Just four days to go to the big final, and the game is still not a sell out. Nothing much in the media in terms of build up either.



Wigan fans mentioned this last year and I was loathe to agree but I'm afraid they have a point. No one is interested in this game bar the thousands of Wigan fans that will be making their first ever trip to wembley. The older fans will be fond of the old wembley but i think they will agree this meaningless mid season game has now lost its magic and should go the same way as the county cups. We should replace it with an International game or something.



I even know a couple of Saints fans that won't be watching the game "not interested" they said!!!!



Its a Shame.....

What a great idea an England friendly against say, Lebanon, Serbia, Russia or some other emerging nation would be of more interest it would seem.

0/10



Still bitter it seems.

It's a popular competition as below link refers to. www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/arti ... ture/23319 If the attendance is significantly lower on Saturday than it has been in recent years, the blame will largely lie with the loyalty factor at the Leeds Rhinos, which has no bounds it would seem ..... With the CC trophy at the National Stadium on offer - arguably the only silverware they can potentially manage this season - you'd think they would be flocking down to Wembley for this one?! I just hope the Pies are taking the numbers of fans being quoted on their forums then our sport won't look a joke on television. Again.

It's a popular competition as below link refers to. www.engagesuperleague.co.uk/arti ... ture/23319 If the attendance is significantly lower on Saturday than it has been in recent years, the blame will largely lie with the loyalty factor at the Leeds Rhinos, which has no bounds it would seem ..... With the CC trophy at the National Stadium on offer - arguably the only silverware they can potentially manage this season - you'd think they would be flocking down to Wembley for this one?! I just hope the Pies are taking the numbers of fans being quoted on their forums then our sport won't look a joke on television. Again.

Arf. Nice fishing trip.



To some degree though I don't think anyone can dispute that it has lost a little bit of magic. Saints fans have been saying it for the last few years and they've won plenty of them in that time including three in a row so they can hardly be called bitter. Wembley is a brilliant day out, but Super League is the big one.



I won't be watching on Saturday anyway as I doubt any boozers by Anfield will have it on so I won't be able to.

I'm a Wigan fan, and i agree it has lost it's magic. I'm excited about going and all that, but i'd rather us win the GF than the CC anyday.

Like it or not, the Challenge Cup IS Rugby League in this country.



It's the one game per year, neutrals/those who have no particular interest in our sport, watch.

The Aussies are quite jealous of it, as they don't have it.



Let's face it, the majority of families in this country do not have Sky, so they won't have much direct interest in regular round matches/play-off games, for the Grand Final. On the other hand, they all have direct access to the BBC, and that's where the CC is shown, so interest levels will be greater. Put simply, Mr & Mrs Average of Hemel Hempstead have more chance of knowing who are the reigning CC holders, rather than current SL winners.



Being honest, the GF is just a glorified version of the old Premiership, to compensate for a slightly irregular version of the regular league season. Eddie, Steve, Clarke et al, just try to brow beat us with their pro SL bias (can't blame 'em tho, as they have a product to market).



The CC is the greatest comp in our sport. We should rejoice in it.



It's just a pity that (if Idontbelieveit's paragraph runs true) Saturday wont be a "sell-out", with 2 of the more famous names in our sport taking part in a showpiece event.

anyway Biccy, have you been having lessons off Sally?

I don't believe it!!!

I've just looked in my dictionary for the definition of the word gullible, and there was nothing listed!!!!!

It's true. Since Super League the Challenge Cup has diminished in importance. It used to be an actual Challenge for teams to win it. Reaching Wembley was a long and hard road. You went to a lower division side away and you were thankful of a win.



Reaching the final now is often a case of winning one or two tough games. Any non-SL opposition are just byes these days. I'm not suggesting it's not worth winning as there are only two trophies to win, but it's not a big achievement anymore.

It's a bit like the FA cup in football.



When you're in the CC - it's magical, this time last year you were so excited, plans were in place, pick up times, routes, hotels, tickets - just pure excitement.



When you're not in it, it's a bit like you're annoyed there's no SL this week, nothing to watch on a Friday night for that bloody, daft cup.

JWP hits the nail on the head.