THE RED ROOSTER

Back on the train home. Congratulations to Leigh fans commiserations to Hull KR fans, who as ever, gave 100% off the field in a final that made up in excitement what it lacked in quality. I could not understand the Leigh decision making in the first half.Ok you kick the first points in the game but then 14 minutes in and with a penalty you opt to kick for the two points when you should be pressing home the advantage. The kick was missed and KR score off the next possession some momentum swing. This is league you do not win games by kicking over penalties in this code. KR looked like a side that had not played together for a couple of weeks as i said pre-game. Both Ryan Hall and Josh Charnley on today's evidence need to call it a career at the seasons end, both shadows of their former selves. We get to golden point and Leigh gifted possession miss the drop goal so fittingly it is KR that make another error not finding touch with a penalty kick.So it's Leigh just...... , .

All to play for in the second half. Leigh failing to capitalise on a man advantage and territorial supremacy. KR should be very pleased with that given their error strewn first half and will be attacking their end in the second half and those KR fans are LOUD.

Indeed it is if I was not at Wembley I would post the link.

Bit uncharitable, if your watching women's sport you have to get your head around the fact that it girls against girls so you are not going to get the same blood and thunder you get in the male game. The second St Helens try would not have been out of place with the man's side though.

Sitting here pre game at Wembley.Saturday 8th June 2024 s also the same day that the New York Mets play the Philidelphia Phillies as day one of the MLB International Series. Looks like I will only be buying tickets for the Sunday of that series.

It will be Leigh tomorrow for the first time since 1971 and her's why I will repeat two cliches - You are what you record says you are and League tables don't lie Leigh have a side with players who have big game experience Rovers less so. Rovers rested players and got a hiding from Wigan, Leighy won at Leeds. Resting players is all well and good but if your in form you need to keep playing. You can't just switch on and off as a side. Rovers big advantage will be their fan base so a measure of how well or badly Leigh do will be at the Rovers end. Leopards to be spotted with te Cup come the final hooter...

Winners - Penrith Panthers, Cronulla Sharks, Brisbane Broncos, South Sydney, New Zealand Warriors, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and Newcastle Nights Points - 354 Home Wins - 6 Poll - 4 Games

Who's hot and who is not Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans - Wade Graham's retirement signals the start of what should be an overhaul of the Sharkies post season. Up against a Gold Coast side who have improved since Justin Holbrooks departure (just leaving that there). No AJ Brimson but they can score points and rattled the Warriors with 12 men last week before a late collapse. Not straightforward for Sharkies. South Sydney v St George -Illawarra - SGI have been dudded by the refs two weeks running and are playing hard. But no Zak lomax, No Francis Molo or Jack De Belin. The Wabbits now without Tom Burgess. They have to win and old 'trell needs to keep his "footy head" on and off the field. A lot of media guff on Latrell including a Latrell Mitchell promo we all would have seen during after the Broncos game last week. Truth is he blows hot and cold and if Barlow Park in Carins leaves him cold then South season goes um..South. Incidentally, my Ironyometer has exploded at the prospect of coach Sam Burgess who has been with Souffs during a season in which they have fizzed and then fizzled out going to a Super League Club who season also fizzed and then fizzled out... Sydney Roosters v Dolphins - The Roosters could yet make the playoffs, but would that be a healing balm on the season or will uncle Nick still wield the axe at Bondi. The Roosters cause being helped by Gus Gould poking the bear in the eye by publicly calling for James Tedesco to be moved on in representative rugby. The Doplhins more so than ever, given the season they have had, remain an X-Factor with nothing to lose. Will the Fins ruffle the feathers?.. Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders - Storm getting a few players back this week at home in Melbourne against a Canberra side who geographically are their local rivals. Ricky's Raiders win game by tight margins but when they lose the wheels come off big time. Will the RAC be needed after Aami Park?. Other games - Penrith despite Injuries to end the Silvertails season, Bronx to beat a still depleted Eels side, West Tigers been hanging in there but the odds are against them across the ditch against the Warriors in Waikato and the Kinghts to win their joust against the Dogs. It's that time of year when form is affected by injuries, suspensions and desperation so bear that in mind and, as always, good luck with your tips.

You never know Leigh could end up combining a PNG visit as warm up for the 2024 World Club Challenge #justsaying

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-referee-wrong-calls-wests-tigers-raiders-forward-pass-dragons-no-try-dolphins-scrum-penalty-graham-annesley/news-story/a95a67e3b158d28024d878afb9f2652a

Souths are becoming the Warrington Wolves of the NRL. Great start to the first 11 rounds convincing me to post on here that souths would be a Dark Horse Black Rabbit for the premiership, since then 3 wins in 10. Going into Phil Clarke mode, they are indeed a side lacking in confidence. For the Sharks, this has been a contrasting season. Last year Craig Fitzgibbon's first most observers thought the Sharks would be top eight but not top four. This season expectations were higher yet fifth place kinda seems about right for a side in need of a few more players. To give you an example, last year Souths played Cronulla at Woolooware and Souths were the better team but Sharkies won through gritting it out. This year in the opener I was present at, Souths were again the better team but this time Sharkies did not get the bounce of the ball so home defeat. Sharkies back on track - well yes and no, Yes they are consolidating in the eight but do you really fancy this Sharks side away to Penrith, Brisbane, Melbourne or North Queensland ?

