Moove

That brings back memories. Visibility was that bad we couldn't see far enough across the pitch to watch the try being scored. Horrible weather, horrible game, horrible journey too IIRC

Defensively he improved as the season went on. He only turned 22 in March and it was his second season at fullback, I don't see why he can't improve further. That said I think he'll end up at 6 eventually whether he stays or goes.

Abysmal rugby league for 85 minutes, a genuine piece of quality to win it, brilliant entertainment

Who's idea was it it to play this game with a wet bar of soap instead of a rugby ball?

I get the same as MjM if I search 'super league fixtures' but get the formatted RL fixture list and table if I search 'superleague fixtures' (no space in superleague)

It would probably help if the proposed change wasn't a reduction in fixtures (and therefore revenue) at a time when the clubs are dealing with lower TV revenue and higher costs. Then on top of that they wait until clubs are about to start season ticket renewals, two months before the end of the season, to propose it. If they had approved it what benefit would they have seen next season as a result? What do they lose by waiting a year and dealing with it alongside the other structure changes?

I don't like loop fixtures, not fussed about magic either tbh. But what alternative were they proposing here? How were they suggesting a 25 game fixture list would work? Why would anyone expect clubs to approve losing a home game the same week they're having to manage a drop in TV income and rising costs as well? For the clubs who cut their cloth is there much cloth left to cut? For the clubs more dependent on wealthy owners were IMG just expecting them to chuck extra in to cover the revenue drop? If the league was to expand to 14 to keep a 27 game fixture list (doesn't seem to be what IMG proposed) which part of 2024 club budgets takes the hit from spreading a key revenue stream thinner? Player wages? Or are we thinking that switching to 14 and getting rid of loop fixtures magically makes the money roll in? Seems a bit of an odd time to make this recommendation when the structure is changing next year anyway and we're just finalising the next TV deal. Surely it's something you propose ahead of negotiating that as part of your long term strategy.

They're still pretty revolting tbf

Disappointed the RFL didn't name Kendall for this one, top trolling opportunity missed there.

Welsby

How do you know if it's consistent or not if you don't know what has been said?

Two six agains for Hull already this half, bloody Kendall, Hull get everything as usual

Are you sure those figures are right? Doesn't seem to match the ever unbiased and balanced views of the FC fans on here

Yeah it's on ITV. Hopefully ours are on BBC. The second Tonga game is the same day as the Union WC final but that's an evening kick-off.

I don't doubt there will have been dialogue (well, to be fair, this is the RFL we're talking about) but I'd be surprised if they'd have been able to confirm what was happening over a month ago when PL teams would have needed to confirm availability for their fixtures. Might have been a bit easier for a Coventry or a Hartlepool (bit random that one). Bolton probably would have been worth exploring instead of Saints - they might have done I guess, who knows.

They might have been a bit constrained with using Premier League stadiums for this one given how late it is. Usually clubs provide their stadium availability for next season's fixtures around March time so we're a bit late for that. Would have had to leave it until June then when the fixtures are out to find out which ones would be free. Needed to all be sorted last year really. I'll be hacked off though if they're not announcing 2024 fixtures by October this year with more ambitious venues.

Looking forward to this. Ticket prices seem reasonable so think I'll probably get the three-game package. I would have liked to have seen a bit more ambition with the venues but I do have a bit of sympathy given they've had to wait so long to get something confirmed. It would have been much easier to organise and sell if they'd have been doing it during the World Cup. I guess it's also a tester for the general appetite for a series not involving Aus/NZ. Hopefully it goes well and they can have a Samoa series lined up for 2024 before the Tonga one starts. A big opener in London with a couple of 30k+ venues up north after that would be nice.

Based on today's events that was probably two from Salford who thought they were voting for something different

Yes fair point. And as we've seen again these last few days the RL media haven't exactly shown themselves to be particularly reliable

Double post

In fairness to Featherstone, based on earlier media reports that has changed from the original plans and previous vote. See here reported by Matthew Shaw at the RL Council meeting last October... https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/key-details-imgs-rugby-league-25256694.amp More specifically this bit... "But what was unclear was what happens if a Grade B club finished bottom of Super League and a Grade B club won the Championship. Crucially, that has now been confirmed and, if that were to happen, the team finishing bottom of Super League will be relegated, and the team who wins the Championship will be promoted. In essence, promotion and relegation from Super League will still exist in its current guise on the basis the club coming up is the same grade as the clubs going down."

Full details on the subsequent tweets

Honestly. This forum gets more like RLFans by the day. One person mentions actual team news on a match thread and it's a pile on that it's moaning and looking for excuses.

Adds to the jeopardy I think if you go into a game not being entirely sure which rule set we're playing to We should lean into it. Set off a claxon at random times with various special rules announced for two minute windows. Two point drop goals, chuck a second ball on the pitch, forward passes allowed etc. Arcade style RL, no two games the same.

The ones linked from the article on the main page... https://www.rugby-league.com/uploads/docs/MRP Minutes 27 March 2023.pdf Think the case summary on your link is wrong as it says 'No Charge' but then details the Grade A in the Charge Detail section.