Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 1:39 pm  

B0NES wrote:

When the cricket scores are coming in over the weekend , I can see all eyes will be turning towards IMG and Tony Sutton again .

IMG had suggestions to revamp the cc didn't they with group stages and two legged semi finals? The club's I imagine rejected it, the RFL came up with this ill thought out novel idea, now they're looking to revamp it again.

Don't spend 500k a year on consultants if you're not going to listen to them! The club's thinking they know best is why IMG were brought in in the first place.

The third round draw would've been better if super league clubs weren't seeded, could've been a few big teams out early doors that way and an amateur/champ team would've had more chance of getting to a later round, thereby rekindling the magic of the cup, rather than it's current state

[Chris71]

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 2:14 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

IMG had suggestions to revamp the cc didn't they with group stages and two legged semi finals? The club's I imagine rejected it, the RFL came up with this ill thought out novel idea, now they're looking to revamp it again.

Don't spend 500k a year on consultants if you're not going to listen to them! The club's thinking they know best is why IMG were brought in in the first place.

The third round draw would've been better if super league clubs weren't seeded, could've been a few big teams out early doors that way and an amateur/champ team would've had more chance of getting to a later round, thereby rekindling the magic of the cup, rather than it's current state

The bit is bold is exactly the issue I see and why the game is on it's booty as for want of a better phrase theres 'too many cooks'

Year on year money is spent or rather wasted on some form of consultancy or change and then most of what has been found simply gets ignored. The old adage of 'if you don't like the answers then don't ask the questions' springs to mind.

The game needs a strong, professional and forward thinking Governing body but sadly we have the total opposite with a weak, parochial and amateur.

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 3:04 pm  

Surely Asiata play first half with Cust then rest them, can see Balmforth going in halves 2nd half.
Kemp
Barron
Jebson
Westerman
Martin
Moy
Cust
Fash
Balmforth
Aydin
Holmes
Kirby
Asiata
Subs
Ashworth
Gardiner
Hutchinson
Salabio

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 3:16 pm  

HU8HFC wrote:

Going to guess that the pitch at Fev has played a part in players been rested, Leeds and Saints have gone stronger playing on SL standard pitches.

As a Fev fan there's not much wrong with the pitch at the moment, it's what you'd expect from a grass pitch in February but certainly not in any way a risk. With the weather fairly dry recently, it's been not remotely like the Challenge Cup game you might have seen against Wakefield last year - when it chucks if down with rain for hours, as it did then, the pitch does get very boggy but most of the time it's fine.

That said, maybe somebody has in the back of their mind the fact that Hull picked up a few injuries in that feisty CC game at Post Office Road a few years ago, but that was a bit of a freaky game and generally you don't see more injuries at Fev than anywhere else.

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 3:52 pm  

The squad seems a sensible approach. Hopefully Asiata and Cust can be taken off at half time.

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 4:06 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

IMG had suggestions to revamp the cc didn't they with group stages and two legged semi finals? The club's I imagine rejected it, the RFL came up with this ill thought out novel idea, now they're looking to revamp it again.

Don't spend 500k a year on consultants if you're not going to listen to them! The club's thinking they know best is why IMG were brought in in the first place.

The third round draw would've been better if super league clubs weren't seeded, could've been a few big teams out early doors that way and an amateur/champ team would've had more chance of getting to a later round, thereby rekindling the magic of the cup, rather than it's current state

I’ve said it before, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having the last 32 clubs in a bag and having an open draw.

Sometimes you’ll draw Wigan away, other times you’ll be at home to a lower league team. It’s the magic of the cup and adds to the excitement when the draw opens up for done teams or pits two bigger clubs together in an early round.

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 4:23 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

IMG had suggestions to revamp the cc didn't they with group stages and two legged semi finals? The club's I imagine rejected it, the RFL came up with this ill thought out novel idea, now they're looking to revamp it again.

Don't spend 500k a year on consultants if you're not going to listen to them! The club's thinking they know best is why IMG were brought in in the first place.

The third round draw would've been better if super league clubs weren't seeded, could've been a few big teams out early doors that way and an amateur/champ team would've had more chance of getting to a later round, thereby rekindling the magic of the cup, rather than it's current state

Thing is Steve do we really need to be paying anyone to come up with a revamped C/C competition
I agree the RFL are pretty useless but in this digital age all they had to do was ask fans for their ideas about revamping the C/C.
using this approach rather than spending what is likely to be millions on the Speadsheet Charlies IMG who know sweet FA about the game would most likely have come up with far better solutions to enhance the sport than what IMG have so far delivered.
Lets hope the NRL come in sooner than later and get rid of IMG before they bankrupt the RFL

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 5:09 pm  

bonaire wrote:

Thing is Steve do we really need to be paying anyone to come up with a revamped C/C competition
I agree the RFL are pretty useless but in this digital age all they had to do was ask fans for their ideas about revamping the C/C.
using this approach rather than spending what is likely to be millions on the Speadsheet Charlies IMG who know sweet FA about the game would most likely have come up with far better solutions to enhance the sport than what IMG have so far delivered.
Lets hope the NRL come in sooner than later and get rid of IMG before they bankrupt the RFL

Something needs to change with it, for me and I imagine most other fans, it doesn't really get interesting until the quarter/semi final, even then, given the small no. of top flight teams, it gets boring playing the same teams over and over.

If we're paying for the 'spreadsheet Charlie's' for the next ten years, we might as well use them, rather than listening to chairmen that care about themselves only

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Thu Feb 06, 2025 6:42 pm  

The CC has been dying on it's ar$e for a few years now and change was needed but I don't think the changes the RFL /IMG have made will stop its decline .
Both need to go back to the drawing board asap to come up with a better plan .

Re: Challenge Cup - York Acorn : Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:27 am  

Mr. Zucchini Head wrote:

I just don't see what meaningful practice and fitness they are going to get playing against amateur opposition. For me it's just about getting through it without injuries. I would look at the squad and say, which players can we not afford to be without for the start of the season. Those guys wouldn't play. There is no point.

Moy
Martin
Westerman
Briscoe
Barron
Cust
Kemp
Sao
Balmforth
Aydin
Lane
Jebson
Gardiner

Salabio
Fash
Hutchison
Kirby

A smattering of first teamers to show respect to York Acorn and the competition, another chance for a few of the youngsters to make an impact, and guys like Asiata, Rapana and Sezer wrapped in cotton wool.

Even with that team I would expect to be winning by at least 80.

It’s about going through drills they’ve learned on the training ground and having a ‘game head’ on, giving players match fitness. So there’s every point imo