JonM
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Posts posted by JonM
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18 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:
It was muted. I was thinking about why this was during the game, as what was on the field was entertaining enough to whip up more enthusiasm than was evident.
I think one thing already alluded to is that Tonga are pretty popular - there's no grudge or rivalry. People would happily support Tonga vs Australia or NZ. So the Tongan team was applauded onto the pitch, the anthem was not booed, many of the players are well liked by the fans, the Tongan fans with their flags and sound system were getting big smiles off everyone.
The other possible reason is that there were an unusually large number of small kids and families in attendance. Probably hundreds of primary school aged kids visible from my seat.
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On 19/10/2023 at 23:16, GeordieSaint said:
signed up to the Spine Challenger North next June. 160 miles…. Doh!
I often run the very first section from Hardraw to Keld over great shunner fell. Can be amazing views or a trudge through bog and cloud, depending on the weather.
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Over 500 boys, girls and parents/ volunteers from my old amateur team, Halton Farnworth Hornets, in attendance. Great to see so many kids from other local amateur teams running round the stands in their kit too. I don't think there's many other international sports where you'd see that - maybe women's football? Also great to see Shaun Wane posing for photos with all and sundry before and after the match.
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9 minutes ago, Just Browny said:
This isn't me having a go at St Helens, but I have noticed that the Totally Wicked pitch has been pretty heavy going over the last few months and both sides coped well considering.
Given that Wakefield & Doncaster area has had over 10cm of rain since Wednesday, it could've been considerably worse - it looked like St. Helens and the northwest generally had missed the worst of the storm.
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Randomly was sat next to a TRLer, @sam4731.
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10 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:
Aye agreed. I thought McMeekan was our best forward followed by Knowles.
I thought McKeeken was outstanding - his defence in particular. Several times when he came out of the line to cut off an overlap, or tracked back to close down a break.
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South stand seems absolutely rammed but there are still people arriving.
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Tongan fans bringing plenty of flags and noise in a way the Aussies and kiwis never do.
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2 hours ago, OnStrike said:
So if they lose, they potentially go into a playoff to qualify? Think I got that after reading it a couple of times!
Yep. And if they win, they can't make it to the playoffs and can't qualify. Top work by UEFA.
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2 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:
3. Going to spend the next day in Liverpool before driving back. Spending most of the day there. Any recommendations for stuff to see/do? ( rest assured we will be packing stab vests) . Got kids of 12 and 10
It's one of the best cities in the UK, even assuming your kids have no interest in the wonderful architecture, or the Beatles or "pop music" (Beatles Story, "British Music Experience") or going to art galleries (Walker Gallery, Tate). Just get the bus or train to the Albert Dock and wander about. World Museum or Maritime Museum if it's raining. Ferry across the Mersey and back. Way too much to do in a day. Mersey Tunnels, U-boat story, quirky quarter all good for kids of that age. No need for a stab vest either, particularly when you're coming from Luton
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27 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:
Precisely. No point saying this won't sell like an NZL series when that's *exactly the point* of this venture - adding another oppo to the portfolio of major series which currently consists of just ENG-AUS and ENG-NZL.
I'm not sure you can include an England v Australia series really. It's theoretically possible, but the Aussies just aren't interested in playing us.
The last England v Australia game in England was in the 2016 Four Nations at the Olympic Stadium in London. Last time Australia played England in the north of England was in 2011, the last Kangaroo tour to this country for a 3 match series was 2003 (an incredibly close series too.)
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On 17/10/2023 at 19:18, crashmon said:
I'd be shocked if they get any offers....
Why? Obviously we don't know the terms of the RFL's lease with Bradford council, or the terms agreed with the Bulls and the car racing, but a commercial property with rental income of £120K per year is something that normally would be valued in the millions. The complication here may be that you lose the lease if RL stops being played at the stadium - something which potentially gives your tenants a lot of bargaining power.
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10 hours ago, AB90 said:
They may play the most but ‘watching’ rugby league is still a challenge for the majority of locals as it’s estimated only 9% of households in PNG have a TV with circa 1% of the population having fixed broadband/internet.
