THE RED ROOSTER

The pulling no.punches award of the week. The Matty John's show from Vegas featured Brian Carney today joining John's, Fletcher, Hindmarsh and Shaun Johnson. Vociferous Wigan fans were in the majority and were asked their opinion of Brian Carney and got the obligatory cheer but there was a follow up question "But you also had Matyy John's for a year at Wigan what did you think of him" "He was C@£p" came the reply from a Wigan woman to the amusement of the panel except Matty John's....

I will be watching this round from Wellington in New Zealand so better get the thread started beforre my travels begin Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors A most intriguing clash, betwen two unpredictable teams, neither of whom I feel benefited much friom pre-season. Is all well at Ricky's Rookie Raiders as both Morgan Smithies and Hudson Young have used the trip to bring back the biff, Was this the reason The lookalike Wags of Morgan Smithies and Hudson Young. Unlike a couple of years ago this team has pace to burn but as with all things Raiders they either seem to win narrowly or lose by a lot. In contrast, The Wahs seem to have found a replacement for Shaun Johnson in Luke Metcalf if the trial games are anything to go by. Certainly the first grade has had a reasonable hit out thus far, though how much you could draw from beating Melbourne,s reserve grade is debatable. Can the Wahs bounce back?. As I will be watching this game from Wellington, I will have to go with the Wahs though its a coin-flip. Cronulla Sharks v Penrith Panthers A statement game for both teams, and although you can never read too much into an opener, ths game may define the Sharks direction of travel this season. All was going along swimmingly in the shire last year until the Penny Panthers beasted the Sharkies 42-0 at Shark Park. The recruitment of Addin Fonua-Blake is meant to address the lack of grunt in the forwards that hampered the Sharkies that day, but for all the talk of a premiership window. The Sharks like most of the NRL need to show they can beat Penrith and Melbourne especially with the first choice XIII out on the park. Penrith by contrast, did not play their first grade in pre-season so the question would be are they fresh or is their ring-rust on show in Vegas? , Certainly the seasonal exodus of talent continues and the loss of Jarome Luai will be felt especially if Nathan Cleary picks up an injury. Interstingly enough Blaize Talagi is not in the starting XIII named though there are doubts over Cleary with his continuig shoulder problem with Dylan Edwards also with shoulder issues. If either or both of these are out.... Last season I had written off the Penny Panthers and paid the price as they won the Premiership for a fourth successive season establishing a modern dynasty. All dynasty's come to an end and although I may well be wiping the egg of my face come Monday, I am going with the Sharkies as getting a result in this game as it is simply more important for them

The break clause activation is a very interesting developoment. As would be moving to a one year rolling deal, for this is where the IMG criteria bites because the whole rationale behind Plough Lane is that the stadium is required to regain Super League status, something Mike Eccles seems to confirm.. Problem is though the Broncos are playing at FOUR different grounds this season, Plough Lane, Ebbesfleet FC, Rosslyn Park RFC and New River Stadium with training and the womens team at Rosslyn Park. That is an unsustainable economic model as I have posted before.. Remember that the unique selling point for Ealing Trailfinders RFC where the club did play for a season in Super League was that the whole of London Broncos activities could be at the same base. Then along came the "monkey lover" who convinced David Hughes to go to the current set up which at one stage included The Richmond Athletic Ground as well. The deal with AFC Wimbledon was always loaded in the Dons favour, Playing for the floodlights on promotion to Super League, David Hughes allegedly providing a loan to AFC Wimbledon. Stewarding costs at Plough Lane, and I suspect a matchday revenue arrangement tht favours the Dons. As Wimbledon admit London Broncos is "a significant revenue " for them. This move could represent a new investor / consortium, having had a look at the books, aiming to get a better deal for London Broncos in respect of costs, increased revenue for the Broncos and the flexibility to leave Plough Lane for a better / more suitable venue, if the opportunity arises which is something I would certainly be looking to do if buying the club. This could be a sign that new ownership and funds could be arriving in the near future, provided the right deals are struck to enable the club to become more of a going concern. Positive news off the field to go with a positive start on it this season.

