Superb Chops

The Manchester Knights formed in the late-nineties, based initially at the Audenshaw rugby union club. They were part of the formation for the national summer conference competition, putting a hundred-ish on Wolverhampton in the opening league match and getting full back-page coverage in that week’s Tameside Advertiser newspaper, in part due to the attendance of Iestyn Harris. The club was overseen by the then Daily Star RL correspondent. With apologies to Peter, I cannot remember his surname due to the passing of time and my failing memory. From this initial season I left the area - but maybe somebody else could fill in the missing details?

Maybe use it as a boost to non-SL Pennines clubs like Oldham and Halifax, among others, with the Roses clash played before or after the home side have a league game. Opportunity for the sides involved, nice freebie and fairly central for supporters. Grounds appropriately-sized. In a quiet year, why not try a new approach to break up the regular SL season?

Shaun Wane may surprise you Johnny. Not the Kangaroos, admittedly, but Wane fared pretty well the last time he coached against Australia’s finest. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/wigan-vs-cronulla/45989 Not too shabby playing them either. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/world-club-challenge-1987/game-1/wigan-vs-manly.html And that as a Wane-led team are two-up going into a third and final test match against Tonga, who themselves also have form the last (and only second) time they faced the Kangaroos. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/nov/02/tonga-shock-australia-to-win-rugby-league-international Everyone else - apologies for bringing facts into the thread.

Hello Chris, I guess the 'nothing gained' point is likely right at this time. The reason I doubt myself slightly is St Helens seems to have changed a lot since I lived there in the 80s and 90s. Nowadays, there are possibly more Liverpool FC supporters in the town than Saints spectators. That was my conclusion driving my dad from the Ashton-end of Haydock to St Helens Hospital earlier this year. Lots of LFC merchandise in windows, barely nothing Saints-related to be seen other than the ground (and that going via Blackbrook) . My father, meanwhile, tells me his neighbours know little about RL but talk a lot about football, mostly Liverpool. A shame, admittedly, but maybe the OP's question will have more legs in a decade or so?

We'd imagine Grand Final organisers chat with major concert promoter and Wire chief Simon Moran for each year's preparations. But in case they don't^^^. And>>> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Moran. PS Apologies if this turns into a series of GF gags at Warrington RLFC's expense.

Not the point, admittedly, but I switch off when another match thread gets dominated by posts about the ref. We pay to watch good play not refereeing - so why do so many posters choose to focus so much on them? On topic, thanks to John for his work. Maybe AI could help journalists (finally) with an algorithm that automatically filters out such stuff? Rather than anyone having to waste time on a Friday night doing it manually.

A shame but thank you. Didn't know this.

Unsure, truthfully. At a guess, probably. I say unsure as I don’t know Derek Beaumont properly, merely through media. But I would guess, on balance, he probably would listen due to his successes. These suggest some nous. Certainly enough to have regard for a reliable lieutenant, as opposed to being so egotistical Beaumont would refuse to listen to others at any point.

This is my thinking. In an audience, I switch off at marketing-rehearsed comments and, off-topic, dislike when people routinely whip their phones out to record things at public events. Much better to have honest and relevant thoughts (with phones off, please). But I think Derek Beaumont has made a mistake by not reining his comments in somewhat. To me, his excess here slightly takes the gloss off Leigh giving RL a big boost by unexpectedly reaching the play-offs, dominating the dream team and a cup win. Could this chairman of a thriving sports club, and successful businessman, do with a lieutenant? Not a spin doctor, but someone who can tell Beaumont things he may not want to hear - in the hope of avoiding episodes like this and, maybe, returning more spotlight to the team.

Watched the highlights just now, confirming last night's assumption both no-try calls looked good to me. What I only picked up now was how poor Leigh's tackling was for the Field touchdown. Maybe Leigh lost because two defenders failed to halt a slow moving, fairly light player right in front of them with no room for much manoeuvre? Harsh considering two teams contributed greatly to a fine watch, but that play was the difference.

Leopards can’t change their tops, surely?

I'd like to see a KR win tonight. Not for the banter, as I'm a Wigan supporter. More for the 'Oh no!' look on Peters' face as it dawns he now has the mutha of all selection headaches for next week. Especially if the win was in normal time against a team of 13, who happened to blitz Leigh last week. In this event, I'm hoping Sky's camera crew are poised for that zoom-in shot.

Only if McManus is sincere in regretting episodes like this and committed to curbing it at his club. Otherwise, it’s merely reputation management marketing tripe. Which is commonplace and compounds the issue, I think. Enjoy the final.

Hello Harry, maybe not McManus… https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/50294156 Although, in fairness that was after a Challenge Cup final and not a semi. Completely different circumstances, I guess.

Absolutely. Lam and Leigh are in front of Wigan in all competitions currently. It is great for RL.

Very true on Lam's excellent work at Leigh. But not true about him being sacked at Wigan. He was given two consecutive contracts over three years there and completed both. It's likely Wigan chairman Ian Lenegan will stand down at the end of the season without sacking a single coach.

Agree with concensus here. Even in making a mistake Beaumont is doing so in an amiable manner, while his subsequent apology is sincere and constructive. Having read the IMG recommendations earlier this week, we need more club owners like Beaumont. His contribution to RL's engagement and media standing is, on balance, positive and the club looks to be in a good place.

Went to the same school as Ganson in the 80s - what was St Anselm's RC High in Blackbrook, St Helens. I think it fair comment to say he may well of been the most disliked person there. That despite my best efforts as an open supporter of Wigan.