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Today is Anzac Day and the football codes will be full of fixtures. The NRL does a great job of honouring the Australian and New Zealander veterans of conflict since the Boar War. Unforgotten are all the British and other veterans who have made the same sacrifices as our veterans to defend our freedoms. I hope as many of us can take the time to watch the pre match ceremony of one of today’s or this weekend’s fixtures and take time to consider how lucky most of us are to have had such brave people stand up for us all. Lest We Foget

The latest Sport England adult sports participation survey was released today, and I have to say it does not make encouraging reading for Rugby League. The survey shows the best picture we have of participation rates for adults in various sports and is released every year (starting in 2024-16). It shows the participation rates for the previous 12 months and participation is defined as any person aged 16+ who took part in a sporting activity at least twice in any 28 day period. Background and context There is data for individual sports and other leisure activities but I think for Rugby League, the team sports is the relevant benchmark. For the 12 months to November 2023, participation in team sports overall increase by 6% with men increasing by 8% and women flat on prior year. Rugby League For the 12 months to November 2023, participation in Rugby League for men fell by 4% (40,600 from 42,100) while participation for women increased by just 1% (12,200 from 12,100). Overall this means a 3% fall and a participant number of 52,800 compared to 54,200 last year. Comparative sports Rugby Union is probably the most relevant comparison and men’s participation in Union increased strongly by 17% (from 157,200 to 183,700) but surprisingly fell for women by 6% (from 36,700 to 34,500). This meant an overall increase in participation of 13% - which is very strong although the drop in women participation will be worrying for them. Some other comparisons but less detail Football – overall +6% Hockey – overall +5% Netball – women -2% Cricket – overall -4% Thoughts I am very disappointed that we haven’t seen an increase in participation in Rugby League, particularly as the participation in team sports overall this year has reversed a long term downward trend. It seems pretty clear that the initial strong growth in women’s participation in (traditionally) men’s sports has slowed down dramatically and even reversed in Union (-6%), cricket (-6%) and Football (-5%). In that context, at least some slight growth in League is welcome. Link https://www.sportengland.org/research-and-data/data/active-lives/active-lives-data-tables

The RL participation numbers show 'no change', year-on-year. The perceived drop falls within the boundaries of sampling fluctuation. Still not great news, I grant you. My comment: I would like to know why we're not pushing the non-contact and social versions harder.

Johnston got himself a 1 game ban misses the Batley game. A target game for us one we should be looking to field our strongest side. I do think as a club we should have something written in the players contracts about docked wages for bans which are caused by nothing but ill-discipline. When you are running a small squad and fighting tooth and nail to keep your club in the champ you can't have players sat on the sidelines for multiple game and just pay there full wages. (Controversial opinion maybe, I also get the new rule changes are stupid and could exacerbate bans)

I'd like a Phil McKenzie, Tony Kay & Des Drummond in their pomp please! Or if I have to be sensible IMO I'd like another hooker that can lead us round the park pulling the strings. I know others will say we have Marwood & Saunders but I don't think either are at Matty's level or better yet at game management. A flying winger / fullback would be the other position we need strength in depth especially after Eccleston's devastating injury. Personally I have no problem with us going the Southern Hemisphere route as long as the lads coming in are better than what's on offer locally and they aren't here for a holiday. It takes a big commitment for lads travelling from Yorkshire 3 times a week and at a cost to the club in wages to attract them and travelling money, so bringing lads in that will live in the town and add to the community makes sense. Both us and Haven have great memories of some of our best players coming from the other side of the world. It's up to our local lads to roll up their sleeves and keep the jersey off them. If they are good enough they will. UTT.

I wanted to start a thread about Japanese Rugby League. I want to keep people up to date with the Japan National team and domestic matches. I have added a video from a Interanational friendly between Japan and Thailand from February 2024. The game was played in Sydney and Japan's team was made up of roughly half Australia based players and half Japan based players. This was Japan's first match sice October 2022 against El Salvador.

Something has to change. Smith had a full season and an off-season. I get he might have not been able to recruit all the players he wanted, but he got so little out of the ones he's got that it was just unacceptable. There was no confidence he could turn anything around. Since he's gone, there's some visible changes happening. Whether they're good or bad, who knows, but the support was being lost through such inept performances that you've got to be shown to be doing something. They're the customers after all. You can't have one win in 14 games (that one win being a last minute try at home against a newly promoted team with zero wins and guaranteed relegation), with 3 out of the last 4 by more than 50+, and expect to keep your job.

