RUGBY League has been quick, often too quick, in recent years to ditch traditions that have been a big part of the game for decades.

The switch to a summer game saw an end to Boxing Day as a meaningful fixture and the parallel seasons meant Australian tours were no longer possible.

Nothing could be done about that – and most people will agree the summer switch has been better all round.

Some decisions have been more deliberate – the abolition of the Lancashire Cup and, unforgivably, the ending of Ashes rugby have made the game poorer.

Trying to fabricate new competitions and events like the Magic Weekend and Four Nations just do not tick the same boxes as those games that preceded it.

Thankfully the Challenge Cup has survived as the game’s most historic tournament despite some shaky moments at the start of the new millennium.

Tradition is important for rugby league and its followers because people identify with certain landmark dates, fixtures and tournaments.

But one tradition - the Easter double header - has now gone past its sell-by date.

Although Salford fans will probably disagree after seeing their side topple Wigan on Easter Monday, the weekend now is largely something of an anti-climax.

The big derbies of the weekend all take place on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday – and the follow up Easter Monday games are pretty low key, forgettable.

Monday’s game at home to Hull saw a flat crowd watch two physically shattered teams – and the two points went to the team wanting it more.

For years the finger was pointed at Australian coaches, who did not understand ‘our tradition’, and they were criticised for daring to challenge the two games in four days policy.

Ian Millward, for good or ill, had his own way of dealing with the weekend.

But now even British coaches – including Saints’ own Keiron Cunningham who has played in enough back-to-back Easter games in his time – are criticising the concept.

Player welfare is one thing – and the body that looks after their interest is more than adept in making a case.

But who is going to make a case for the fans, who have to shell out double on a weekend, and then for the second of those games never get the same value for money.

When was the last time anyone walked away from an Easter Monday game thinking ‘I’ll really remember this game’? (Let’s discount the Easter Monday game of 2004 for obvious reasons.) If this weekend survives now purely for television then why not simply stagger all six fixtures over the Thursday to Monday period – as long as ours remains on Good Friday!