THE RED ROOSTER

The IPO for London Ravens is owned by a US company based in Delaware London Ravens I remember the original Britiah American Football team with its fan club The Raven Loonies and mascot Ronald Raven

And by the fact that the club has made a rapid statement on the subject it both shows: a) That the club understands fan opinion on the subject of any proposed name change and that this has to be done with support from the fanbase, if any change at all is mooted. b) We are definately not in the David Hughes era.

If posters actually know anything about the history of Plough Lane you would know that in my formative years Wimbledon FC's Plough Lane ground was within spitting distance of Wimbledon greyhound and speedway stadium. In fact should you venture north of Gate D and past Gate F you will see a wall with a faded advert for Greyhound Racing at Wimbledon stadium. As this name change was registered, before the recent fans forum where the hard core fans voiced their disapproval of any name change. I am not surprised that Gary astutely kept this in his back packet so to speak, for I suspect at the next forum he will be hounded.. If you can get Newcastle Red Bull in Rugby Union then I suppose it's a possibility that you could get London Brewdog maybe. Certainly it is a major brand that stuck with the club post demotion. The aussie llnk I fear is dead following the coup by the backwoodsmen at the RFL, so that removes the only other reason for a name change would be a partnership with another NRL team who are not Brisbane. Good detection work by Matt Shaw who is a trustworthy RL journalist. though one point I would make is that often when ideas are being batted around, the club would not be too unhappy at this entering the public domain as it is a way of determing just how much blowback you get from the club's existing fanbase.

Winners -Canterbury Bulldogs, West Tigers, Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos, St George-Illawarra, South Sydney, Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys Points - 342 Home Wins - 3 Poll - North Queensland Cowboys

What is happening at the moment is judicious leaks being given to journalists trying to create momentum fior their proposed version of the future structure. Matt Hughes story is a version but not necessarily the version of the future structure which will be finalised in the next fortnight. Well played England, Ben Duckett certainly did come to the party with his 149. Some would say England were fortunate due to the Indian's fielding and the fact that in both innings India could have locked England out of the game, but to win in Test Cricket and to a degree in ODI cricket you win the key moments and England did that on a flat wicket that you would have thought would have suited India. A blow for India, and a potentaily bigger blow if the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah who after his opening spell looked short of a gallop. He was only due to play 3 tests out of five due to fitness concerns which could be more serious than previously thought. The England win though does mean England will not catapault Jofra Archer back into the side which was a tempation if England had lost.