A significant (and rapidly growing) proportion of the population has access to a smartphone - same as in every other developing country. A PNG NRL team would be huge for Digicel.
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Ireland's only chance of qualifying for the Euro championships is to lose their next game against the Netherlands.
The 2 top in each group qualify. Ireland mathematically can't finish in the top two. However, the top 7 Nations Leagues teams that haven't already qualified go into play-offs for the remaining places. The 8th play-off spot goes to Estonia (or non qualified equivalent) in Nations League group D.
Ireland are currently 9th, but there are 3 teams above them who could qualify at the expense of a team below them. If that happens, they obviously move up the list of non-qualifiers and get the chance to go through.
If Netherlands beat Ireland, they qualify and that helps Ireland. If Netherlands lose to Ireland then Greece potentially go through instead. This would put the Netherlands into the play-offs, and move Ireland down a place. Ireland are above Greece, so it's in their interests for the Netherlands to qualify and Greece to miss out.
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27 minutes ago, Rovers13 said:
Dupree got smashed about by champ packs not long ago.
Dupree looked far too good to be playing in the championship and unsurprisingly ended moving to a club like Wigan. Maybe the coach of the grand final winning club knows a bit about RL?
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On 16/10/2023 at 08:54, Spidey said:
There has been statements- what would you like to hear from the RFL?
When other clubs (Widnes, for example) have gone bust, the RFL has made statements about working with people to restart the club. There are plenty of places to play in the NE, plenty of fans, people who ran the club before the RU team took it over. I'd expect the RFL to at least be making noises about wanting interested parties to come forward. Unless they really are trying to kill league 1.
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13 minutes ago, Futtocks said:
Where was it livestreamed?
It was on facebook, possibly on https://ragbiligesrbije.rs/ too. England won 66-0. They play again on 14th. England team selected from the community game, with players from London Broncos, Sheffield Eagles, Stanningley, Hull KR, Dewsbury Moor, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Swinton, Bedford Tigers and Leamington Royals.
Youtube video here:
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3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:
I just picked a snapshot year. 1987-88 as it was my first full season properly following RL.
Here are the final attendances:
Lancashire Cup - 20,237; Yorkshire Cup - 10,947; John Player Trophy - 16,669; Challenge Cup - 94,723; Premiership - 35,252
Not an entirely representative year I'd suggest. County cup finals and JPT Final got 4 figure crowds fairly regularly in the 70s and 80s. Two years earlier, the premiership final got 13K at Elland Road - the move to Old Trafford in 1987 and the double header raised its profile massively.
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25 minutes ago, Eddie said:
Busy morning?
You really don't know how much money I earned while googling that
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1 hour ago, crashmon said:
The Barnet debarcle is exactly why we need other investment in London than the current leadership. As all it will take is another 72-0 drubbing by Wigan for throwing toys out of prams again
Perhaps IMG can buy Mr. Hughes a leopard print jacket?
Got to give a little credit for pulling off the signing mid-season of someone who played stand-off in 2019 state of origin ahead of Cameron Munster (and keeping him out of trouble for 3 months).
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8 minutes ago, Rovers13 said:
My point is who’s going to turn up watch Widnes win league by 30 points get denied promotion for a say Toulouse side who finish 6th lol
Well, I definitely would. Winning a game by 30 points now and then would be a good start.
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1 minute ago, Leonard said:
That would need an 18 team SL - so no chance SL would allow that.
Step forward Mr. Beaumont's breakaway league.
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30 minutes ago, The Daddy said:
It's a surprisingly wealthy place considering it's basically a suburb of Southend. Nowhere to stage a game though.
Google maps gives me 17 places called Leigh in the UK. More than 25 places called London, but outside the UK. Only two Toulouses - the other is in the Jura departmente.
Sun 22 Oct: International: England v Tonga (at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens) KO 2.30pm
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted
The on-field pieces were done in front of us. I found it quite amusing to see Jamie Peacock having his brow mopped by the make up lady before he stepped in front of the camera. Also how long they kept Shaun Wane hanging round before his interview.