Not quite true, as this morning's Daily Mail didn't have a single match report from the Magic Weekend





Special trains still operate these days, by the way - Northern Rail tend to charter a train each for the NRC Finalists (ours ran from Bolton, before anyone points out the irony!) and Chelsea FC subsidise a 'special' for a lot of their games up north, I think.

I really like the sixth round idea as well - it would be brilliant for our game if the beeb could transmit all 8 games even via red button.



More controversially perhaps the top eight super league teams should start their campaigns in the 6th round and the draw for the sixth round for those teams should be made in december with balls for 8 qualifiers in the bag at the same time.



That way some would play each other whilst the rest would have to wait until after the fifth round to find out their opponent but the rfl and fans could plan most of the event.



It would also give every game the extra spice of a win knocking the other team out.

If we had 8 CC matches over a weekend, would 70k fans paying £25 each split btwn 16 clubs (approx £1k to each club) be a worthwhile return for the clubs involved?

How much did the clubs receive for their fifth round games this year as they gave free tickets to season tickets holders.



I think if a knockout competive element was added to every game at Magic we would see bigger attendances.



Also their would be NL representation.



And If we switched the sixth round and allowed the top eight to enter at that stage we could schedule a clear international weekend and the top eight teams would play 2 less games MM and the fifth round.



Kills a number of birds with one stone.

The CC ticket was included in the price of a season ticket, it wasn't free.

I agree, whoever mooted this idea in the first place was obviously onto something ... just need to sort out some details and pass it on to Richard Lewis - where's Albert when you need him.