Jughead

Saints, Wigan, Wire, Leeds, Catalans, Hull and Hull KR will certainly want to be.

All those international fixtures? It’ll never catch on.

Based on what? Because they’re from a populous city? There isn’t enough data to suggest that Toulouse have potential or in excess of a long-term average of 8,0001+, firstly. Secondly, to assume they have greater potential because of their location and the population is blown out of the water by London Broncos, Sheffield Eagles and Salford.

Difficult one. I’m 50/50 on him. He doesn’t do a lot wrong with the ball in hand but doesn’t see huge amounts of ball because our right side is where our attack predominantly goes down. Defensively, I have my reservations based upon things like his positioning, as shown with the last try last night. However, I haven’t seen a lot on the market on these shores that really offer anything different so I would probably be inclined to give him another year. I’d be after another Centre, personally. Hurrell can have one more year but he will be 32 by February next year, Percival’s injury record is not the greatest and Will Hopoate will, hopefully, be gone, so it leaves us weak in that area with not a lot coming through the academy in that position at the minute. Percival hasn’t made more than 20 appearances in six of the ten seasons since he debuted and Hurrell will be another year older so I think we need a centre a lot more than a winger.

It’s far too small as a venue.

It’s a lack of wealth from clubs that results in poor squads, little investment in infrastructure, ###### stadia and poor matchday experience. We have enough of that in Super League in 2023 with twelve sides, we don’t need two more sides in there doing that and as a competition, don’t really have the finance to pay out for another two sides.

Higher gates than what? The loop games previously? The QF’s? If the QF’s, I’m still unsure on the motive behind doing it in the first place.

The whole 14 team thing is nonsense. We know IMG’s plans and 14, for now, is not the plan. Thankfully, that is anyway. The standard of Super League is horrible on and off the pitch, throwing in two more to water down the competition even more at this point is daft and I’m glad we’re not doing it. The loss of loop games always meant we would get some form of replacement. We simply weren’t going to drop from 27 to 22 games. I’m not sure what the best option is of the few we’ve seen rumoured. I’m not sure that the Challenge Cup is revived by group games or that a game is any more attractive because it’s now a cup group game instead of a league game.

Whitley to Saints.

That interview with Rhodri Jones was inevitably depressing. The main points: - The Cup Final is to be moved earlier in the year. Again. - That means Magic will be moved later in the year. You can see it now, the cup final to May and then Magic to the August bank holiday. The August bank holiday never worked for the cup final and people will moan it isn’t convenient for Newcastle either, as hotel prices will already be sky high before any Magic price hike. August is also the start of the football season so ground availability will be sparse. We’ll end up at somewhere ###### like Elland Road and then Magic will die.

Is that tickets sold or people in the venue, though?

Looks like the takeover has happened or is very close to. I can’t remember Skolars getting so many players from northern clubs as they have so far this year, so I think Lunt has been pulling in favours with some in the game to get the likes of Guzdek (he was quite highly rated, I thought) and three young lads from Huddersfield. I don’t think Skolars even need to do anything regarding stadia. They appear to have a good relationship with the landlords and there’s no need to purchase it or annoy anyone else who uses the stadium. There’s also Park View FC who play on the New River and so it makes it difficult to see Broncos moving in just given how much time there is in a weekend, though in true Broncos fashion, they’d probably do it and ruin the relationships that exist, including those Skolars have. The best thing Skolars can do is engagement in the community, they already do a reasonable amount it seems from the outside. Get into schools, get into local groups, get into foodbanks, get local bands and community groups in on matchday, that sort of thing.

Dean Whare has joined London Broncos till the end of the season.

What’s the reasoning behind Tequila Sunrise?

“Here’s a company that will loan you the money to give to us” the latest from Salford. Jesus Christ, it’s getting bad there.

It’s bordering on emotional blackmail, in all honesty.

You don’t understand do you, bless you?

It certainly sounds that way.

Is that not blackmail? Give me your money or I will sell your favourite players.

2017. No idea but nobody mentioned averages.

I mentioned it on the match thread but the Wigan v Leeds attendance should be raising alarm bells at IMG. The game itself was entertaining yet a little bizarre at times but great banks of empty seats across the stands for two of the biggest names this side of the equator isn’t good. There is of course some reasons behind why it was a little low but you’d expect 15k for that at least, wouldn’t you? Or am I being all nostalgic?

Like it. Historic but with a modern twist. Shame there’s sponsors on it but it’s 2023 and we are covered in them.

Salford’s old saviour, Marwan Koukash, is in court for a bankruptcy order issued by…his wife.

Bedford first team play in the Southern Conference. St Albans’ first team play in the East but no idea about Hemel but I think it’s their first.

46-14 to Bedford according to The RFL site.