JohnM
-
Posts
28,078 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
5
Posts posted by JohnM
-
-
42 minutes ago, Futtocks said:
As long as it isn't Bibby Stockholm, I'm okay with it.
That syndrome gets everywhere.
-
1
-
-
On 10/07/2025 at 11:28, StandOffHalf said:
If the medicos see reason to take a player off, that's good. If there is no concussion, a question from the ref could stop a non-injured player from missing a game the following week.
I don't want players with concussions out there endangering themselves, but I also don't want players who are fine to be unnecessarily missing games.
I also don't want players who are fine to be unnecessarily missing games.
Easy-peasy. Don't play dead , don't cheat.
-
5
-
-
Apologies for not being able to contribute for the past few days. I've been bound by a New RFL NDA but given the deliberate leaks from the RFL this week, I consider I'm no longer bound by the terms of the NDA. So here goes:
I've just spent three days as the guest, one of several in fact, of the New RFL as part of their promised consultation with the fans. There were 10 of us altogether, meeting in strict secrecy in the back room of the Gob and Vomit on Manningham Lane. We discussed the reasons behind the coup, the plans to move to 14 teams next season, the termination of the IMG contract, the decision to make SuoerLeague a recovery, rehabilitation and feeder league for the NRL.
At the celebration dinner last night, over a delightful bowl of cuppa soup followed by grilled shoe leather, washed down with a bottle of Chateau Nuit St. Melbourne ( a peppermint flavoured red with a bouquet like a Beamonts armpit), we prepared this statement for release this weekend, a GameCaller exclusive.
It reads "We the fans, are in entire agreement that the new people at the RFL are the best thing that has ever happened to rugby league since 1895 and that under their leadership, the sport will go from strength to strength. We commend their objective, strategy and tactics to the entire fan base.".
Disclosure: this is total male genitals. But then I didn't make this mess. You all know who did.
-
1
-
-
Somehow, I think there's more to come. Are there any visa issues, for example?
-
23 minutes ago, Father Gascoigne said:
I don't see any solution to this, short of creating a new sport altogether or reverting back to amateurism. It's like hoping professional cycling can become clean. If you're not going to dope, the guy next to you will.
This is a byproduct of professionalism. Being bigger and heavier than your opponent is an advantage in rugby league. Professionals will seek any advantage they can eke out. And that's how we got here, with jacked-up Bisons recreating car crash conditions on every play.
The question is do you as a viewer see a problem with it? I don't. And it seems the audience by and large has expressed approval in how the game is played, including glorifying those concussion-inducing big hits.
At this point there can't be many playing rugby league over 10 with a desire to go pro that don't understand the hazards involved. As long as those partaking know the risks involved, I see no reason why it has to be policed. Things like HIA are already miles ahead of where things were two decades ago.
But there is a limit to how much you can do, because as long as money is involved the ideal rugby league player will be built like the proverbial brick s-house. That's the nature of the game.
The biggest threat then is that the discourse over this discourages participation. The challenge for authorities is to ensure that playing RL is as safe and fun as possible until it no longer becomes possible to protect those who are not heading towards professionalism.
But no one is going to outlaw rugby league, or boxing, or anything else where such risks exist. I can only speak for myself, but I'm perfectly fine with supporting a game the people involved have, through their own volition, chosen to part of.
I expected this to emerge at some point.
As long as those partaking know the risks involved, I see no reason why it has to be policed.
Same with coal mining, working in match factories in the 19th century, opposition to seat belts and more....
So what ARE the risks?
-
1
-
-
23 minutes ago, Toby Chopra said:
To be a devil's advocate...
If we're going to expand to 14, then the quota increase makes sense in the short run as the quality drop-off in the existing UK player pool when adding another 40 or so players is too sharp. An extra two quota spots across 14 clubs (plus existing quota for the newbies) basically covers that without shrinking the Fed trained player numbers overall. So I can live with it. I just wish they were honest that it's a direct knock on effect from the shotgun decision to go to 14.
And if I wanted to be glass half full, the plotters could argue that having Bradford, London and Toulouse in SL will boost local player development in the longer run.
All of this is not the model of growth if choose - it's still very much about local geography and does nothing to boost the perception and attraction of the game more widely. But we don't seem to have the patience for the bigger project, so this is the next best option for some limited gains.
Which adds to the IMG view of expansion to 14:teams - eventually, when ready
This move now, means that the conclusions of the review were DEFINITELY pre-ordained by the plotters before their coup.
-
2
-
-
History 101.
