EastLondonMike

Think they did the GB jersey worn in Sydney when we got 70 put on us. Which was arguably the nicest use of a chevron on a GB shirt in he modern era.

Anyone who follows sports brands on Instagram or Linkedin, or any other social media, might be aware that Patrick (teamsports) has re-launched in the UK and Ireland. Rugby playing apparel is something they are actively pushing, maybe initially at semi-pro/amateur level. (much like Puma teamwear). but i wonder if they may dip their toe in the professional market. I would have thought they'd certainly be able to compete with the current crop of kit suppliers in RL in the UK. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-teamwear-uk_winningteam-patricksports-customkits-activity-7047492783552483328-Ti7H?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop A quick google search reminded me that Patrick did supply a number of RL kits in years gone by. GB, Wales, Wigan and Leeds to name a few.

I think it’s worth mentioning that the International game was much more prominent back when the likes of Offiah, Hanley and Edwards were running around. outside of Football, I’d suggest most team sports personalities that enjoyed any level of exposure did so off the back of success while playing/performing for an international team. And we all know where we are at with International Rugby League. pro combat sports being obvious exceptions. I don’t think anyone, no matter how great, is going to cut through simply by playing Rugby for Wigan or Leeds or Hull, unless they are a complete caricature.

Lots to pick out of that performance for Rohan Smith.

Essex..

One of the greats who will always have a place in RL history.

Really sad. RIP

Managed to catch a bit of the Matty Johns show after todays Cronulla/Canberra game, and Kruise Leeming got a mention (via a tongue in cheek email from an English fan asking if he'd be an option for the Roosters), with Bryan fletcher talking him up and saying he thought he was a decent player.. Not sure if/where he'd get a start in the NRL, but if he was going to go over and have a crack now would seem to be the best time to do so.

Yeah he had a year or so at the Bulldogs alongside a couple of other SA union converts. Think they had 3 at the time. Though i think only Kevin Schradder made any 1st grade appearances..

I remember around 96/97 SL down under were signing quite a few South African RU players, and was hopeful the game might have had a proper crack at doing something with South Africa, but never happened. Sadly none went on to make any kind of impact in RL, but there were some high profile signings like Tiann Strauss, Pieter Muller, Michael Horak (who went on to play RU for England) as well as some lesser known but highly thought of players like Andy Marinos, Kevin Schradder who made the switch. I think injury robbed them of a few of the bigger names that had switched codes at the 9's. Looking back, the start of SL certainly was a pretty crazy time.

I remember it well. Was great to see such a thing happen. And not so great as pretty much all SL teams got stuffed, which was only a surprise it seemed to the people who ran the game. There was a World 9's in Fiji same year i think, or maybe it was '96.. which was played in monsoon like conditions if i recall correctly. Which unsurprisingly wasn't the spectacle you'd have hoped it was going to be.

It's not someone to get excited about, but at the moment, as others have said, maybe don't we need that figure currently. What with IMG doing the work you'd usually expect from a dynamic CEO. That being said, 'England' and Internationals don't seem to currently fall within the IMG remit (as far as i know), even though i think it has been hinted at, so maybe for that purpose we should have looked at someone who was just a bit dynamic and progressive. And someone to be proactive make things happen rather than just a steady hand. Seems the sport at senior management level does like a bean counter though. Which i think is hardly surprising seeing as we have nearly always been a sport that a very wary approach to many things.

I think variety is the key. So would be happy enough if Amazon (as an example) took a couple of games to be streamed, providing we still had SKY and Ch.4 coverage as we currently do.

Only 12 points, and one try can change everything, but Wigan not really offering much and Catalan looking good to score more.

Just to see how other sports do it too. The new Formula 1 titles. Video screens and lighting. Very simple, and very effective. https://youtu.be/YLFVD8xaD3U (Can’t embed due to F1 usage rights outside YouTube)

Not a thread designed to create an opportunity to highlight any shortcomings on this side of the world, but purely to appreciate a quality seasonal launch promo from the NRL (IMO :)). Featuring Skrillex. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpPZF3BvNf5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link (sorry, cant' embed an instagram video - and not currently on youtube) And the Fox League season opener promo too - which is on youtube, thankfully. Both really smart and engaging. And i think both create a level of excitement for the upcoming games. the Insta promo clearly tailored to trying to target a younger demographic of fan. Great stuff.

I am quite cynical about things like this. I’m sure it’s not the case, BUT, if Oxen put out another England shirt without any charitable link, how many do they sell? Very few. If it’s about raising money for a charity, what is really going to generate more of a return? A new, well designed, high quality England shirt? Or a rip off of a design produced by another sports brand in the colours of a charity? I think it’s the former. But that is me being quite cynical.

I’d be surprised if he did. he’d be expected to wear such things for an official engagement, but not this. They should have just asked him to take off the jacket. The presence of the RFU badge isn’t even the main thing. It’s a “sports brand” - I use that term in the loosest sense - launching a product where the guy helping launch it is visibly wearing another sports brand! it’s hilarious.

Its not the worst Oxen have produced. After all it is someone else's kit design. It's just the classic Oxen approach of putting out more tat.

Par for the course for Oxen. Their Instagram post launching the shirt features Kevin Sinfield wearing an Umbro jacket and an RFU logo! which says all you need to know about them.

Edit. Just seen the post on the kit thread

He does. and thats one of the reasons i want him to stay at centre. But if everything goes to plan perfectly, we could have Dom Young as a champion centre, alongside a fit and healthy Harry Newman, Herbie at FB and Welsby into the halves. Which wouldn't be too bad. Sure Wayne Bennett will have some influence on Herbie's best position.

Herbie has been really strong at Centre, and would love him to stay there. Hopefully its not a case of a player wanting a positional switch as a personal preference, but a switch that ultimately doesn't lead to the same levels of impact he has had as a centre. I know he played FB as a junior.

how the NRL pre season challenge finished up. https://www.nrl.com/ladder/?competition=119&round=2&season=2023 Saints in third.