BULLS boss Jimmy Lowes has blasted the concept of the Summer Bash and called for it to be scrapped after this year's inaugural event.

The Magic Weekend was introduced for Super League clubs in 2007 with an entire round of fixtures played over two days in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.

The annual jamboree heads to St James' Park in Newcastle later this month, with the RFL also introducing a similar event in Blackpool for Championship sides this weekend.

But Lowes said: "It looks like we are scrounging for places to go and it's not really an exciting concept to go to Blackpool is it?

"There are some fantastic stadia in rugby league at the moment but we are taking the game to a ground where I believe the pitch isn't very good.

"At the Etihad, the second changing rooms were that small you had to get changed on the corridor.

"I'm looking forward to playing Halifax but I would rather play them at The Shay than at Blackpool.

"I would just rather crack on with the league rather than this because I think it has gone past its sell-by date."

The Magic Weekend and Summer Bash will see an odd number of regular-round games played by Super League and Championship sides.

Asked whether the events should be scrapped, Lowes said: "I think so because I don't think there is a need for it.

"We've had games on the road since Super League started and we've been all over trying to promote the game – but I think sometimes we neglect what's on our doorstep.

"At Bradford we played a game at Edinburgh in 1998 and the amount of extra fans we picked up from that game was zero.

"Let's use the money that it's costing to go to Blackpool and invest it in the week-to-week games.

"All we are doing is taking our fans to Blackpool or Cardiff. Let's help clubs develop their local game and improve the marketing side.

"Cardiff was a nice stadium and we were trying to promote the game in South Wales – but we're not trying to promote the game in Blackpool because we're already up here.

"I think the concept has lost its value and its worth."

The Bloomfield Road pitch has earned notoriety as one of the worst playing surfaces in the entire Football League this season.

Lowes, who revealed he had his team in mind for Saturday, said: "They might as well just put a stand around Blackpool beach.

"Also, we're trying to move away from fighting and brawls, so I don't think the 'Bash' is a good name for it because you're openly promoting aggression."

Halifax will be without Steve Tyrer and Andy Bracek through suspension on Saturday following the recent brawl at Leigh. But back-rower Dane Manning has escaped a ban and is available to play.