Dunbar

This is only a guess but I would say there would have been 0% chance if it were not for the Woman of Steel award getting her name 'out there'... the BBC award is essentially a sweep up of various sporting achievements throughout the year. It shows the value of our sport showcasing our best and raising their profile.

Yes, fingers crossed. While I suspect Jack Draper may get it as tennis is a bit of a BBC favourite I would have Georgia-Mae Fenton as probably the best achievement with an individual Commonwealth Gold at just 17 (as well as a team silver).

Congratulations to Georgia Roche for being shortlisted for Young Sports Personality of the Year. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/45834257

So, reading between the lines here, I am guessing you don't rate Coote?

I'm pretty sure I haven't said that I would be happy to see North American clubs succeed 'at any cost'. Anyway, unlike those who predict that North American success means an inevitable negative impact on the heartlands, I don't see too many risks with this venture and so the 'any cost' is a bit academic anyway. On the point of player development. Look, I agree that any professional club in any region should have a player development strategy and infrastructure. It makes sense on so many levels. It creates a (relatively) low cost player pool, it builds community and school links and it almost guarantees sustainability. You want Toronto and other North American clubs to do this. I want North American clubs to do this. The only real difference between the two of us is that I am prepared to be patient and wait for this to happen... I think 2 years is far to soon and I expect 15 to 20 years is a much more realistic timescale.

No, I'm Russell Johnson.

I have just had a look at the stats from both competitions to see if they tell us anything. Of course these are different sources and not all the same measures are used. From the 27 games that the Sydney Roosters played this year compared to the 30 from St Helens. Metres Roosters averaged 1,444 metres per game and Saints 1,406. Tackles The Roosters made an average of 300 tackles per game and Saints 330 (I assume this number is consistent with the number of play the balls). Line breaks Roosters 4 per game and Saints 8. Runs from dummy half I thought this was quite telling - Roosters averaged 6 runs per game from dummy half and Saints 13. Looks like this is a big difference between the two leagues. The highest number of dummy half runs in the NRL this year was the Rabbitohs with an average of 12 while Hull KR racked up 25 a game. I think this shows that the faster play the balls in Super League offer more 'scoot' opportunities.

I would really like to see a new name on the Super League trophy but saying that... it was the 'big 4' and now it is the big 3 and so things do change (and sometimes quite dramatically as Bradford have shown). Also, after a full regular season and then navigating the playoffs Hull FC, Castleford and Warrington have each been 80 minutes away from lifting the trophy. Seven different finalists in what has been a 12 or 14 team competition doesn't sound terrible. But I would love to see a Grand Final next year without Wigan, Saints or Leeds.

No it isn't faster. With the crack down on the play the ball and the demand for a more structured ruck the actual play in the NRL is slower than the frantic nature of Super League. Particularly when our top teams play. It is better though. Not least because the less frantic nature forces better technique and skills.

I agree. I thought Meninga made a mistake taking just two starting props and Woods into the game. I thought New Zealand really got on top when their interchange forwards came on. It will be interesting to see if he sticks with this for Tonga.

The Knights selection is a different criteria. That is a development squad. I am sure that one or two other names were considered but a dozen better.... who are they?

I'm ok with Myler being brought in. 4th in Super League this year for try assists in a side that landed in the Middle 8's is not bad. I expect England to play a pretty controlled forward game based around Hodgson and a big front row so Myler may thrive on the front foot.

The game is played very differently than it was even 10 years ago and certainly miles away from what it was 30 or 40 years ago. But is the answer speeding the game up. If we are talking about reducing the length of time it takes to form scrums, take goal line dropouts and video ref decisions then yes let's speed it up. But if we are talking about the actual game when the ball is in play... then no, the game is plenty fast enough at the moment.

He might not be everybody's cup of tea but Woods is a pretty effective prop. He usually earns good meters and has an offload in him. He also misses very few tackles. I am with you on McGuire though, I have always thought he was a pretty average NRL forward and never really saw him as State of Origin standard never mind the Kangaroos. I would have thought Jake Trbojevic with somebody like Jai Arrow off the bench would be a better option.

Can I let you into a secret that may help you out. Test is cricket is not like national service, you can decide just not watching it if you don't like it. You have me down as somebody who enjoys test cricket (I'm ok with that), I have you down as someone who thinks nobody should like it just because you don't.