Champions Trophy back and great to see Pakistan hosting a major tournament again. England owed West Indies and Pakistan for touring in 2020 and although and West Indies have been well rewarded. the Pakistanis who were staying in a Derby Travelodge on tour, less so. Pakistan Cricket being strong is good for the game overall. But today, New Zealand have given Pakistan a masterclass in how to play 50 over cricket. With so much franchise T20 being played sides have forgotten that in 50 over Cricket you win by taking wickdets through the innings and Batsmen have to be got out as oppsed to T20 where batsmen get themselves out. In this respect, the ODI format more closely resembles Test Cricket than T20 particularily if you consider the brevity of Test Matrches in this era with most not lasting five days. The game is evolving and there are those who query why the ICC has got to a situation where there is a global event every year and the simple answer is that with the advance of the T20 franchises taking up more and more space in the calendar, bilateral international cricket is now beting squeezed as never before and 3 match ODI and, in particulat yet 3 match T20 Internationally is losing relevance to fans and broadcasters. Wheras international tournaments have legitimacy and jeopardy. No more so than in the Champions Trophy with only three group games, lose the first game and you really are in sudden death. Which brings me back to today as in a bilateral series between Pakistan and New Zealand chasing 321 in 50 overs is very doable, but under tournament pressure with India awaiting Pakistan at a neutral venue. the pressure is now on and that Kiwi total looks huge. It's not the best Kiwi seam attack in recent years, but at least two of the top four Pakistani Batsmen need to come to the party in their knock, otherwise with an opening day defea,t Pakistan's party will be in danger of going flat..

Not much of a hit out for the NZ Warriors against Melbourne's reserve grade. There are games that are too easy in a gtrial and valueess when the real thing starts in Vegas. That game was over well before the half and petered out with the Storm making it a little more respectable by the end. Lare kick off in Gosford spo my recording ceased after the first Manly try... in a 34-24 win over Souffs...

Notwithstanding todays game, is this the first time in recent years NO Sky Sports pundit has tipped St Helens for the Premiership. Kyle Feldt and Tristan Sailor are a couple of decent buys and they have a useful starting XIII Y'know

With regards to the Swiss Investor, Dario Berta based in Wood Green taking over the club. It should be noted that his company Mantanel Ltd https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14814178 Have failed to file their accounts. In the circumstances, the RFL are justified in their stance. Dario Berta's linked in profile https://ch.linkedin.com/in/dario-berta-1b758292 Now he could be perfectly legitimate with a love for Salford and Rugby League, But he is not exactly "Bert the bloodnut from Billinge" or "Geoff from Gosford NSW" who you would think are a more traditional financial saviour for a rugby league club. On the other hand Daniel Berta could have ended up in a window seat with Nigel Wood in the aisle seat.....

The Cows are indeed out to pasture, Trial or no Trial, Todd Payten should be giving them a coating as I write. For the firing Fins the issue is can they play for the full 80 minutes and really tread it in. The Fins often score points off repeat sets, but if the last two seasons are a guide, they often have to, having switched off mid-game.

Cannot understand why there is this view that Paramatta are going to be the wooden spponists this year, Coming up to half-time in what is albiet a trial game, they are looking pretting slick in attack. As for the Knights thius could be a long season, Cronulla exploited Canberra's failure to respect possession, to reply to the Raiders early 10 point lead with 40 unanswered points. For sure a trial game, and one getting more incoherent as multple changes being made, but a confidence booster ahead of Las Vegas against the Penny Panthers. While it is nonsensical to suggest the whole season hangs on the outcome of the opening game, the Sharkies result against the Pamthers will give an idea of the direction of travel their season is likely to take

On tomorrow, the match between the team that won last week and the team that should have won last week in the Capital as Canberra take on Cronulla. Canberra besting Penrith in monsoon conditions that afflict Shark Park all too often, at least certainly when i am there, after Penrith had the better of the first half before the Raiders rampaged in the second. In the previous days knockonathon in front of Gus Gould, Cronulla somehow failing to go for the drop (field) goal despite being handed posession right in front of the sticks with under a minute remaining, instead choosing to spin the ball wide left and into touch.... First grade back for both teams on a pitch reduced in size friom 100m by 68m to the NFL size 94.5m by 63.1 m which is sensible for a game played in Las Vegas Raiders stadium. Penrith sitting this round out but Brad Schneider confirming to my eyes that if Nathan Cleary goes down with Luai gone Panthers will struggle in the halves on last weeks evidence

Ireland game date revealed ? Packers @ Steelers This would be consistent with reporting in the Irish Media that the game would be in September The Tottenham matches are centred around the Soccer International break on 11th October so it could be either 4th or 18th October with the NFL academy game on the Tuesday in-between. The Wembley game date will be interesting because with 4 games in Dublin / London. I cannot belive the NFL would want four on the bounce for many fans will be aspiring to go to all of them. that's before you factor in games in Berlin and Madrid. Normally the NFL international series is concluded by 16th November two weeks before US thanksgiving day so it's interesting to see how this is going to be shoehorned in. Any Brazil game is less problematic because although a long journey it is a time zone like South Africa is with the UK only 1-2 hours difference. And I almost forgot the Emerald Isle Classic College Football game between Kansas State and Iowa State at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on August 23rd. OT - The availability of White Hart Lane and Wembley will be a factor for the RFL to take into account for the Ashes test Series so London could be the last game of the three as I posted elsewhere...

