[Apology to Paris Surtout]

I realise the original thread has been deleted but I do wish to apologise to Paris Surtout and explain calmly ;

my reasons for my arguements.

I do not think for one moment that you are in any way racist or sympathetic to Nazi ideology. If my response creates that impression then I apologise unreservedly.

But I am very clear that any attempt to talk about what could be interpreted as racial stereotyping alongside terms like scientific evidence is not helpful, even if it is intended in a kindly, benevolent or positive way. Far too often others have latched on to such discussions to promote mischief and malice. I have spent much of my life on the front line of race relations so I know what sort of people can latch on to the bandwagon of racial stereotyping. So a heartfelt personal apology to you as I know you to be a million miles from that kind of caricature, indeed you would be appalled by any hint of association. But I have no regrets at raising the issue of the dangers of racial stereotyping.

There have been previous threads that have got frighteningly near to encouraging such reactions. Even the merest allusion can set the ball rolling. Such views are not uncommon as train journeys on a Saturday morning full of a certain type of football fan can confirm.

I acknowledge totally that RL officials in Australia have gone out of their way to attract members of the indigenous communities to the sport. A very positive outcome as it has increased further the potential pool of RL players, which must mean that Australia recruits from a much larger proportion of the potential athletes than does the UK, which is recruiting from a much smaller base. Indeed for whatever reason the number of

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

The Australian newspaper Sun-Herald has named Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis in its 2010 Team of the Year:

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/rugby-l...0904-14v1l.html

The fact that the Sun-Herald included both Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess in its NRL team of the year (17 players)shows that the high evaluation of these two English forwards goes far beyond Tim Sheens and Phil Gould.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

Oh, so because your a prolific contributor your more reasoned than anyone else!! all 3000+ posts of yours are probably in the same vein. I really don't need to 'know' you to know your just an abusive bully. Your attitude to this other guy stinks, It just so happens he is entitled to his opinion without being told by you that no-one else is interested in what he thinks or writes. Just because his view is superior to yours (and probably his intelligence too) your throwing a hissy fit. Grow up and get real.

Incidentally I have never met/spoke/communicated with Paris. You really should take some elocution lessons your grasp of nouns/pronouns/adjectives and split infinitives leaves a lot to be desired

2/10 must try harder

Correct on every point, (including never having met/spoken/coomunicated with me).

[Willie Mason signs for Superleague side.]

Terrific signing for Rovers. Now the rest of Super League will hate them as much as we do...:-). Should certainly spice up the Derbies next year. I heard Justin Morgan interviewed about the Mason saga the other day. He said Mason had "Resigned himself to playing in Super League next season" interesting choice of word that..

"Resigned" indeed. He is not wanted in the NRL. He is an ordinary player on he field, and a troublemaker off the field. The Roosters board were glad to see the back of him. He plays for what is now the weakest team in the NRL.

If you saw Mason play for a pathetic North Queensland tonight, as I did, then you will be prepared for his future underwhelming performances in Super League, weaker tackling standards there notwithstanding.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

The Australian newspaper Sun-Herald has named Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis in its 2010 Team of the Year:

http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/rugby-l...0904-14v1l.html

[The RFL save London]

I genuinely apologise, I didn't get over exactly what I meant and what I did say was unfair.

Suffice to say, that I have found a higher proportion of objectionable Widnes fans on this board than just about any other club and I have found them to be bitter and petty.

The rest of you are, I'm sure, lovely and I will happily buy any of you a drink next time we meet.

I find your anti-Widnes fans comments offensive.

This thread needs to be locked before more innocent people on this fragile planet are offended unnecessarily.

[French 39 man squad]

It will be interesting to see whom Bobby Goulding chooses to partner Thomas Bosc in the halves.

It is between Maxime Greseque, William Barthau and Tony Gigot.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

During the telecast of West Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans, the commentators referred to Mark Flanagan as "the Englishman Mark Flanagan."

So Australians are interested in who are English players in the NRL.

