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She refereed our game yesterday and was probably the best referee we have seen for the last year and a half even if we were on the wrong end of the penalty count. Everything was well signaled and she didn't want to be centre of attention

For starters for the little central funding Hornets now receive we deliver the following. A competitive League 1 team which adds value to the sport and develops quality young players. A competing RFL women's team. A competing RFL wheelchair team. A competing Learning Disabilities team. A Walking rugby team. An RFL accredited development academy one of only 16 in the country still I believe. An RFL England Lions development team at under 16-18s. Much better than average media content and socials. Top class facilities. A well established and growing community foundation delivering in a 230,000 population Rochdale Borough. Dedicated community hub "The Hive" with two purpose built rugby league pitches which has been developed under Andy's tenure in partnership with Rochdale MBC. In summary Andy and our board are delivering a huge return on investment to the sport for the small amount of money they receive. I don't always agree with all of his social media posts and activities but undisputedly we are stronger for having him here in Rochdale and the game as whole needs more people with such drive and passion and a grass routes and whole game mentality like his involved.

There is a real problem in our society that we think people with money are an automatic authority and that we fetishise the opinions of people who succeed in business (often overlooking their failures and especially overlooking whether that “success” is relevant to what they are opining/deciding on at the time). All of which doesn’t mean the people running the clubs should have no say but it does mean that they are not necessarily any wiser about the “whole game” than anyone else.

It's very unfortunate, as it could've been a very impactful statement if he'd got the tone right. A bit of humility and why he's changed his view of Wood from 6 years ago, what his role will be and why it will be different, and some insight into what he wants from all of this would've been better than a series of digs at outgoing directors.

So the appointment of Wood is a sort of dirty protest to make us look as unpleasant an investment as possible? That's bold.

I think the perception issue is down to crowd sizes when they were in Super League, magnified by the fact the stadium they play in is too big for them. The reality is though that teams in new markets need to be given time if we want them to work. I went over to see UTC just before and just after the rebranded to Catalans Dragons, the year before they got into Super League. Around 1,000 maybe 1,500 at most. And yet in their 3rd year in Super League, having been saved from relegation prior, they were really starting to motor with audience growth. Look at them now? Second biggest revenue base in the competition, not just healthy crowds but also huge corporate high-price ticket sales (ironically making the other, idiotic English clubs tax them for travel costs). Hopefully if they do replace Salford at the end of the year the current model will enable Toulouse to similarly have time to build. Much more scope in that city to grow far beyond the Dragons success. Of course we'll probably be a 10-team league on the M62 by then if Project Nigel gets its way. Never mind eh.

Similarly my kids should be congratulated for securing some great Christmas presents after persuading me to buy them.

Question is, will FC introduce dynamic pricing?

We tried him there a couple of times last year as an alternative to Bowes etc and it didn't really work, not his fault because it's a completely different skillset, the half back is responsible for pretty much the entire shape of the attack and the skills required are so much more subtle than those needed at any other position. As an aside, he isn't our "reserve" hooker, he's our bench hooker and there has been a general feeling on this forum over the years that he's better coming off the bench against, in theory, tiring defences. Unfortunately this year we've been consistently losing the battle around the ruck area and there's no space for him, no quick play-the-balls, and very few breaks for him to exploit his excellent backing up and finishing skills.

I like the way the club is chugging along right now. They didn't go out and make huge signings in the off season, they've opted to give game time to home grown players and so far so good. At this stage there is no obvious runaway team in the Championship, but based on the first few games if TO can keep their key players fit they'll be in the mix with the likes of Widnes, Barrow, Bradford etc. It seems at though they've made a big effort to increase their crowds and there has been an increase in matchday attendance so far this year which is positive and bodes well moving forward. The club posted nearly 6,000 attending at yesterdays game. The new president Olivier Dubiois has said in an interview last year that he is pushing for the club to play out of a newly developed 10,000 capacity stadium in the future. I'm in agreement with this thinking, the club played at its own ground Stade Minimes prior to its renovation being opposed by local residents, the atmosphere was great and capacity appropriate to the size of the club. Stade Ernest Wallon is a great arena but it's just too big for where Toulouse are right now. Only negative from the game was Calum Gahan being taken off, let's hope it's not a prolonged long term injury.

