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The Blues Ox

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Posts posted by The Blues Ox

  2. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Man of Kent said:

     

    There’s no doubt Carter has steered the dreadnought into calmer waters but to be honest you could be describing a well-run Championship club.

     

    Its a fair point. Wakefield are basically Batley, Fev, Leigh, Fax and maybe a couple of others but with Sky money. Thats not a dig at Wakefield who are clearly surviving hand to mouth but more a dig at the game in general that despite having how ever many millions from Sky over the years they are really not streets ahead of many Championship teams and the same goes for a number of SL clubs.

    • Like 7

  4. Posted · Report reply

    8 hours ago, SL17 said:

    I haven't seen the figures on how many have lost their jobs, only figures on how many are furloughed. I can see redundancies on the horizon but not whilst furlough is in place. So where do get a lot of people have lost their jobs from?

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/03/24/how-covid-19-affecting-british-opinions-jobs-and-w

    Id be interested to see what an updated poll would look like with firlough in full flow.

  5. Posted · Report reply

    13 hours ago, SL17 said:

    The cost of testing will be free by the time the game gets going.

    What makes you think that? Ive not seen any indications by any of the companies developing the tests that suggests they will make them and distribute them for free. The only way I could see it happening is if the government would stand the costs, which I feel is unlikely for our sport, or if our governing body would stand the cost. I think the latter has a higher probability but is hampered by the fact its unlikely they can afford to do it for all teams, all players families, and in the case of semi pro the people the players work with. I can see a SL restart before the end of the year but I fear a Championship restart will be the 2021 season.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    As it stands the government are unlikely to let the game go ahead without a testing program in place. The fact that a lot of semi pro players also work another job make any sort of testing program for them beyond the realms of most teams finances. If, and thats a big if at the moment, the testing requirements are loosend a little then and only then can they really look at putting something together to get the game moving again outside of SL.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Its more than likely the amateur game will get underway before the semi pro game. A lot of amateur teams are already planning for training where as in the semi pro game I doubt clubs can even afford to bring their players off furlough to start what would basically be a mini pre-season. Obviously with most of the players been part time theres no way a comprehensive testing program could be put in place for them with many likley to have other jobs they are working. It could see an influx of players to the amateur game in prep for next season either once off contract or even while still contracted and furloughed as this would be within the furlough rules.

    As for Beaumont he has probably just overspent again and saw this as his last chance to gain promotion before the next SL team comes down.

    • Like 3

  8. Posted · Report reply

    50 minutes ago, meast said:

    It goes in circles i suppose?

    30+ years ago, lads from the Huddersfield area would sign for Leeds, Bradford and Halifax, then Sheffield

    I'd rather these lads were kept in the British game at the expense of over the hill crocked Aussies!

    In my opinion there should maybe another system in place. Apart from a small few that have obvious ability and will go on to SL a lot of the rest are taken by SL clubs on the chance that they further develop. I think there could be a case for partnerships with the players, say Huddersfield sign a Fax lad it would make sense for that lad to have the full time training at Huddersfield but maybe have playing time at Halifax. I know theres a case that dual reg provides that but it doesn't really work like that. Id be interested to find the drop out rates from yound players that are signed between the ages of 12-16. In theory something like the above less players would be lost to the game because of dissalusioment and could possibly aid development of young players while also aiding some clubs that are struggling to have a chance of signing these players.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    On 02/04/2020 at 21:56, Mumby Magic said:

    Loads at Bradford. We know what happened to him but Karl Pryce could have won international caps. Andy Hodgson. Joe Tamani. Aaron Smith to start with.

    Elsewhere Danny Arnold 

    We signed both Danny Arnold and Chris Morley and I couldnt believe they had won titles at Saints. Totally out of their confort zone lower down the leagues.

    On 04/04/2020 at 16:35, Father Ted said:

    Danny Ellison, scored a hat trick in the 1996 Prem Final.

