Rugby League

[Guest worth_the_wait]

8 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Some good news overnight - it looks like the Aussies might becoming over next winter for a test series. 

 

This is a huge chance for RFL - don't play games at Wigan etc. Get a London stadium booked and pick a couple of bigger grounds in the North. 

That's absolutely brilliant.   I can't wait.

 

It'll hopefully grab the public's imagination.   I'd go for games at Old Trafford, Elland Road and the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.   I reckon those would be the best 3.

 

 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Fascinating game tonight.      Wigan 0 Leigh 1  (golden point).      First ever Super League game to finish 0-0 after 80 mins.

[Super_horns]

3 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

Fascinating game tonight.      Wigan 0 Leigh 1  (golden point).      First ever Super League game to finish 0-0 after 80 mins.

A bit of history.

 

How was there no points?

 

Must be almost impossible. 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

8 hours ago, Super_horns said:

A bit of history.

How was there no points?

Must be almost impossible. 

A pair of superb defences.     It sounds boring, but it was actually engrossing.  Amazing tackling, covering and physicality.

Wigan had a "try" disallowed for a previous infringement.   

Both team attempted drop-goals late on in the match, but without success.   Leigh won it with a drop goal in "extra time".

Also a record crowd for an opening match (21,748).

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c2k5w971j35o

 

Edited 14 February 2025 by worth_the_wait

[Lionator]

33 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

A pair of superb defences.     It sounds boring, but it was actually engrossing.  Amazing tackling, covering and physicality.

Wigan had a "try" disallowed for a previous infringement.   

Both team attempted drop-goals late on in the match, but without success.   Leigh won it with a drop goal in "extra time".

Also a record crowd for an opening match (21,748).

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c2k5w971j35o

 

That’s the 5th league game in a row that Wigan haven’t conceded a try which in modern rugby league is completely unknown. Shame there’s no world club challenge this year.

[slymunn]

4 hours ago, worth_the_wait said:

A pair of superb defences.     It sounds boring, but it was actually engrossing.  Amazing tackling, covering and physicality.

Wigan had a "try" disallowed for a previous infringement.   

Both team attempted drop-goals late on in the match, but without success.   Leigh won it with a drop goal in "extra time".

Also a record crowd for an opening match (21,748).

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c2k5w971j35o

 

It was a great game for the defence and as you say a really interesting match, but I do think it was played really safe and pretty robotic. There's so much based on completion rates and not making errors, that they also seems scared to try things. Even with Wigan down to 12 men twice it still felt like going through the motions of complete high, no penalties.

It doesn't help that Wigan and Leigh are two best teams fitness wise so neither tired which usually would happen in the game like that. One of those would of run away with the game in the last 20 again most other teams in the league.

[CosbehFox]

The occasional 'arm wrestle' at RL is superb. Proper tension but I couldn't watch it every week 

[CosbehFox]

On 28/10/2024 at 09:25, CosbehFox said:

Some good news overnight - it looks like the Aussies might becoming over next winter for a test series. 

 

This is a huge chance for RFL - don't play games at Wigan etc. Get a London stadium booked and pick a couple of bigger grounds in the North. 

Unsurprisingly in RL fashion, there is no further news on this. 

 

On 14/10/2024 at 00:10, Heathrow fox said:

Some positive sounds from the London Bronco’s.They aim to carry on and not only that but continue to use Plough Lane.Bouyed by an expected boost to their grading score it seems.Still a very precarious few months ahead and outside investment is required as a matter of urgency.Most fans were expecting the club to be gone before the clocks go back.

Again unsurprisingly in RL fashion, Broncos are no better off and proposed Australian investment is looking unlikely 

[slymunn]

1 hour ago, CosbehFox said:

Unsurprisingly in RL fashion, there is no further news on this. 

 

Again unsurprisingly in RL fashion, Broncos are no better off and proposed Australian investment is looking unlikely 

It does look like a year of struggles for London this year  Hopefully they do get sorted out and its not a squad of loans for the season.

I work in Goole and the CC win made people who don't follow RL, chat to me about it!  

 

Fev have built a good squad this year, but as always with find a way to drop to bits when it matters again.

