Dave T

Good point, would have to agree with you actually.

On that point, that's why we as RL fans have got to hope that this Pledge thing works out for them. I agree Bradford used to be one of the biggest games of the year, and it is a shame it is now a bog-standard game. Hopefully they can get the fans signed up and get them hooked again and travelling to away games.

This is where clubcall gets really interesting. If in RD1 the top two teams win, then it will generally just go to league positions like last year (unless the coach is very very brave!), but this year with Leeds and Wire/Saints expected to finish 3rd and 4th, then there is a real possibility of an upset or two. Last year's was pretty interesting to watch live on Sky, although everybody knew that Leeds would pick Catalans, but if your scenario happened, I think it would be great drama!

I would expect that Lunt and Harrison are in the running for the 4N and will be training with the England team, so they get first dibs. I didn;t realise Jon Clarke was Cumbrian...

Unfortunately that can be a problem if your view or approach is not controversial on some of these Aussie threads, they get completely overlooked...

Unfortunately, this was a major reason why Wales collapsed so badly, they were using players that weren't really playing anymore just to make up the numbers, like him and Moriarty.

Keep up your debates with those people, and when I start using insults bordering on racism then pull me on it too.

Don't make assumptions. The reason I didn't comment on the NSW halves, is because it is not an area I know a great deal about. Also don't tar me with the same brush as others on here, who are not prepared to discuss things reasonably with you, I have frequently, however your aggressive and arrogant manner has often put me off continuing debates. Just like you picked up on the point that NSW had no halves, I picked up on the lack of quality halves in SL comment. Compared to a couple of years ago we actually have some decent options to play there, and both Tomkins and Eastmond did well on their debuts, and if fit will hopefully go even better this year.

It was more a clarification around the fact that you always state your opinion as fact, whilst dismissing everybody elses as nonsense. Carney has never played in the SL, and most of the halves in SL haven't played in the NRL. We have seen some players come over here and look very good, and then others look absolutely pants, so to make direct comparisons is very difficult, whereas your opinion tends to be that if they are an Aussie they are better. It would be very interesting to see the likes of Carney up against the likes of Tompkins and Eastmond.

That is your opinion, just like thirteenthman was stating his opinion.

TBH I could have named all the towns in SL.

I must admit I find it a bit silly when these statements are made, and it has already been made a couple of times in this thread. It is burying our head in the sand if we refuse to acknowledge that we have dickheads watching our sport, whether they also support another sport or not. Warrington had plenty of problems in the 80's, some games were real no-go games, and we weren't the only team. During the 90's there was a real shift in the make-up of the Warrington crowds, and it became a much more friendly place to go as more and more families and children became involved with the club, mainly through the introduction of the Wolfpack club and the

It will certainly affect the Aussies, although they do have plenty of strength in depth, maybe not with the flair of the above players though. The important thing is that the England team continue to play with the confidence that they did last year. In the two games against the Aussies we were the better team for probably 100 of the 180 minutes, but the Aussies blew us away and were ruthless during their purple patches. If we can learn from this, and learn to deal with the difficult conditions, then there is no reason why we can't go and challenge. I think we could do with the likes of Eastmond and Tomkins on top form and full fitness, and due to a lower level of strength in depth, I think it would be harder for us to replace 4 major players like the Aussies.

Think this quote from the above article sums it up perfectly: The new Wembley may still be waiting for its first classic Challenge Cup final but, as an example of ruthless forward power, brilliantly orchestrated by a half-back at the peak of his form, this will take some beating.

Personally I'm a touch surprised that anybody posted any serious answers on this dire thread, but I do have to pull you on this one. Prior to this year, we were getting similar comments due to the fact that we didn't meet Leeds or Saints, and now we did meet the champion team and beat them comprehensively, we still get similar comments. It's not our fault that Saints get knocked out by other teams (who we then go on to beat). People only bring Saints up because of this hoodoo they have over us, not because they are the best team in the country. We recently beat the best team in the country at their place, and have just beaten the champions at Wembley, not too much more we can do. As for the OP, it's ######, certainly from the media side. I was surprised how much favourable press Wire were getting in the build up, with major features on the Myler decision, Lee Briers and Adrian Morley etc. At times a neutral probably couldn't work out who we were playing! As for some fans not giving credit, well unfortunately, that is black and white, it's your fault on here.

