Adelaide Tiger

Good point about your observation about Refs appearing to be 'better'' when they officiate at Championship level. No doubt the lack of cameras makes a world of difference with the ref knowing that their decision - or non decision - is accepted and the game just goes on.

My view, is that the standard of referring is relatively high. But then again, I accept that officials will make mistakes. But it is far, far easier to criticise the ref than a player. Great example over the weekend is that Jordan Rapana had an absolute shocker, but we all know that he will be playing next week. Imagine if a ref made so many howlers. People would be marching with pitchforks!!

I have thought for many years that the RFL ought to have put together a ‘Community Club Pack’ providing advice and contacts for community clubs across a number of themes such as Grant application, how to approach potential sponsors, templates for clubs to use aimed at attracting players of all ages etc. Apologies if the RFL do this. As an afterthought - and I have completed many success grant fund bids - how do community clubs get to know about Grant Funding? Is it potluck? Grant funding for such clubs can come from many sources not just Sports related. So, could the RFL have a page available on their website specifically for anyone to add the contact details of any Grant Funding that they become aware of?

This will be probably be totally uninteresting to those of a younger age on here, but to those that watched Blue Peter in the 70’s you might not know this. Those of us that saw the episode when BP presenter John Noakes scaled Nelson’s Column dressed in flares, everyday shoes, no gloves, safety rope or harness might be surprised to know that he had to actually ascend the column TWICE as when he climbed it the first time the sound recording machine that they had already taken up failed to work! Legend has it that Shep barked ‘Get down, Noaksey’.

A few weeks ago I came across a new channel on Foxtel called Australian Classic and much to my great joy every night at 6pm is an episode of Skippy which was always my favourite show as a kid. I may now be 61 years of age but when every episode starts with Sonny whistling for Skippy, I feel the same joy as I did when I was 4 or 5 years old when Skippy first hit the UK screens in the late 60’s. I still remember when my wife to be, first met my mam. They got yapping and somehow their conversation went on to what was I like as a kid. My mam just said ‘Ooh, he loved watching Skippy. Every time it came on, he would jump up and down on the settee twirling his arms around his head pretending to be the helicopter!’. So every time an episode starts the wife says ‘Are you going to be jump on the settee tonight?’.

90 minutes to get to either Toulouse or Oldham? I think you have a kn@ckered sat nav!

Mr Goose, your scenario is not that outlandish. Wigan Athletic won the FA Cup in 2012/2013 and was relegated that same season. So they competed in the Europa League during the 2013/2014 whist in the Second Division (the Championship) were they finished in fifth place. If they had won the Europa League in 2013/2014 they would have played in the Europa League in 2014/2015 as automatic qualification into the Champions League was not introduced until the 2014/2015 season.

You are right insofar that both teams qualified for the Europa League Sours by league position and Manure by winning the FA Cup. The issue for me, prior to the final, was that the winning team would gain automatic qualification to the Champions League whilst finishing 16th or 17th in the League.

Well it’s Wednesday already in Oz so I will have to wait till late evening to hear the announcement. Out of personal interest, I recall a 4/5 page article that appeared in the Rugby League World magazine probably about 20 years ago where a University Professor (IIRC) wrote about how the game as a whole had not supported the growth of the game in London. Hence it was doomed to fail. For me, it was a thought provoking article, and if anyone out there remembers the article and can paste a copy of it on here, it would be interesting to see the comments in the article and what is being proposed later today. Update - Just found a site that shows 400 Open Rugby/Rugby League World covers. Two RLW covers, July 2000 and August 2004 refer to articles about London. Any got those editions to provide a link to the article?

McManus is a lot happier now as he has seen the New Strategy. The plan is for Wood to go to SKY and say ‘Remember me? You gave me £40 million a year a while back. Any chance you can do the same again? Please.’

10p a pint night at Rooftops. Those were the days - or should I say nights - even if the beer tasted like it was dredged from the river.

Yes, Mothers Day in Australia is later in the year than the UK.

Just had Mothers Day this Sunday gone. Went to a pub/hotel for a family meal. On the Specials Menu was Beef Wellington, it wasn’t the fact that the trial was ongoing or the fact the the beef is obviously wrapped in mushrooms that put me off ordering it, it was the fact that it cost $49!!!!!!!

Interesting comment about the World Club Challenge as a possible fixture at the event. This is certainly achievable if there is just one NRL fixture and just one SL fixture followed by the WCC. This would give the WCC the platform that it deserves.

I haven’t worn a watch for about 30 years. My wife normally calls me a kn0b head so she is interested to know if this is the correct term for ‘one level up from an hobo’.

That is so weird. I am currently listening to a BBC podcast series titled Good Bad Billionaire, obviously about people who are billionaires and how they made their money. An episode that I Iistened to earlier this week was about the founder of the Patagonia outdoor clothing business who lived in the US. The founder was a recreational climber back in the 60’s. On travels to the UK in the 60’s he came across rugby jerseys - it said that he saw them in Scotland - and he was impressed by the thick cotton collar on them that was ideal for climbing clothing. So he brought some back to the US and sold them to fellow climbers at a profit, he then began importing them.

The Americans serving refreshments in the stadium are going to be fed up hearing the Yorkshire War Cry ‘Arr much?’

Do you think there is a location where ‘there’s a niche to occupy?’.

JonM. My response to which you commented upon was in agreement with other posters commenting on the millions pumped into Melbourne Storm by NewsCorp that helped the club establish itself in AFL dominated territory. NewsCorp totally understood that the Storm had little chance of surviving without additional money from Newscorp over many years. And, we can all agree that the foresight has paid off. I agree with you that Richardson did not appear to have a plan, or long term investment, but back then - and up to today- the RFL had no strategic plan for expansion. And yes, exemption from player quota was afforded Gateshead. But, IMHO, If the RFL and SL clubs had agreed to provide Gateshead with additional funding over a number of years when the game was wealthier to help establish a club in an expansion area, then who knows, Gateshead may have worked out and become a blue print for other planned expansion. Obviously, we will never know. Fair point. But in 1995 Melbourne had a population of around 3.5 million and SoO in its present form had been around for 15 years by then and was already a massive national sporting event.

Agree with what you say. If the RFL had given Gateshead ten bob more than anyone else the wailing and gnashing of teeth from other clubs would have been deafening.

JonM. Just picked out the above comment from your post. In the 1990’s I recall watching Gateshead hosting Charity Shield games - remember them - and a couple of England v France test matches. IIRC, it was based on attendances at these games that Gateshead was thought an area of expansion.

The Mighty Whites back at the top table. Chuffed to bits for my brother and a mate that follow them home and away. So I will need to subscribe to Optus to watch their games next season. Also big wraps to Burnley. I never thought that I would see a team equal Liverpools record of conceding just 16 goals in a season. Although Liverpool only played 42 games compared to Burnleys 46.

Good to hear Taffy. Hope he is able to attract further investors.

Well, if Man Ure or Spurs win the Europa League Final it will mean that a team finishing anywhere between 13th and 17th position in the EPL will have automatic entry into the Champions League. Absolutely rubbish!

I think an adult Mayfly outdid them!