[Heathrow fox]

Well the good news is that London have cobbled together a threadbare squad of sorts,and thanks to Eccles enthusiasm the mood is still positive.With no outside investment on the horizon the future still looks very uncertain.

To be able to maintain their improved rating and be an attractive proposition,the club has to keep playing at Plough Lane or somewhere equivalent.Wimbledon charge in the region of £200000 a season.Being self sufficient this is totally unsustainable.So it looks like a fairly rapid decline as of 2026 without outside help.

A real shame as last season showed that there is still potential for southern representation.The fan base is as diverse as you can get.Similar to the London Lions basketball.A high proportion of woman and children.Unfortunately short term children don’t bring the money in.

All we can do is drag someone with us to each game and buy stuff from the shop.

We have already been warned the team won’t improve until the 2nd half of the season as usual.so Featherstone fill yr boots next week.

[slymunn]

On 16/02/2025 at 11:35, Heathrow fox said:

Well the good news is that London have cobbled together a threadbare squad of sorts,and thanks to Eccles enthusiasm the mood is still positive.With no outside investment on the horizon the future still looks very uncertain.

To be able to maintain their improved rating and be an attractive proposition,the club has to keep playing at Plough Lane or somewhere equivalent.Wimbledon charge in the region of £200000 a season.Being self sufficient this is totally unsustainable.So it looks like a fairly rapid decline as of 2026 without outside help.

A real shame as last season showed that there is still potential for southern representation.The fan base is as diverse as you can get.Similar to the London Lions basketball.A high proportion of woman and children.Unfortunately short term children don’t bring the money in.

All we can do is drag someone with us to each game and buy stuff from the shop.

We have already been warned the team won’t improve until the 2nd half of the season as usual.so Featherstone fill yr boots next week.

I did say Fev find a way to drop to bits!

 

I'm not sure if they rested a couple more players, but our starting halves was missing as one has gone  back to Aus & other through injury. But as you say we still should of had enough to get the points. 

 

I'm not sure Ford is a good enough coach for what we need, but he stayed far longer than better coaches got at Fev.

[Heathrow fox]

2 hours ago, slymunn said:

I did say Fev find a way to drop to bits!

 

I'm not sure if they rested a couple more players, but our starting halves was missing as one has gone  back to Aus & other through injury. But as you say we still should of had enough to get the points. 

 

I'm not sure Ford is a good enough coach for what we need, but he stayed far longer than better coaches got at Fev.

Really chuffed with that result.Eccles has managed to make a couple of quality signings to add to the mix of journeymen.youth and top end Championship quality experience..They also seemed to be quite fit which is encouraging.Just no one get injured all season.

Featherstone travelled in good numbers and still have one of the best kits in rugby imo.

 

[Lionator]

7 hours ago, Heathrow fox said:

Really chuffed with that result.Eccles has managed to make a couple of quality signings to add to the mix of journeymen.youth and top end Championship quality experience..They also seemed to be quite fit which is encouraging.Just no one get injured all season.

Featherstone travelled in good numbers and still have one of the best kits in rugby imo.

 

Is it a realistic proposition that Bradford could finally get back to super league next season? I’ve read they’ve got a decent team. 

[slymunn]

31 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Is it a realistic proposition that Bradford could finally get back to super league next season? I’ve read they’ve got a decent team. 

Depends on how the IMG gradings see it. But I'm pretty sure they want Bradford up there 'for the name' and for casual interest in the sport as people have heard of them.

 

They still get a decent following, but the stadiums is an awful money pit for whoever owns it. The RFL pretty much gave Bradford the stadium back after buying it off them when they had money troubles. Which ups the score for IMG as they now own it. 

 

There team is one of the better ones on paper and Brian Noble as coach, so should be up there.

[CosbehFox]

Mike Eccles is possibly the greatest coach in any sport currently 

[Heathrow fox]

14 hours ago, Lionator said:

Is it a realistic proposition that Bradford could finally get back to super league next season? I’ve read they’ve got a decent team. 

Bradford will likely be the team to knock on the SL door loudest.They sit 16th on the IMG list this season but should rise up a couple of places by October if they do well this year.

