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Another reason to admit TO to SL and give them 5 years relegation exemption.

I think it’s an harsh call. The forwards are predominantly a young group of men learning on the job. There is no doubt that this season is going to be very tough. To make accusations of hiding is IMO a bit disrespectful. I agree that any team can make improvements. If you were privy to the individual player match day stats such as tackles made it my alter your point of view. It could just be that you don’t fancy a particular player and others do. To try and offer some form of perspective a club down the road will be in the same league operating on a playing budget of 1.4 million. I would like to see us all stick together, support the staff and offer up individual positivity throughout the course of the forthcoming season.

I might be starting to believe...

He ought to be out clubbing till 4 in the morning, like any normal 16 year old.

match starting a lot later than scheduled- hope its not past the kids bed time

Actually, just forget it. Some folk clearly cannot read, so to save myself the bother of having to moderate this thread every five minutes over the New Year weekend, just use the thread in the politics sub-forum for all Honours related comments instead. Happy New Year.

The club has announced that Conor Turner has become assistant to Dale Ferguson. Conor, the brother of Calum, was on the coaching staff at Lock Lane for four years. Jaymes Chapman will continue in his coaching rôle and as Head of Conditioning.

Am currently in Tblisi and have managed to track down 2 persons who were involved in RL here way back. Great shame it fell apart i went to the Russia v Georgia match in Moscow way back and there was a lot of promise. Might do a blog later will see how it goes.

He's called Mike Ogunwale. Cresta mentioned he is a serving soldier, and he is in talks to sign, so watch this space.

Yeah I'd like to know as well. Also thought Max Moore-Anderson had a great game as well

Dan's calling in the Army... Well done Dan Toal, hats off to you mate, always put your body on the line. Thanks mate enjoyed watching you smash a few & never give an inch away. Great service to Barrow RL

Law Cup | Oldham RLFC (roughyeds.co.uk) Mike Ford has got class. I have such immense respect for the guy.

Very similar. In fact they were next to each other on the freezer at Costco and I picked up the wrong ones.

Don't forget the gym, changing rooms, and the pitch plus floodlights, all before the barn. We have a great team at the club who have worked hard to get all the different grants for these projects, but at the end of the day, this is Sport England money that is put under the RFL umbrella for distribution, and it is Sport England who rubber stamp the funding for the project. But not all the funding has come from the RFL (Sport England).

Cracking read that.

A British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours for Noel Cronin, the man who created and runs Talking Pictures TV.

Too often it's the basics that let RL down imo. Ticket sites that are poor, or sometimes don't even work. Poor food and drink (or sold out before half time). Lack of engaging content on social media. Delays in getting kits launched. Poor matchday presentation etc. These are basics, fix these before we even start looking at fancy new things.

Back in November , Martyn Sadler wrote, "To be fair to IMG, most clubs have told me that IMG’s advice has enabled them to significantly improve their digital operations and it may be that the payment is fully justified, both by the outcome of that work and its inclusion in the IMG contract with the RFL."

If people don't see the new deal as an example of the sport being forward thinking, then I can't help them. They are increasing coverage and widening the FTA element, and progressing video refs at all games. It's all good stuff. Suggests things are moving in the right direction. So yes, IMG were brought in to make things better, and this new approach certainly sounds better.

If we are going to make statements like this every single time, then for balance we should be giving them the benefit for the fact that for the first time in history every game will be shown, VR's at every match, more games than ever on terrestrial expected and an increase in streaming content. All forward thinking stuff that many have wanted for years but the game has never delivered. But some of these things take time to navigate the detail.

Can we have our own page in the League One thread now?

Basically as I understand it Keith Christie and Jordan Robinson will be shareholders. Fans will be paying a monthly membership or pay for a season ticket which will bring in a budget. Other income is coming from sponsorship. We will be living within our means. We're being realistic here and know this season is going to be tough but it's more about keeping rugby league alive in the north east. As things stand we have a ground, a Head Coach in Chris Thorman and some volunteers who have got us to this point. There's a lot of work to be done now. If anyone's in the Newcastle area for any reason come and take in a game at Kingston Park, you'll be made welcome.

He had his chance too. Hopefully the momentum doesn't now shift and Littler keeps his composure.

Like a machine.

Knowing how to do the maths is the difference, any help in doing the maths is good. Rules, guidelines, call them what you will, help people get the right result, that is surely a good thing. Presumption killed many a man.

If there is a zone, then Littler is in it. It’s as if the Terminator has picked up a set of darts instead of sunglasses. Unflinching so far.

Littler takes the 2nd set too.

Not a good omen for Littler, Sky showed him good luck messages from Manchester United's Johnny Evans and Gary Neville, Littler being a fan. Neville wished him the United spirit....er ...they lost this evening at Forest. Admit I'd love to see Barney win the title.

Steve Ganson OBE in 2024 then.....

Don't get it at all. Gary Anderson defended Littler, not on this but overall slating the media's pressure on him.

If you would like to congratulate Rugby League's New Year Honours recipients, please use this thread. If you want to comment or complain about the Honours system and/or its recipients in any way, please head over to the politics sub-forum and do so in the thread that has now been moved there. See link below: https://www.totalrl.com/forums/index.php?/topic/387329-kevin-sinfield-rob-burrow-cbes-ralph-rimmer-obe/ Thanks.

Done, thanks.

10,000 plus in Tbilisi IIRC.

@Dave TI agree. Too often in all walks of life the default is finding something new. For most clubs, simply sorting out ticketing and marketing would be gold dust. Get 1k extra punters in, looking at £200,000 a year. Well worth a one off £30-40k. Bristol bears who are struggling in RU got 10k extra in for their match last night- looking at £400k minimum (circa £40 a ticket)

I would like to know what they have done to warrant the first whopping invoice they submitted.

MVG looking like his old self tonight especially in the vital moments.

Love that, thanks for sharing it.

A scrum after every tackle?? Why ever did they get rid of that rule?

Ye Jay has gone, but I'm sure that 2 or 3 of the Brow youngsters are looking to take his shirt.

If the club announce season ticket sales are up to 1100 from 1000 for example, people would say it’s not that impressive. Better to say “record season tickets sales” and a “big percentage increase on last year” without giving an actual figure. It’s basic marketing. As long as the sales are growing year on year then there’s nowt to moan about.

And whilst it is excellent news that he has gone the fact that he has been suspended under investigation for the last 12 months and no outcome to that investigation has been achieved shows how woeful the HR department of the RFL is

Des Drummond when he picked the ball up the crowd would come alive with anticipation.

Des Drumond and he even did RL proud on Brian Jacks Superstars !!

Steve Tickle at Barrow in the early 80s. Arguably the best fullback in the game for 2-3 years but never got a look-in at international level because a: He wasn't at one of the top clubs and b: His name wasn't George Fairbairn.

Well, there is a feel good factor at Wakey at the moment so I am sure we will bring up a good following for your first home game in The 1895 cup. Let's up its a good start financially for your season.

Just confirmed by The RFL, we've been accepted for 2024, great news!

I can’t see that happening IMO.

Good luck to Thunder. There's loads of good people involved in the NE and they have some of the best fans too. Hope the club rebuilds from here and goes from strength to strength