David Shepherd

Steady on Kman. You should know by now that Fev don't play to the script. And Percy isn't scared of the big bad wolf. Hope he's coming. I'm heading down to dirty London on Thursday to catch my flight over. Really looking forward to it.

Don't be silly. The higher ranked team already gets the benefit of home advantage in the earlier rounds. And your daft comment about 70,000 cap stadiums is the deflection. Finals are generally played at neutral venues, which I'm sure you know, but true to form, you're being deliberately contrary.

Last time it was there (Fev v Leigh), they didn't open the south stand. The crowd looked quite good on TV, since the cameras couldn't really see the south stand.

Reading the article, Elstone has only had initial discussions. Doubt it's worth getting excited about just yet.

It is a lot to ask in terms of travel for those teams. But why are the 12 UK chairmen only thinking about it now? It was obvious to me at the start of the season that we could have an issue with this. A decision has been made and rightly or wrongly, they have to stick to it this year. Change it to a neutral venue next year, then we all continue to know what we're playing for. I doubt many would make a final in Toronto, we'd only get one week notice and it would be difficult to arrange time off etc. Although I'd have a bloody good go at it if we (Fev) got there. Toulouse would be fine, it only needs one night away and is often cheaper than getting a train to London. A switched on UK chairman would hire a big screen at the stadium for the fans to view the game on. Anyhow, I'm flying out to Toronto on Friday and am really looking forward to what will probably be a once in a lifetime experience.

There must be a suitable stadium in or near Reykjavik. That would seem to be the fairest way of settling it.

Heard there was some confusion at the training camp. Some bloke called Brian turned up, but it turns out he was just a naughty boy.

Nah, he's been named in Israel's RU7s squad. Money is better than RL apparently.

Oh I agree. A club "owning" a human being and treating him as a balance sheet asset has a whiff of slavery about it, not really something that should be happening in the modern age.

45/100 rating for the ref in League Weekly. Think they've been a bit generous.

Most clubs sold as well as bought. Part time wages were significantly lower than those paid today. Backroom and medical costs were lower, there was no army of "trainers" and the "physio" was usually a bloke in a track suit, armed only with some Vaseline, Elastoplast and a bucket with some mucky water and a sponge. Attendance figure were routinely under declared, players were paid in conveniently untraceable and non VATable cash.

Just watched Ryan Carr's post match interview. He really wasn't pleased with today's officiating. Genuine question: Are referees evaluated after each game?

Happens more than you'd think. Was chatting to a KR fan a few years ago in Bridlington (before they got relegated). He noticed my shirt and asked if it was an old one, cos he thought clubs like Fev no longer existed. There are young Rhinos in Ponte who ask why I'm wearing a Lions shirt (It's a Rovers shirt), cos they have no idea there's a pro club a mile and a half away. Despite Fev's decent marketing output, we need to up our game.

???

Appreciate that, I sit sideways on towards that end, so had a good view. Christ knows what the flag waver was looking at.?

They've done really well in their first season back and I'm chuffed to bits for them. But I think they're a little way off just yet. But in a couple of years time, they'll be a valuable addition to SL.

Conversely, if the CANZUK free trade and free movement area comes into being, Kiwis, Aussies and even Canadians will find it much easier to ply their trade over here and vice versa.

To be fair, two of Leigh's first half tries came from passes that colin kaepernick would stick on his highlight reel. One of the many "errors" that today's ref made. That aside, it was a tough, well fought game. Thought we won the energy battle and a late scare aside, the result was never in doubt after Chizzy's intercept. I'm sure Ben Reynolds got way less stick than 'ocky, Riddy and Scruffy Duffy got. Goes with the territory when you play a former team.

I don't buy that one, but there was something quite odd about today's refereeing.

Allegedly, today's ref was Martyn Ridyards's brother in law. If true, it would certainly explain some of the bizarre decision making. Also if true, how can this kind of potential conflict of interest be allowed?

Fantastic effort from Fev. Some abysmal refereeing today. Whoever it was needs a couple of games at a lower level to get his mojo back. Either that or were were playing forward pass and high shot Rugby League today.

Day Walters Golding

Sadly, I think you're right there. There are far too many people over here that think it's still 1956 and we have a god given right to 100,000+ crowds. We know we've got a great sport, but we are hopeless at promoting it and giving the wider public a positive impression. RL needs to be box office if it's going to grow. I'm probably in the minority, but I think Toronto's addition to the top division is a step on the road to bigger things. You'll never get us to ditch the idea of promotion and relegation though. The franchised model is just as alien to us as the P&R system is to you. Hopefully one day there will be enough teams to run a North American League, then RL will really be going places.

Think it will be a massive boost for the sport, both in Canada and Europe if/when you do get promoted. You've got a top notch coach who is well used to winning big games. Hopefully you won't freeze like you did against London last year. No chance of Super League expanding to 14 teams before the new deal unless TWP and TOXIII bring a significant domestic TV deal to the table. It's also not very fair to change the rules mid season. For entirely selfish reasons, I'm glad you didn't get promoted last year? I couldn't afford to bring the family over last year, but I can this time. See you all next Saturday

For anyone that watches the reserves: How is Morgan Punchard shaping up? Seems a bit odd that we've got a decent (from the bit I saw him playing for 'fax) half/hooker who knows our systems, but we never play him. Are the reserves just window dressing, or do we have any genuine candidates for the 1st team?