Chronicler of Chiswick

You've mentioned something that really gets my goat (to use an old expression) - the constant unnecessary stoppages. In the NRL it appears to me that they rarely stop the game unless the downed player is in danger of obstructing play or they need a stretcher, here it seems that a team can be in the opposition's 10 metres and the ref will stop the game if there's a player back in the other in-goal having a change of underarm deodorant. I had to leave the last CC final a couple of minutes from the end because I had to get a particular train or I'd have missed my connection at Birmingham.

London now able to concentrate on making the four (conspiracy theorists might possibly suggest that that was the idea, not that I would, of course)

Oops!

I had that problem with the social media question, as I wouldn't touch social media with a barge pole!

Some decent, entertaining rugby being played in League 1 as well - anyhow, I'm enjoying it. Don't know what's gone wrong in SL as I've just watched a very entertaining game between West Tigers and Newcastle in the NRL.

11391 according to the club website, and well done Hull for being one of the few clubs left that regularly posts its gate figures.

And people would have just shrugged their shoulders and left him alone to deal with the hangover. I can't understand why, just because he's used 'drugs' (so's alcohol, by the way), he apparently needs to be shoved up against a wall and shot! He's admitted that he's been a complete d*ck head, said sorry and will now face the consequences.

Salford by 4.

Wire, Widnes, Fev, HKR, Toronto, Whitehaven, Catalans. Leigh - London is the tricky one for me, both clubs need a Cup run like a hole in the head at the moment so we'll see what happens. Another point of interest is the gate at Widnes, could it even be sub 1000?

I'll say Wigan by 4, but it could go either way.

Peaceful, undemanding training run for the Saints, who win by 30+.

Hull by 8.

Newcastle and the Cru (we can but dream!).

My rather cynical view of all this is that it's just the usual start of the negotiations for the new contract. As someone posted on a distant page far, far away (i.e I'm too lazy to go back and find it) it starts with rumours of a massive cut so that when things turn out to be not so bad we all sigh with relief. My totally uninformed opinion is that we'll have to accept a fair bit less (possibly as much as a third) next time round. As far as terrestrial broadcasters are concerned, don't hold your breath - as Mick's pointed out, ITV and C4 aren't interested and I think that the Beeb is increasingly only interested in events rather than regular coverage in sport (and don't forget that their budget's about to take a massive hit when they take over responsibility for OAP licences).

The only reason that I can see McNamara still being coach by this time next week is that the Cats can't afford to pay off his contract. Either that or Guasch can't be bothered any more.