DO you remember when part time rugby league used to be able to take Challenge Cup semi finals to Old Trafford, Maine Road and Elland Road and get 25,000 to 32,000 people in there?

Has the appeal of the game’s most traditional competitions diminished so much that the focus this year is again on making the ground look full?

The choice of Doncaster’s Keepmoat ahead of Leeds’ Headingley on a Friday night is baffling. It is clearly nowhere near as accessible for Wigan who will have to trek down the A1 after running the M62 gauntlet.

Not only is it an extra 30 miles, even if the traffic is kind — which is asking something on a Friday night — it is another 30 minutes.

Do the planners never really think that this extra time can be the difference between booking a full day or a half day off work.

Of course it is a little closer to Hull - but not by that much.

We can only assume that Headingley or Huddersfield was not chosen because of the image empty seats gives.

What price Orrell for next year?

It is a poor state of affairs that we now judge on how few gaps there are rather than how many tickets have been sold.

If we carry on at that rate Ray French will be giving the Moss Lane stand a lick of paint and putting a bid in for next year’s final four.

The Challenge Cup semis have always been a momentous fixture in the game, the final hurdle to Wembley and the ultimate in rugby league days out.

The semi place where dreams are made or hopes dashed.

Ask any Saints fan that ran on to the Central Park pitch after the drought had ended with a win over Leigh in 1987 what a landmark day that was.

Equally ask the same group of fans their feelings as they trudged off the Stretford End in 1990 after a 26,000 plus crowd had witnessed a heartbreaking loss to Wigan.

The cup semi is a landmark game in the calendar and it is time we went back to treating it as such instead of treating it like a damage limitation exercise.

Of course, I can see the dilemma. The cup semi, like the final, comes in the middle of the school holiday season and comes a few weeks before Wembley so money - and supporters not physically being here - is a factor.

And you can guarantee the only thoughts going through some fans’ heads is buying Wembley tickets, booking hotels and trains as soon as the final hooter goes.

Sadly, I suspect the game's rulers feel the same way - and their primary concern seems to be trying to make sure Wembley is full and then roll into Old Trafford six weeks later.

That is a couple of huge events to build in such a short space of time, particularly when the same people will also be charged with making sure that the Four Nations at the Olympic Stadium, Ricoh Arena and Anfield are well attended.

And for me it once again illustrates the need to bring the cup final forward to May.

But as it stands we are missing a trick and opportunity here.

Rugby League needs to start building the semi-final stage up again but we need a fresher, bolder approach.

Why not make it a real event again and stage the two semis as a Super Saturday double header at a larger stadium which could accommodate the four sets of fans?

If as much time was spent promoting this, a very real pair of fixtures, as is done on pushing the Magic event then maybe we would see results.

Building the semi back up to what it was could help the whole competition - and even boost the final.

Is there not scope for the semi ticket to count as a voucher for the final itself to encourage a bigger attendance?

And if we did this - on a Saturday - it would do away with the ludicrous Friday night semi-finals that do nothing for the traditional build up and post match celebrations.