ParisSurtout

It appears that Ben Farrar is not the final element in the Catalans rebuilding after all. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-...0923-15o69.html Steve Menzies and Ben Farrar will now add the Manly connection to Les Catalans lineup. The Catalans pack is now looking very strong indeed. Lopini Paea will also be important there.

You're obviously wrong, because I've been to Elland Road twice. I wouldn't call Elland Road a cackhole because then I wouldn't have a word left to desribe Knowsley Road or Belle Vue, which are much worse places to sit (if you can without soiling your pants) than Elland Road. I cannot imagine why my point doesn't stand. My point was that Reebok Stadium at Bolton would attract a lot more Huddersfield and neutral fans than Knowsley Road will. Those people would be happier at Bolton.

A lot will be expected of Greseque and Gigot if that is the team. We know that Greseque can create something out of nothing in attack. But will his defense be adequate, even if he is placed out wide next to the winger? And what about Gigot's defense? Can the team carry two halves who are weak defenders? As a backrower (and personal friend of Maxime's) Elima will ideally be Greseque's "bodyguard". But who will be Gigot's?

WHOOOOOSH!

Wouldn't it have been better -- from a crowd size point of view, and fairness -- to follow the example of the NRL and hold both the SL preliminary finals (next weekend's games) at larger, prestigious "regional" grounds, which are in the region of the "home" team but not its home ground? This kind of ground choice would do two things: (1) it would make the event more prestigious and thus attract more "neutrals"(2) it would make the ground less intimidating for away supporters and thus attract more of these. In the NRL the Gold Coast Titans vs Sydney Roosters is being played at Suncorp Stadium (capacity 52,500), which is the regional headquarters of rugby league in Queensland (thereby giving Titans an advantage, while not giving them their own home ground). St George Illawarra vs West Tigers is being played at Sydney's ANZ Stadium (capacity 85,500) which is regional headquarters for NSW where "home" side St George is located, but not a home ground of St. George. By these choices the NRL is saying that these matches are very prestigious and can cope with very large crowds. The English equivalent would be to hold Leeds vs Wigan at Elland Road and St Helens vs Huddersfield at Reebok Stadium, Bolton. They would not sell out, but I suspect that they would get a lot more fans than will go to either Knowsley Road's dreadful stadium (how many dozen neutrals would be motivated to go there?) or to Headingley.

They have a lot to do with the financial solvency of the game. Didn't you know that? That is debateable. Did you see West Tigers vs Canberra? Was that ten times less entertaining than either SL game this weekend? Instead of being so defensive and resentful, try to think about these important issues a little more objectively.

WEEK 1 (4 matches) NRL Total: 92,605 Average: 23,151.5 SL Total: 48,187 Average: 12,046.75 WEEK 2 (2 matches) NRL 26,476 23,459 Total: 49,935 Average: 24,967.5 SL 11,133 8,050 Total: 19,183 Average: 9,591.5 I expect that next week the contrast will be even worse. Is the difference because of the recesssion in England? The Aussies don't have a recession. The Australian economy is booming. But why did the English average decline in the second (knockout round) week when the NRL average went up? How does this compare with last year or previous years? The best recent comparison year would be 2007 when both economies were booming.

A couple? I doubt they have a couple. But usually one when the coach is in the stand. However Brown had walked down on to the field and was moving around, so not so easy to keep him in focus. But I take your point, and thus would probably give the bulk of the prize to the director/producer of the telecast, who made the decisions on when to switch to and from the player running, then to the coach, and then back to the wide shot of the player. The timing was immaculate.

The thing about the footage I am praising is that the cameraman captured Brown looking to his left (our right) punching the air and beckoning Cudjoe on, then exactly as Cudjoe flashes by you see Brown head on wide eyed and excited, then turning right and punching the air. Just amazing clear shots, as the camera suddenly goes back to the wide angle of Cudjoe running for the line with two Wolves in pursuit. That is what made it so good.

The ones in the stand just in front of Brown? I would give Brown a prize for self-control, since he spent 75 minutes not thumping them.

Which is why the cameramen in England can take their time and do their job without fear of injury! Pity the poor Aussie cameramen always living in fear!

I must say I have never seen a live action shot like that on TV. They caught Nathan Brown closeup on halfway cheering on Cudjoe as the winger ran past his coach. It was the kind of action footage that you only see in a planned rehearsed scene in a movie theatre. The cameraman had to be on the other side of the field, but was alert enough to foucus on Brown from the beginning of Cudjoe's run. The director of the broadcast was also astute and alert enough to focus first on Cudgoe running then to capture the shot of Brown as Cudjoe came up to and flashed past Brown. Then the director went back to the chase and the scoring of the try. All done spontaneously in a matter of seconds. That whole try coverage from all angles deserves a prize IMO.