No ban just a fine - Ronan Dixon (Dewsbury Rams) – Grade B Head Contact - £125 Fine

Just bothered good lads like Marwood and Walton get disillusioned then the new players move on next year but it happens, gotta keep going forward. You can also rest players carrying niggles.

Only need to look back a few weeks ago and we were hoping to get some on loan to cover a lot of injuries, so we do need additions to the squad.

That’s Liverpool done in the title race. Absolutely fallen apart in the last month.

That seems to sum it up. When he played it never seemed much longer than about 2x15 mins at best incorporating a lost off load. On the recent overseas acquisition front Turner appears a real find and Tanner has shown encouraging signs that he will be very useful providing he gets match fit and then stays mainly injury free. So overall im happy.

To be fair to the club we haven't had any highlights this season until Bradford !!

We moan about it being a poor night to stage a game but then we don't half miss it when it isn't on.

It's always the half backs who seem to get banned !!! Dallimore, Sammut etc

Yes let's hope so Really want this to be the end of the dull dominance of Saints' throttling defence dullfest Hopefully it will be a Marster - class down that right edge all night Huddy by 2 scores

I can't vouch for this set of Rugby League administrators, my crystal ball is on the blink. Nonetheless, I hope that all that is on the IRL's 2023 to 2030 Calendar occurs, and time will tell whether that is true. However, I was merely making the point that for all those expecting firm details right now for anything beyond four to six months away, that is not how most international sport does it (bar odd exceptions like the Olympics, RU Lions tours and World Cups). Obviously, we would also like at least some details about our next World Cup in 2026, and it seems from above links that the IRL know where it will be and, either we will know soon (re. Gavin Willacy) or the NRL doesn't want to tell us (re. Steve Mascord). We will see!

I think it's a great idea and hopefully something that people will turn up and support ........ both before the game and for the Q&A afterwards... The sentimental side of me thinks it's a shame we didn't wait until the actual anniversary date of the 1973 Championship Final victory - when we're at home to Featherstone Rovers, who we beat on the way to that final and who, themselves, won the Challenge Cup in 1973...... AND does this mean the South Stand will be open for the Toulouse game ??

Warriors 24 - 27 Titans Score Summary C. Nicoll-Klokstad 4, A. Fonua-Blake 8, A. Fonua-Blake 59, R. Berry 63 Tries A. Brimson 14, T. Boyd 31, D. Fifita 38, A. Khan-Pereira 43, A. Brimson 55 S. Johnson 5, S. Johnson 9, S. Johnson 59, S. Johnson 64 Conversions T. Boyd 15, T. Boyd 33, T. Boyd 39 Field Goals T. Boyd 40

Summarising the earlier games: Dragons 18-60 Roosters Score Summary J. Su'a 6, J. De Belin 51, T. Eisenhuth 68 Tries D. Young 11, A. Crichton 17, J. Manu 27, S. Walker 33, N. Butcher 37, L. Keary 56, J. Manu 60, J. Tedesco 63, N. Butcher 73, J. Suaalii 77 Z. Lomax 7, Z. Lomax 52, Z. Lomax 69 Conversions S. Walker 13, S. Walker 18, S. Walker 29, S. Walker 34, S. Walker 39, S. Walker 58, S. Walker 62, S. Walker 64, S. Walker 74, S. Walker 78

Storm established superiority over Bunnies in that first half. They also finished with a flourish. Milne's dangerous stupidity got himself binned with 0 minutes on the clock.

All home wins apart from Fev

Too busy making every possible post a 3 second video instead of a picture or a link to an article. Half time score, oh yep, better make it a video...

New CEO bounce or what ever Richies job title is . Hull to win this .

Strange seeing the Bunnies running around in what look like Cowboy jumpers...

This has been raised many times. AP finished Radford before he announced it on Sky.

All clear for a world cup announcement then

Just watching the Matty John's Show, David Armstrong has just had a piece on him 'bigging' him up to the rafters, saying how good he is and what an influence he has on the team, if he does all that whilst coming into the Newcastle team, Leigh had better set their sites elsewhere.

I think there are two elements to it. First one being that in 2022, Leigh likely had to make very good offers to players to attract them, as simply matching offers would see players go elsewhere. That is likely still true now, but may have been more of a factor while we were trying to recruit a SL squad while still in the championship. When it comes to renewals, I think overinflated wages means that they are earning too much for the role in the side that person is playing. For example, if Jack Hughes in on a big contract (I don't know if he is or he isn't). He was signed as a first choice second row. He's lost that place and is now a back up / fill in prop forward. Would imagine that money would be better spent elsewhere.

