fighting irish

Is the bash going back to Blackpool, someday soon?

''We want Freddy for our Leader''. (Ian Dury). Fall-in HKB! When I was a child, my father and I were watching a 15 round title fight on the television. After about 12 rounds of relentless, hammer and tongs, the two men, soaked with sweat, tired, cut and bleeding, eyes swollen, bruised and closing, were still trying to kill each other. I looked at my father, (he came from a long line of boxers) who was visibly excited at the tremendous spectacle the two men were serving up. I began to wonder what he was thinking, when he caught my eye and winked. Then he smiled his broad knowing grin and said ''Their just getting to like each other''. ''Remember son'' he said, ''if you see a ''good'' fight, be sure and get in it''. Congratulations for sticking to your guns. But I don't agree.

Shall we dance, boom boom boom, boom?

Ok, I just feel it'll all end in tears for the poor lad.

It tends to weed out, the charlatans, bull sh.....ers, rogues, scoundrels, hustlers and illywhackers. Oh yes and tallywhackers too.

He may well be more interested in winning a RaRa world cup. I think it's about self-esteem. He can then claim, that he succeeded in both codes and answer for himself, and rebut any arguments about which code is superior. I'm sick to death of RaRa and its press, claiming superiority but the only way to really win the argument, is to overtake them in world-wide popularity and ultimately be regarded as the superior code by all and sundry. Then of course the game will generate enough cash to keep our players where they belong.

If you are the business man you say you are, have you never heard of work been done on a ''payment by results'' basis? Or the concept of ''risk reversal'', where the seller, guarantees performance or money back? Or a ''no money down'' arrangement? The willingness to undertake work, on this basis (I've done it myself) is indicative of great self-confidence in the sellers ability to deliver just what he's promising. It also means, he expects ultimately, to be rewarded handsomely for his work. It is a very compelling argument when the seller shoulders the up-front costs and accepts the risks associated with a payment by results contract. What kind of business are you in?

I understand, very well, your simple perspective. You are judging him purely on how he chose to handle his exit. We differ (fundamentally) because you are willing to rush to judgement about the man's character (with scant evidence on what's really happened there) whereas I'm not willing to judge him, until I can see the full picture. But even if, I am prepared to form opinions (without coming to a final conclusion) using your criteria, then let me say this: I don't see any great sin, in confiding in his workmates (the players), who he may have very close personal relationships with, about his decision to terminate his position at the club. It might have been a deeply emotional and difficult one to make, on his own and he may have valued their opinions. I don't agree that, his making the public aware (in a press conference) of his decision is an ''unprofessional'' act. If he chose to do that before making his employers aware (and I don't know if that's true) then that could be construed as indicative of some heinous injustice done to him, behind the scenes, hence my desire to know before coming to any conclusions about him. Incidentally, you seem to champion the idea that loyalty to the boss, is somehow morally superior than keeping faith with your colleagues and the public at large. Would you cling to that as a moral absolute even if your boss was a scoundrel. Can you imagine any circumstances where you would find the courage to become a ''whistle blower''. Or is it just nicer, to be a sycophantic ''professional''. Lastly, because you asked, I haven't specified, or given any hint of my definition of ''professional'' but I'll say this much, it's a contextual term and can't be defined in isolation. By the way, (and perhaps as an invitation to continue) I don't know anything about the ''airing of dirty laundry'' you refer to, would you be prepared to enlighten me?

Yes!

At risk of becoming repetitive, I think one way forward, would be to organise a tournament between the home nations (not England) and France, then the tournament winners get the carrot of playing England in a challenge match. This way, will encourage growth in the 4 competing nations (Jamaica too perhaps) whilst improving standards in a fairly evenly matched competition. Once the tournament winners, defeat England, the English can be subsumed into the competition and you have your long awaited 5/6 nations championships.

Interesting that Regan Grace thanked everyone at the club including Chairman and Chief Exec., the academy coach and all the supporters etc. No mention of Justin Holbrook or Kristian Woolf??