Bring back the Redskins name and logo say native americans

NFL in Melbourne in multi-year deal Rams designated hosts of first NFL game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Bears owner diers aged 102 Bears  Virginia McCaskey dies at 102 Still No official announcement of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin..

The pre-season survival guide from The Roar clearly identifies the flaw in the experimental 15 minute "delayed action HIA" sin binning rule. How to navigate annual gibberfest of cliches, trialling new rules and boundless optimism

NFL in Dublin announcement imminent September date touted for NFL regular season game at Croke Park It might be the first week in September mirroring the Brazil game last year. The NFL will try to avoid the games this side of the pond ( 3 x London, 1 x Berlin, 1 x Madrid and 1 x Dublin) being too cllose together.

NRL preseason challenge matches and teams for the first two games The NRL is back and on SKY with Cronulla taking on the NZ Warriors this Friday and Penrith taking on Canberra on Saturday both at Shark Park as the four Vegas teams play a round of their own a departure from last season when the reserve grade was left to complete the pre-season challenge. NB - Graham as this is essentailly round 0 or Vegas round of the pre-season challenge. can we have a Vegas or Round 0 - seperate from the round 1 tipping comp this year. Only the Wahs are putting out a near full strength side, with the others resting the first grade starts till next weeks hit out. Nevertheless it's a good opportunity not just to watch quality rugby league but to assess the reserve grade strength of the four sides. Important due to injuries and origin call ups. A number of questions for this round: Are Cronulla really in a premiership window as to my eyes not that improved on last year? Have the Wahs got the ability to win the other side ogf the ditch in the post Shaun Johnson era? The Penny Panthers lost a few games last year with the reserve grade playing during Origin. Is this crop any better? Is an exit in the first round of the playoffs really the limit of Canberra's ambitions this season? I do not think we will get an answer to these questions this weekend, but we will have some clues.

Looks lioke the England women will be snubbing Gideon Haigh as well...

Philadelphia Eagles for me. Big thanks to Irish Saint for running this seasons Tipping Compertition

Three NFL games coming to Melbourne Australia https://x.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1885882643574563069

5th July v Halifax and 12th July v Doncaster both with 5.00pm kickoff times. Not handy for those coming from the north. Apologies about Ebbsfleet folks it s just that to get to Kufflink stadium you get off at Northfleet station which 8 minutes walk away and I do not follow Soccer much and I am getting on a bit mea culp mea maxima culpa....

Back on topic if the RFL is thinking of using Wembley or White Hart Lane for the opening game them there is the issue of the NFL games at these venues in October and it,s a bigger money spinner than an Ashes Test. I would expect the first game to be Saturday 28th October but any London date to be either 1st or 8th November.

Reading comments from Mike Eccles that are on the public domain, it is the issue of the use of Wimbledon,s ground that caused the club (Eccles and Loubster) to turn down an offer to buy the club. If you are investing in rugby league then you need a business model that minimises costs not playing at three venues this season, Wimbledon, Rosslyn Park and Northfleet,with two venues incurring soccer stewarding costs something you do not get with the rugby codes. But Mike Eccles is committed to a return to Super League so has said its Wimbledon or bust. How long this will last with sub 1,000 crowds rattling round Wimbledon and no one it would appear willing to fund this business model remains to be seen..

No spirit of the game comments allowed here simple question in or out ? https://x.com/TheBarmyArmy/status/1883476934929289684

Just come across the article on a competitor website published just before yesterday's game London Broncos takeover latest as coach reveals club ‘nearly disappeared’ in off-season This has a number of interesting quotes from Mike Eccles notably (my bold)

While I would not claim that Goole are dislikeable as a side or club, it is indisputable that they have at this time in writing more money than London Broncos, have a vastly more experienced squad and did play the week before wheras London did not and it showed as the game wore on. Good luck to Goole this season and in the next round of the cup. For London some of more experiencxed players were the worst culprits when it xame to not respecting posession and giving away needless penalties. But over all there were some bright points in the two wingers, Jerome Bates and Leighton Ball and in the play of Connor O'Beirne. They club does need the ownership situation sorted asap though because they have a tough start to the season as it is, and an injection of limited fundng could mean the difference beween being in the top half of the table and struggling to avoid championship one. Incidentally "London Rugby League Hub" is reflecting the clubs party-line on the game as evidenced by the official match report London Broncos official match report