bestgameofall

I agree entirely. I sat down to read the first one in great anticipation and found what amounted to a match report. More of the how and the why would be welcome. Great to see such a number of responses on this topic more generally. I hope that those who determine the media presentation of our game might take note. I don't think anyone can argue that it is not interesting to discuss tactics or that it isn't what the fans want to see. After all as another poster has pointed out they go to town on the tactical elements of the various sports on other sky presentations. As far as our own specialist press is concerned, there was a thread on here about a month ago when someone was criticising League Express, and Martin Sadler said OK, lets see some ideas about what could be improved/ what you would like to see. One respondant came up with a very interesting suggestion of a sort of box on match reports which summise key tactics employed. I don't mean the extra analysis of the TV game given by Martin (why is it always the TV games that recieve the extra attention by the way? they aren't always the big games and they are the ones where we have usually had loads of analysis anyway- sorry I digress). In an era when we've probably read the match reports to games by the time we get our copies, it might be good for the specialist press to see how they can add to the match report format at some sort of tactical level, though granted that is difficult with tight deadlines on Sunday games).

It has long been a annoyance to me that the analysis of the game over here doesn't make more of the tactics employed by teams. Sky have improved in the last couple of years, but nevertheless, when we discuss the game, winners, losers etc, or potential tactics, it all too often comes down to which team has a big set of forwards, who was more committed, who turned up in the day etc, with little reference to tactical nuance. I have to add to that although I welcome the addition of a tactics column to the new Rugby League World, Phil Larder does little to develop beyond these points (his analysis of the England France game for instance) It was with some delight therefore to read the following column from Jason Taylor (ex. Souths coach) in his Sydney morning herald piece on 'The Chalkboard'. Link? My point is not to discuss the merits of his analysis of these teams (hence this is not in the NRL section), but rather to encourage our analysts and experts to look more deeply into our game. Such an approach would do a great deal to counter accusations that we are a fundamentally simplistic game based upon five drives and a kick.

All I can say is it wasn't so nice being a Catalans fan on Sunday with some of the examples who were sat around us "supporting" Warrington by baiting the families who had travelled over from france to watch the semi.

sorry, was about to recommend celt pub, then realised someone already did. Pretty sure its on there.

Here's a strange one. Last month Liverpool to Norwich, five and half hour train journey. Central liverpool before the journey, looking for Rugby League world to fill a big part of it, not a sausage in any of the newsagents nor at the station. And her I am at a station with trains to Widnes, Saint Helens and the rest. Coming back, in the middle of the sticks, with train services to the likes of Diss, Great Yarmouth and Brandon, I go to W H Smiths Norwich station, and behold, Rugby League World. Five and a Half hours to get Rugby League World, worth every minute last month too. Hopefully this months will be as good. Keep up the good work.

It basically says what I put in the post, plus it says that the club have informed the RFL and Warrington that he did'nt make the comments. On this last point, I am a bit surprised. Telling Warrington might indicate that he might be worried about mozzers reaction (although it may stop any stupid hits). Telling the RFL might indicate that Catalans cared what they say in the press in case they are in breach of regulations etc, yet this from the club whose chairmen called an English ref 'dishonest' in the press after the Cas game earlier in the season and the RFL said nohing and did nothing about it so they surely know the RFL will et them say what they like, unlike Keith Senior and Richard Agar, and yes, the rules count the same to the chairman as the do to players and other officials. (END of off topic rant!)

NEWSFLASH the story was completely made up according to Ferriol and the club. He never spoke to that Journalist or any other from the paper and hasn't said anything about Morley :D linky

Finns celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve, and eat a variety of 'traditional' Christmas food such as cold fish, beetroot salad, and swede mash- and as they are eating it, they say , "wow, its so christmasy!". For the third year running I shall have to endure this! Trivial fact perhaps, but not if you've got to eat cold herring on Christmas Eve its not!