New team in the GF

[Eddie]

Must say I’m delighted that there’ll be a new team in the final this year, like I was when Salford made it in 2019. Saints v Catalans is the obvious choice on the pitch but Hull KR fans would really get OT rocking - either way I can’t wait to be there

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Leeds v Catalans will do me!!!!

[corvusxiii]

I was dreading a Pies v Saints GF but this is great news.

I hear a lot about the quality of the competition when the St PieLoins aren't that strong but I think its a lot more depressing when two of those teams make the GF anyway despite a flat and unremarkable season. We'll Done HKR! A breath of fresh air.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

30 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Must say I’m delighted that there’ll be a new team in the final this year, like I was when Salford made it in 2019. Saints v Catalans is the obvious choice on the pitch but Hull KR fans would really get OT rocking - either way I can’t wait to be there

Yeah I'm looking forward to being thier too. I'm pretty desperate for Saints to not make it though.... Couldn't stand them winning another title 

[Tabby]

Unbelievably excruciating.

[Eddie]

4 hours ago, Tabby said:

Unbelievably excruciating.

Why are you posting on this forum pal, have you got nowt better to do? There must be a Union forum where you can try to say something constructive?

[fieldofclothofgold]

It will be good for a new name on the trophy ,but our sport may be small at the side of the FA PREMIERSHIP  ,but there is also a very small number of clubs guaranteed to win their league 

[Bod]

An end of season knock out cup competition to decide the Champions. No wonder people can't be bothered to attend our sport.

[Dunbar]

Surprised this thread hasn't had a lot more positive response seeing as though everyone moans about the same teams in the Grand Final year after year.

It will be great to see a new team at Old Trafford and it is a win win. Either Catalans which is great for the league with the French coming to the fore or HKR as underdogs playing a superb brand of Rugby. What's not to like.

[Old Frightful]

4 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

HKR as underdogs playing a superb brand of Rugby. What's not to like.

I can think of summat...

[Gerrumonside ref]

My view is that it’s good for competitive balance that a new team has made the final.

But professional sport is cruel and it really is all about winning.

I think it only really moves the needle if a new team does it when it matters and wins the big one.

[Spidey]

12 minutes ago, Bod said:

An end of season knock out cup competition to decide the Champions. No wonder people can't be bothered to attend our sport.

Yet 70k+ turn up for the final

[Bod]

5 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Yet 70k+ turn up for the final

But how many of those attend through the season? People jumping on the final bandwagon doesn't mean it's a good system for the sport.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

3 minutes ago, Bod said:

But how many of those attend through the season? People jumping on the final bandwagon doesn't mean it's a good system for the sport.

Bloody hell let's just enjoy the finals

[JohnM]

4 minutes ago, Bod said:

But how many of those attend through the season? People jumping on the final bandwagon doesn't mean it's a good system for the sport.

Quite a lot, I reckon. The GF is a grand day out for fans.

[Spidey]

29 minutes ago, Bod said:

But how many of those attend through the season? People jumping on the final bandwagon doesn't mean it's a good system for the sport.

Well the sport has had playoffs in more seasons that outright champs. It’s perfectly fine

[M j M]

29 minutes ago, Bod said:

But how many of those attend through the season? People jumping on the final bandwagon doesn't mean it's a good system for the sport.

Well yes if you're a fan of a club which has a habit of coming top and choking when the pressure is on then I can well imagine you wouldn't like a system which needs a team to prove their Champion qualities on the biggest stage.

[Bod]

3 minutes ago, M j M said:

Well yes if you're a fan of a club which has a habit of coming top and choking when the pressure is on then I can well imagine you wouldn't like a system which needs a team to prove their Champion qualities on the biggest stage.

Like HKR?

[M j M]

1 minute ago, Bod said:

Like HKR?

I like them quite a lot, yes. Certainly the most admirable club on Humberside.

[Marauder]

Looks like Smithy listened to me when we had a chat before the play-off's started  

[fieldofclothofgold]

I never leave early when HKR come 

[Henson Park Old Firm]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

Quite a lot, I reckon. The GF is a grand day out for fans.

I'd love for the super league GF played on the same day as the NRL GF, then it would a whole day of GF!

[Gerrumonside ref]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

Quite a lot, I reckon. The GF is a grand day out for fans.

Agreed and I would keep building it and building it into a real celebration (top to bottom of rugby league in this country) of the game.

I would celebrate all the champion teams at other levels, all the great retirees, some music and anything else to make it feel like a big event.

The only slight pivot I would make is while still keeping it affordable for all, just to tone down some of the excessive drinking.  I like a drink to unwind with the match, but it’s obvious some can’t handle and behave after a whole afternoon of it.

I don’t know what the solution is sadly and we still want a great atmosphere, but just in keeping with the best traditions of rugby league fans.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

32 minutes ago, fieldofclothofgold said:

I never leave early when HKR come 

My girlfriend normally gets bored and leaves before I come. 

 

(sorry, I had to, the joke was right in front of me, I apologise, mods delete it if you want). 

[Mr Frisky]

8 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

I'd love for the super league GF played on the same day as the NRL GF, then it would a whole day of GF!

It would probably be all organised, tickets sold, tv schedule agreed and then the NRL would change their minds....