I was prepared to let it lie, To accept that our opinions differ, but your insistence that we have more than half the evidence demands a response. I'm surprised at you, still denying the truth. The question ''what triggered it'' isn't partially answered. We have no idea. That you don't care (what the trigger was) makes me shudder. You are not just admitting that you are happy to make your judgements without the facts, you are boasting about it. Then you try to claim some place in the moral high ground with some guff about your own ''professionalism''. I'm not the one seeking drama here. My conscience in these matters is clear. Wasn't his withdrawal done in a planned manner? He didn't just get his coat and leave did he? Didn't he offer to work till the seasons end, or until they found a replacement? The club has moved subsequently, to hasten his exit, so it's not his fault, if they are now rudderless and devoid of leadership. What makes you think anyone there is ''confused'' about why he chose to leave? He may have made his reasons perfectly explicit to everyone at the club. Perhaps the players agree with him? You don't know but, you're glad he's going, you said that before. Ok enough said.

No you didn't mention Bob Brown. You referred to Scotland RL as a rudderless shambles. I defended the people who are making it work in Scotland, however modest their achievements to date. They are of the same ilk as Bob Brown and all the others. Your fondest wish, is a naive pipe dream, the game will always depend on countless amateurs, players and administrators to run the game week in week out. Dream on. Oh by the way, I'm very well thank you.

It must be his guilty conscience.

I don't know if he drinks but he does look odd. I think he might be Jabba the Hutt's lovechild.

Good luck mate.

What a pig.

Yes you could put it that way. In the absence of a pot of cash, we are dependent on the capabilities of those great ''can-do'' people like those from Oxford Uni, currently touring Ghana (and those in Ghana) and Bob Brown et al, from Hemel Hempstead and the myriad others who run amateur sporting clubs the length and breadth of the country and increasingly (as far as Rugby League is concerned) right across the world. I regularly say a silent prayer of thanks, to those heroes, of indomitable spirit, who really love our game and who offer their spare time and effort, labouring away at what are always complex and usually thankless tasks, just for the pure joy of being involved. Sadly, they are too few and far between. I think it is grossly unfair, and very disrespectful to refer to them as a ''shambles''. My fondest wish is that we had more of them, rather than the shoddy bunch of know-alls we regularly seem to attract, standing there with their hands out waiting for someone to grease their palm, before they will deign to enlighten us all with their boundless wisdom and limitless energy. Sadly, they are ten a penny.

You're on form tonight! LOL.

Yes that's quite clear. I'm not another club's fan. I regard myself as neutral. Just not prepared to judge a man, on half the evidence.

Please keep us informed?

I can't help feeling that you are (unusually) emotionally invested in this. Maybe you know more than you are willing to divulge (or not) that's your business. I tend to agree with some of the other comments above, about his previous conduct at other clubs. I believe him to be an honest man and a man of integrity, whose actions tend to mirror his words. You say ''It doesn't matter which detail he ..... wasn't happy with......'' but your use of the word detail, presumes or implies that you believe, his dispute was a relatively minor matter but it could be, couldn't it, that he was a victim of extreme provocation? The nature and content of which, prompted him to act unusually. Anyway, since you admonished me for ''guessing about imaginary events'' I want to make it clear, that I did not guess about anything, I'm merely enquiring as to what happened. Also, I want to make it clear that unlike you, I'm unwilling to condemn the man, without listening to both sides of the story. It's fairly clear (to me) that some unusual provocation must have taken place, and until we know what it entailed, (hear the case for the defence) I'm going to suspend my judgement of Tony Smith. Whether you do or not, is a matter for your own conscience.

How come?

Were his eyes floating everywhere when you saw him at Warrington, or is it a new development in his character/personality?

What you mean is the coach didn't think he was good enough in 2019. Remember, said coach hadn't even heard of Tommy Makinson, (International Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner) at that time either.