Magic Weekend

[dogz08]

Think they should go back to derby games next year

 

[druzik]

Think they should go back to derby games next year

They are... well thats what they said on BBC Leeds earlier today.

 

[St.John]

Any surprise tes not to make the play offs or last 4?

I really don't want to call it, to be honest!

As far as the playoffs go, I think any team that makes it is capable of having a big say in how the competition goes.

Teams like Saints and Leeds will be favoured to make the final, but not necessarily both of them. There's too many nasty teams involved, any one of which is quite capable of knocking another out of the playoffs.

I'll go top 6, in no particular order:

Leeds, Saints, Wigan, 'Quins, HKR, Cats.

I'm not sure about Bradford, I think they might self destruct spectacularly as the season goes on. On the other hand, they could easily put in a strong season from this point, after a few good wins!

In summary: fecked if I know!

 

[druzik]

I really don't want to call it, to be honest!

As far as the playoffs go, I think any team that makes it is capable of having a big say in how the competition goes.

Teams like Saints and Leeds will be favoured to make the final, but not necessarily both of them. There's too many nasty teams involved, any one of which is quite capable of knocking another out of the playoffs.

I'll go top 6, in no particular order:

Leeds, Saints, Wigan, 'Quins, HKR, Cats.

I'm not sure about Bradford, I think they might self destruct spectacularly as the season goes on. On the other hand, they could easily put in a strong season from this point, after a few good wins!

In summary: fecked if I know!

The way it should be.

So no Hull FC in there, what about Cas?

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

Crowds about on par with the first year - though with two extra clubs represented it could be seen as stepping a bit backwards...

2007: 58,831
2008: 63,144

 

[St.John]

Think they should go back to derby games next year

I'm not sure I'd agree; we've shown the concept can stand on its own without bolstering it with derby matches, and I hate the way the derbies have been devalued in recent times by playing them too often.

I just think derbies should be a straight pair of home and away games, the combination of MM and derbies just makes it all a bit cheesy for me.

 

[St.John]

Crowds about on par with the first year - though with two extra clubs represented it could be seen as stepping a bit backwards...

2007: 58,831
2008: 63,144

The extra clubs have pretty much zero away support, though, so I don't think you can judge too harshly as a result, particularly with no Hull/Hull KR, Bradford/Leeds etc.

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

The extra clubs have pretty much zero away support, though, so I don't think you can judge too harshly as a result, particularly with no Hull/Hull KR, Bradford/Leeds etc.

You'd expect Salford to bring some supporters.

I saw at least two Celtic supporters on SLTV... :shock:

I guess the good news is the SRU was more supportive of the event than the Millenium Stadium people - and sold a few thousand tickets to Scots.

 

[St.John]

The way it should be.

So no Hull FC in there, what about Cas?

This is the nice thing about the SL recently; there have been a couple of frontrunners in Leeds and Saints, but below that it's an absolute lottery - a cutthroat competition.

I'm not sure Hull FC will pull it together consistently, they always seem to pick up serious injuries throughout the season that mess their chances up. On paper they're a threat, but getting all their players out there has proven problematic in recent times.

Cas are handy, and can raise their game, but I'm not sure they're quite there with big match temperament and experience at the moment. I can see them narrowly losing enough games through not really knowing how to kill opponents off.

Both of the above have reasonably solid first teams, but injuries could be crucial via the depth of their squads.

But all this may well be wildly incorrect, they're just hunches I have!

 

[druzik]

This is the nice thing about the SL recently; there have been a couple of frontrunners in Leeds and Saints, but below that it's an absolute lottery - a cutthroat competition.

I'm not sure Hull FC will pull it together consistently, they always seem to pick up serious injuries throughout the season that mess their chances up. On paper they're a threat, but getting all their players out there has proven problematic in recent times.

Cas are handy, and can raise their game, but I'm not sure they're quite there with big match temperament and experience at the moment. I can see them narrowly losing enough games through not really knowing how to kill opponents off.

Both of the above have reasonably solid first teams, but injuries could be crucial via the depth of their squads.

But all this may well be wildly incorrect, they're just hunches I have!

Fair enough... anyways I am off.

