Anita Bath

I think its less to do with giving players a rest before play offs, more about avoiding the risk of injuries….Luais injury last week has got every coach worried about what could happen in a largely meaningless last game. Add to that the HIA protocol. Its not a good look I agree and perhaps could be partially mitigated by following the AFL and having a bye between the last week of regular season and the first week of play offs.

Too near the M62….you have to be as far as Penryn to be outside the deemed ‘corridor’.

I think the appropriate comparison is what happened to the Brisbane league once NRL expanded to incorporate a new Brisbane club…the Broncos. The Brisbane league sunk rapidly into a community level game with tiny crowds. The difference with the lower leagues in UK is the lower level teams in Queensland are funded through the leagues clubs.

Its a simple game which has tended to avoid tinkering with laws of the game too much and keeps the same structure. Fans get familiar with the divisions and cups and generally know whats going on. Rugby league changes laws and structures continually, often at short notice. I think there must be a standing item on the agenda of RFL meetings….what shall we change this week.

Broncos resting almost all their starting line up for Thursdays game v storm. The Luai injury has really got some coaches worried about risking players prior to play offs.

Thats no difference to most Hornets line ups this season….one of the problems might be not having a settled line up. How much of this is due to the reliance on short term loans (dual reg), injuries and the ubiquitous unavailability is not clear.

Yes…you can find them by googling nrl affiliations…though they change frequently I am not aware of a hunters affiliation with Dolphins. Dolphins have affiliations with Redcliffe Dolphins and Central Queensland Capras. Norths are switching affiliation from broncos to dolphins next season. As I mentioned, Broncos starting an affiliation with Burleigh next season to go alongside continuing affiliations with Wynnum Manly and Souths.

In Queensland Cup they are all affiliations not reserve grade. However there is talk that Titans, having lost their affiliation with burleigh Bears to the Broncos, are considering entering a team in the QRL.

But the team wasnt much changed from last week. Certainly 2023 is a year to forget for both football codes in the town. We need some light at the end of the tunnel.

No thats artists impression of the new one

You might add the Titans to that…awful on the field, turmoil off the field but very impressive crowds compared to recent seasons.

Yes blimey indeed….the end of our worst season. Won 4 games (midlands twice, london and cornwall). 33rd out of 36 teams in RFL with only points difference keeping us out of 38th. Many no shows for the long trip …always a banana skin on the cards. Points difference keeps us off next to bottom. Only one way to go from here….hopefully. Good luck next week over the hills.

Another week of one sided results. The close games of earlier in the season seem to have disappeared. Matchups for the final weekend look promising though

Always had potato pie on bonfire night with red cabbage. And then if you were feeling flush….steak and cowheel pie….with gravy to die for. Now its vol au vents or pasta. I blame Jamie Oliver and them down south.

Homemade chilli….going all fancy in the new era are we? Would you like croutons with that? Whatever happened to good old potato pie?

Whats borderline about it?

Or they could have set the seats out to spell out an acronym….Wakefield Trinity Football (WTF)

That doesn't count those who didn't submit the census….you need to be able to read and write to do that.

Presume the league will have to shut down for the three weeks of group games….more empty weekends for clubs not making the groups. currently SL teams play one round before QF, now they will play 2 over a three week period, effectively adding 2 extra weeks to the season.

Take a look at the new arrangements for the challenge cup if you think the play offs are crazy.

eight groups of three. So 1. another blank weekend for those who qualify as each group has 3 teams 2. Super league shuts down for three weekends for the group games and likely for QF weekend as 8 of 12 SL teams likely to qualify. 3. More blank weekends for those who dont qualify for groups where opponents on weekends of the cup group games have qualified. 4 More games having to be rearranged later in the season. Better hope London Skolars dont qualify! 5. Groups uneven, four will have two SL teams and one other (championship or league 1). Four will have one super league team in and two others. For the two SL team groups means likliehood of two thrashings for the non SL team. No doubt it will all change again the following season.

I suppose no one involved in this thought this one through. More evidence that Mickey Mouse wears a RFL watch.

One for every world cup winner

oldham will finish third when they win

Or Skolars could show their remorse by winning at Crusaders!