Round 17, in a season that’s that becoming a tipster’s nightmare with a case to be made either way in all of these clashes. Penrith Panthers v Canterbury Bulldogs – SKYThe game of the round, all origin players back for both sides, Penrith – Cleary, Edwards, To’o, Martin and Yeo. Canterbury – Burton, Mann, Crichton and King. Are the Panthers back? That is thew question and a late premiership run cannot be discounted. There are two things to bear in mind though, Firstly, Penrith’s “home” game is at Comm Bank stadium crowd support is reduced and that is having an effect. Secondly, penrith have this season scored notable wins away at the Roosters and Broncos but failed to b ack it up the following week. For the Doggies this is the acid test par excellence, if they win confidence will be sky high, lose however and doubts may start to creep in. This is where the Dogs recruitment of big time players in Burton, Crichton and Kikau all ex-Panthers comes into play. These blokes have led the culture change at Belmore from a side that hoped to win to a side that expects to. Could be more Bulldogs fans at Comm Bank than Pathers and that too may come into play in a tight game. Verdict – Toss a coin. Manly Sea Eagles v West Tigers For the Silvertails, Turbo moves into the centres with Lehi Hopoate, who has impressed in the role Fullback role in his absence now given the job on a more permanent basis. Jason Saab dropped and Reuben Garrick moved to the wing. For the Tigers, Heath mason moves to Full back, where I do not think he has done too badly, due to Jahreme Bula’s injury. Latu Fainu given the chance to show he is a better prospect than what’s his name who went to the Dogs. Isaac Moses must be the most hated player agent amongst Tigers fans with his client Tallyn De Silva heading for a mid-season release. Two coaches under pressure but Tigers have been close in their last few games, it’s tough to win in Townsville but the Tigers almost overcame a 26-point deficit and in recent weeks have endured narrow loses to the Panthers and Raiders who are rather good. The Silvertails by contrast have become untippable with perverse results and internal discord which I suspect is more over money than loyalty. Verdict – Leaning towards West Tigers Newcastle Knights v Canberra Raiders The Knights bring back Jacko to replace the Injured Fletcher Sharpe in the halves and Jacob Saifiti returns. Ricky’s Raiders rest Hudson Young with Simi Sasagi The Novocastrians bounced back last week in Perth .Newcastle have even in their scoreless run always been able to defend. Now they appear to have solved their problems in attack and are at home which should be an advantage though has not thus far this season. Ricky’s Riotous Raiders survived a scare in Campbelltown last week and are perhaps due a loss. A lot may depend upon who scores first and if the Raiders can convert possession into points. The Raiders can look forward to a heap of home games in the Capital coming up so any discomfort from a loss may be temporary. Verdict – Toss a Coin Brisbane Broncos v New Zealand Warriors Bronx unchanged after their win over Sharkies. While fresh from their home face-plant against the panther cubs the Wahs bring back Rocco Berry and Kut Capewell with the injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak replaced by Edward Kosi., Can the Broncos back up and win two in a row. It’s a mist win game for the Bronx if they have top 4 aspirations with the gap between them and the Warriors closing to four points with a win. The Selwyn Cobbo saga a more distraction off the field than on it. Heaps of Kiwis will be at Suncorp to support the Wahs and while there is no doubt they are a top 8 side. Their top four placing is suspect, and they are seen as the side most likely to drop out. Their points total is a mere +25 as previously posted they win tight games but when they lose it is big time. Verdict – Leaning toward the Bronx St George-Illawarra v Paramatta Eels - SKY Played at Wollongong, For SGI Corey Allan and the Money Man, Christian Tuipulotu return along with Valentine Holmes. Mixed news for the Eels with Dylan Brown’s return to the halves offset by Will Penisini picking up a three-game ban replaced by Jordan Samrani. SGI mired in controversy over the halfback situation and the retention in the side of Kyle Flanagan. This could end up costing dad his job. Tyrell Sloan the latest to be discarded by SGI and to be honest you could have decent XIII of SGI Juniors now playing elsewhere in the NRL and that’s on the club. I goofed in tipping Gold Coast against Parra last week, it’s a measure of the progress being made under Jason Ryles that the side can compete and win without their first-choice halves and win without Mitch Moses. SGI are not a significantly better side than the Eels. Verdict – I hate to tip against SGI at the ‘Gong but might this time. The Dolphins v South Sydney – SKY The Fins have lost Jack Bostock for the season replace by Junior Tupou The battling Bunnies bring back Cody Walker and Campbell Graham amid rumours of Benny’s exit from the Club. The Dolphins stuffed in their last game in wet conditions in Perth against the Knights and retain the sobriquet of the NRL’s great unprerdictables. They have difficulty in stringing a series of wins together and while I would not be surprised if they win, I would be equally unsurprised if they did not. A depleted Souths side took the Storm the distance last week and Latrell is quietly having a standout season on the field. With players now returning I would not rule out Souths getting into the Top 8. Like West Tigers they have had a heap of narrow losses and like Wests I reckon the tide will turn in their favour Verdict – Trending towards Souths in this one. Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks Xavier Coates returns for the Storm while the Sharks welcome back Oregon Kaufusi Melbourne have been very patchy this season and squeaked home against a battered Bunnies side last week. Cameron Munster makes a bigger contribution to Queensland than the storm these days much to Craig Bellamy’s dismay and he is the one of the quad (Papenhuysen, Hughes, Grant and Munster) not firing. It’s been an un-Melbourne like season with patchy results. For Cronulla victory over the Storm at Shark Park was supposed to herald a new era in which Sharkies would finally be able to win games against the top clubs in crunch matches. Since then, there has been a reversion to type since e despite the addition of Fonua-Blake the Sharks seem to have stood still since Craig Fitzgibbon’s promising first season and defeat here could spell the end of top 4 aspirations. Verdict – Melbourne’s Home advantage counts Gold Coast Titans v North Queensland Cowboys The Titans have Tom Weaver takes over at halfback with Jayden Campbell out through concussion and Jaylen Degroot back in the squad if not the starting XIII. The Cows have Jake Clifford, Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter Back I genuinely do not know what to make of this game, Over the last 2 and a half NRL games the Cows have conceded a shedload of points and are the nearest thing I have seen this season to an NRL side “mailing it in”. With the Origin players back and a visit to Gold Coast this is as must win for the Cowboys. Gold Coast by contrast get a win and then fail to back up against a Paramatta side shorn of its halves ruining Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s return to Comm Bank Stadium. Again, Des needs a win here and the fan base would expect a Ge5t-right game against the Cows, Which paper will be calling for the Coaches Head post-match the Townsville Bulletin or The Gold Coast Bulletin? Verdict – Toss a Coin

