Amber Avenger

I guess there is no fun in saying every alternative decision would be ###### and it's just a bit of fun to start a conversation. I guess you can break it down into the litany of individual missed opportunities rather than all of them at once -not all of which might have come off. If just one of them had, perhaps things would be different. I thought it was good fun anyway!

They were South Manchester, based in Hough End on the edge of Didsbury/Chorlton. Thanks for the update @thecoffeeman- hope you are well . Certainly RLs loss, and Mancunians are Manchester's loss also.

Ah right - not to let details of what it actually said get in the way of a hilarious anecdote - but sounds like in all likelihood an RFL leaflet handed out by staff working at Bradford to both sets of fans rather than a leaflet saying "Bradford are definitely in the semi final". Like I say, I rarely defend the club these days as plenty to bag the club for - and I'm sure plenty of arrogance by a section of the fans beforehand but that seemed insane even by Odsal standards

You're wrong - Bulls played Fev and Keighley before Leeds that year I mean the club have done some stupid things in the past so I wouldn't put it past them - but what on earth did the leaflets say given both the competitors and venue were yet to be confirmed at the time of printing...?

At a community level there was also Mancunians RL - at one point about ten or more years ago there certainly seemed to be a bit of "arms race" and rivalry between them and Rangers in terms of laying down the path to a potential professional club in Manchester. There was also the Canalsiders for a couple of years as well and they got a few headlines. Having now lived in Manchester for 20 years, it was a really exciting time, as although it was obviously a long road for both clubs, it at least was nice there were some presences that felt like they belonged to the city. Mancunians I think refocussed on to being more "entry level in the community", with popular touch rugby and kids sessions for a couple of years, around the time Rangers were talking about League One, but it looks like they haven't been active in that area either since 2019. A proper shame.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/salford-red-devils-17-man-cup-squad-revealed-with-changes-made-again

I agree with much of your thoughts in this thread, but I don't think we're quite at the stage where we need a sympathetic reinterpretation of the Rimmer era TBH.

Yeah I think it's been confirmed by multiple parties that the maintenance on Odsal is a drag, be it the RFL or various versions of the club. I'm sure someone who knows the story better than me will clarify the details, but there was the case a few years ago where a bill for fixing one of the public toilets at Odsal was running into the tens of thousands of pounds as it was unearthing all the other related but necessary jobs. I think the responsibility has been with the club in the past though - in better times and I think even originally when the RFL took ownership it was the club's responsibility for a time. I think that ended when liquidation occurred and it reverted back to the RFL Despite the club actively talking about a return to SL for the best part of a decade, I can't see I've ever really seen anything that makes me think many realistic strides have been to try and achieve this. A bit of an odd complaint because actually I think whilst it's been a pretty unspectacular ride since the promotion from League 1, it's been probably what's needed. It just doesn't make sense that the club goes on about getting into SL every so often. I do suspect we may end up in SL soon - maybe not in the next year or at Salford's expense - but I do think, fanbase aside, I'm not really sure what aspect of the club is ready for it. Anyway, I hope Salford pull through. It's an absolute awful situation to be in as a fan, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I suspect the live broadcast is being run by the Aussie networks given the commentators, so anything live is run through them so any UK only stuff needs to be a pre-record

It's the Superbowl tonight and they usually have a big halftime show, maybe we could ask if they want to do the draw then. Might get them a couple more viewers tuning in to find out who Bradford gets after today's upset

Suspect it might not have been on RB if you had freeview due to capacity issues but would have been if you have Sky or Virgin

There is literally no way for us to tell exactly how many people are watching the BBC live across red button and iPlayer right now. The BBC Sports page figure is literally just people on that page so that's a minimum

Hard to think of many better 40 minutes for The Bulls against decent opposition since, well, that cup tie against Leeds six years ago. I think we stared to flag near the end and Cas should have scored before the breakaway really. I worry that when we went for the penalty and drop goal we should have gone for the line whilst Cas's heads were properly down. The only real negative in an almost flawless first half.

