Ackroman

Interesting to look at Wane's squad released today. The vast majority have played in the lower leagues, admittedly some as DR, but some as loanees or "failures" like Minichella. And these are the elite players of the country. So as I said previously, the player pathway needs to be seen not just as a Super League plan but a whole game plan.

Nobody said there were. Maybe you could show me?

Err no. So let me clarify. We currently have a very unsavoury situation between SRD and Hunslet over a player. Regarding the community clubs, SL are also as happy to take their players for nothing. There is no false equivalence but there are examples of SL self interest in both examples. For those of us living under the SL umbrella with little or no say, control or influence, who have been (on here, on this thread), accused of sucking the life out of SL for wanting due recognition and compensation, well whatever happens at the top will only make this worse.

Oooo. I guess you didn't pass your English exam because I never said they were.

Participation is down alarmingly at open age. The only upward is for females. However, Super League can manage without those pesky drag weight's in the community and lower leagues. Sucking precious revenue out. On another point, maybe the new regime can deal with the fact there are more "Super Leagues" in this country than there are Directors of our version.

You really do have a problem with lower league clubs don't you

Looks like a big beautiful regime change.

Do you think your question should be taken seriously?

The grassroots? Is that what is being ignored and taken for granted because I would wholeheartedly agree with you.

As the post I replied to suggests, even the top clubs rely on central funding, so you have to ask yourself what is the funding for? In my opinion creating player pathways is not a Super League problem, it is a whole game problem but top clubs get the money and therefore the academies. A solution that could benefit the whole game, would be to have regional academies and quotas so that the top clubs may have access to some of that talent but reduce access to that talent if they bring in foreign players. This would then give lower league clubs opportunities to access that talent to bolster their own squads instead of relying on dual registration. That doesn't cost the game any more money or provide lower league clubs access to more money but it does give them access to a player pool. It also helps them make the most of the money they do have. This also provides a more integrated pathway for players that don't quite make it at the very top. if we look at the situation at Warrington for example and their complete inability to generate talent, why is this? Why is this a topic of interest on the latest 4020 podcast? Why have Warrington just signed a lad from the Dewsbury area into their academy? For me rugby league can't afford to have young people and talent moving around the place at high cost to themselves and the clubs. We have got to stop acting like it's a free market and start acting like we're more of a cooperative, for the good of the whole game.

You only have to look elsewhere in this country at how other sports, businesses and even educational establishments, spend vast sums to gain fractional improvements at the top, rather than spending more evenly to make significant gains at the bottom. A whole game solution is needed but I fear not what we will get.

It is the one subject that has merit considering that our sport is subsidised by the government, as well as TV contracts. If for example, the French clubs don't benefit from government subsidy as well as our sport does, then it begs the question why not and whether foreign clubs should come from countries/states that would invest. It would be no different to the NRL in that matter.

Regarding your comments on kicking. We put in at least 2 high bombs, dropped by Faron the winger first and then the No 6, whose catching style was somewhat interesting. We also put in a kick in the final 20 which led to a repeat set and Jordan's first try. I'm not basking or glowing in any victory, I am putting facts in the way of others emotional connection to complaining about things that didn't happen, when they actually did. If you want to nitpick about a halves contribution to tries then go ahead. But we have a scrum half scoring 4 kicks in dreadful conditions, scores a try and has a hand in 2 more? The first Jordan try was a beauty, after a dreadful pass by Coates - which isn't getting a mention, but then Hookem and Summers moved the ball quickly for Jordan to find a gap and went in untouched. That was the speed of passing that made that try. Now if people are "staying away" because they aren't enjoying the rugby or whatever then that's up to them, but this group are trying very hard, making mistakes but coming out on top more times than they are getting beat. They've been beaten twice in a convincing manner and twice in closely fought ties. Won 6, drawn 1. So in 11 games, they've been in 9 of them. That's a good return. I also think the pressure to play well at home is a factor as you can hear the groans and complaints constantly. These are amazing facilities but in front of few speccy's who are bagging them all the time. On the latter, I have brought people from where I live in the Upper Dales, pro-union with a huge level of prejudice about our game, bouncing up and down when Jordan went in for that try and thinking about buying merch. My point being, the lack of interest from those who don't know they've got it good, needs to be replaced by those who don't know it exists. Which is a marketing issue, not a product issue. Hence why the complaining about why the product is a failure, gets up my nose a bit as it misses the point spectacularly.

I agree there needs to be some recognition of Hookem's overall effort and goal kicking. Considering Calum Jordan was MOM, he was on Hookem's side and for the second half Hookem made a lot of effort to put him in gaps. The inconsistency (considering he scored a try against the screams of the avid fan behind me "to pass it!") may still be there but for the life of me, I want to know what people want from a half back?? Regarding dwindling fans, and the inference this has something to do with Hookem's marmite appeal, I hope they all went home on 60 minutes because that last 20 minutes was all him. A try, 2 assists and an almost impossible conversion, with 1 miss that hit the post from the sideline in the first half. IMO he is an asset that would look very good in a better team, particularly if he had a quick and elusive stand-off alongside to take the pressure off. This is where we look weak and we still have people calling for a 44 yr old to get on the park and play that role. I also think the lack of recognition for the positive things is telling, as the coach also deserves a nod for doing what coaches should do and change the tempo and direction at half time when it's not going well. So well done Paul. You are developing a good if, inconsistent group. And FWIW, Marchy didn't drop the ball once, and he didn't give away any head high tackles. The very thing that allowed Haven to make ground. And for the record, Goole got a win away at Hurricanes.

First half, same as last week but against a poorer team. Second half Haven went missing and Dewsbury turned on the style....but they took their time to dominate the game. Some great tries too.