 

[Johnny_L_O]

Think they should go back to derby games next year

Nah, I like the pool system that they have used this year. It works better. Derbys are getting boring now and crowds have been dropping in general with 3-4 games played a year. It seems much better this year with home and away derbys. The Saints Wigan game this weekend was just a fluke (as in they were drawn against each other, I backed Wigan to win ;-) ) :lol:

 

[Johnny_L_O]

This is the nice thing about the SL recently; there have been a couple of frontrunners in Leeds and Saints, but below that it's an absolute lottery - a cutthroat competition.

I'm not sure Hull FC will pull it together consistently, they always seem to pick up serious injuries throughout the season that mess their chances up. On paper they're a threat, but getting all their players out there has proven problematic in recent times.

Cas are handy, and can raise their game, but I'm not sure they're quite there with big match temperament and experience at the moment. I can see them narrowly losing enough games through not really knowing how to kill opponents off.

Both of the above have reasonably solid first teams, but injuries could be crucial via the depth of their squads.

But all this may well be wildly incorrect, they're just hunches I have!

Id agree with all of that... Good summary

 

[dogz08]

Well for next year's one i think there should be at least 2 big games like..

Wigan vs Warrington or St Helens vs Warrington
Leeds vs St Helens or Leeds vs Wigan


i would go..


Leeds v St Helens
Wigan v Warrington
Castleford v Hull KR
Catalans v Harlequins
Hull v Bradford
Huddersfield v Celtic
Wakefield v Salford

 

[IanG]

Would a concept like that work for the NRL?

 

[druzik]

Would a concept like that work for the NRL?

I was thinking about this the other day. It depends on how its marketed I suppose.

The one thing the aussies dont have is the tradition to travel aweay to large venues to just "support" a game. I.e. no Challenge cup finals, or SL finals or FA cup finals etc... europe has this strong tradition of getting fans to travel to places to spread the sport.

In Austarlia its just one or two usual grounds in the heartlands. The only break from this is the occasional Melbourne SoO and test.

But for a round of matches would fans travel to see not only their team but other teams... I just dont know.

I was thinking myself that maybe a round of games should be taken to country and non heartland areas to promote good will and spread the game. So some places to go.

Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast, toowoomba, Rockhampton, Wagga Wagga, Ballarat, geelong, Adelaide, Darwin, perth, Alice springs, Orange/Dubbo/Parkes/Bathurst region. So Obviousdly not every single town can be done each year but have a roation... I know some get done in trials but I think an NRL match would get larger crowds and get travelling support as well. Or have a knock out comp where the early rounds get to travel to these places.

 

[deluded pom?]

I was thinking about this the other day. It depends on how its marketed I suppose.

The one thing the aussies dont have is the tradition to travel aweay to large venues to just "support" a game. I.e. no Challenge cup finals, or SL finals or FA cup finals etc... europe has this strong tradition of getting fans to travel to places to spread the sport.

In Austarlia its just one or two usual grounds in the heartlands. The only break from this is the occasional Melbourne SoO and test.

But for a round of matches would fans travel to see not only their team but other teams... I just dont know.

I was thinking myself that maybe a round of games should be taken to country and non heartland areas to promote good will and spread the game. So some places to go.

Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast, toowoomba, Rockhampton, Wagga Wagga, Ballarat, geelong, Adelaide, Darwin, perth, Alice springs, Orange/Dubbo/Parkes/Bathurst region. So Obviousdly not every single town can be done each year but have a roation... I know some get done in trials but I think an NRL match would get larger crowds and get travelling support as well. Or have a knock out comp where the early rounds get to travel to these places.

It doesn't even have to be a full round, maybe a couple of double headers.

 

[druzik]

It doesn't even have to be a full round, maybe a couple of double headers.

Yes, sure. That could work.

 

[IanG]

How about calling it "Bush week" Not only take matches to the NRL starved bush centres but with the idea of a Central Queensland team wanting to enter the NRL down the track play a double header there to test the waters as it were.(Ideally have the 3 queensland teams on show there)

Only thing is there will be some clubs bellyaching about having to for go one of their home games.

 

[druzik]

How about calling it "Bush week" Not only take matches to the NRL starved bush centres but with the idea of a Central Queensland team wanting to enter the NRL down the track play a double header there to test the waters as it were.(Ideally have the 3 queensland teams on show there)

Excellent idea

Only thing is there will be some clubs bellyaching about having to for go one of their home games.

They just need to harden the f**k up.

 

[IanG]

Excellent idea



They just need to harden the f**k up.

Or dangle a big cash carrot at them