Leyther_Matt

That were good

So much is going to depend on Leigh’s interchange selections. Play a forward might as has been the case for much of the season and we’re in trouble. Sort that and Leigh by 14.

I don’t think it was Blackpool not wanting it, but in true RL fashion the date got moved and nobody bothered checking availability. They’ve had Bash since then (the whole reason it was invented, in fact) and they need the cash. And Blackpool Council would be very supportive I’m sure.

Get Blackpool on the phone. It was an absolute war crime that the Northern Rail Cup was cut down in its prime.

Odsal

Listened to Radio Manchester on the way back and he basically said O’Brien is back in for Saturday which I think is very harsh on Ben Mc after his two lovely assists yesterday Would hope that’ll be because we don’t want to have a “just in case” back on the bench and get an extra forward on there given the sweltering weather forecast

Salford aren’t helped by the positioning of the gantry in that sense, where the most populated and impressive stand is behind the cameras instead of opposite

The bits you could see in the camera arc were largely no different to an England football international tbh

Manchester Arena hasn’t hosted one, the RLWC Final was purpose-built at Manchester Central which was a far more suitable size. Rhinos Netball are contractually obliged to play one game a year at an arena (and under pressure to play more than that), is heavily subsidised for the occasion and it still loses a fortune.

I thought the Challenge Cup Final looked great with such a dramatic finish. Oh, wait, we’re supposed to be watching the stands rather than the game, aren’t we? Yeah, that looked fine, too.

Great result and there’s a very real argument that getting the win in those circumstances is the mark of a quality side, but I did feel a little bit like we’d played our get out of jail free card. Some seriously dumb plays at times both ball in hand and defensively which are why we’re behind Leeds, but plenty of moments of quality too that are why we’re in front of the rest. &nbsp

That’s nowt to do with the capacity, Dave

Forgive the dramatic turn of phrase, but it was done on the back of less than a handful of sell outs and since lost all sense of scarcity, even in the South Stand.

They’re attached with Velcro but it must be the most powerful velcro I’ve ever seen Second game I’ve attended (the other being the incredible RLWC final) and really enjoyed this one too. The pace is ferocious and the completion rate is frankly incredible. Unfortunately to say there was a lack of promotion would be understating it. You could have been stood in the reception area at Robin Park leisure centre and you wouldn’t have known it was happening. There wasn’t even a sign on the door in to the hall that was hosting it, but all the same I’m glad we stumbled across it on the RL ticket site when we were buying our Leigh v Warrington semi final tickets.

I think 15,000 would be too far. Worst thing Warrington ever did was expand the HJ. Finish the East Stand, refurb the main stand suites and see where you are from there. I still think the easiest win would be to make better use of the space in front of The Well and essentially build a larger (and much steeper) terrace, or even a new seated area. Only issue would be how to extend the roof above it.

Varies wildly from club to club and even game to game, depending on scheduling, form, loop games, even traffic.

Yeah I’d love to think we’ll be 65k+ for that one Tbf I’m not sure Oldham would have taken as ma t as some might expect because of the football team being there last week, but suppose it’s a bit of a moot point now

63k is a thoroughly decent crowd and simply wouldn’t be matched at any other stadium. Let’s be positive about the game when it deserves it. The only flag of concern is the reduction in Warrington following from previous years and how that can be replicated across quite a few clubs. Is it cost? Travel options? Final fatigue, even? I do often think it’s a big ask to turnaround from the semi final, but even in my own mind that isn’t a question I’d ask for a football play off final for example.

-6 printing money in the end

Fully expecting this to be on clearance by the end of the summer and another range released by then. Tbf my wife and I have built up quite a collection of £5-£10 training tops ahead of planning on behind at RLWC next year

Did you try watching the game?

Some of the coaches didn’t make it at all, they were stuck on the motorway until half 2. All about luck. I was working, but mrs and mate went and got lucky that they got stuck in traffic leaving Leigh which meant they were delayed enough to be able to go over the tops and avoid the delays. Made it back in 45 mins so just shows how much of an issue it can be when it’s shut, but that’s no reason to affect scheduling IMO

Clubs are still free to announce tickets sold, I believe, and then submit the ‘actual’ to IMG (which tbf is the same as most scenarios if you cast your mind back to the Freedom of Information requests at football clubs a few years ago)

It’s also the only non-club ground in the country that was built with the guarantee of at least one RL game a year (that we didn’t achieve that is down to the RFL)

They literally built a statue outside