If the Super League was shown at a reasonable hour in Australia, more Australians would be familiar with English rugby league players.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

You're quite an ignorant ###### aren't you. Actually some of us are interested in what the Aussies think and know that some Aussies do have an interest in SL - like the millions of expats domiciled there. Unlike some UK amateur commentators who watch with envy from the sidelines and wish SL was as good. There are only two teams in SL that could ever be matched with the Aussies, Wigan and Warrington. Most other teams pale into insignificance besides the Aussies.

You have summed up the issues well:

(1) 1976JWPwires is an ignorant ######,

(2) some people on here are interested in the reputation of English players in Australia.

Until last year the only English player whom most Australian fans recognised was Adrian Morley. Now we can add Ellis and Burgess to the mix. Before too long I hope there will be others. It is very good for enhancing the interest in the international game, and we need to promote more English players trying their hand in the NRL.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

The Dally M awards will be announced by the NRL next week.

It will be interesting to see whether either of England's finest rugby league emigrants, Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess, make any of the lists.

If either does, it should be taken as a compliment to English rugby league.

Of course, it will also help boost the audience for the Four Nations.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

All the other commentators on Channel 9 who were assigned to the Wests Tigers vs Gold Coast Titans telecast agreed that with Gould that the Sheens comment was a great compliment to Gareth Ellis.

No comment yet on this revelation from Andrew Voss and those commentating the Brisbane vs Canberra game.

The attention given to the Sheens comment may be part of a pre-publicity campaign for the upcoming Four Nations. Gareth Ellis has been a little in the shadow of the Hollywood-sponsored glamour boy Sam Burgess. Bringing Gareth out of Sam's shadow will increase interest in the England team among the Australian public.

[Tim Sheens says he would pick Gareth Ellis in the Australian team.]

Phil Gould reported that in an off camera interview earlier today at Channel 9 studios in Australia, the current Australian coach Tim Sheens told him (Gould) that Gareth Ellis is good enough to play for Australia.

Gould told this story on air to an Australian television audience of millions, noting that this was a huge compliment to Ellis.

This proves just how very talented some English rugby league players really are.

[Ben Farrar is the final element in the new look Catalans quest for silverware]

Has Paea signed up ?

cheers

dave

I was told by someone in the know that Paea has signed.

Watch him this weekend play for Roosters.

Also Scott Dureau is starting scrum half for Newcastle Knights.

[Catalans Dragons v Huddersfield Giants]

Big win for the fartowners.

The Catalan players have no motivation other than to avoid being booed off the field by their fans. Now that might count!

[The Kiwis should be favorites for the Four Nations]

i actually like SKD....but his cause has been helped by the fact he's had carney,pearce & anasta putting him through gaps all season

Watch the performances of Kenny-Dowell here. He showed a variety of skills, including (1) a remarkable solo dribble kick and chase through opposition defence to score inches inside the dead ball line, (2) a 90 metre evasive swerve sprint to score himself, and later (3) a brilliant over the top pass at speed while being tackled to put fellow Kiwi Sam Perrett into the clear to help create (along with movement initiator Todd Carney) a candidate for the try of the season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfJNOTfEGuE

No wonder the Kiwi Shaun Kenny-Dowell got man of the match from Channel 9.

[Ben Farrar is the final element in the new look Catalans quest for silverware]

i hope he is not the last, as we are missing a big experienced go forward front rower

cheers

Dave

As I understand the prop forward lineup, it will be :

Ferriol, Guisset, Casty, Martins, Paea....with Carlaw as cover.

Paea has go forward from the little I have seen of him. He is just not getting a run in a top flight Sydney Roosters pack.

But you are right. Catalans probably need one more experienced prop though.

[Jason Baitieri to the Catalans]

They don't want to sign more overpaid duds that get homesick when the going gets tough, Baiteri is a strange one cannot see him getting a start even with elima gone and johnson, as carlaw, fakir, mounis will fill backrow.

To me they seem in the rebuilding stage, the off loading of johnson would suggest freeing up money for ben farrar.

Other rumours:

Griffi - to crusaders, kane bentley - wakefield or toulouse, Josh lewis - confirmed toulouse.

