Steve Slater

If the Gods have anything to do with it we will win the GF this season, because it will count for nothing when the franchise applications are considered, unless Batley do us all a favour in the Northern Rail Cup Final. The Gods were definitely against us in the last minute of the aforementioned Grand Final back in '98.

I expect Rovers to turn things around just like they did after poor performances against Toulouse and Dewsbury. The Dewsbury game was a low key affair with very little atmosphere. You wouldn't have thought it was the same side that dominated Fax in the following match at the Shay. A slight concern over Leigh having a longer rest, 4 days is a bit tight for the Rovers, and the recent loss of Morrison, Parker and Saxton, but barring further injuries and bizarre ref decisions, the defence should do its usual to lay the platform for a solid win. FEV 21 Leigh 12 1st try: Finn MOM: Briggs Attendance: 1995

Was this at break time or was it tag rugby in a P.E. lesson? What I am trying to say is that you rarely see kids playing with a rugby ball on the streets or on village greens, it seems to be all soccer these days. So I personally feel that kids in non-Super League towns like Fev are not drip-fed the game from an early age any more, so when they grow up they might be fine athletes and make good players, but they are not as likely to have the speed of thought and exceptional passing skills that make a truly great player. Go back 20 years or more and you will notice that Fev and its surrounding areas were producing this type of player by the dozen. I can remember the days when there was a player with Fev connections at virtually every professional club in the country. So, by marginalising Featherstone, the RFL are ruining one of it's greatest ever nurseries!

If Rovers want any chance of getting into Super League they have to change their argument. Rather than stating how they could possibly match some clubs in certain departments they have to emphasise where they can excel. The powers that be at the RFL want to beat the Aussies so badly, yet when people say we never will with all the overseas players over here. The RFL's answer to this is that we are not producing enough quality players. In the days before Super League Featherstone was arguably the best breeding ground of talent within the game, but sadly no longer no, matter what anyone else may say. Too many kids aren't interested in the game and soccer is now the chief topic of conversation in school playgrounds. When was the last time anyone saw local kids playing tig and pass.

A BIG, BIG thanks to the coaching staff, and A BIG, BIG thanks to the BOD, but also a BIG, BIG thanks to all the supporters who have kept this great club going throughout the lean years. I don't consider myself worthy to be mentioned in the same breath of some of you.....You know who you are, so give yourselves a well deserved pat on the back.

For the play-off game last year we had the correct tickets to sit with the Fev fans but went in through the wrong turnstile and ended up amongst the Widnes fans. We couldn't get through to the other end of the stand because it is blocked off on half way for the dressing rooms and players tunnel, so we asked a steward if we could be moved. He spoke to his boss on the walkie talkie and "The Boss Said No!". The Widnes fans were OK though, even at the end after we'd beat them. So, for anyone who's going by their own transport, check beforehand that you have the correct tickets for the Fev section, and most of all, ask before you go through the turnstile that you are in the right section!

I think they are disrespecting Keighley, just because they are bottom of our league. They are only bottom because of the 9 points they've had deducted and would be clear of the relegation zone otherwise.

I don't want to worry anyone, but I think this is the best team within the division it is playing since 1976.......This was the team that was on course to win the double before Phil Butler's injury in the semi at Swinton. Then John Newlove was injured for the penultimate game against Hull KR and we ended up being pipped for the Championship, and finished the season without a trophy. I thought this side under Tommy Smales was better than the one that won the League a year later. The quarter final demolition of Leeds was the finest display I have ever seen, but the recent thrashings of Halifax and Keighley come very close- They are even moving the ball about like Tommy Smales' side. Injuries to key players, however, can ruin a teams aspirations, although we seem to be well covered in all departments this year. I hope and pray that Finn stays fit because he would be the hardest to replace.

Tommy Saxton is the hardest working wingman in our league. He takes the ball up from acting-half from deep within our own half once or twice every set, saving the props and hookers from tiring themselves out, ensuring they have energy to spare late in the game. He makes more yards than anyone when he does this, and will be vital tonight if the lads are still a bit tired from Sunday. Maybe that's why Daryl rested him?

Sorry, I was a year out, these days I seem to remember matches from the early sixties better than 21 years ago.......Crikey, was it that long ago? It only seems like yesterday!

I've still got my red and white striped shirt from the 1988 Yorkshire Cup Final, but I liked the predominantly white retro design even better.

None of those...... Sunday 3:30pm was always the favoured kick-off time in our glory years, and I can't understand why it was brought forward half an hour? From a personal point, early in the season I have to bring my Grandson over from Ripponden, and can't leave til 2:00pm,which is cutting it very fine and at the mercy of the M62 traffic.

I agree Robin, we didn't need the ref's help on Sunday, but I bet there will be tough matches later in the season when all we need is a fair rub of the green from the officials. I hope we get fair decisions in the really close matches, and no favours please, either to us or the opposition. Let the best team win on their own merits. Tubby has no right to complain though, maybe they would have had an outside chance of a bonus point....One point, just like the one point they were gifted at our expense in the NRC. Because of the most one-sided draw in history, they are in the NRC, and we are not!

