Further to that our 'Yorkshire' Semi final in 2013 was in Doncaster - 31 Miles from Leeds. The last time Leeds had a Semi Final as close to Saints/Warrington was way back in 2006 at Odsal.

I actually thought Leeds vs Saints will be BBCs pick

It presumably is the BBC's top pick. Friday will be the better rating game.

Comparing Leeds semis vs Yorkshire opposition like the ones at Doncaster and Odsal with those vs Lancashire opposition is pointless. It would be strange if the former were not in the county whilst Leeds' geographical history in the latter has been more than fair in the last 12 years.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 12:03 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Comparing Leeds semis vs Yorkshire opposition like the ones at Doncaster and Odsal with those vs Lancashire opposition is pointless..

Well yes, it just highlights the fact that Leeds have never had the advantage that Warrington got last year and what Saints will have this year.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:06 pm  

RhinoNeil wrote:

Well yes, it just highlights the fact that Leeds have never had the advantage that Warrington got last year and what Saints will have this year.

Not really, it just highlights that there are no suitably-sized venues within six or seven miles of Leeds which fit the required criteria. Odsal was a one-off in 2006 and has visibly crumbled even since then; no W Yorks ground other than Headingley or Hudds have appropriate facilities to hold a Challenge Cup semi.

I really don't get the issue - with dear old Station Road long gone and Leigh apart (and I find it easier to get from Leeds to HJS than to LSV via road, and let's not dwell on the Leythers' public transport situation) there are no RL grounds other than Hudds and Warrington between Leeds and St Helens which are of appropriate size and have appropriate facilities. And Leeds can't just keep on having them at Huddersfield every season.

Some Leeds fans just like to whinge about anything.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:38 pm  

in every year since 2008, at least one of wigan, saints, wire and widnes have all had "home advantage" in a semi final

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:36 pm  

loiner81 wrote:

Bloody glory hunters.

How many of those moaning, went to the Warrington Leeds match in March? That was a Friday night with over 10k inside.
What about the 12k attendance for Saints Leeds Friday night classic back in April? Can't remember too many fans complaining then.

I'm moaning and I go to all the games apart from Catalans away. Were you one of the Leeds fans that didn't get into the ground at Saints until after half time last season ? It is a nightmare journey and it takes about half the time on a Saturday or Sunday when you are coming from North Leeds. I don't moan about the league games because it's accepted the games are sometimes Friday night, but I'm gonna moan about the first Challenge Cup semi in history being played on a Friday night. It's diabolical and two big fingers up to the Leeds fans from the RFL. What about people that want a train connection into Leeds and out again, what chance have they got of a last train back out of Leeds, it's a case of f**k you, don't bother coming we've got the BBC money and you can go do one. It's all about the money for people like Nigel Wood, he can stick his nose in the trough and have a real feeding frenzy. What about Brian Barwick and all the other jokers that were supposed to be raising the profile of our sport ? Is this the best they can do, a Friday night slot on BBC 2. Anyone picking kids up from school and then racing around like idiots on Friday tea time rush hour will thank the RFL for sure don't you think ? If you want to bend over and take it willingly up the Jacksy feel free, I won't, and I'll have a good moan at the greedy bosses who take, take, take and don't seem to offer much back.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:43 pm  

leeds owl wrote:

I'm moaning and I go to all the games apart from Catalans away. Were you one of the Leeds fans that didn't get into the ground at Saints until after half time last season ? It is a nightmare journey and it takes about half the time on a Saturday or Sunday when you are coming from North Leeds. I don't moan about the league games because it's accepted the games are sometimes Friday night, but I'm gonna moan about the first Challenge Cup semi in history being played on a Friday night. It's diabolical and two big fingers up to the Leeds fans from the RFL. What about people that want a train connection into Leeds and out again, what chance have they got of a last train back out of Leeds, it's a case of f**k you, don't bother coming we've got the BBC money and you can go do one. It's all about the money for people like Nigel Wood, he can stick his nose in the trough and have a real feeding frenzy. What about Brian Barwick and all the other jokers that were supposed to be raising the profile of our sport ? Is this the best they can do, a Friday night slot on BBC 2. Anyone picking kids up from school and then racing around like idiots on Friday tea time rush hour will thank the RFL for sure don't you think ? If you want to bend over and take it willingly up the Jacksy feel free, I won't, and I'll have a good moan at the greedy bosses who take, take, take and don't seem to offer much back.

If it was arranged at Elland Road, that would make you very happy wouldn't it?

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:56 pm  

roversmad wrote:

If it was arranged at Elland Road, that would make you very happy wouldn't it?

That would appear to be the only acceptable alternative for some Leeds fans. Worked out well when they got the semi there in 1995.

Re: Friday night Semi : Wed Jul 01, 2015 9:52 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

That would appear to be the only acceptable alternative for some Leeds fans. Worked out well when they got the semi there in 1995.

Didn't work out so well for them when we had to travel there twice in 5 days back in 1986