Pretty good bounce back from Dom Young today. After a poor 20 minutes and a send off last time out and a 2 match suspension, he ran for 206 metres today, 3 line breaks and the Roosters first try in a thumping win.

Break even would be completely fine, the event and exposure then makes the whole thing worth it.

SP said the British and others were unforgotten.

The snippets are depressing and they also appear to contradict previous snippets.

doesn't look good but this WC will break even at best.

Yeah fair play to Everton they wanted it more especially in that first 30 minutes. There was always a danger of this happening once Klopp announced his retirement.

If the money that Samoa owe the RFL is the same amount of money that the RFL owe the IRL then that might explain it. Maybe the RFL paid deposits/acted as a guarantor for facilities/accommodation or something to that effect during the world cup and Samoa didn't pay up? That would mean the IRL would be at an advantage to be helping the RFL to get the money, as eventually it would go to them. If that were the case, it might explain why Samoa don't want to come over here again, as they would be on a hiding to nothing if any payment would come minus the debts, but it could also explain why they are being pressured to come over after saying no at first. Mind you speculation built on speculation is all we have in the international calendar, give us a fixture list goddammit.

Ridiculously, both events had 16 teams, which is way too many at this stage in international RL's development.

The players rarely talk to each other in the arena. Their minds are totally focused on the match and nothing else, they are completely in the zone, focused on the table and won't be distracted by anything. You see this when they're stood waiting to enter the arena. Hawkins and Day yesterday were chatting away like the good mates they are backstage but as soon as they walked into that arena a switch was flicked and their minds were on the game. You saw similar with Selby and O'Connor; really good friends who have known each other for 20 years, since O'Connor was a kid going into the club Selby played at. Selby basically mentored O'Connor and coached him when he was a kid and a teenager but they did not say a word to each other during their game. The moment the game ended however Selby jumped up with a massive smile on his face, congratulating his friend and giving him a massive hug. They're just professionals being professional.

I'm excited to have 3 hopefully quality players and competition is good, my only concern is that if two are forwards on current form who can you leave out? Liam is getting better every week, Tyler couldn't even get a game and Grant and JJ were superb at Hunslet.

Pratt is actually useless and should be sent back on loan to York ASAP, if you ask me...

I think it’s insane to be given 5 out of your first 6 fixtures at home, winning the first 2 probably helped with the confidence and tempted a few more down for the next game. Town had the same scenario in the Championship but failed to pick up points. The problem is the lack of income with no home games for up to a couple of months. It crippled Town financially even though the crowds held up considering our results. I just don’t understand the RFLs thinking on this.

Swinton v Dewsbury 894 Toulouse v Whitehaven 2 055 (lowest crowd for quite some time) Halifax v Sheffield E 1500

2572 at Batley v Wakey

He was a grub but a great grub no doubt and one of the great attacking centres. My enduring memory of Hill was in the dying minutes of a match at Brookvale, holding off a Broncos` defender with one arm whilst running about 20 metres to score in the corner to win the match for Manly. Power, speed and determination, always loved watching him play.

I dunno what people seem to have against Holmes, always plays well for us, has great pace still for a forward and our win % with him in the squad is much higher than without. He'd always be in my 17, whether it's 2nd row or prop.

The thing I’ve noticed most is the closeness of the players to each other when sat in their chairs. I’ve watched a fair bit this year and never seen any words or glances between one another. It looks very awkward at times. Maybe it is time to change to a larger venue. Tomorrow afternoon sees the start of Ronnie’s Crucible campaign, looking forward to it, in my book he’s the favourite.

We now have three gigs organised!!! Wow its like being in a proper band!!! 8th June at The Blind Pig Sowerby Bridge supporting Pssyche 20th July at The Queen’s Head Illingworth 10th August at The Cross Keys Siddal beer festival

This is a bare faced lie. Over the last 10 years: The SL Grand Final has had 7 different teams in them. The SL top 6 (for like-for-like purposes) has had 12 different teams. Only London of the current clubs haven't made the playoffs. The Challenge Cup final has had 11 different finalists.

London Broncos having a lower population catchment area than say Whitehaven (and around a third of the catchment population of York) shows just how well thought through the whole system is. I live around 90 minutes drive from York, but count for their population score. Someone living on Riverside Road less than thirty seconds walk away from the Cherry Red Records stadium doesn't count for London Broncos catchment.