    I think I remember Ellison signing for Fax. I remember him not playing very well in a game for us but thats about it.

    This reminds me of the sad story of Mick Shaw, on the transfer list at 250k to been released playing a few games for Fax before going back to the amateur game and then sadly taking his own life.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    Hi all, hope you are all keeping well. Just thought I would check in as I have kind of lost touch with Rugby in the time away.

    Regards getting the competition going again I really can't see how it could be possible logistically. The testing costs for the players and their famillies alone would run in to hundreds of thousands which might be ok for London and Leigh with their money bag owners but for teams like Fax and probably the rest of the competition I just can't see it. I don't blame Fev for wanting to sort things though as it was clearly a great chance to get in to SL for them this year but I could see a start date been announced only for the RFL to come out a couple of days later and pull up the drawbridge.

    • Like 3

  11. Posted · Report reply

    On one hand its a real shame for Halifax that so many players from the area go to Huddersfield and other teams but they really stand no chance of competing with the SL clubs. On the other hand its great to see so many players from the area having a chance in SL as it just shows the talent that the area still produces. At Siddal at the moment it almost feels like Wigan and Leeds get first choice and then Huddersfield take the rest.

    • Like 1

  15. Posted · Report reply

    I thought the ref at the LSV had a great game to be fair. I thought Leigh could have had an extra card for a nasty late tackle on Murrell but hey ho he did well especially after the red when Leigh were racing in after every penalty Fax conceded, at one point we conceded a penalty for offside and the player who conceded it was surrounded by about 10 or 11 Leigh players pushing and shoving but again well done to the ref and his team.

    As for Fax an abysmal second half put paid to any hopes of a surprise win. Carrying too many players who probably should have gone at the end of last season.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    My perspective changed massively about 3 years ago when I got involved with grass roots rugby and I am ashamed to admit that at times in games before that I thought the ref was going out of his way to "cheat" my team and would shout as much from the terraces. I never got in to all the more personal abuse, I suppose calling someone a cheat is bad enough, but I honestly believed that refs could be biased against teams.
    As I mentioned that changed as in my role as a coach I obviously could not be seen to be shouting abuse at referees but would see many parents and coaches losing their cool over decisions in games involving players U16 and to be honest I were embarrassed for them. Watching young men and young women try to ref amatuer games and having split seconds to make decisions, my respect for referees is now as high as it ever has been. Im lucky that my team has a really good bunch of parents and Ive not heard much if anything in the way of referee abuse from them. That starts with the team and they are told from the outset how to treat the person in the middle, thats yes sir, no sir but at the same time been told they are only human, they will make mistakes as we all will but you can also have a laugh and a joke with them, I mean its a lot harder to abuse someone when you get to know them. I don't always agree with every decision made and if something goes against my team I will be frustrated or even annoyed but I will not show it as me showing it sets a very bad example.

    It takes a hell of a lot of bottle to be a referee and I thank every one of them that gives up their time just so we can have a game especially considering the abuse they get for doing a job they love.

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  18. Posted · Report reply

    Toulouse Olympique v Batley Bulldogs  (Toulouse -18)
    Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles (Sheffield +2)
    Featherstone Rovers v Swinton Lions (Fev -16)
    Leigh Centurions v Halifax  (Leigh -14)
    Oldham v Dewsbury Rams  (Oldham +10)
    Widnes Vikings v Whitehaven  (Widnes -14)
    York City Knights v London Broncos (York +6)

     

    Potential to be a few blowouts this week. I may be tempted by Fev up to -20, Leigh up to about -24 and London giving up about 10 on York. Expecting a blowout for Widnes as well so will keep an eye on that one.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    22 hours ago, Tex Evans Thigh said:

    I've coached him, I disagree. He's got better as he's got a little bigger, and he doesn't back down, but is still a bit of a spot for opposition. His best quality is his running game, that's not even a discussion. Very similar, albeit much lower level, skillset to Rob Burrow.