I don't know why you refer to the new signings as possible over paid duds. For a start you don't know what they are being paid. Whether they will be duds or not is yet to be determined.

The likely backrow of Mounis, Fakir, Carlaw and Raguin (one of these a bench player) will be backed up by Gossard and Baiteiri. Injuries occur every season, so that is when young Baiteiri will get a run, as I pointed out.

Sa is a utility, to be played at centre or second row.

Baile is ikely to be one centre. I am not sure if Farrar will be signed, and if he is, whether it is because Greenshields is leaving, or else to be an addition to Greenshields as a utility back (centre/fullback). Hopefully the latter.

[The Kiwis should be favorites for the Four Nations]

The biggest problem the Kiwis have is getting all their best players out on the pitch at the same time. When that happens, as shown in the 08 WC, they're a match for anyone. The Kiwi boys seem to be more prone to injury - particularly Steve Matai.

As for NZ being favourites - no. Any competition where the Aussies are taking part in, they will be favourites, especially as they're playing it in their own backyard.

Several games are being played in New Zealand.

[The Kiwis should be favorites for the Four Nations]

Pathetic.

Hohaia - better than average at best.

Vatuvei - More errors in him than my GCSEs.

Matai - Made of rich tea biscuits.

Shaun K-D - Better than average at best.

Nightingale - Steady.

Foran - I'm pooing my pants.

Marshall - Not a 7.

Blair - Better than average, decent.

Luke - Class.

Asotasi - Nearly dead.

Pritchard - Good player.

Matulino - Who???

Mannering - Workhorse at best.

Jesus wept you do worry me.

Those comments suggest that you weren't watching many NRL games this year.

Where do I start? Hohaia has been in sizzling attacking form. Kenny Dowell has beeen smashing his opposition, including St Helen's and NSW golden boy Jamie Lyon. Matulino will wake you up when you actually see him.

Benji can win a game from either 6 or 7. Did you see him last weekend?

I remind you that New Zealand has already won the Tri Nations and the 2008 World Cup 34-20 against Australia, with Hohaia scoring two tries. Then the Kiwis had Mannering and Ropati in the centres, rather than the now brilliantly in form Matai and Kenny-Dowell.

[The Kiwis should be favorites for the Four Nations]

Likely Kiwi team for Four Nations:

Lance Hohaia (New Zealand Warriors)

Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors), Steve Matai (Manly Sea Eagles), Shaun Kenny-Dowell (Sydney Roosters), Jason Nightingale (St George Dragons)

Keiran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles)

Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers)

Simon Mannering (New Zealand Warriors),

Frank Pritchard (Penrith Panthers), Ben Matulino (New Zealand Warriors),

Adam Blair (Melbourne Storm), Isaac Luke (South Sydney), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney) ,

Bench:

Sika Manu (Melbourne Storm), Sam Rapira (New Zealand Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Aaron Heremaia (New Zealand Warriors)

Australia will be weakened by the loss of Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston. The replacements will be excellent, but Inglis and Thurston have that x factor that opposing sides cannot counter.

England will be without Jamie Peacock in the front row. What a loss!

Adrian Morley and James Graham are the only other world class props for England. They face an awesome NZ front row. It is likely that young Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook will face a baptism of fire.

The star English backrowers Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess will be countered by Frank Pritchard and Ben Matulino.

Will Sean O'Loughlin be up to doing the covering tackles against some of these Kiwi monsters, especially given the speed of the likes of Matulino, Blair, Pritchard and Mannering?

And where can England find a three quarter line to match the Kiwi four? They didn't nickname Manu Vatuvei "The Beast" for no reason.

Let's be honest now. This Kiwi team is good enough to beat Australia.

I haven't even named anyone from Super League, because none of those, other than Tony Puletua, would be up to the standard of the named side. Greg Eastwood, though good, would have to miss out. You certainly could not pick Tommy Leuluai or David Solomona in place of any of the named players.

I am not trying to spread doom and gloom. I am just being realistic. This Kiwi team is very impressive. And England has problems with losing Peacock, and the perennial one of possessing only a second rate three quarter line.