Now, can we avoid all these nationalistic outbursts, and get back to discussing rugby league? ..... .....particularly the nice set of new players that Les Catalans Dragons have purchased, and how it will make them playoff contenders next season.

I admitted that and expressed my admiration to the British for their character strengths. Read my second paragraph that I quoted above again. How did you miss it?

The English star Gareth Ellis scored another excellent try in the West Tigers exciting performance yesterday. So too did English heritage player Chris Heighington. Both put in splendid performances, even though overshadowed by the brilliant playmaker Benji Marshall. Ellis's place in the England team is not in question. But Heighington's consistently excellent performances will be hard to overlook by the English selectors, especially if injuries to backrowers the 24 man squad require a quick replacement.

I have nothing against the English, apart from their ignorant, uneducated, retail service staff, their hopelessly inefficient public transport system, and their dull and unhealthy cuisine in the provincial areas. Traditional English cuisine is incomparably inferior to that of not only France or Italy, but even that of Spain. The English diet has been enlivened by the advent of the spicy South Asian immigrant cuisine. Luckily, because of the European Union and globalism, the English palate has also been relieved by the appearance of French-style baguette sandwich stands at most major London and some regional train stations (copied from the long established originals at French train stations), even if the sandwich menu there includes the decidedly un-French curried chicken. I know that some of the bad attitude problems the English suffer from comes from their loss of Empire, their dreadful grey weather, and the sense that many socio-economic problems seem insoluble. But I do admire the British grit and endurance under pressure and in a crisis. If it wasn't for the bravery and resolve of the British over the last 70 years, none of us would be able to enjoy the superior pleasures of life in a vibrant free France today. ...... I think that before long Ben Farrar, Scott Dureau, Ian Henderson and Lopini Paea will come to appreciate all of this. Jason Baiteiri already does.

You pick out one blunder in one game out of a long career of glittering successes, and then you have the cheek to suggest that this one blunder proves Billy Slater is a poor defender. Pity that you don't get a chance to watch him many times a year in the NRL as most of the wiser judges do, so you could make an informed judgment. Then this single blunder wouldn't have been picked out as if it meant anything significant about the talent of the player. Billy Slater is recognised as an outstanding defender week in, week out. He stops as many tries as he scores. "Lumbering?" Sam Burgess? You must be kidding. I was there at the match sitting high in the stands and on half way. I watched it again later on TV. The Burgess boy was running like a three quarter. He beat two players as I recall. The fact that he beat an accomplished defender like Billy Slater was a reason why Burgess was celebrated for his performance.

Regardless of whether or not that statement is true, or even meant seriously....Full backs don't only need to defend. Paul Wellens can defend, and take the high ball, and back up his team's attackers when they break the defensive line. But Wellens cannot beat a man with footwork and speed, and he cannot outpace most other opposing backline players.

The francophobes are crawling out of every nook and cranny.

Are you familiar with the concept of jet lag? Are you familiar with the cost of a business class round trip ticket between the UK and Australia?

if you want to try a good English pub hotel with a good kitchen try: Bay Horse. 53 Warrington Road, Ashton In Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9PJ I have stayed there and can recommend it. It is very English. No baguettes for breakfast, but the food is good by English standards. For the slightly more sophisticated palate there is a decent Italian restaurant not far away. However you need a car to get around.

Does Stanley have any coaching experience at any level? If not then this suggests that the administration of rugby league in PNG is uttterly crazy. Coaching is a skill that requires apprenticeship. Adrian Lam had his apprenticeship as an assistant coach in the NRL. There are plenty of other experienced candidates. Wayne Bennett's brother was the coach for a time in the past. I hope that this appointment doesn't ruin the PNG performance, which it may well do.

I don't know which games of the NRL you have been watching, but any games that involve Sydney Roosters, the West Tigers and Canberra Raiders in recent weeks have been anything but boring. Last Saturday's West Tigers vs Sydney Roosters was an epic for the ages. Try watching Canberra vs West Tigers on Friday morning (Josh Dugan vs Wade McKinnon) and Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers Saturday morning (Lachlan Coote vs Anthony Minichiello) and then you will be better informed (and hardly likely to be bored).

Double post

Damien Blanche played very well in the World Cup. Pity his form has slumped while playing at a substandard club. I do expect the crisp, rapid, passing of Ben Farrar will give Mr Blanche the service and hence try scoring opportunities that he has been missing in west Yorkshire.