glossop saint

I like Percival and I think that he has been greatly underused by England over the last 7 or 8 years and deserves many more caps, but I would still but him behind Wardle and Farnworth now.

Another sin bin? Please.

Poor by Saints on more than the last unfortunately

And yet again we're talking about structure, number of teams and whether they are locked in or not. It has come around even quicker than people were predicting. It really is the curse of rugby league isn't it?

A comment more relevant to your Christmas tree thread maybe, but our 3 year old is very excited about Santa at the moment. Me and my wife are spending a lot of time talking about Father Christmas. Like Gingerjon says, it's probably a battle that's been going on for decades but this is definitely a hill that I'm willing to die on in the battle against the invading American culture. (I'll be disappointed if a pedant doesn't come along to say that the term Santa is actually an olde English term from the 1400s originating in Cumbria or something!)

Is there any other system other than English, French, Aus or Kiwi? Does any other country actually produce an elite SL or NRL player other than the odd anomaly? If we manage to get an international team of note from outside those 4 nations they will still majority have come through the systems of those 4 countries. I enjoy the heritage teams and they add a bit of flavour and variety but until we, as a sport, get another country with a 'system' then we won't progress.

Hardly welcoming a visiting tribe is it? It is used to pump themselves up and for team bonding during practices in camp and create a connection to the nation for those heritge players. I like the show but let's not pretend it is being done for primarily cultural reasons. And the other team should be able to react however they want without fear of being disrespectful.

I love the show and spectacle. It gets everyone pumped and excited. However I do agree that it gives an unfair advantage. And the other team is supposed to stand there and accept it and show it respect. I doubt the performing team are doing it solely or primarily for cultural reasons or as a welcoming dance that was (I think) the original concept. I'd love to see a team laugh or even yawn during it. No doubt very disrespectful but would be sure to rile the other team and add to the spectacle. On balance I'd keep it.

Or arrogant. Nah, that can't be it.

And if those teams refuse to play?

Shame Mikey Lewis isn't starting! Purely for some good winding up

I've put 'other' but it could be cricket depending on the game/teams. The 'other' would either be road cycling, though again that would be dependent on the race/riders or climbing, mainly bouldering or lead, not interested in speed. Rugby league is probably the only one I specifically plan on watching and will organise my evening/weekend/day around. Or possibly a particularly exciting cycle race or a day 5 off a close test.

Optimistic calling it a discussion as opposed to an opportunity for a baseless rant.

Will we even have played one?

I can't wait until we get down to a High St West v High St East, there'll be hundreds of thousands.

I'm disappointed. Where are all the people championing Wellens? I would have thought there would be plenty, just in Wigan and Warrington.

It was Sione M's offload, which felt a bit risky, to Dodd that dragged Dodd into being tackled that cost us there I think. I said to my wife at that moment we were going to struggle on that kick. It's a sad state of affairs that having your scrun half tackled on tackle 5 means you are worrying about the next play when it needs to be a long kick.

Saints raised their game from the last 4 months and a few big game players who have had spells out injured in that time really stood up and showed what we were missing. Unfortunately they weren't able to completely shake off the recent habit of throwing some daft errors and silly mistakes which ultimately cost the game. Well done to Warrington. I think they will need to improve on that when facing the likes of Wigan as they won't be gifted some of those tries however if they manage to be top of their game then the likes of Williams, Dufty et al can tear holes in any team and go on and win it. Good luck to them, and hopefully in as dramatic and exciting a fashion as this evening.

Interesting difference between the commentary team and the pundits opinion on the first half. Dave Woods talking it up, Wilkin and Tomkins are very down on it.

I was there just 3 weeks or so ago. Only had the one but it was nice and heard good reviews from friends up there.

Before he got injured he was carrying Saints. He's not been good the last few weeks since coming back but I don't blame him. Potentially rushed back into a struggling side with a lot of pressure on him.

Yet at the same time really hope that is all it is.

Excellent. Sounds like a real success story in the last decade or so then. Fingers crossed they continue to build and I wish them all the best. More interest/players/money for the sport is only good news!

It would be very rugby league to have a huge increase in girls playing numbers and not actually mention it. Similarly if they did mention it then it would likely be downplayed as 'not a proper increase in playing numbers'.

Congratulations to Goole. It will be nice to have a fresh face in the league. I've got to admit to not knowing much about the club or indeed the town. Is it steeped in RL? Is there plenty of recognition and knowledge but just no club? Is it a complete RL deadzone? Have they (or indeed either of the other 2 bids) made any mention of the community game and expansion of playing numbers? As with RPL above I wonder if it is part of a bigger plan or just a case of picking someone close by the existing clubs to reduce costs and with better player access. I hope the former as opposed to the latter. If that is the case then I'd hope to see somewhere like Preston/Lancaster/Blackburn and Derby/Notts/Leicester or even Middlesbrough or Stoke in the next few years.