Richard de la Riviere

In her latest column, Channy Crowl congratulates Wigan on winning the Challenge Cup, points out what went wrong for St Helens and reflects on more post-match social-media misogyny https://womensrl.com/?p=745

Wow this would be amazing! Let’s hope it’s true.

The question at the moment is how many Wigan players will be in the next England team? It’s incredible only one played in Vegas. There’ll be at least eight in the next game assuming they avoid injuries.

Hard to disagree. Amazing to think only one Wigan player played in Vegas.

Here’s our preview: https://womensrl.com/?p=724

How do St Helens stop the Wigan juggernaut? Our Challenge Cup Final preview is here: https://womensrl.com/?p=724

Channy Crowl's latest column: "Leeds were the better team, but I love our spirit!" https://womensrl.com/?p=713

Totally get this! We could see how good they were last season, but the way they've started this year is such a fillip for the game after Vegas. They're setting new standards and that's what the game needs. The cup final will be immense. Youth v experience. Wigan will be favourites - which is incredible given Saints have all those great players who have won 4 in a row.

Yeah exactly but even with the club under-investing, there are some good players in that team. Perhaps they were too confident and took Warrington lightly?

What did we learn from round 1? https://womensrl.com/?p=703

Lindsay Anfield: 'Wigan performance best I’ve ever seen from an English team.' Plenty of great quotes from Lindsay on what this Wigan team might do for the English game. https://womensrl.com/?p=700

Here's our preview of round 1 of the WSL which begins with Wigan v York at 5.30pm today, live on Sky. Jason Emery and I can't agree on one fixture, while we think the other three are easier to call. Hopefully this weekend will be the start of a great season! https://womensrl.com/?p=698

Here's Channy Crowl's first column of the year! https://womensrl.com/?p=690

What did we learn from the Challenge Cup semi-finals? https://womensrl.com/?p=683

https://womensrl.com/?p=679 https://womensrl.com/?p=671

Great signing - such a talented player.

Thanks for such a lengthy reply! I agree with the second half of your post. On my suggestions to reduce the number of one-sided games, however, I hope there'd be more than the tv argument to ditch the Challenge Cup idea. I remember the BBC streamed Saints' group games in 2022 (huge wins over Barrow & the Army), and I'm guessing they reduced their coverage to three games because they only want competitive and high-standard games. So I think they'd look at televising each of the second-phase games, or certainly those involving the big four. If not, they could still televise the last two and then the final. I think my cup restructure solves most of the problems the competition has and it would be a shame not to implement it just for that reason. When you say "The problem is how to give the "Big 4" decent game time before they play the semi finals", this is obviously true, but it may never happen. There's just as much chance that one of the big 4 will fade away before we get a fifth competitive team. In terms of points difference, you're right that it is irrelevant in the current cup format, but if you remove it from the WSL (and don't have it in my cup restructure) then I'm certain you'll reduce the number of 80+ scorelines. Let's say when Saints played Warrington the other week (in a game that ended 102-0), my proposals of no points difference, unlimited interchanges and eight named substitutes were in place, then after 30 minutes, Saints could have taken off Cunningham, Rudge, Gaskin and Hardcastle and brought on Hollie Bawden, Becca Rotheram, Caitlin Maylor & Alyx Bridge, then you'd have an entirely different last 50 minutes and you'd be giving four fringe players vital gametime. OK, the winning team might choose not to "throw the ball around", but we wouldn't get a final score of 102-0. Warrington could also spell four more players and throw on fresh bodies. It's not really relevant to the article, but I think the coaching at the top 4 is decent. I was impressed with Lindsay Anfield, Matty Smith & Denis Betts last year. They al improved players or introduced something tactically that improved the team. Anfield's use of their fullback as a dummy half in attack, which allowed them to select an extra prop, was absolutely inspired. I'd never seen that before.

Forty20 have uploaded a couple of decent interviews to their Facebook page which I've shared in my Women's RL group. The interview with Lindsay Anfield is a decent watch, especially when she says she's had to persuade some of her England players not to jack the game in completely.

There won't be a women's Ashes series in 2025. A month on from Vegas: Will anything actually change? https://womensrl.com/?p=649

that's great news for them. she was very good in the grand final despite not having played for three months

I hoped I’d been vague enough in my wording not to come out in favour of four teams! I’d be very sorry to see Huddersfield and Barrow punted out. Warrington aren’t doing anything and Featherstone didn’t win a game last year despite a few good showings. Happy to give Leigh a season before judging. I could live with five. Six is only workable if there’s a genuine effort to be competitive. Moving to eight was an error. The NRLW did begin with four but I wouldn’t be comfortable with it. Perhaps the rfl could stress that places for 2026 will be based on a genuine commitment to close the gap on fourth. Huddersfield have occasionally looked competitive but there never seems a desire from the club to go that stage further. Maybe they could have gone in for some of the players York signed like Demi Fisher who’s moved to Huddersfield and Tara Moxon who went there on loan last season. I’m guessing they’ll be fringe players at York, but both would be certain starters at the Giants. As for the Championship, Swinton are one to watch. And geographically, they’re in a handy place to sign players from Lancashire & Yorkshire clubs if they get into the WSL.

i think they're still expecting Manuqalo Komatai to play, she just hasn't been able to train yet. They're hoping the army will move her up north soon. Jazz Rampton will probably replace Lacey Owen.

Leeds Rhinos sign Lacey Owen from York Valkyrie! https://womensrl.com/?p=646

https://womensrl.com/?p=644

Here's a transcript of Stuart Barrow's press conference if anyone is interested: womensrl.com/?p=639