Dominant if profilgate performance from the Broncos, and the joust between Dolphins v Kinghts game looks like it was a stonker with the FT score 28-30 to the Knights. Next up Souffs v Sharkies...

On the opening post point, IIRC the school game starts normally well before the bulk of the fans come in. I agree three full games is one too many. No disrespect to the 1895 teams fans, but I am there for the Women's game and the Challenge Cup Final then I have a home to go to (and not by e-scooter either before someone asks)

Winners - Manly Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors, Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights, South Sydney, Paramatta Eels, and Canberra Raiders Points - 362 Home wins - 4 Poll - 3 or 4 Two late suspensions of note Jack DeBelin (SGI) and Valentine Holmes (NQ)

This round round throws up six bat-flip games to start the Round The Squeaky Six Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles - Given the Roosters season some players ought by now to realise they are playing for their future at the club. As for the Turboiless Silvertails. the only good thing about that club is the Manly Sea-Birds. I'll leave it there... Gold Coast Titans v New Zealand Warriors - Upset alert - I would not have given the Titans a price against North Queensland and they are up gainst the Warriors in Robina. The smart money is on the Warriors to confirm their Premiership credentials but then the smart money favoured the Cows last week... Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm - The marquee game of the round. The performance of the two forward packs will determine this game. North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos - It may be in tropical Townsville, but I am having to eat my words about the Broncos not being the real deal for the premiership this season - A true acid test game in the Queensland Derby. Dolphins v Newcastle Knights - Over in Sunny WA. much as I have enjoyed the Dolphins this season , It's time this board showed some love for the in-form Knights South Sydney v Cronull a Sharks - the second game in WA and you would expect the Wabbits with good old 'trell playing for them to clobber a Sharks side without William Kennedy at full back. Imo as much influential player as Nicho Hynes. Season going south sharpish for the Sharkies. The other two are more straightforward with Parra pounding SGI and Ricky's reeling Raiders rebounding against West Tigers. Good luck with your tips as always.

Congratulations to England on winning the final test in what has been a stonking test series that has entertained, frustrated, excited and infuriated in equal measure. Certainly I would have given England long odds to have won at Tea and was thinking if Ben Stokes would get the Shane Warne "the moment he dropped the Ashes" treatment but England were not to be denied even what Crawley dropped Carey off Broad. Carey's wicket still went to Broad the following over. Ashes series usually mark the end of many a career, but I would like to pay tribute to Moeen Ali. Moeen was a good but not great player but he was the ultimate team player. That's why Moeen was shunted up and down the batting order and bowled in pain for the team. His last game overshadowed by Broad's but he deserves his own virtual lap of honour. There are issues for both sides but that's for another day, Of Ashes series I have watched this is up there just behind 2005 and 1981. The series finished 2-2 but the real winner was Test Cricket with the Ashes series restored to it's Apex.

Australia closing on 3-1 unless it either rains or England can get 3-4 wickets cheaply this morning. The England attack looks cooked and Marcus Trescothick confirmed all the bowlers are carrying injuries. One of the issues to be addressed post series is the one about "mateship" in the England side where you get picked regadless of form.....

Wakefield need the points but Warrington need to win this one to put their season back on track. Warrington to edge this.

An England win by no means certain. In this era sides hunt down what were previous though unattainable scores (notably this England side). to get 379 you need a good startt so if 0/100 then its on. If 3/100 you are talking a different game and while the emotion is on the England side with the last appearance of Broad, and probably Ali and Anderson. There are a few Aussies who also will playing their last Ashes test and may want to go out with a bang. Bright and sunny down here so we should get a result.

Stuart Broad retires from all Cricket after this game to go to SKY TV. And fair play to him retiring while still being a major contributor to the side. For any sportsman or woman it's always best to leave the game when folk are asking why are you going as opposed to being involuntarily retired. He leaves on his terms and will remain an England legend regardless of the outcome of this game.

Dominant performance by Melbourne yesterday, but big upset win for the Knights - Congrats to the poster (not me) who tipped the win in the Capital.