1. When and why did Wood join the RFL?
2. When and why did Richard Lewis leave?
3. When and why did Sally Bolton leave?
-
1
-
-
In my view, this move will have a significant and negative impact on our ability to compete succesfully at international level. I think we need to see MORE home-grown players rather than fewer. Long term, we need to generate an ambition in youngsters to take a practical, achievable and well-paid pathway right through to representing their country. If there are fewer opportunities to play in SuperLeague because of this relaxation, young players may re-examine their priorities.
-
2
-
1
-
-
This is triggered by Cerulian's post elsewhere about this serious problem. The recent "changes" at RFL may have overshadowed the difficulties faced by our sport over impact injuries, especially head contact (accidental, poor technique or worse). Where are we up to with legal action, research etc? What position are the new people at the top taking?
-
1 hour ago, gingerjon said:
Supporting the grassroots and the community game by removing opportunities for players to make a living from the game.
But... But.... It must be good news in the brave new world of RFL and fan consultation.
-
Carnage!
-
Not taking anything away from Leigh's on-field performance here but Farrell has definitely lost the edge as both an individual player and as a team captain as the on-field leader. Certainly on his performance in this one game, Smith won't make the England team for the first test, either. A real off - day plus he seems to have joined the ranks of players using unimaginative kicks on the 4th or 5th tackle.
Add to that, the difference between the low number of Leigh interchanges and the high number of our interchanges seems to indicate something. Not sure what, though.
-
1
-
-
33 minutes ago, daz39 said:
Booooooooooo, Ref's fault
Makes a change from blaming the cyclists.
-
David Millar in particular provides an insight into the strategy and tactics deployed in each stage. He does get somewhat excited in the last 500 metres, though. Cycling's answer to Peter O'Sullivan.
-
Reading some of the earlier rants from some posters is almost as entertaining as the game itself.
-
19 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:
Wilkins right - we cant play this stop start pause stop start rugby and expect to compete in the ashes when they play with such intensity in the NRL
Indeed, as they don't have the video ref and Captains Challenge in the NRL. Oh, hang on a min....
What WILL kill us, I feel, is our lying on, slow PTB and leisurely acting halfback play. We need to speed up in those areas dramatically.
-
1
-
2
-
-
But at least they are second.
Great stuff from Wakefield, absolutely dire from Catalans.
-
My point is that the thread is about Run It Straight. It's almost as if the perticipants, defenders, promoters are already showing the damage that can be done.
-
Good grief. Rugby League (and many other sports) is working hard to reduce the risk of short term and long term brain damage.
The here comes some idiots promoting (and justifying) something that is likely to increase the risk. Unbelievable.
-
1
-
-
29 minutes ago, getdownmonkeyman said:
This was referenced as an upset win. I really don’t see how, two teams close together with Leigh having home advantage.
The forum poll was 53 to 47 for Leigh. I expected a Leigh win.
-
1
-
-
Well done, Leigh. Clearly better then us in more or less every on-field department.
-
42 minutes ago, sheddingswasus said:
I said on an earlier post that awarding points for this rather on on field performance is wrong. But, making them part of minimum standards ( after bulletting IMG) is a different matter
This has been covered somewhere, multiple times in previous posts on this and other even longer and more ancient topics.
On field performance depends on skill, ability, good players and managers, which in turn are dependent on money. By getting all the off field things right, clubs will be better able to increase their income and so afford decent coaches, decent players etc. so improving their on-field performance, which in turn will generate more money through improved gates etc. and contributing to the RFLs value proposition to broadcasters. It's just part of a virtuous circle and the RFL chose one of the best possible expert specialists in this field to provide a really degree of quantification.
-
1
-
-
The VR last night certainly seemed much slower, more deliberate, more detailed than ever. Maybe instead of his boring voice, there should be "music on hold" . And puleeze, give up saying "I have made my decision".
-
1
-
-
Is it reasonable to assume that the inordinately long time spent by the video ref examining each referral was because of fear of repeating last weeks performance?
TBH I thought that the game was not really that bad, despite the commentary team sucking any joy out of their coverage. This is where I feel that the NRL commentators do better. They seem more dynamic, injecting more excitement. We need a much more dynamic approach if we are to retain casual viewers converting them into fans.
Sat 12th Jul: SL: Leigh Leopards v Hull KR KO 15:00 (BBC iPlayer/SS+/SL+)
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted
I expect that Ipape and his mates iDuct and iSeal will make all the difference, so a Leigh win.
Sadly, I shall miss the spectacle of a "tired and emotional" Mr Chuckles Beaumont prancing around on national free-to-air television.