You can rave all you like about the demonstrated talents of Eastmond and Tomkins, but they cannot do anything if playing behind a beaten pack.

Everything in England's Four Nations prospects will rest on the shoulders of Morley, Graham, Ellis and Burgess

[Ben Farrar is the final element in the new look Catalans quest for silverware]

Farrar is a brilliant young talent. He can make the diffference, especially if Greenshields and Bosc are on the field, to the attacking prowess of Les Catalans. He is normally a centre who can also play full back. As a junior in Newcastle he played with Catalans bound scrum half Scott Dureau.

See highlights of the Manly vs Sydney Roosters match in NRL round 25 (page 4 of the list of videos):

Watch the Manly No 18's role in Manly's first two tries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfJNOTfEGuE

(This cllip also shows why likely Kiwi centres Steve Matai and Shaun Kenny-Dowell will be too good for the English centres during the Four Nations).

Greenshields, Farrar and Bosc will be too much attacking talent for most opposing teams to handle, especially if Dureau turns out to be a great asset. Who knows, with these players we may see Wigan vs Catalans or Warrington vs Catalans at Wembley or Old Trafford in 2011.

[Stadia we should use for the 2013 World Cup]

Edit

[Jason Baitieri to the Catalans]

Edit Double post

[Jason Baitieri to the Catalans]

Two year contract for the 21 year old Sydney Roosters loose forward. Of course son of Tas Baitieri who was in charge at PSG. Jason was born in France. Only a couple of NRL appearances under his belt. His dad has been a big influence on the games development over the last decade or so in both Europe and Australia. Nice to have that link up but what happens on the pitch will be what counts. Dragons appear to be going back to the type of overseas lads they started with at the start.

You may have missed it, but Jason Baiteiri's signing was first reported on the "French captain Olivier Elima has gone to Bradford" thread here:

Latest information.

Certain acquisitions for Les Catalans:

Vincent Duport (Toulouse) -- centre/winger

Ian Henderson (NZ Warriors) -- hooker

Scott Dureau (Newcastle Knights) -- scrum half

Lopini Paea (Sydney Roosters) -- prop

Jason Baiteiri (Sydney Roosters) -- lock forward

Possible acquisitions for Les Catalans:

Ben Farrar (Manly Sea Eagles ) - center

Certain releases from Les Catalans:

Olivier Elima (to Bradford) -- second row

Dimitri Pelo (to Montpellier RU) - wing

Casey McGuire (retiring) -- hooker

Steve Bell (retiring) -- centre/wing

Andrew Bentley (to FC Lezignan) -- second row

Kane Bentley (no club) -- hooker

Dallas Johnson (North Queensland Cowboys) -- lock

Possible release from Les Catalans:

Chris Walker -- wing / full back

The club wanted to release the highly paid Johnson, because they have Mounis and Baiteiri to play lock, and then they can use the money to buy Ben Farrar.

Jason Baiteiri is, as you point out, the son of Tas Baiteiri. But that won't do him any favours with Bernard Guasch. Tas's stepson and Jason's half brother, the bilingual Nicolas Rayer, was a former CEO at Les Catalans, and he found it impossible to stay. According to my informants Nicolas was forced to resign by Bernard because he tried to run the club more like a modern legitimate business, rather than more like a Mediterranean brothel.

Hopefully Jason will have better treatment than Nicolas received. Obviously new coach Trent Robinson wanted him, and that will be his best support and protection, rather than his family connection. However he has only played one NRL game so far for Sydney Roosters, so likely he will start as back up for Mounis. But as such he will be not be wasting time for his career because injuries are sure to give him a few runs in the big time. He is also a good signing for the club because he is classed as French, not an import, yet has Australian experience.

[French captaiin Olivier Elima has gone to Bradford]

This just in: Dallas Johnson is leaving Les Catalans Dragons at the end of this season. He has been signed by North Queensland Cowboys.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-...0831-148pd.html

I have modified all my previous relevant posts on this thread so you can get an up to date picture of the Catalans gains and losses.