Does anyone know when we find this out? Seems a bit silly the fixtures have been released but we don't know who we're playing that weekend?

I think the only fair format would be to put 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th, 5th v 6th etc. that way every game would be competitive with the higher team trying to extend their lead over their nearest in the league and the lower of the 2 trying to close the gap or go ahead of those in front. I've always thought its a very unfair system but we take what we get. The sooner we know the better!

I think it will be Wigan vs Wire and Leeds vs Saints

There's enough disincentive to push for the top spots already IMO. Maybe treat the play offs as one group and the rest as another resulting in 1st v 8th, 2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th, 9th v 14th, 10th v 13th and 11th v 12th would be a way of keeping it close whilst rewarding finishing high. This season that would mean Huddersfield v Hull KR, Warrington v Les Catalans, Leeds v Hull FC, Wigan v St Helens, Bradford v Salford, Widnes v London and Wakefield v Castleford. I wouldn't expect too many uneven games there yet it clearly benefits the teams that finished in the top 2 and the teams that nearly made the play offs

This is where the concept of the MW falls down tbh, an actual purpose. I think it's a great weekend for the fans and the move to the Etihad was the right choice, but ATEOTD it's still just an irregular fixture added to the league. The fixture choices are always up for debate and there never seems a fair way to do it. Playing it in place of a regular fixture is not an option because then one team loses a home game.



I'd like to see the concept of a MW kept, but adapted to fit a purpose. What this purpose is exactly I don't know. The QFs and SFs of the CC are currently pretty poorly attended, perhaps 2 double headers for the QFs or a DH for the semis could be used as the MW, though it is likely only fans of the 8 or 4 teams involved would turn up and would be more inclined to only watch the game their team is playing in.



On the VT recently there was a discussion about SL having its own form of the upcoming Auckland 9's competition, and I think this could be a good use of the MW. It could be a standalone 9's tournament over one weekend, ideally with a decent pot of prize money for the winner. I think this idea could work well if the touted 2x12 to 3x8 league system is adopted, as this could be played in an interim week before the 2 leagues split in to 3. You could also potentially have fans from as many as 24 teams attending.



FWIW, this year I think it will almost certainly be us vs Wire.

The Magic Weekend is an ok idea but in the wrong competition.

Why have a 27th game? Makes no sense whatsoever.



It should be in the Challenge Cup at the last 16 stage.

Eight games over two days with the draw for the quarter finals being made immdeiately following the final whistle of the last game.

SL clubs should enter the C Cup at the last 16 stage too. So under current SL numbers it would be 14 SL clubs and 2 Championship clubs.

This is a suggestion I have made in the past, get all the games live on BBC whether it be channel 1,2,3 or 4.



Make it a stand alone showpiece event that actually matters.

Firstly Happy New Year to you all,



The problem with it being a Challenge Cup event is you will only have 4 teams involved where as League you have 14, meaning bigger crowds.



Maybe they should do a live draw so that it is a random thing who plays who?

You'd have 16 teams involved.



4 games Saturday and then again Sunday.

So all the Championship clubs and those below are playing for 2 places in the last 16? Can't see them being happy with that.

So put SL teams in last 32 and winners go to last 16 and Manchester showpiece.

Nor would I as a SL fan to be honest. A big part of the fun of the cup is being drawn against clubs you wouldn't normally play against. Some of my favourite cup memories were against Featherstone, Sheffield, Leigh and Barrow away, none of which would likely happen if we only had a 2/15 chance of drawing a none-SL club