Futtocks

Melbourne holding the line well under several consecutive sets of pressure, but the Roosters didn't look like they had too many ideas.

JWH lucky to get away with that.

Oh, maybe you're right. He's leaving anyway.

Manu didn't want to play against the Roosters, so joining another NRL club was out. There may have been SL clubs who could have made an even half competitive offer for him as a marquee player, but the richer ones already have their quota filled. That leaves the millionaires' toy clubs of French RU or the corporate cash of Japan. No other realistic options in Rugby of either code.

James Fisher-Harris to join the NZ Warriors. A 4-year deal, starting in 2025. This should plug the gap left by Addin Fonua-Blake, who leaves for Parra at the end of this season.

It's a safe earner. Plenty of RU players are boosting their pensions in Japan, especially when their home scene's looking more and more financially insecure every year.

Corporate owned RU sides (as most Japanese teams are) have many salarymen eager to show loyalty by attending company events. I wonder how many of those seats are filled by paying customers?

Two things today on Radio 4. 1. A programme about Dr Feelgood at 4pm. 2. A new series of Thanks a lot, Milton Jones! starts at 6:30pm.

Venues announced.

They have never liked it up 'em.

Talking of cult TV, I re-watched Children of the Stones fairly recently. Not quite as nightmare-inducing to the adult me as it was back then, but the village of Avebury looks fabulously ominous in it.