It seems like pressure is building and there is now a serious chance the game will not be played
the rfl are being completely biased on this - London allowed weeks ago to play their swinton game in September ( as swinton cannot play under lights ?)
the 2 games should have been rescheduled at the same meeting
now Oldham have moved their game which does not give 4 days between sheffields games - who allowed that ?
nwc pulled their 1895 cup game with no penalty so precedent set - just say we cannot raise a team end of
Luckily not bought tickets yet
lets just have a good game on Sunday and show them what we can do
onwards and upwards
It seems like pressure is building and there is now a serious chance the game will not be played
the rfl are being completely biased on this - * London allowed weeks ago to play their swinton game in September ( as swinton cannot play under lights ?)
the 2 games should have been rescheduled at the same meeting
now Oldham have moved their game which does not give 4 days between sheffields games - who allowed that ?
nwc pulled their 1895 cup game with no penalty so precedent set - just say we cannot raise a team end of
Luckily not bought tickets yet
lets just have a good game on Sunday and show them what we can do
onwards and upwards
* I'd argue with the word "biased" mate! It was "convenient" for both teams for the game to be re-scheduled the weekend after the original date. It's the first round of the play-offs, and neither of us (for different reasons 🤣) will be involved.
Had it been played mid-week, it'd prob involved an overnight (and expensive) stay in a hotel, and finances are tight enough anyway at our place, without adding summat like that to our outgoings.
Obviously, it's a far more diff scenario for Sheff and you, but....
What options (other than not playing the final) are there, in a congested fixture calendar? But.....
Would I swap probs with you? Possibly!
Spelly.
No way the Final won't take place. Don't read these 'clickbait' RL sites, they are 99% rubbish, and glean their info off Fan's Messageboards, like this.
There is another option... we take a 48-0 loss, and don't play Sheffield.
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts You are probably right, but didn't Stuart Murphy suggest that the Club could pull out of the final if the RFL forced a date for the Sheffield game.
Maybe Widnes and London could agree that Sunday's game could count as the final!!! I am sure that they have no interest in this meaningless Cup game. It has been a farce from day one.
Of the 2 fixtures the one to drop is the cup game. Play Sheffield on the Sunday and prepare for the play offs.
Give the 1895 (no sponsor, not included in the fixture list, no IMG points, final venue decided at the last minute) Cup the respect it fully deserves and was afforded by the RFL!
Bought my ticket and the Hotel booked so I hope it is on. Personally I do not think we will come 4th as London will beat us this weekend and Doncaster come 4th. 5th or 6th and forfeit the Sheffield game, or play our Academy with a few senior players.
I’m of that thinking - cup final is a must to play in and a reward (if a little tarnished) for the players. The Sheff game is a funny one depending on whether it will affect our league position… usual shitshow from the RFL. Couldn’t run a bath…
My guess is that both games will go ahead.
Yes, it is a final and in 20 years time the players will be dining out on that brilliant, but unexpected, victory over the mighty London team in the prestigious 1895 Cup; and the prize money meant an £18.95 bonus for all the players.
If we do pull out of either game, the RFL will no doubt impose a fine or deduct points and claim we are bringing the game into disrepute, Oh, what irony!!!!
In any event, does it really matter where we finish in this joke league - 4th or 10th, who cares? This year has been a total write-off, playing in a meaningless league and meaningless or, at best, second rate cup competition.
Credit to the Widnes Board, coach, players and backroom staff for keeping the game of rugby league going in Widnes, with little or no support from the RFL. More importantly, credit to those fans who turn up at every game or support the Club in other ways, who deserve better from those running the game.
Maybe, one day fans may look back on this as a pivotal year, when the those running the game opened their eyes to see that super league and rugby league are actually the same game - and Widnes won the last 1895 final, beating the mighty London. On reflection, maybe not!!!!
It becomes a concern if Widnes need a result against Sheffield to guarantee a top six spot, which isn't beyond the realms of possibility, although the points difference advantage over Barrow probably makes it OK.
The 1895 Cup needs to go back to how the Northern Rail Cup was, but it's all dependent on the format.
They could have two leagues of 10 (or 11/12 depending on numbers) and then just have a group stage format involving all 20 clubs to start the season as was. 4 groups of 5 based on geography, top two go through. It means Swinton, Rochdale etc can get a decent gate v Widnes, Oldham in group stage (regardless of what league their in), and then for some it might mean even more 'big crowd' ties (e.g. Whitehaven v Workington x4 games).
But that's all a bit too straight forward for the RFL these days.
Pity we haven't got an academy we could play the kids in the final and fudge the rfl.
Play offs are far more important than some meaningless final, Maybe we could get Eamon O'Carroll to issue some sick notes for the players.
Pity we haven't got an academy we could play the kids in the final and fudge the rfl.
Play offs are far more important than some meaningless final, Maybe we could get Eamon O'Carroll to issue some sick notes for the players.
Play our u19s team and add a few outside squad players like Lyons and Connell.
yes I agree there - I think we need to go back to 2 divisions below the promised land, with extra fixtures from a competition like the northern rail - with groups of 4 playing 3 or possibly 6 games before the knockout stage
so a division of 10 gives 18 games plus your 6 in the NR comp gives the magic number of 24
too logical I am afraid
@frankg c'mon lad how could the rfl possibly predict a championship team reaching the final of championship competition the day after a championship round of fixtures, ffs it's like you think they're incompetent.....