In some sports that's true, and I've said it many a time leaving Old Trafford, yet the fact is in Super League only two teams have ever lost their first grand final, then gone on to win one and the last time that happened was now two decades ago. Absolutely mad, but there you go. We're a year closer to changing that now at least. As someone who just doesn't watch much RL any more, I was at the match tonight and actually really enjoyed it, even though by and large it was the same old GF script played out again. Thought Hull KR were better than most recent debutants and were very impressive, although as alluded to it's still shoulda woulda coulda. A try worth of winning any final or championship, Wigan worthy winners. Funny how in the semis there were three teams that have yet to win the comp, and a few mates I talk RL with all to a tee said "Wigan will still win it". Plus ça change! Non RL mate I went with loved it too.

I don't know about four weeks ago or more I haven't been keeping that close an eye, but there are also posters up from prior to the finalists being known that I have noticed in the past month maybe. Not disagreeing, and there is obvious room for improvement, but just an answer to the observation that there is no marketing this week, that I have absolutely observed some

Not sure about anywhere else, but for once in Manchester walking around town there are plenty of adverts up and the live electronic billboards updated to let everyone know it's Catalans vs Wigan. Can't recall seeing that in previous years.

Are they bigger or smaller than an anonymous DJ who was the prematch entertainment the last time Catalans played the grand final? And I say anonymous not to make a point but as their name is not listed online! We have had Shaun Keavney last year and I like him, but I guess the point is a band is more of an attraction than a DJ. I guess the point was James were hired to come in and play one song to get people going - and a really good one, probably the best pre-match the GF has had. The rest was irrelevant and a bonus if you're a fan. That's what Reverend and the Makers are coming in to do. Depends on your era, I couldn't hum you a Shed Seven tune and they've only had one top ten and they were the last band to play in 2019 but I'd rather them than a DJ. It's progress, albeit we have gone a long way back.

What you are asking for there is basically what Reverand and the Makers are, even though they only have one massive song people can recall (Is that any different to James really? Most people were only bothered about Sit Dwon). People will have heard Heavyweight Champion Of The World even if on an advert or whatever. It's progress, as it's the first time there has been a band in a while, certainly since pre-covid. It's been a DJ before now.

Pleased to see that the Bulls are using this match to pay tribute to Rycroft Foster. Many of you will have seen his story across social media and I think it's touched a lot of people. Fans of all clubs are encouraged to wear Purple, Green and Amber amongst other tributes. Quite sad I won't make it actually, should be a good tribute. https://twitter.com/OfficialBullsRL/status/1684881394387066881?t=gNkqax8OYcJH_EaTZ7Xe_Q&s=19

Don't we literally get the same stories at every contract renewal at the last moment? Oh BT/TNT/Amazon/whoever are apparently interested - but no indication of any money. To be honest, like the DANZ think likely is, it's a planted story designed to scare Sky into upping their offer. TNT probably are interested, but I suspect not so desperate for SL that they'd offer more than Sky

Really interesting article and debate. I do think there is a fine balance behind how much colour a commentator can add to an event without detracting from it. You obviously need to be prepared, but you can't prepare exactly what to say - for example I'm not hugely keen on Sam Matterface, in the England's men football semi finals on ITV he clearly had lines written before hand for multiple eventualities to shoe horn in. You need to be genuine in broadcasting because otherwise the public tend to smell it. I don't think RL tends to have that problem, even if there is some room for improvement. I think if you look at good commentators, you look at moments that would have been huge anyway and look at how they deal with it. They Think It's All Over, Agüeroooooo, even our own Wide to West are last minute moments of sporting brilliance enhanced by deceptively simple, honest and reflective commentary. I've frequently thought the other moment that probably should rival Wide to West in the SL era is the end of the 2020 GF. It really is our Agüero moment and watching it back in the cold light of day it doesn't have the same impact. Now to be fair a part of that is there being no crowd but I also think the commentary itself doesn't have a "wide to West" moment, and you can't manufacture that stuff

Top 10 farts of the Super League Era anyone?

Double post

Was out at the pub the other day and the discussion started around if we could find 5 players from across SL history who were the UK's median height from the season they played in if any ideas are needed. Might need the slightest amount of research though ...

No that was Geoff Toovey. Smith was well thought of by a lot of players who played under him and quite a few fans, but he essentially took us backwards. My lasting memory of him will be the last match of the regular season in 2016 was a must win to get us in the middle 8s and we ended up losing 20-0 to Fev in one of the worst tactical decisions I've seen by a head coach including dropping Adam O Brian for no particular reason. The last realistic chance of us getting back to SL and the club never really recovered (for way more reasons than Smith). I liked him, but that Fev game really tainted my view. Will be interesting to see how he goes.