These guys might own the clubs but they don't own the game. Clearly McManus only cares about Saints, otherwise he'd have used his property development and Chinese finance experience to help Salford. This lot act like Victorian mlll owners telling us what's best for us. However. we are not grateful workers doffing our hats and tugging our forelocks.. thank eee sir. Who are THEY to tell ME how it's going to be. We're in the first live playing season under the long term strategic "Re-imagining Rugby League " project...the first in the sports history. And what do these patricians do? What they've always done: screw it up. Clubs (and yes, it includes you, Leigh) have clearly upped their game on all fronts since the project was first thought of. It's nonsense to suggest otherwise. Attendances look good, social media presence is off the scale, more access to live games than ever before. And now, in this first season, already a few games in, the SuperLeague table is looking healthily different to the norm. After 66 years or so following the great sport, I'm asking myself, "why bother....stuff 'em".

Precisely this. Whatever the rights or wrongs, Beaumont needs to shut the f### up in public Its embarrassing

That's nothing to do with being classy in the context of my point, as you know. In a similar way that dismissing people in the way Nicholas did isn't classy, or using social media to offer people a fight isn't classy.

It's depressing how his whole focus is on whether people know the game of RL or not. This is probably the most extreme case of 'local game for local people' I have seen. People don't normally say it quite so explicitly. His nonsense about whether they attended major events shows him for what he is.

Can you open the south end at the MKM so we can bring our wind with us?

I'm just replying to this post but I think you've hit the nail on the head on all your posts on this. Many very successful people, who maybe have followed the traditional path of going to University and going on to a successful, well paid career, are generally risk averse. Often they are brought up to be and frankly have no need to take risks as they have a well paid job and all the usual things that go along with that. They have a lot to lose for little relative upside. That certainly doesn't mean they are less bright than someone who has built up their own business or whatever. If anything their success has resulted in them being risk averse.

It's pretty hard to get tens of thousands of fans going if you don't announce anything and don't sell it. Sure you may not get the same numbers as a RU Lions tour but you'd get a very decent following from the UK.

I'll be honest, I didn't take the original comment as being particularly envious. I think it is often the case that the stories of many "self-made men/women" is selectively curated. That's not to say that those stories don't have intelligence, hard work, determination and dedication behind the success, but that the stories often omit the role in which some sort of "leg up" or safety net (or both) often underwrites those things. I think we all are guilty of under-playing or under-appreciating the role that luck has in where we are in our lives - whether that is through birth, upbringing, health, relationships or someone's willingness to take a chance on us. I'm sure that's also true of the people who have found themselves in the position where they can afford to run an RL club. It's not envious to point that out and say "that's why lots of people can't just "entrepreneur" their way to success" - it's simply an acknowledgement of how society works. I'm not envious that Jeff Bezos was fortunate enough to have parents that could invest $250,000 in his website idea - I just think that should be a bigger part of the "started it all in his garage" story.

Yes, but in reality what other people think does matter I’m afraid. I think you’re overreacting to be honest, I’m not saying that achieving success in business is a worthless enterprise or a fluke, far from it. But I do think it can lead to an over inflated sense of worth too. This is not pointed at you or Harry specifically - just my observation.

I have of course done Bailey a disservice. Everyone knows that this was his finest moment.

It does say a lot about him, but it's also a view prevalent among the owners. Many of them think that because they're quite good at running a club on their own particular patch - and indeed many of them are - that this transmutes into being able to run a whole sport, or being able to deliver a strategy to break the sport out of its very limited footprint. They're different things, and not everyone is good at everything. And that's ok. But so many of them seem to have a deeply ingrained suspicion of anyone who doesn't do things their way. It's very odd. Also, I regret to say "thoroughbred rugby league people" isn't the badge of honour he thinks it is.

Re. this quote from Kevin Nicholas when talking about the review: "Thoroughbred Rugby League people would be involved, in contrast to the career directors previously who may be good at attending monthly meetings and accepting their five-figure cheques but are hardly committed to improving the sport." This absolutely lacks class and says a lot more about him than those he is criticising.

good to see a female ref coming through the ranks, hopefully it won't be too long before either she or anothe takes charge of a Super League game. I couldn't care less who refs the game as long as they are fair and competent, gender shouldn't ever be an issue.

