Dave T

Did Parky suggest in that 'post that I am somewhat coming to agree with him??? Please send help...

Typical RL fan. Never happy.

Aye, probably set us up for a nilling. Sorry about that.

We've had 26k before against Fiji, 23k last time. Sell out. We average 20 odd k vs the Kiwis but got 67k in the WC semi, up from 16k 13 years earlier. 40k is absolutely possible.

I'm still enjoying watching the best defensive team in the comp - Leeds Rhinos!

So that reads to me like both Leon Pryce and the crisp stealer would be fine.

Couple of snippets from a quick Google search, can't validate the accuracy: Summary offenses in Canada are considered relatively minor (for immigration purposes) and are usually punishable by a maximum of 2 years imprisonment or a fine in Canada. If you have a single foreign conviction that is equivalent to a summary offense in Canada – regardless of your actual sentence – you are likely admissible to Canada. And for major offences: If you have a foreign conviction equivalent to an indictable offense in Canada (and remember, hybrid offenses like drunk driving are considered indictable offenses for immigration purposes), then you can not enter Canada until ten years have passed since the completion of your sentence, and you have not committed any other offenses during that time.

If that was to happen, it is just life. If that is how Canada applies their laws, so be it. I don't think it is a big enough issue to be any more than one of those minor issues that have to be considered by each team. I don't think we should quash developments like this in sympathy for people who glass others tbh.

My often-stated stance on this is that replacement is not expansion. You can probably do it once or twice simply because of the standard of some of the bottom clubs at the moment, but ideally you would be adding to a strong SL base.

Of course it does, and I have been a big advocate of having a strategy for how overseas expansion teams would be admitted into the UK structure. The point raised would be relevant if we had 4 or 5 teams lining up, at the moment we have TWP and Toulouse on the edges and it would be an overreaction to halt their progress based on this issue.

So if you steal a bag of crisps in the UK, you will be banned from Canada forever. But Ryan Bailey could play there. I'm following this right aren't I?

We'll we either do franchising or we don't. If say Widnes were relegated, would it be such an issue for youth development, or would the other ha dful of Academies within 15 miles sweep up the talent? I'm not being dismissive about it, but one of the key reasons expansion is important is because we have such a geographically condensed sport.

I think it is standard to have the hosts starting a tournament isn't it?

Nah, Saints have always been sinners. I don't think people turned on Cas last year, most liked them. On a serious point though, all teams are not the same. Wigan get stick about thuggery wherever they are in the league, we'll see whether that subsides when wane leaves. Saints have a certain cynical style imho and that is shown by the likes of Wilkin who pretty much has to play cynically as he is off the pace nowadays. Melbourne were called out for wrestling etc. It isn't always just jealousy of winning teams although there is something in that.

Spot on. Standards is a purely subjective thing. It is a major bugbear of mine when people claim there aren't enough quality players, or we don't have 12 teams of SL quality.

However, it should be remembered that it is very, very few people who are saying point 4. Even Harry who could be described as cynical on this is in favour of them being promoted if they earn the right on the pitch.

I'm not sure what point you are making Harry. Why do their methods need to be different? The location is the crucial one here. That is what expansion is all about. If you are in a different place, you are targeting different fans, sponsors, broadcasters, in time a different player base (as per the 10-30 year point). They are all advantages, as at the moment I think many realise that the game is too condensed, let's be honest, within a few miles of where I lived in Warrington - at times I could drive to 6 different SL clubs within half an hour or so. They have had some very decent crowds for an alien sport in the lower tiers.

Same point. Start a thread on Warrington and I will happily discuss them.

I don't think you can make provocative statements like "Toronto are an English tem in every sense" and then complain when people pull you on that.

Don't worry, I'll quote him a touch more, don't want you missing out! Fact 1 - What is the obsession with this 'fact'? Name me a sport in the country that has 100% local players. Why do you insist on holding us to standards that other sports are not held to? It is weird. Sports clubs all over the world sign players from all over the world. It's not the big deal made out. Fact 2 - it is just a nonsense 'fact'. They play in Toronto, have a fanbase in Toronto, have sponsors from Toronto. They are a Toronto team. These are not local representative teams, they are a team spending millions of pounds a year to setup a club and getting together a winning team. I'm not bothered where their players have come from in year 2. Fact 3 - people pick and choose which quotes suit. So I'll have a go at that: Our long-term goal is to organically grow the sport in Canada and the U.S. and see Touch Rugby (based on Rugby League code) grow in the elementary and high school levels This was in an interview about team goals back in 2016. https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Global/Issues/2016/05/06/People-and-Pop-Culture/Hangin-With.aspx Surely you aren't so wet to expect athletes from other sports to flock to RL within 18 months of their first game? Fact 4 - I agree with this. But a lot can happen in 10 years. If in 10 years TWP are still around, playing in SL, competing for trophies, signing big names, getting crowds, getting sponsors, then that is growth, and I'm not sure how it is bad for the game. Most people accept that player development will take a while, in fact, that is what people have an issue with Parky over - he keeps stating that they haven't done it yet - 18m in! THe last few paragraphs of your post I agree with, and I think many do tbh, but that is very different to Parky's position.

Well this thread is about Saints, start one on Wigan or Marshall and I will happily criticise his actions from last night. His play acting is everything that I dislike about the game at the moment. I'd happily describe him as a cheat.

Yes, but clearly a quote about Perth is more important when discussing whether Toronto will be in SL. The growing number of posters suggesting Parky is only dealing in facts is odd. It seems fake news is just lapped up these days.

I agree with the Op that it was more noticeable with Saints last night. But so was the cynical tripping and holding down from Wilkin and lying in the ruck in many tackles. They are a team who have no issues whatsoever with cheating, and they get away with it.

People are not stupid. Why pretend they are? They know what the standard is.

i think people get it. If there was an NBA game staged here and they put a GB team as the opener of a double header people would get it and I'm sure many would enjoy watching it.