Dunbar

Have to say I have absolutely no idea whether the percentage of the entire country who have an interest in soccer is higher or lower than the number you just made up.

I would take that bet. I would even say that there is probably a higher percentage in the Rugby League heartlands who have a casual or serious interest in soccer than Rugby League, never mind the rest of the country.

I think it was probably just how bullish you were with your initial comment that pretty much every pub and bar in the world has a dart board. There are about 8 pubs I go to in my part of London and none have a dart board. But, for what it is worth, I do agree with your point that some posts can start to feel personal and patronizing. But, compared to the rest of the internet, it is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Yes, that is the name of the survey. If you want them to change it then you can Google 'active lives survey get in touch' and there are a few options. Let us know how you get on.

To a degree yes. I have never been to a big darts night but I can imagine that while the drinking and singing ramps up the atmosphere, the tension in a big match is pretty electric too. And you don't have to necessarily see every dart land for that tension to be built up.

All those who weren’t invited to our free bar Christmas party. It was fantastic.

It could be. The pubs round here would definitely try and squeeze another table in for food. As for organized competition. I don't think it just focusses on that (walking is in for example) but if someone surveyed you about what sports activities you did in the last 28 days, you may not think about the darts you threw when you were having a few pints (although I am very close to opening up that game vs. sports debate again).

Yes, it certainly could be - I was surprised the number was so low. Having said that, I can't remember the last time I saw people playing darts in a pub and the pubs I go in most frequently don't have dart boards.

According to the latest data from the Active Lives participation survey, which measures sports adults (aged 16+) who have taken part in sport and physical activity at least twice in the last 28 days, darts had 11,300 participants while Rugby League had 55,800.

He must be really bad, 900,000 grand is 900 million dollars, that's a lot to pay someone not to play for you.

Yes, like New Coke, we can consider it a temporary diversion and now back to the original.

Some really encouraging numbers in there, particularly the growth in junior players. While some of my favourite Rugby League players came from Welsh Union converts, having a thriving community game is only the real sustainable growth strategy.

Is he an NRL legend? Well the term legend is very subjective but he has played 231 NRL games, won 3 NRL Grand Finals and was the Clive Churchill Medal winner as player of the match in one of the Grand Finals. He may not be an NRL legend but there won't be many if he isn't one.

Hammersmith Hills Hoists, winners of the Southern Conference in 2024, vs. Siddal, winners of the National Conference Premier division is an absolutely fantastic fixture in Round 1. Cracking start to 2025 Rugby League for me.

Non taken. I meant that the consensus opinion on here* is that Smithies did well but when you look at the Raiders fan forums they were all really negative about him. * I cannot and would not speak for others, so maybe the wording was a bit lazy, but I think it was the general view that he did well.

I have read this sentence 10 times and still have no clue.

I have never been so offended in my life!

As we approach 2025, I don't expect any more major movements for Brits into the NRL and so here is a list and some thoughts on their 2025 aspirations. Morgan Smithies (Raiders): With the move of Elliot Whitehead to Super Leage, Smithies is the senior Brit at the Raiders now – a team which has had British representation for some time. We think that Smithies had a good year 1 but the Raiders fan base were really down on him… partly because he was keeping their folk hero Corey Horsburgh out of the starting 13. I hope Smithies wins them over this year. Matty Nicholson (Raiders): Joining Smithies at the Raiders is Nicholson who is a very talented back rower. I would expect Nicholson to play on an edge rather than 13 and so slot into the spot vacated by Whitehead – although he has some competition in Zac Hosking to partner Hudson Young in the second row. Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs): Sutton has had a tough time at the Bulldogs since his move from the Raiders and has only managed 13 appearances over two seasons and none in 2024. But at only 29, he is capable of putting the injuries behind him and performing at some point in 2025. Kai Pearce-Paul (Knights): After a solid year 1 in the NRL, KPP has the opportunity to become one of the best edge players in the competition in 2025. He did very well last season despite a pre-season effected by a toe injury. If the Knights can use him more as an attacking option then expect some big things. Will Pryce (Knights): Will Will Pryce remain a fringe figure in the Knights squad or will he start to make a position in the 17 his own. You would imagine he has to go after the #6 spot with Ponga nailed on for #1 when fit. Pryce has all the talent in the world but his mistakes can be costly and blowing hot and cold in a game is a reputation he has to throw off. John Bateman (Cowboys): Will the switch to the Cowboys re-ignite Bateman’s NRL career after a disappointing stint at the Tigers. Everyone knows what Bateman offers, tenacity and competitiveness that the Cowboys may use to add a bit of mental steel into a very talented squad. The Tigers fans are happy to see the back of Bateman – will they come to regret that. Lewis Dodd (Souths): This is the big one to watch for me. The first time a play maker has gone to the NRL since George Williams. Will Dodd take his chance. Certainly at the end of his time at Saints the fans were frustrated with his performances but he is a talented and confident player and with Cody Walker next to him in the halves, Latrell Mitchell at full back and Wayne Bennett back in the coaching box, he really could be part of a Souths revival. Dominic Young (Roosters): Still only 23, Young has scored 63 tries already in just 73 appearances in the NRL. Who knows where he will be at the end of his time in the competition. The Roosters have had a shake up in their backline in 2025 losing their two first choice centres (Manu and Sua'ali'i) from this year. But they have some excellent attacking players and I am sure that Young will be on the end of a good few chances. The Roosters have Mark Nawaqanitawase, Daniel Tupou and Young and so one will go into the centre. The expectation is that it will be Nawaqanitawase but I would like to see Young get a chance in the centre (the position he came through the junior ranks) as he has better ball skill than we have seen so far. I expect him to stay on the wing though. Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins): Not much left to say about Farnworth. He is one of the elite players in the competition and the consummate professional. If he stays injury free, he will be one of the best again.

It hasn't worked out for him at Wests, and I guess we will never get to know the full picture. What I will say though, is that whatever his form or ability, the combative and competitive nature of Bateman is exactly what they need. The fact that Wests fans are celebrating a player who never takes a backwards step leaving is a bit worrying... after 3 wooden spoons in a row.

John Bateman has signed a 2 year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys.

I mean even a cursory Google search shows this is not true.

I am interested in why you think it is inevitable across sports in the UK but not in European sports?

I agree with this. Whether we say the club is being graded or not, the singular outcome of the process is to determine if the men's side has a place in the top division or not. Apart from using the women's game in what is essentially a selection process for the men's game, it will also have the outcome that the top teams in the women's game will continue to coalesce around the top clubs in the men's game. It may be an inevitable outcome that the top clubs will have the best men's and women's sides but does it have to be? We could have seen a whole different make up of the women's game with potentially different towns or regions coming to the fore. But it is Wigan, Saints, Leeds et al now and probably forever.

Salford: 4 Wakefield: 3 Cas: 3 Leigh: 3 Hull FC: 2 Warrington: 2 Saints: 2 Leeds: 2 Wigan: 1 HKR: 1 Huddersfield: 1

My confusion was because I thought the first post was about Thursday evening home games.