Trips across hemispheres are things that people often plan over a couple of years, certainly saving for a couple of years for them. People used to plan tours for years, and we should be in the same place for the World Cups. International RL is unreliable. You can't plan holidays or tours around them any more, we seem to have just given up on that now, which is crazy when you look at what has just happened in Vegas, and what happens in Perpignan every year, and has happened when Catalans have played Warrington and Wigan in Barcelona. It's frustrating when you watch old international games on Youtube, you even used to get thousands of Aussie fans watching the Kangaroos playing over here. It's just something we've frittered away. This year's Ashes is an absolute car crash. It's so small-time that V'landys was on TV saying that Simon Moran called them and asked could they play in England instead, please and they said Yes. This should have been locked in months, if not years ago, and even just discussing this publicly is amateur. To now be in this place where we are little over 6 months away from a series apparently with no details announced is just absolute rubbish by everyone involved.

You have enough of your own wind Worzel

There's a word for people that do that on the Internet.

You do your fair share of scorning too Harry... Glass houses etc.. "Tell me RP what do you know of the attitude of people in the stands...." And "when your next at the game chose some people at random and ask them..." As if I don't talk to people.. you can be quite disingenuous when having a conversation Harry. "Soft assumption" I suppose though..

I love the fact you just assume I don't talk to people in the game at all levels... How little you actually know... On one thread it's all about those in the stands, the next it's about the people who own it, who is it next? You want what you want and you side with those that espouse it... But woe betide anyone else do the same hey...

They are the best team in SL right now for sure, but every game is different, theres nothing to say they will play that well against us. We've just got to play our best rugby and see what happens.

The NRL really stepping up the investment in this now, with the appointing of people with outstanding sports administrative and corporate experience to run the organisation. Touch Football Australia announces new leadership. Following an extensive and independently managed nationwide recruitment process, TFA is pleased to announce Marcus Ashcroft as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 17, 2025. The highly competitive search, conducted by Sportspeople Recruitment, attracted over 100 high-calibre applicants from across the country. TFA’s long-standing partnership with the NRL is set to reach new heights, with the NRL committing its largest-ever investment in Touch Football. Further cementing its commitment to the sport, the NRL has publicly backed Touch Football’s bid for Olympic inclusion at Brisbane 2032. The alignment between TFA and the NRL has never been stronger, and this renewed investment and strategic partnership mark a significant milestone for the future of Touch Football. With hundreds of thousands of participants across the country and in traditionally non-League states Touch is a indispensable way of breaking into new markets and bringing new fans and participants to the game. The full article: NRL 2025: Brad Fittler, Marcus Ashcroft; Touch Football Australia announces new leadership | NRL.com

I think when people talk about success in business what they forget is it really boils down to risk-taking rather than individual ‘brightness’. This is often forgotten in the aftermath. Thats why personally I’m less impressed with it than say somebody who has achieved a difficult accreditation with a professional body as a measure of intellect.

Everyone with a job is a professional by that sense of course Harry, but being any other sort of professional and a professional sports administrator (especially in the past 25 years or so) aren't always transferable, as we have seen time and time again. I'm a professional, loads of my friends are too (some of them are rewarded for that more than me!), some of them are successful business owners; that doesn't make myself or any of them qualified to run a sports club or a sport as a whole. Yet by your logic we should all be considered professionals if we turned our attention to RL club X? The best professionals I've ever worked with are humble. They know what they know and crucially know what they don't. They listen and learn before they talk. So again, the professional game, ran by amateurs (in sports management).

11,231 for Hull KR vs Leigh

Salford clearly are screwed. I also think the handling of this situation by the RFL is the prime reason/trigger for the other movements at the governing body.

I'm really looking forward to watching both the games coming up against Hull. It looks like Rovers are the team to beat. But that's the beauty of the Hull derby, form doesn't mean much

I didn't realise he was a bricklayer.

A "thoroughbred" RL person doing their business in front of the world and not discreetly.

The reverting back to Wood is no doubt a consequence of something - and I don’t believe it’s just down to cash. A cash flow issue doesn’t need a strategic review on the back of a previous strategic review. I suspect the NRL are coming and there are clubs panicking they’ll lose control and get kicked out for the new plan…

NRL investment in London Broncos, or indeed any European rugby league club, is a very exciting prospect but I’m not going to believe it until it’s a done deal.

