88 replies to this topic

[Pottsy]

Got to agree with Robbie Paul's RL World column. We should be pursuing the best of both worlds in our attempt to establish a worthwhile mid-season rep calendar.

A full blooded standalone 'Roses' clash followed by a winner takes all Exiles game later in the season.

Personally, I think this is the best option open to us.

[snapski]

No it doesn't, we tried it before, it didn't work.

[Pottsy]

We didn't really try it though did we.

It's a meaningful rivalry and would involve 99% of our best players. I'm not quite sure what some people have against the idea.

[Blind side johnny]

We didn't really try it though did we.

It's a meaningful rivalry and would involve 99% of our best players. I'm not quite sure what some people have against the idea.

Maybe excluding players from outside of these two counties is not such a good idea. Which one would Rangi Chase play for, for example?


Does this rivalry actually fire the blood in the respective players? In fact, does such a rivalry actually exist or will it need to be created?

[Johnoco]

We didn't really try it though did we.

It's a meaningful rivalry and would involve 99% of our best players. I'm not quite sure what some people have against the idea.

We did try it properly though. A 10k crowd at Headingley flattered to deceive. It lasted about another 2 years with a half hearted affair at Odsal.

[Saintslass]

Not the roses chestnut again. Who cares about Yorkshire? I don't and I don't know any other Lancastrian that does.

[Pottsy]

Maybe excluding players from outside of these two counties is not such a good idea. Which one would Rangi Chase play for, for example?

Er, New Zealand maybe?

Does this rivalry actually fire the blood in the respective players? In fact, does such a rivalry actually exist or will it need to be created?

Maybe someone ought to ask them. Certainly the ones who I've spoken to personally or have read comments from are bang in favour.

We got 10,000 at Headingley for the 2003 game with minimal, bordering on half hearted promotion and then made the ill advised jump to two games the year after, including that ludicrous Tuesday night fixture at Odsal.

For each of you who have such a problem with Yorkshire v Lancashire on here I'd wager there are a fair few more supporters who'd pay to see this happen again.

The key as always is building an event.

[foozler]

Not the roses chestnut again. Who cares about Yorkshire? I don't and I don't know any other Lancastrian that does.

I don't. Can't wait to get out of the place!

[my missus]

Yorkshire v Lancashire is a no go EAST V WEST is best draw a line and stick to it, they laughed at the origin concept at first.

[EdinburghExile]

If there were more than a couple of Lancashire clubs it might make sense. Wigan and erm, who else are in Lancs these days? It's not 1973 any more.

[Marauder]

If there were more than a couple of Lancashire clubs it might make sense. Wigan and erm, who else are in Lancs these days? It's not 1973 any more.

Salford seem to be putting a run together but it's not based on a clubs location.

[Marauder]

Yorkshire v Lancashire is a no go EAST V WEST is best draw a line and stick to it, they laughed at the origin concept at first.

Seriously how many players below Sheffield would get into a east west divide.

[Just to be clear]

No it doesn't, we tried it before, it didn't work.

Do you mean it didn't work because attendances did not fall as badly as the International Origin ones have, or that it didn't work because players pulled out just like they did in International Origin.

When the Roses series was dropped after the third attempt it was in the same state that International Origin is now.

The main difference being that if the then GB management had made international jerseys dependent on playing and earning them in the series then players would have had to take it seriously and there would have been competition for places. The problem was that everyone knew the same names would be picked come autumn regardless.

With International Origin there is nothing to play for. Some know their only hope is if NRL-based players get an injury while the rest are safe from anyone having the chance to compete for their spot. Besides, anyone who is picked from outside the midseason squad will not have had the chance to take a step up to play at a representative level, or to play a higher intensity game that is apparently so vital.

And the atmosphere will always be flat because an artificially created team lacks supporters. Nor is there an intense rivalry like the one between England and Australia that can get a crowd going even when it only has home supporters.

In the same way that the Roses concept didn't work, the International Origin concept has failed too. But the former offers more benefits and is easier to fix.

[Just to be clear]

Seriously how many players below Sheffield would get into a east west divide.

Just to be clear, London is developing players. And they are in the Lancashire federation.

[gingerjon]

Just to be clear, London is developing players. And they are in the Lancashire federation.

London gave players to both Yorkshire and Lancashire last time round.

[Pottsy]

If there were more than a couple of Lancashire clubs it might make sense. Wigan and erm, who else are in Lancs these days? It's not 1973 any more.

Salford, St Helens, Warrington etc are all traditional 'Lancashire' clubs. Our cricket team seems to do quite well too, despite the insistence of some people on here in trying to write Lancs off as a county.

[dkw]

No it doesn't, we tried it before, it didn't work.

Oh well, if we have tried once and it didnt work then we definitely should never even think of trying it again, no siree bob. No looking back in this sport.

[Dave T]

We got 10,000 at Headingley for the 2003 game with minimal, bordering on half hearted promotion and then made the ill advised jump to two games the year after, including that ludicrous Tuesday night fixture at Odsal.

Not quite true. It got plenty of attention.

People state this about promotion too often in RL - they need to forget TV adverts or mainstream media outlets, the money is not there for it. Traditional localised media is what RL uses.

I remember paying a tenner for a ticket and that included coach transfers to the game, organised by the RFL.

[Cumbrian Fanatic]

Seriously how many players below Sheffield would get into a east west divide.

Probably not many (LMS?) but there's at least one Cumbrian who would get in

[T-Dub]

When I saw there was a thread about Robbie Paul's legs I thoight I was back on RLFans 10 years ago