Rugby League: Goodbye Cardiff?
After the steady success of the first two Millennium Magic weekends, it seems strange to think that we might not be there next year.
Success? Well, yes, I think going up by 6000 constitutes that - and, with work, it could be better again next year.
There was again a great atmosphere in the city, if without that pioneering feel of the first year. I was in my favourite central Cardiff pub, The Cottage, when I got a reminder of how quickly things can become routine. A thoughtful lady asked if I wanted to sit where she had parked herself. Kind, I told her, but why would I be bothered precisely where I sat? "Because that's where you were last year."
Time for a change, then.
The League's reasons for considering Edinburgh are a little more strategic. The Millennium Stadium, under different management, has not, they believe, been doing its share to promote the event. And the Rugby League public, while it likes Cardiff, doesn't like its hiked-up hotel prices.
So Murrayfield it may be in 2009. At the very least, it will be good to have an alternative up our sleeve and the Scots are mad-keen to have us.
On the field, this year's matches were a right old mixed bag. Two walkovers over teams that didn't turn up, a classic game of two halves, a couple of decent contests and a belter of a humber derby.
Man of the weekend - Sean Long, by a short neck from Danny Brough.
Most encouraging side-show - Celtics v Featherstone, with 6100 at Bridgend and a feeling for the first time that there might be a potential Super League club there.
(Picture: Getty Images)
Next year's Wembley showpiece should be the Quad Nations opener against the Kangaroos, making their first visit to these shores for four years (which some may argue is how it should be).
With this in mind, I'd switch the August Challenge Cup final to Cardiff and give the SL weekend a go in Edinburgh.
There is the question of what happens to the seventh game if we up SL to 14 sides as of next year. Surely four games on one day would be too much for any pitch! My suggestion would be to take the Catalans' game to Paris.
Posted by: Douglas Ring-Kells | 08 May 2008 at 11:19 AM
I'd love to see this in the NRL. One weekend where you can watch a whole round of top class rugby league action. I'd love to travel to the northern hemisphere and watch the Super League too.
Posted by: NRL Fan | 09 May 2008 at 01:22 PM