Clogiron

I've followed the game since 1962 and I feel less interested in it now than at anytime during those years. The 1970s were reckoned to be the nadir of the sport, low crowds, little interest but compared to now they were nirvana. The game on the pitch was a tough, physical genuine contest between any clubs top or bottom, International games were a yearly happening including tours. The game had press coverage in almost all daily newspapers who had a RL correspondent and appeared once or twice (Floodlight Trophy) on National TV. Most players were part-time who you might work with or go to the same pub as or live near. Things change, I appreciate that but RL is in a far worse place than it has been nationally and locally over those 50+ years. The game on the pitch is predictable, who takes the ball up, who will kick on the last tackle, the brute strength that teams used to battle over to gain the upper hand has gone, we now have Rugby League Lite and it's a shameful substitute for the game I used to love. Player's knew that they risked physical punishment everytime they went on the pitch but that was what they were paid for, to overcome their opponent by any means necessary. Now it's game plans, completed sets, victory by defence, no off the cuff stuff whatsoever. Was it Mike Tyson, that great philosopher who said "Everybody has a plan, untill they get a smack in the mouth"

Once Covid took hold (March 20) they were never going to take part, it was their ideal excuse, that a vaccine was developed so quickly was unexpected, but their countries handling of the pandemic has left them in the mire internally and their own comp is all that they are concerned about, the fact that this is going to wreak havoc on the game over here isn't their problem end of. What a so called sport.

Reminds me of the Yorkshire shirt the last time that icon was warn

A mate had one of those, a VW Karman Ghia, I don't remember it going into space but I bet he wishes he still had it as the prices are now stratospheric.

Going now is the right thing to do, hope he has a successful career outside of playing.

Better late than never.

Unfortunately I missed the day at school when IT skills were taught, by about 15 years! It has been reposted by someone who is far less of a Luddite than myself so all is good.

That hits the nail on the head exactly, it's a shame to leave it here where so few eyes will see it, move it to the main forum or the headline story on the 6 O' clock news!

They won't lift a finger for the World Cup because there's nothing in it for them except inconvenience, Win the thing, been there done that many a time, does being World Champions bring any money into their game? No, they hardly play any internationals at home and never sell them out when they do. The club's don't want their player's playing extra games with a risk of injury and would prefer them to be wrapped in cotton wool during the off-season or kept in a locked box so they couldn't get involved in any misdemeanours. Forget all the rubbish about Covoid, that's a smokescreen, they never wanted or intended to come here for a World Cup this year or any other year, if they have to play Internationals then NZ, Tonga, Fiji suits them fine, their own player's in their own backyard that their own public know that they might make a little money from. That's what they want and that's what they have got.

When you are as skint as RL is your grateful for any offers of finance without asking too many questions about its provence as has been illustrated far too many times before with club owners where the 'fit and proper persons' test seems to consist of 1 question, 'have you got any money' so to expect sponsorship to be any different on the back of the Stobart & Papa Johns deals is wishful thinking.

I think Sky have chosen the wrong side of Hull for tonight's broadcast.

I know it's their TV rights that are driving their desire to play NRL games but what part is the huge sports betting market playing in it and why are the QLD authorities so keen to bend over backwards for them when only the other day the Health Officer was threating to pull the plug over breaches of the Bubble. With little or no crowds attending they aren't bringing anything but hassle to the state it would seem unless palms are being greased by someone with a interest in the games taking place, there's a answer in there amongst the questions.

A local game for local people.

Seems it was implemented on the back of 6 new cases reported in SE QLD, I just don't see how the country can move forward if they are going to work to that standard, ignoring vaccines. It's going to be many years before they can interact with the rest of the world irrespective of any new variants that will occur. As for the NRL they can't keep pleading a special case get out, the public will soon tire of that and you just know that someone will break the curfew and bring it all crashing down before long, previous event's of stupidity prove that.

In these times isn't 'steakholders' offensive to vegans, shouldn't 'Nut Cutlet' holders be our go to word. Perhaps another meeting and a working party is required to establish the right description, seems they have little else that's important to be worrying about.

Yes but with added spit on index finger held in air line judgement.

SL to be decided on aggregate score in 32nd minute of every third game played divided by number of yellow cards received in every other game less opponents yellow cards multiplied by total red cards received in all second halves of games. The Championship will work to the same formula at a factor of 0.674% Division One still to be decided on but planned to be announced on the 01/03/22. The Union calculator to be hired at a fee adjusted by itself and a crowd funding page to be set up to pay for the batteries to power it. A request by Wigan to be allowed to set up a fund a crowd page on the back of this was rejected until further evidence was provided that living humans capable of self determination still existed in the borough.

True to form he caught the wrong train and finished up in Edinburgh.

Leeds improved Hull no control in attack and back to their old selves in defence.

Only Leeming seems to be able to be able to make any ground for Leeds, he's really improved the last couple of months and is keeping the Rhinos in the game though Hull aren't that impressive near the line.

More likely he was trying to sell them manure, it seemed to be his speciality.

He's also a fairly good goalkicker which would be useful to Saint's as their first choice kicker is leaving, but I still find it hard to believe he won't stay in the NRL somewhere.

The NRL are in a tricky situation with the indigenous players especially Addo-Carr, Walker and Mitchell, who seem to be the most strident in their views, if they deny them and the other Pacific player's the opportunity to choose wether to play all the clubs and the governing bodies efforts to encompass inclusiveness and be seen to be doing so will go right out the window, I don't know if they get funding from regional or national government for that work but that would be a difficult sell too and a valuable source of player recruitment might be lost to them especially if Rah Rah was to step in and spread the disquiet. Fortunately the Aussie ru seem as incompetent as our leaders nor may they have the cash or providence to do so.

It takes a special type of delusion to come out with what Lam just said, coaches back their player's and won't criticise them in public but to call that outstanding means they have exceeded his expectations of them and have played well, is that really the case? A scrappy second half unfortunately and when Arthur's said the first penalty of the game had just happened I bet I wasn't the only one who remembered Warrington V Wigan game's of the past and sadly shook their head at what the sport has decended into, Rugby Lite with all intensity and passion removed.

Entertaining half, has Liam Farrell ever caught a pass that wasn't forward? There used to be a second rower at Keighley called ironically Kevin Farrell who off field wore glasses like beer bottle bottoms, they had to hold the ball out for him to run on to! So it may be a ginger vision thing?