    Have to agree to disagree after I have watched him nearly every week for the last 4 seasons.

  20. Posted · Report reply

    2 hours ago, Tex Evans Thigh said:

    I was surprised at the signing of Johnson to be honest, I don't think he's the answer for York. I like Jonno and he is a good runner of the ball but lacks a bit creatively and can be a liability in defence. I know Fordy knows him quite well and has done for a long time so I'm sure he thinks he can get the best out of him. I also thought Washbrook was an interesting signing which probably looked better on paper than it will on the pitch. 

    There's the obvious second season syndrome that could be at play and York certainly won't be flying under the radar this year. I think you'll come good but the play-offs might be a long shot. I think there might be a pile up for that last spot though. 

    Johnston is certainly not a liability in defence. Ive watched him a few seasons now at Fax and for his size you could argue he was pound for pound Fax's best defender. Its very rare he misses tackles and I would say his defense is possibly his best quality, personally for me though I don't want my half backs best quality to be his defense.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    1 minute ago, Chris Taylor said:

    This has been the case for a fair few years now - and helps to make such an exciting competition. 

    Do you think Halifax have turned a corner now? 

    No I think York were dire although if we had played like that against Dewsbury we would probably have won that one so in that sense it were an improvement. I doubt we will compete with Leigh next week but its not a game anyone had us down to win anyway but I thought by the time we got to the bash we would have only lost 2 or 3 games which was Fev and Leigh away and allowing for another and then our tougher fixtures after where we would likely drop away from the top 3 so the loss against Dewsbury could really hurt come the end of the season.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    30 minutes ago, Hopping Mad said:

    I didn’t buy an advance ticket because, given the dreadful weather and the vulnerability of the pitch at The Shay, there was no guarantee this game would go ahead. Charging £22 on the day does nothing to encourage walk-up punters, neutrals or casual fans. As Halifax’s dire gates indicate. Division Five football attracts bigger crowds to The Shay!

    As for sitting, I don’t like watching rugby league from behind the posts. At The Shay (since the now disused Skircoat Stand was made all-seater), a side-on view makes paying for a seat obligatory.

     

     

    Still obviously quite a bit cheaper to stand but how do our prices compare to other teams? I dont think they are that much out of line are they? I know Bradford used to be way over the top at Odsal but did they reduce with their move to Dewsbury?

  25. Posted · Report reply

    8 hours ago, AB Knight said:

    Testing times for York. Worst performance I’ve seen since 2016 and I’ve been to about 80-90% of games.

    Our halfbacks (Connor Robinson and Ben Johnston) for me are too similar in how they play, at the moment it’s not working in that department.

    Wallis on the wing, very poor body language, standing away from teammates when they had a team talk after each conceded try and in the 2nd half arguing with his own team mates. I make it he’s been out of position for 7 tries in 3 games. I hate to bag players, I could never play week in week out like them and I get that he’s a developing winger but this is not a development league. 

    Not putting the white flag up yet but if we go to Oldham in 3 weeks time with P 5 W 0 I won’t be confident of picking up our first win.

    Something doesn’t seem right, I just hope it’s the off field stadium talk and amount of new players needing to gel.

    Well played Halifax btw, easy to focus on your own side and say we made the opposition look good. In parts that might be true but Fax were a cut above, Murrel as usual bossed it and they had an answer to everything. 

    A lot of Fax fans were happy to see us freshen up our halves this season and thought it should have happened a season or 2 before. When playing with Johnston it was easy to see all the pressure was on Murrell and we said it would be interesting to see how it worked out at York when Johnston signed for them. On that showing York looked a lot like Fax last season. One thing that got me about York last year was how quick they seemed to do everything and how enthusiastic they looked and they seemed devoid of both yesterday.

    Obviously not a great start from York but they will pick up wins and I think we could end up with quite a large group going for the last 2 play off spots with the top 3 out of sight.

    • Like 3
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