Very much Australia,s game to lose for the following reasons: England bowlers are cooked, Broad went off after the seventh over with the new ball and the fact that hey were ground down lies in the last three Aussie wickets garnering over 100 runs. If England bazball there way to 270 in 60 overs the aging attack will have to save the day again with very little rest between innings. Minimal lead?. A lead is a lead and if England are 2/8 a not abnormal occurrence then they are already chasing the game Who will bat number three Moeen I am sure will bat but not until the end of the innings unless he makes a lizards like recovery. Australia will be confident of chasing anything under 300. Finally as is sadly the case in London they are not exactly being the "12th" man for Englsnd in this game.

My 3-1 Australia series win prediction is looking good as it stands unless England get early breakthroughs this morning it is more likely that Australia will wear England's bowlers down until Joe Root comes on at which point they will begin to cash in. I think you will find that Marsh and Starc for Australia and Chris Woakes are all carrying injuries, and it's not unexpected that Moeen gets a groin strain. As someone who has not played red ball cricket for a couple of years asking him to play back to back tests was always a risk and with Stokes also not bowling the sceanrio outlined in my first paragraph seems the most likely outcome. Yet again England batted for just 54.1 Overs, giving the bowlers little rest. In fact had not Woakes and Wood added 49 for the eighth wicket England score would have been seriously below par as opposed to below par. England do not need to scap Bazball when the series autopsy begins, probably on Monday, but there needs to be a rethink about the difference between positive and agrressive batting and reckless batting and when your in cashing in and not getting out as an entertainer. Loved that Jim Maxwell comment that compared the Northern crowds with the somnolent Oval crowd "sounded like they were on their third bottle of chardonnay..." If your feeling starved of Anglo-Australian Cricket, apart from the T20 and ODI series comiing up next year in September. The ECB and Cricket Australia are working on a 150 years of Test Cricket Match in Melbourne in March 2027 and a return 150 years of Test Cricket match in London in 2030, which is good news for us who as a kid watched the original 1977 game 30 minute highlights presented by Ritchie Benaud on BBC2 back then. God willing I will be at these two events.

Those who found my world cup public transport endurance test entertaining, might like this. I was in Campbelltown this March and going to see the Roosters v NZ Warriors game at the SFS, So left my motel and went off to the game around 8.00am thinking I would be doing a bit of the tourist thing in the city centre before going via tram to the SFS. When I got to Campbelltown I was told the power lines had gone down ar Revesby so I am diverted first up to Glenfield then changing onto the Leppington line up to Liverpool and then changing against onto the Bankstown Line. Now the stopping Bankstown service, is an a*rse on a good day, on thiks particular day it got slower and slower as all trains were being routed through the City Circle. Now Sydney Suburban trains do not have toilets (Intercity ones to Newcastle, the Blue Mountains and Kiama do) so the longer the journey got the more passengers got totally bladdered including this writer ,so by the time the train crawled into Erskineville, it wasa abandon ship and I was third in the conga line forming outside the one Unisex Toilet atr Erskineville Station. Having had my Manneken Pis moment and the train now long gone. I walked from Marrackville to Redfern Station where chaos reigned. I finally got on a train taking me to Central and arrived at about 1.00pm FIVE hours after leaving Campbelltown. Post game, there was no way I was going to wait for the tram service so went back the old way downhill through Foveaux Street to Central. Getting on the Airport and Southern Line which was terminating at Kingsgrove where passengers were told a bus would going on a stopping service from Kingsgrove to Glenfield where the trains would be running. so we all get off at Kingsgrove Station and go right, No sign of City Rail staff they have knocked off for the day as iot was 7.00pm. There are three buses there but only one Bus Driver who knew the route, so the buses moved off like a couple of ducklings following their mother. After a lengthy tour of South Western Sydney suburbs, we finally got to Glenfield and wait for it there's no trains to Campbelltown, so we are all told cross the road and get the bus. Righto we get the bus a 870 IIRC. Now unlike the UK, if your travelling in Australia at night there's not a lot of lighting in the suburbs . In fact it's pitch black , so much even the locals struggle to find a landmark meaning they get off at the right stop. Fortunately, I know my way around Campbelltown and Leumeah so I was able to tell the Driver where my stop was, which is good because he did not know, and I eventiually got back to my Motel at around 10:00pm. All this for a nondescript NRL game in which James Tedesco proved the difference maker in a narrow Roosters win. I was at least two for two on Roosters wins when out there this year, as ever since Rooster wins have been like hens teeth....

The expression Clayton's toss is a slogan from a non-alcoholic drink called Clayton's, on sale in Australia quite a few years ago that was marketed as "the drink you have when you are not having a drink". So in Aussie vernacular, a Clayton's is anything that isn't quite genuine, not quite what it looks like, that doesn't quite fit the normal expectation. In plainer English, In Cricet if you want to bat and they want to bowl at you, it's almost pointless tossing a coin or a bat-flip as the outcome is pre-determined. Hence NRL games that are either evenly matched or potential upset's are anything but a Clayton's toss. Posting about pre-ordained surely by now Uncle Nick is contempating a Bondi Bloodbath this offseason...