Anita Bath

I expect one is the result of the other. Thanks a million Dave for all your work…a labour of love and now jilted it seems. Rugby league clubs need people like you….its what makes it ‘the greatest game’. As for consultants….the rules of this website prevent me from saying what I really think.

You are right about it being the Athletics Grounds committal to history. Cant help you with the dismissal though…if it was near the end I would have been well on my way home by then. Whenever the opposition get within 4 points of 50 I get home as quick as I can and have a lie down in a darkened room.

Got delayed by border force who wouldnt accept my rochdale pioneers divi card as ID so arrived 40 minutes late. When is the replay?

and what about the second half?

Not just a case of fitting the game in but the impact of the travel x 2 on the playing staff. The NRL have organised fixtures to ensure that the clubs going to vegas have a weekend off on their return and that is for a 15 hour flight, considerably less than the journey to/from UK. They are starting the season a week earlier to accomodate this.

No team will be willing to travel around the globe for a single game mid season. Even a neutral venue ‘half’ way such as qatar would be a stretch and would reduce the commercial value.

Another poor soul who took the wrong direction on the A627M. Good luck to him…after Sunday

Yes its all getting a bit much…..I was at an event a few weeks back where the first three speakers welcomed me to the country where I own property, pay high taxes have the legal right to remain permanently but cannot vote in elections for any level of government. When are RL teams in the UK going to get on board. A welcome to country by the original residents of Wigan…the pie making ceremony would go down a treat.

Just two more sleeps…though I dont expect you yeds fans will be getting much given the task ahead. You will be able to see the long trail of hornets fans heading through Royton from space on sunday. Float like a butterfly…sting like a hornet.

Take all that protective equipment and then see who is tougher

or the professional game.

Is there anyone left to vote for? Punishment for some of the shady characters the town has elected in the past…or a preventive measure to reduce the chances of them doing it again. Monster raving loonie for me….I am a paid up member. There will be more Hornets fans at the game than the number of votes many of the candidates will receive.

There will be plenty…better order extra pies.

Despite it probably would reduce Hornets chances, I hope he does play and he gets a great reception from the thousands of Hornets fans. A great player destined for a big future.

No, stand off halfs tackle. Something ‘King’ Barry John left to others.

Not for me…a sad day for many reasons. It was ‘Good’ Friday and we were the last supper. Some would argue we havent risen from the dead since leaving the AG. But we will be up for it on Sunday….not sure Ill get a visa given that outstanding parking fine from Whitebank. I might have to leave the Bentley at home and cross in darkness through Tandle Hill.

Believe it or not it was April Fools Day….the final game at the old Athletics ground and Hornets dressed a player called Idle…You could t make this up.

Having lost most of their playing staff it was always going to be a desperate season. Begins to make a mockery of competitions when home advantage is given up in return for greater crowd numbers. Were there no grounds available closer to Newcastle. South Shields, Gateshead etc. Bottom line is Newcastle could not be expected to put a competitive team on the field at such short notice starting from scratch. Woulddnt it have made more sense to pause Newcastles participation for one season while they strived to put together a team that could compete. What good is being hammered every week doing for expansion in NE?

Yes, how many of that team where internationals at some point in their career. Those were the days when you didnt have to raid Hornets for your playing squad.

Great book. An important addition to rugby league literature.

Broncos dealing with captain and vice captain duking it out in the Valley after the Clubs fan day on Sunday…..all on camera.

So Cornwall were ‘asked’ to stand down from 1895 cup because teams didnt want to travel there. Newcastle are now giving up the home advantage for their game v Wakefield and playing the game next door to Wakefield. How can the RFL get things so wrong?

58-6 1988. Burke, Atkinson, Foy, McAllister, Meadows, Walsh, Ford, Sherrat, Sanderson, Waddell, Casey, Graham, Warnecke, Subs: Irving, Hawkyard Some real bad refereeing that day.

Please no…re renaming trophy. RFL will probably scrap the competition…or if not they would take joes name of the trophy once a deserving ex players name needs a trophy named after him. I wouldnt trust them with the name of such an honoured individual. How about naming the rugby ground Joe Platt field at Boundary Park. Obviously footy club would want a different name on football days.

I would have thought you would rest your stars for next weeks BIG game. 1-0 barrow with 80 min drop goal off the post…and a few one game suspensions and minor injuries requiring one weeks rest. Have an enjoyable trip up there.