Very professional performance yesterday. Great to have JT back as he gives us close range strike power down the left edge. Also, a big shout out to Jack Johnson, who has had a great start to the season. The engine room of ET, Wildie and Ashurst worked their socks off. Finally, how good was Pat Moran. His ability to either take the hard yards or use his exceptional link up play really keeps the opposition defence second guessing and reminds me of a young Terry Flanagan. Bring on Sheffield next. Come on Oldham.

Yes with Oldham

The SFS hosted just 2 group games in 2017. That was it for NSW in its entirety. The geographic spread was because they wanted bids for the event. The NSW government didn't want to fund it for whatever reason so Lebanon vs Aus and England it was. NSW were shocked into action by that omission I think. It seemed from the outside they thought the NRL would never just ignore them but they did effectively. Such was the impact one of the plans announced in 2018 (the year after the 2017 snub) awas for a NSW (not Australia as a whole) hosted RL World Cup in 2029. The 2023 Women's football world cup stadiums in Australia and NZ were finalised in March 2021, after being proposed as part of the bid in 2019 where Sydney was always the planned host for the final. The 2025 BI Lions RU tour of Australia had the full schedule announced 2 years prior, so I don't see this as an "Australia" thing. Its an Australian RL thing...

Like what the people that have spent the last few years being outraged at IMG didn't do?

This language is telling.

What a very strange response. If the full amount can be counted as Toulouse attendance figures despite it being to watch another game then that would be manipulating the img scoring to their advantage. I see this as quite smart of Toulouse. Care to explain what you mean by that comment about me? I’m not quite sure how me saying Toulouse has been smart has turned into a personal attack on me…

Excellent team performance today by Oldham, not champagne rugby but basic rugby played really well. Was a bit concerned in that first half spell where London although behind on the score were playing quick, smart rugby and I thought we may be caught out with their pace but defensively wise Oldham were up to the task, got through a few nervy sets unscathed then came out second half and blew them away. Referee was a bit inconsistent, both side guilty of being off-side at the play the ball but Oldham seemed to be penalised more than London. Also diabolical referring first half where London nearly took an Oldham players head off with a high tackle but not penalised then about a minute later an Oldham player tackles high and the referee is all over it. I also hope the London player who took out Riley Dean at the hooter is punished or put on report because that (you cant even call it a tackle, god knows what it was?) could have caused serious injury, if that is not dangerous play then i don't know what is. Special shout out to Jordan Turner, he may be 36 and possibly the body is not as it used to be but his rugby brain is still as sharp as ever and was a well deserved MOM. All credit to the rest of the team, it does not always have to be flashy stuff all the time, excellent team performance with intelligent rugby being played which nullified the oppositions threat. Well done Oldham, lets have something similar at Sheffield next week. COME ON OLDHAM!!!!!!!!!

I can't stand Lewis. He's an arrogant, pushy, challengeing, competitive and cocky individual. He's exactly the sort of player we need if we're to stand any chance against Australia, if we ever play them, that is. He's the natural successor to Andy Gregory, with a great kicking game, He has that same vision, knows where the gaps are, he's as belligerent as Greg ever was.

Sat 22 March Flimby 42 Cockermouth 18 If I ever manage to visit all the RL grounds in England and Wales, it will require more visits to Cumbria than the bank balance allows, especially as i am no longer willing to drive 400 plus miles in a day, but trying to do two a year. Unfortunately fixtures make this difficult but three were home yesterday and settled on the above. I had driven past the ground before which looked to be a field with no facilities at all. On arrival there were few people around and no sign of dressing rooms but I was able to confirm the game was on, The changing rooms are in the village social club which cannot be seen from the pitch. The ground was roped on one three sides Flimby had dropped out of the league I think three years ago and returned last season. There are possibly too many clubs for the amount of players with Glasson 2 miles in Maryport dropping out last year but have returned. Considering Maryport has 11000 people and Flimby barely 2000, this remains a real heartland Scoring went 12 0 then 12 12 at half time before the hosts pulled away. With some local players unable to commit to long distances and I think 5 teams in the NCL, there were some good players involved and two tries from accurately kicks chased well, were the highlights of the game. Two other excellent features. firstly the crowd exceeded 200 with a good number with the visitors. The other was a single page team sheet albeit with nothing more than the club matches and teams. This was a nice addition to my collection until my six year old knocked a kettle of water over it in the hotel.

Looks like a merry bunch.