Challenge Cup Draw

[Maximus Decimus]

I watched the semi-final today, and was a bit surprised by the draw at half-time. 

They invited Stuart Pearce down, which was great and he spoke well about the game. They also had Jon Wilkin there.

When it came to the draw, they had this large bowl with a hole cut in one side, that seemed quite large. Pearce put the balls in and made sure to look completely away before drawing out Hull KR. 

However, Wilkin took a look to see where he needed to put his hand before looking away and drawing. It seemed very open to abuse IMO. He could easily have seen the 3 numbers, grabbed the one he wanted and then swirled the other balls around.

I'm not for one second saying that he actually did this, just that he could have done . But when one person drawing is a big Warrington fan, and the other is a Saints legend (who played for Hull KR) you're almost asking for controversy.

On a completely separate note, I'm sure the RFL are pleased that Catalans drew Hull KR in the draw. 

[Maximus Decimus]

Got anyone thinking I've lost it, here it is and I must say it looks worse second time!

https://x.com/BBCSport/status/1908891902172164437

[langpark]

Very strange that they would not used a 'concealed' ball, that you would then open to reveal the number. As they do in most draws in any sport. 

Any word on when venues will get announced? 

[Eddie]

It looks to me like he’s just looking at the hole where he’s about to put his hand rather than checking the balls out, you’d need to do that before looking away. Also there’s zero reason to fix the draw, the four teams are all quite comparable I wouldn’t particularly favour playing one over another, it’s not like Wigan and a championship team were left in there. 

[Maximus Decimus]

23 minutes ago, langpark said:

Very strange that they would not used a 'concealed' ball, that you would then open to reveal the number. As they do in most draws in any sport. 

Any word on when venues will get announced? 

Are the RFL so strapped for cash that they can't afford to heat the balls anymore?

[Eddie]

24 minutes ago, langpark said:

Very strange that they would not used a 'concealed' ball, that you would then open to reveal the number. As they do in most draws in any sport. 

Any word on when venues will get announced? 

To be fair they don’t do that in English football, it’s just balls with a number on. 

[Maximus Decimus]

Just now, Eddie said:

It looks to me like he’s just looking at the hole where he’s about to put his hand rather than checking the balls out, you’d need to do that before looking away. Also there’s zero reason to fix the draw, the four teams are all quite comparable I wouldn’t particularly favour playing one over another, it’s not like Wigan and a championship team were left in there. 

I don't think he did, but he certainly could've done.

He just would need to see which is which ball is where and then put his hand in to find it. He does look like he's looking in rather than looking for the hole. While they're reading out the first team he's pretty much looking in.

The teams are well placed but of course the RFL would prefer it if Catalans didn't make it. Hull KR are the current best ranked of any of them.

Again, I doubt very much he actually did, but if it'd been a draw with an easier route and he'd have pulled it out for Saints.... I suppose it's about pre-empting possible controversies before they actually happen. 

[HawkMan]

I think I prefer this to the UEFA CL draws. If UEFA were doing this it'll be an hour show with endless droning on..

 

 

Edited April 6 by HawkMan

[Spidey]

30 minutes ago, langpark said:

 

Any word on when venues will get announced? 

York & Doncaster apparently

[Gav Wilson]

5 minutes ago, Spidey said:

York & Doncaster apparently

York for KR v Catalans

St Helens for Leigh v Wire

[Eddie]

11 minutes ago, Maximus Decimus said:

I don't think he did, but he certainly could've done.

He just would need to see which is which ball is where and then put his hand in to find it. He does look like he's looking in rather than looking for the hole. While they're reading out the first team he's pretty much looking in.

The teams are well placed but of course the RFL would prefer it if Catalans didn't make it. Hull KR are the current best ranked of any of them.

Again, I doubt very much he actually did, but if it'd been a draw with an easier route and he'd have pulled it out for Saints.... I suppose it's about pre-empting possible controversies before they actually happen. 

Oh yeah I agree, while we couldn’t see how big the hole is he potentially could have done. It’s a shame about Catalans but on a personal level I’d prefer they weren’t there either as I’m taking three mates down this year, none of whom have been to a RL match before, and I hope the crowd is as big as possible - KR v Wire preferably. 

[Eddie]

10 minutes ago, Spidey said:

York & Doncaster apparently

Is there a flat racing theme this year? 

[Archie Gordon]

11 minutes ago, Spidey said:

York & Doncaster apparently

York!?

[Wellsy4HullFC]

5 minutes ago, Gav Wilson said:

York for KR v Catalans

St Helens for Leigh v Wire

Is that confirmed? All Out RL were saying York and Donny were already pencilled in before the game, with seems stupid considering there would only be one Yorkshire team involved!

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Just now, Archie Gordon said:

York!?

Probably about right for the game against Catalans with no away support.

[Archie Gordon]

Just now, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Probably about right for the game against Catalans with no away support.

If your ambition is less than zero, go for it. 

[sam4731]

29 minutes ago, HawkMan said:

I think I prefer this to the UEFA CL draws. If UEFA were doing this it'll be an hour show with endless droning on..

 

 

UEFA don't even use balls anymore either. They have a big red button that tells a computer to generate the fixtures now.

[Maximus Decimus]

21 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Oh yeah I agree, while we couldn’t see how big the hole is he potentially could have done. It’s a shame about Catalans but on a personal level I’d prefer they weren’t there either as I’m taking three mates down this year, none of whom have been to a RL match before, and I hope the crowd is as big as possible - KR v Wire preferably. 

As a Widnes fan, I'm hoping KR play themselves in the final.

[Eddie]

19 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Is that confirmed? All Out RL were saying York and Donny were already pencilled in before the game, with seems stupid considering there would only be one Yorkshire team involved!

This is rugby league though, did you take that into account?

[Maximus Decimus]

2 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

UEFA don't even use balls anymore either. They have a big red button that tells a computer to generate the fixtures now.

Absolutely no chance of corruption there!

I used to be naive and very trusting and thought all talk of heated balls etc was conspiracy nonsense. 

Then they basically admitted to it with the 98 World Cup!

[Eddie]

Just now, Maximus Decimus said:

Absolutely no chance of corruption there!

I used to be naive and very trusting and thought all talk of heated balls etc was conspiracy nonsense. 

Then they basically admitted to it with the 98 World Cup!

FIFA and corruption go hand in hand, allegedly. 

[Maximus Decimus]

Just now, Eddie said:

This is rugby league though, did you take that into account?

Which is pretty much my point about how the draw was done.

I was more gobsmacked that they hadn't considered the potential for controversy having an ex-Saints legend picking out a ball of a pretty open container.

[Padge]

9 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

UEFA don't even use balls anymore either. They have a big red button that tells a computer to generate the fixtures now.

Computers are absolutely $h!t at producing random numbers.

[sam4731]

Just now, Eddie said:

FIFA and corruption go hand in hand, allegedly. 

I can assure you that hosting a World Cup in a country that is 58th in the world rankings, is inhospitable in the Summer, has a terrible record on human rights, homophonic, transphobia, treatment of women and has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol is completely above board. 

If it wasn't, surely FIFA wouldn't make the same mistake twice...

[bratman]

21 minutes ago, Padge said:

Computers are absolutely $h!t at producing random numbers.

Windows produces random crashes pretty well though