I disagree with plenty in this thread tbh. As has been pointed out, Briers played in the '08 qualifying and couldn't carry the team, it is too much of an ask, and as good as his distribution and vision is, he at least needs a few others round him to be on his wavelength! As for the above post, he really hasn't been poo for 8 of his last 10 years, it is wrong to state that. At times he has been in a terrible team at Warrington, and has had to carry the team. People love to bang on about his off-field issues, but then Long and Gleeson have had plenty and played well. Briers has been very good throughout his career, maybe not as consistent as he could have been, but he has wone more matches for us single-handedly possibly than any other player in recent Wire history. In terms of injuries, you are also wrong there, he has played fewer SL games this year than since 2003, and the 2nd lowest of his career. The real difference in Briers now (IMHO) is that he doesn't have to do everything for the team. Sure he is still a big part, but the likes of Clarke, Monaghan, King, Mathers etc all take some of the responsibility, meaning that Briers is generally quieter than he has ever been in games, but can now add more quality to the team instead of quantity. He wouldn't be in that position for Wales.

Thanks, but to be fair, I'd like to think that l'ange knows my style tbh, even if he did take offence to the post in question. I have no issue with Fev or their fans.

Apologies if it came across like that, certainly didn't mean it to, but the fact is that most people who go to home games, perhaps nip for a few beers at the very most and watch the match and go home. That's the way at every club, except perhaps some Friday and Saturday big games where people use it to start the night off. I have no interest in who's fans are best, in my opinion there is no such thing as 'best fans', I simply challenged Lowfield's involvement in this thread, finding him bringing up a game from months back pretty strange. We have seen the youtube videos, many Fev fans treated that game like a big away day, there is no getting away from that fact, I'm glad they enjoyed themselves, I just found it strange that it was to be brought up on this thread, when there is no reason on earth why the Wire fans would be dancing around bladdered in the Hop Pole at midday! It just didn't make any sense. You won't find me ever stating that Wire fans are better (or worse) than anyone else, as personally I class myself as a RL fan first and foremost, and have respect for anyone that supports our game.

Genuinely hope not mate. He seems a good bloke, and whatever flaws he has, he works bloody hard and is as passionate as anyone playing in SL at the moment...

I agree. Whilst I will show faith in Smith as he hasn't done too much wrong at Wire so far, I am not overly happy with another ageing player in Hodgson. We are then looking at having our main playmakers (Briers, Hodgson, Monaghan, Clarke etc. along with our skipper Morley) on the wrong side of 30. Hopefully they will help to bring the young lads through, but we need to be careful IMHO.

Yep, and tbh at

Good post. I must admit to being a touch worried the other day when it looked like it could kick off and become worse than it did. It is pretty rare to see full on brawls in a crowd, as often it is just pushing and shoving and stewards step in and stop it, but this one could have got worse. Last year I had drunk quite a bit, however am never aggressive or ruin other people's experience, unfortunately plenty of others can't say the same. This year I had about three pints prior to the game, and one in the stadium, and I must admit I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than last year, and appreciated the actual game more. A member of our group had about 8 pints in the game, and was a pain in the ###### tbh. Whilst I enjoy a pint during the match, I would rather see a ban during the match if that means fewer incidents.

Don't worry, it'll all change once you are back in SL!!!

Not sure who you mean by 'he' - do you mean Morley or Wendall? If it's the latter then I'll let you off! A first round game at Warrington is pretty novel to be fair, it hasn't happened for a long time, and fair play, your fans looked like they had a good time, but then so do fans of all clubs when they have an away day, especially when it is a game that is slightly out of the ordinary. Not really sure why you had to turn it into a fan comp really, and as for your last line, I would expect all of our fans have seen us win the thing at least twice now bearing in mind we have won it two years running.

And also, Leeds recovered that situation really well with an excellent tackle to get Atkins in touch, so it was pretty much cancelled out IMO.