Harry Stottle

Very well played Huddersfield, hard to imagine one man can make so much difference, clearly a massive change in both application and attitude from the shambles of a team that was under Rick Stone's guidence

Do forgive me I assumed that you were going back pre summer era early to mid 90's, I remember that striking for the ball from the marker was a ploy used quite often by both Garry Schofield and Shaun Edwards to name but two. Can anyone be more precise when the practise was outlawed?

I thought that was the fans of Wigan and Warrington and Leeds and Cas and Rochdale and York and ......................... need I name all 38 sets of fans? Actually I usually spend the first 10 mins or so telling the home fans watch the ref, he is the same for both teams, after observing especially their calls for "offside" they useually pipe down then.

Time clouds my memory Matt, those time you speak of in your formative learning years was the marker still allowed to strike for the ball? Albeit I agree with you re coaching proper methods, as has been prooved this year in the NRL a simple free kick awarded for not playing the ball correctly certainly fast tracked the learning process, it took about 3 weeks, now everyone plays the ball correctly.

Just to make sure I got the definition correct: hypothesis a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. I don't believe that MOK or even Parky's comments are any further afield than all those who profess that NA expansion will be good for the game, until proven as you say, everything is hypothtical.

Back to the original statement I made of which I am being criticized, re individuals and our production line. Is the opinion I made of not producing enough as I termed it, "SL quality player's" in our country just my perspective or would you say that those chairmen who invest in "Johnny Foreigners" are of the same belief, FACT, SL employs around 70. Simple question Dave, why do all those chairmen deem it nessacary, no I will rephrase that a nessacity to empoly Antipodeans and Islanders?

As I stated in a previous post, I am not influenced by anyone in my thoughts re the NA expansion process. There are far to many issues with the whole concept that those sensible enough will realise that we are on a learning process. Mr Argyle's investment has acheived nothing with the 'on -field' success of his team up to now that any billionaire would not acheive in placing a team anywhere on the planet and dipping into the same resources. Under the present rules of the competition TWP may or may not acheive promotion, the big question that we will find out the answer to should they be successful in the Middle 8's comp will be, are SL happy to accept them? To me it is black or white they will or they won't. But, I do think that either decision will have a lot of grey areas that only allowing them to proceed will answer, including all those protestations you have Mr Parksider and probably a whole host of others you have not yet contemplated or haven't informed us about yet, that is why I suggest an 'embargo' on any other club being formed on that continent for a minimum period of 5 years, if what TWP acheive is beneficial to the game this side of the Atlantic venture further, if not get shut.

You are not being subjective are you Dave?

Fully accept all that Dave, my point is what we deem to be acceptable in the sense of the word 'expansion' to some it literally means finding a location to place a team, to others it is developing an area that will produce players. Then the question of 'bottom up' or 'top down' comes into play which is best? I am not against Toronto going forward, in fact I welcome the fact that they are in a position to do so, but my feeling is we should not jump in both feet first in placing multiple teams in any of our competitions, I have used Toronto's current situation of player development from the first mention of "Gridiron Converts" to my theory on organic growth, I consider both will be a constant in any of the other area's that have already been mooted to originate teams in NA. Perhaps some think that I am being over cautious but please tell me any company that goes into full production of any product untill the prototype has been prooved, for that is how I envisage what TWP is, a prototype, the first indications are very good on its functionality, but does it lean to much on present resources to keep it functioning? There are to many unaswered questions. How long in the future before one path has to be set upon, either Mr Perez suggesting that Toronto are only a portion of the whole and 5 teams need forming to obtain its commercial viabillity, or those who are at the head of the game in this country not seeing the NA 'expansion' process as beneficial to them and the sport in Europe - mainly England. I think TWP should they win promotion be allowed to proceed to SL, and for a period of say 5 years check, moniter, evaluate, assess, gauge, appraise and evaluate their worth to the sport in this country, before any other teams are allowed to be formed.

Fair comment perhaps I should have phrased it somewhat differently, but apart from the obvious re locallity, fans, owners and sponsers, in which every team is unique in that sense, how do they differ in their applications and methods from any other English club?

Didn't know the number thanks for the info, still that does give evidence how badly Saints must have performed, so many missed tackles, all that possesion and territory, still I enjoyed the game.

............... coukd that be because of good Wigan defence Oliver?

True Jon, I had just been reading the match thread prior to this one, it all seems to congeal into the same mass

Split hairs if you wish Bob that is your prerogative, I conceeded the fact that if expansion is just about attracting a new audience TWP have aheived that, somehow I do believe you knew what I meant.

As I said Bob, it is my opinion of the state of play as I see it, I am not being influenced by anybody, it is derived from how I percieve the excersize to be, I appreciate that the planet is shrinking, and so to is the game of Rugby League in this country, we cannot afford to exchange localities were players are produced to areas in numbers that will not be adding to the player pool for a very long time.