fighting irish

I certainly hope so, good luck with it all. You fella's made a great start.

Is it being televised?

As always with statistics, its difficult to define the relative ''weighting'' of each of the contributory factors. I'm inclined not to blame the clubs for being unattractive 'draws'. I think the other things we've mentioned, like the irregular frequency of televised matches, low-key build up, good weather and a lot of rival sports coverage, may have all played their part, in giving the impression that Wire - Wakey is unglamorous. Hopefully, there will be a bounce in the numbers, when there are less distractions.

I think one contributory factor is the irregular frequency of the coverage. It's easier to keep track, if it were once a month, or once a fortnight, for example. I got caught out for the Warrington - Wakefield game because I didn't know when it was being screened. Hands up! I'm guilty of not planning my viewing weeks or months in advance, rather responding spontaneously (at short notice) when I hear a game is on. So I imagine a significant number of viewers will (like me) have lost track of the televised fixture schedule and may have missed the game as a result.

He seems like a smashing lad.

Why is the promo so downbeat? I thought they were the games innovators.

Great spectacle. Really gives me a boost to see the game played so well.

I was there!

I just watched the round one round up and i was blown away by it. I agree with those here who think they are on a different (higher) plane. Super League is great but in a one to twelve (SL) versus a one to twelve (NRL) competition I don't think we'd win a game.

''Conjuring up evocative and exotic memories'' does it for me every time. Hear hear!

Hear hear!

I can't recall, what I've said (in the past) to put you into such a tizzy, that you feel justified in ignoring the full context of my comments and cherry picking a single phrase (not even a complete sentence) in an attempt to vilify me. What ever it was, get over it. Stop behaving like a spoilt child. What on earth makes you think, I am unconcerned for the players health? My advice to you, is that you go back and re-read the whole post, you buffoon.

I must confess, I didn't see that the poor chaps foot was facing the wrong way. I am not without compassion, I was just unaware of the severity of the injury. May I refer you to my original post where I qualify my comment about removing the injured player to the sidelines (for treatment) unless to do so would be further injurious to the player in question. I'm sure the people marshalling the treatment of said player were doing what they could to ensure the injured limb was protected/immobilised before trying to move him. I think I made it quite clear that that was my preference.

A few of comments about the match (two, for Dennis Betts and one for the game as a whole). - First, the full time team were outmuscled, which was a surprise and a disappointment (to me). Second, the error count (mainly amongst the Thunder players) was far too high for a pro team, this compounded by some poor quality decision making. Third, (not that the players were to blame) but the stoppage time for injuries was/is a real passion killer. I just don't know why they can't stretcher the injured off the field, for treatment on the sidelines, so that the game can continue (unless the judgement is that moving them prone, on a stretcher could be injurious). I understand the desire to project the idea that rugby league cares but I almost turned off (changed channels). If a self confessed RL nut like me, is tempted to switch channels, then precious newcomers, would probably be leaving in droves.

I imagine they'll review their performances during the week and learn from them. If they continue to improve for the foreseeable future, by the seasons end, they'll be terrific. I thought it was a very fresh approach and the game was a great spectacle.

Yes me too. ''If I asked him, which kind of oval ball game is best, League or RaRa, what would he say?'' (The answer comes back ''RaRa'') But the intellectuals amongst us know that no matter which one is asked (the liar or the truthful one) whatever answer is given, they both agree that it's the other game that's best.

Did you mean on Twitter? i don't know it/do it. Anyway I watched it and it was great! Got me all emotional too. Thank you for drawing my attention to it. All we needed was an Aussie (Adam Hills), to show us how to do it.

Sarcasm, surely, i hate it (the nitpicking pedantry). Such a waste of time.

I agree that Skolars are doing a great job, they/we just need to keep building the amateur game here and around the world. The methods, employed by Skolars, Hemel, Bronco's, Newcastle and others need to be replicated across the entire country. The quality will rise from the greater numbers. In most development areas, we simply don't have enough participants to feed/supply a professional club at the top of the pyramid. The game could really do with a sensible ''how to'' guide written by the people in these successful development areas, to improve the likelihood of success when would be pioneers feel they want to start a club. Rather than re-inventing the wheel (and making all the attendant mistakes) the ''guide'' would save them years and heaps of cash by showing them proven methods of getting to where they want to be.

Well the obvious answer, is to double the number of amateur clubs, then when you've done that, double it again....oh and then......... We seem to be trying to run, before we can walk. Where else, should we expect, the players to come from?

ha ha, no. i was drawn to it in a similar way to you. Someone commented on something i'd said, which took me to the conversation, then i noticed your remarks.

Why would they expect us to offer them cash? It would be just as inappropriate to ask them for cash, to join us?

Yes you are right OMC. They also take the game (with them) all over the world. The growth of the Universities and Colleges combined with the spread of the game through the armed forces will play a significant part in the game spreading over the globe (Hector McNeal being a classic example). We're 100 years behind the dark-side in these two areas, but the cat's finally out of the bag. Watch the game spread, in the next 30 years.

Hear hear! I'd like to see it in Cardiff though.

i'm in south wales (UK) but i dont know what a VPN is.