It could well be mind games. When SL clubs play the Co-Op clubs in the cup they usually rest one or two and bring in fringe players, many of whom play a blinder because they are out to impress, while some of the stars have off-days. If we play a full-strength side Warrington won't be treating us as lightly as in the past, because of our current form, and after Fax's showing at Cas last year. If we have any doubts about anyone not being able to perform to their usual standard twice in four days, they should be rested for the Cup game, providing we have a high calibre fringe playery to stand in for them. It will also give vital game time to those who may have to step in later in the season to cover injuries and suspensions. Many of these lads would normally have played once or twice by now, but you don't change a winning team, and we have been lucky on the injury front so far. No-one should be brought in from the reserves, however, unless they appear capable of challenging for a first team spot.

I wish we were playing Cas or Wakey, we would have a real chance, but it will be much tougher against Warrington, unless they are resting a few. I would play a few of our reserves, but only those who have been consistently banging on the door to be selected. With our current form the Wire won't treat us lightly, but if we rested a few we might lull them into a false sense of security, and the lads we bring in might play blinders. It would also stand us in good stead in case of injuries over the forthcoming weeks.

We should all trust Daryl, he knows infinitely more than us! Some of his selections can be baffling, but he always seems to get it right. Moving Tommy Saxton to the wing was a stroke of genius last year, and this year he has had the nerve to drop Andy Kain to the bench. One of the down sides of success can be seeing your favourites left out of the side, and in some cases having to move on- Daryl is not afraid to take these tough decisions. Regarding Mike Coady- Does anyone know the full details of his dual registration, because I can't see the Rhinos being very happy if he's not getting picked? Could a "Use him or lose him" case apply? If this was the situation I would be tempted to have another look at him before he was lost for good, just in case he is as good as his reputation?

Daryl will be expecting spoiling tactics and their efforts to con the ref into giving them penalties, but after last time I'm pretty sure he will have a game plan for this. One thing that baffles me with refs these days is the number of penalties they award on the 4th. or 5th. tackle when the tackler's arms are held to make it look like they are preventing the man from getting up. Once or twice maybe, but who in their right mind would deliberately do this late on in the tackle count, when he knew a penalty against them was a near certainty?

There's bags of room beyond the training pitch. It used to be a full sized pitch for the U17's & U19's, with a large area of rough land beyond it stretching toward the railway. You might be right about restricted view from the back of the main stand, however, because of the clubhouse. This might only affect the last few rows at the back though, and these could be removed to make way for hospitality boxes.

22 - 10 to Rovers Attendance: 1700 MOM: Briggs Attendance is difficult to predict because of two factors: This will be Sheffield's first home fixture at Brammall Lane and they might be offering freebies or cheap tickets to the locals. Also, there are likely to be even more travelling fans than the large support Rovers usually take, so this could be their biggest crowd of the season. It could be more like a neutral venue, however, because the surroundings will be unfamiliar to them and the Rovers fans will be making more noise. After we were mugged by them earlier in the season (I've never seen a more one-sided draw, other than when Arsenal played Barcelona), I don't think they will be able to creep up on us again, and I don't think we will concede half as many penalties, even if Aston plays for them. So I expect Rovers to win by 4 tries to 2. Conversions will this time decide whether or not they get a bonus point.

If Leigh fans think their team is better than ours just because they beat us in the NRC, does this make York the best team outside Super League, cos they beat Leigh? No, of course it doesn't..... And bye the way, it was a weakened Rovers side that Leigh played on that day, not due to injuries, but due to the fact they lost to York our coach underestimated them and thought he could afford to rest key players. Meanwhile, if these idiots can fool the bookies into thinking we are in a false position, we might get good odds when we play Leigh and Widnes in a few weeks time....But then again, the bookies aren't that stupid!

Don't you think it's because they might be a little bit frightened? Obviously Fev don't fit into any future plans for SL, neither this time or in three years! But if they start winning things, sell some land to build a new stadium, and still be left with millions in the bank, they will be very hard to ignore, especially in a climate where you are never sure that all the teams in a competition will be financially stable enough to complete all their fixtures.

Awesome display, particularly in defence. Halifax were playing at high speed in the first half and Ben Black looked very dangerous. If the defence had given way early on then the score could have been much different. But we had a different kind of scrum half, one that can organise the team and direct us about the park. Finn won't score length of field tries, but that's not what the game is all about. To be fair to Matt Calland, he did say he missed Brannigan, which was possibly true. I've not seen him play for Fax yet, only Gateshead, but he is the kind of player they need for the tough matches.......He wouldn't get into the Rovers starting line up, though!

Was that before 1983 then? Or then again it couldn't have been because Wigan were fresh out of the 2nd. division in them days (it didn't do you much harm did it, I can't understand why everyone feared relegation like the plague?) The reason I ask is because I've still got my flat cap from the 1983 Cup Final.

We had too many ball players on the park. Our dominance this season has been achieved by playing 3 second-rowers with Finn directing them. When we went away from this by bringing on an extra half-back we became a little confused and started making errors.