fighting irish

One of the things which bedevils development leagues is the almost inevitable gulf in ability amongst small numbers of start up teams. It's in the nature of the game, that In a mis-match the losing team may not only get embarrassed by a large score but will likely get physically battered by the better team. This is a very real disincentive to continuing the struggle. It's a catch 22 because the solution is to have more teams. Then the disparity isn't so obvious, or so frequent. We need to get to 20 odd teams (quickly) but the WRL seems hell bent on not overlapping the local RaRa seasons at either side of the RL conference. That's a hard limit on the number of teams and playing opportunities for would-be teams/clubs. This is a folly. Do you know, who is in charge of ''Development'' for WRL?

This'll never catch on. The action is glacial. Why T. F. are the stoppages so long?

The website shows a picture with 8 teams represented, but only 5 have turned up to play this season. What happened to the other 3?

Now now Eddie!

Hear hear.

I invited you to a debate. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Oh god, you've completely misunderstood my point. I had no preference for which team won the cup, other than wanting the rightful winners to take it home. I put forward an argument, an opinion as to why I thought both referees were wrong. Isn't that what this forum is supposed to facilitate? Discussion? Anyway, along comes Johnny big bo.....ocks with his ''I'm right, you're wrong ....fact''. Without any justification for his audacious claim. First of all, there's nothing factual about the rightness or wrongness of the decision, it's just the referee's opinion, which I say, was wrong. I merely invited him to defend his position. It is a fact that the referee's chose to award the try and I've never disputed that but it's not a fact that their decision was objectively right. My point was a philosophical one. (I hope that's not too deep for you?) Not a whine and a moan because (my) ''.... your team lost'' which you mistakenly attribute to me. In addition, I was taken aback by the strident arrogance of someone who insists he's right and that I should accept his opinion without question, just because he says so. Where I come from that kind of attitude would likely get your a....se kicked.

you poor sausage.

It was pretty obvious...???? That is just about the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard you make. It's laughable, nay hilarious. Ha ha ha ha. So rather than convince me of the validity of your point of view, you've merely succeeded in making me reach for tissues to wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. No wonder you didn't want justify your arrogance.

Well I disagree, my old chum. I was inviting you to back up your audacious claim with some reference to the rules of the game. Or perhaps to claim that the Warrington player didn't actually touch the ball down with his torso? Or are you so arrogant, you expect others to just accept your ''opinion'' without insisting you conform to the rigour of accepting the burden of proof, normally required of anyone making such an assertion. I thought not, when I invited you to do so, so the ball's in your court.

I must admit I had to go back and re-read the earlier comments because I'd forgotten what it was all about. Anyway, no you didn't say anything funny. I was actually laughing about the other poster (who you were objecting to) not checking who was at fault before getting on their soap box and pointing their finger at the wrong club. I'm with you Jacksy, go for it.

Where T.F. is BARLA? Do they even exist anymore?

Well done Bob! Is this a hint, that you've started writing it, the guide? Or is it your autobiography? Well my old chum, I'm here cheering you on. When we were starting up, you were such an inspirational character to us and you continue to be, even more so.

Great sign. I've been to Harbord so it brought back some very fond memories. I've got a jersey somewhere.

Pray tell?

Ok, what will it tell me?

Me too. Possibly for different reasons. I confess, I have half a dozen close family and friends, who have represented Warrington in the last 50 years but I saw myself as a neutral spectator for this match. In my opinion, the try should have been disallowed and the game restarted with a drop out from under the sticks. It's irrefutable that the Warrington winger touched the ball down, with his torso. Therefore no try was scored. I'm insisting it's absolutely undeniable. Not yet heard any HKR fans claiming (explaining why) I'm wrong.

Fair enough mate. I'd just like to have got it right.

I'll say it once and then I'll leave it but having our premier televised events decided on a refereeing error, in front of millions of viewers, is not a good thing. How on earth the video referee can judge that the Warrington man didn't ''intentionally'' ground the ball (with his body (between chest and hips)) is utterly preposterous. There's no doubt he did touch the ball down, but the touchdown was disallowed because he didn't mean to do it. What do you think he was trying to do? Break Dance his way to fame and fortune? Great game, great spectacle concluded with a complete travesty. It'll go down in history as a day of infamy.

Yes matey, you are right but I think it's still worth doing. I'm reminded of Sir David Brailsford, the former Head of British Cycling, who was known for his advocacy of "marginal gains," a philosophy that emphasizes making small, incremental improvements in every aspect of cycling to achieve significant overall performance gains. Also, regarding MP's post we need to find the small minority of would-be participants (in new places) that do like what we have to offer, and sell it to them but even before we sell it to them (participants) we have to show it to them and give them time to develop a taste for it. Going into virgin territory with a semi-pro club is getting the cart before the horse.

Surely this thread has gone right off topic now. Isn't it about time it was moved to the politics thread. I can stop looking at it then.

I remember Billy Connolly playing the pirate Billy Bones, in the muppet film treasure island. ''It's all great fun, till someone loses an eye''. Like when you find out your little girl is getting free kebabs at the local shop!

I'll take your advice mate, and not bother looking.

The countdown begins...

''....a fabricated culture war..'' ?