In terms of name history,support etc they come straight after the Wigans Leeds and St Helens.Being in the SL gives you such an advantage to be able to invest in the areas where you need to keep the ratings high.Will be interesting to see if any team gets dislodged.I suspect eventually they will just expand the top flight and to hell with the rest.

[slymunn]

On 24/02/2025 at 21:33, Heathrow fox said:

Bradford will likely be the team to knock on the SL door loudest.They sit 16th on the IMG list this season but should rise up a couple of places by October if they do well this year.

In terms of name history,support etc they come straight after the Wigans Leeds and St Helens.Being in the SL gives you such an advantage to be able to invest in the areas where you need to keep the ratings high.Will be interesting to see if any team gets dislodged.I suspect eventually they will just expand the top flight and to hell with the rest.

That's the thing the have to decide if the talk of 14 teams in the Super League went ahead. They are below Toulouse, London and York who they like to call 'expansion teams' but Bradford are the name that interests people. They will get a better grading for owning the stadium, but will lose points for the money it costs to run. Salfords money issues this season will affect them gradings wise, so may get dragged into the mix. I'd rather a bigger league without loop fixtures if I'm honest, plus I've come to terms that Fev will never get promoted 

Losing to London was a sackable offence for James Ford, who's gone today. I'll be interested to see who they get in now.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Good to see tickets selling well for the Ashes Series, later in the year. (end Oct/early Nov)

 

Headingley (3rd Test) - already sold out.

Everton FC (2nd Test) - Only about 1200 normal tickets left, plus some expensive/corporate seats.

Wembley (1st Test) - note sure how many sold yet.   I don't think they expect anywhere near a capacity, but I think they'll be happy with anything about 60,000.

 

Got my ticket for the 2nd Test.   Can't wait!

[CosbehFox]

It's what happens when you sell tickets at £35. Superb pricing. 

[slymunn]

13 hours ago, worth_the_wait said:

Good to see tickets selling well for the Ashes Series, later in the year. (end Oct/early Nov)

 

Headingley (3rd Test) - already sold out.

Everton FC (2nd Test) - Only about 1200 normal tickets left, plus some expensive/corporate seats.

Wembley (1st Test) - note sure how many sold yet.   I don't think they expect anywhere near a capacity, but I think they'll be happy with anything about 60,000.

 

Got my ticket for the 2nd Test.   Can't wait!

They put the target of 'More than 67,545, the World Cup semi final attendance' which they could well achieve! 

RL has took a little bit of a back seat for me in the last 18 months. I still enjoy it and watch on TV, but with a two year old I've struggle to get to many matches. Need to get back into going again, but neither Fev or Leicester are a great watch at the minute 

[Guest worth_the_wait]

Another great Super League game last night.

 

14 all, and Leeds just miss a drop goal to win it, two minutes from time.

 

Wakefield go up the other end, and get the drop goal with 10 seconds remaining.     15-14.

[Heathrow fox]

Championship and League one to be merged from next season.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

On 27/08/2025 at 23:57, Heathrow fox said:

Championship and League one to be merged from next season.

Puzzled as to how that's actually going to work.  But I suppose all will be revealed, at some point ...

[Heathrow fox]

4 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

Puzzled as to how that's actually going to work.  But I suppose all will be revealed, at some point ...

I would chuck them all in one league.Have all the teams play each other,but only the once.Then alternate the fixtures the following season.Use the ratings to ensure an even spread so a weaker team doesn’t end up playing all the stronger teams away one year.

Add on a really complicated play-off competition at the end of the season to determine final placings.

That just about adds up to the same amount of matches a Championship club plays now.

[Guest worth_the_wait]

17 hours ago, Heathrow fox said:

I would chuck them all in one league.Have all the teams play each other,but only the once.Then alternate the fixtures the following season.Use the ratings to ensure an even spread so a weaker team doesn’t end up playing all the stronger teams away one year.

Add on a really complicated play-off competition at the end of the season to determine final placings.

That just about adds up to the same amount of matches a Championship club plays now.

I suppose they were always going to have to make some sort of change.

Moving 2 extra teams up to the Super League, not knowing what state Salford would be in, Cornwall dropping out, Newcastle always seem in constant trouble, etc.

Just be nice if they could settle down to some format without changing every few years ...