India in the driving seat, theb key wicket today is that of Rishab Pant because if Pant scores heasvily it will be quick and England could find the game ebbing away from them. If India get 350 ahead then it's unlikely England can get that total unless someone plays a blinder with the bat and is suported in doing so by other contributions. Watching Smith and Brook toss their wickets away yesterday made me recall how KP was skewered in the mdedia back in 2008 when he got out fot 94 against South Africa at Edgbaston. "it's the way I play" is now the mantra with Bazball and brings less censure than perhaps it deserves. It's hard to see India so profiligate in the field second time around, and, as a batsman, if someone writes you a cheque by dropping you. you realy should be cashing it in.

Another day of England v Jasprit Bumrah looms, it's noticable the drop off in the Indian attack when he is not involved and it falls on Harry Brook to restrain himself for the first half hour asDEngland are still a long way behind. Their first target 272 to avoid following on though I doubt Shubman Gill would enforce it. But they need to get as close to the indian toItal as possible, you do not want to spot India a 100 run lad with England batting last on a paich that may beciome uneven under the sun. Olly Pope rode his luck being dropped on 60 but credit to the pontiff he stuck at it, but we need more today and, no I have not changed my view on him.

All I can say is that Todd Payten's coat must be haging on a shaky nail at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Much play being made of conceding 100 points in the last two games but the decline started in the second half against Wests. Not even the consolation of some garbage time tries to add respectability. Roosters move into 7th spot in the ladder and are a top eight contender but not one of the top four teams.

What a knockonathon, Victory will go to the side that can hold onto the ball in te second half and this game is not over yet as the Cows are a second half team this season allowing their opponents to bulid up a lead before trying , and sometimes succeeding in dragging it back.

Ding-dong battle at Suncotrp with Sharkies coughing up a 16 point lead twice ... for the Bronx to lauch a comeback win and reignite their season. I have not yet mentioned the Pather Cubs win over the ditch over the Wahs which is The Shock of a season in which there have been plenty

Newcastle deserved the win, defensively they were superb as for the Fins well. Dolphins doing Dolphin things.... Just when you feel it safe to tip them.

Amid the usual outcry at the England performance it should be noted that Shubman Gill would also have bowled if he won the toss. It's a common failing these days, teams have loads of statisticians telling them what to do when winning the toss based "on the stats". It's also a case this year of sides misreading the wicket, looking at the pitch and seeing a "greentop" that when played on is a flat track. That does not excuse commen sense though because, as in the recent 50 over World Cup when England won the toss and put South Africa in on a stinker of a day in India and got thumped, if its hot and sunny you bat and with two Yorkshire England captains, past and present, in the side you would like to think that local knowledge woyld play a part in decision making... but then woe anybody trying to contradict Ben Stokes... India should bat on get about 600 and then try to bowl England out for under the follow on figure. Giving Gill the option of batting again or enforcing the follow on depending on how long England last. Pity Mark Wood having to self-censor on TMS and SKY. Word gets back to the dressing room of what is said on air and the lads and lasses are a bit thin skinned about it coming from a contemporary - Just ask Alex Hartley.. Jacob Bethell got on the field as a substitute fielder, if England's batting effort fails against Jaspirit Bumrah then the selectors will have to ask serious questions such as what Bethell's golf handicap is.. Jofra Archer rumoured to be playing for Sussex sunday... this will of course remain a rumour until he steps on the field at the chilly Riverside Ground in Durham.

A result that underscores the Raiders Premiership credentials. Closing the game out when under pressure.

India 92 for 2 at Lunch. England fortunate to get the two wickets because up to 5 mins before lunch the attack looked ordinary despite England winning the toss and bowling.