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Wigan v Bath on Sky


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Also, was a nice reminder of how talented Simon Haughton was... pity he didn't kick on as he could have been one of Great Britain's best for a long time.

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20 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Also, was a nice reminder of how talented Simon Haughton was... pity he didn't kick on as he could have been one of Great Britain's best for a long time.

He had a sweet spot of a couple of seasons when he looked like he could be a massive star, but then...

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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23 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

He had a sweet spot of a couple of seasons when he looked like he could be a massive star, but then...

Kris Radlinski's book stated that Simon Haughton simply didn't love the game like others did.

Remember he had a storming game at Elland Road in 1997 Third SL Ashes test having come off the bench. It was the third and last ever SL Ashes test.

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1 minute ago, Wigan Riversider said:

Kris Radlinski's book stated that Simon Haughton simply didn't love the game like others did.

Remember he had a storming game at Elland Road in 1997 Third SL Ashes test having come off the bench. It was the third and last ever SL Ashes test.

At his peak, he was an absolute monster, but if RL wasn't his true love, I hope he found happiness elsewhere. I remember Andre Agassi writing about how he was pushed into Tennis and, despite winning some of the sport's highest honours, ended up loathing the sport. That's not a healthy thing, no matter how much the fans are entertained by the superlative performances.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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14 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

At his peak, he was an absolute monster, but if RL wasn't his true love, I hope he found happiness elsewhere. I remember Andre Agassi writing about how he was pushed into Tennis and, despite winning some of the sport's highest honours, ended up loathing the sport. That's not a healthy thing, no matter how much the fans are entertained by the superlative performances.

Could not add to the above.

Haughton lives Down Under.

Good to read the opinions of a sporting connoisseur, which you clearly are sir ?

Stay safe and well.

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2 minutes ago, Wigan Riversider said:

Could not add to the above.

Well, you could add to it, if you can tell us what he's up to these days. Do you know? Does anyone know?

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

Also, was a nice reminder of how talented Simon Haughton was... pity he didn't kick on as he could have been one of Great Britain's best for a long time.

When I think of a player who had it all but never fulfilled his talent Houghton is always one that springs to mind. He had it all but just lacked that hunger.

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Simon Haughton was class, I really liked him as a player, especially being a young junior back rower myself at the time. He still achieved plenty even if he fell away. It's a shame he didn't stay at the top of the game longer but if he didn't love it then he shouldn't have been expected to carry on. 

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Watching both games just reinforces that Wigan were so far superior and as they acclimatised to Union along with the obvious fitness difference they were starting to cut Bath to shreds and the referee was very helpful to Bath.

 

Had they played again a week later with a fit Shaun Edwards I would have backed us to win the game.

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I enjoyed these challenges and the Middlesex 7's invitationals to Wigan and Bradford back then.

Older now, I do suspect whether this was all part of a 'very clever' plan by The RFU to showcase Rugby League talent and cast vision for the future of the RFU full time full pro era. 

They have so many of League's greatest from back then in coaching. Not to mention some of the players who made it crossing codes.

It's more the coaches for me. 

Union attack looks more league like than it ever did back then. Plus defence coaches who have strengthened this aka Shaun Edwards.

Don't get me wrong - Im a League man through and through. But I do wonder if such a challenge took place again, then we wouldn't see a run away score in League v Union match, and actually, League would not fare well at all in a Union v League game as Wigan did due to the League coaching in Union and better fitness levels in the sport now.

I'd be very nervous about the outcomes now as compared to back then.

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Getting round to watching them now and these were the games that would have encouraged RU clubs to bring coaches over from league. There was nothing fancy to how Wigan approached the league game but it was the speed at which everything was done which Bath couldn’t get to grips with and they weren’t used to the angles that Wigan attacked with.

Wigan probably had more players that are now more well known through RU than Bath did.

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Despite the attempts to emulate the best of of RL, a cursory glance at the dire fare served up in the 6N is proof that they haven't got a clue.

We'd still "moider 'em"

Ron Banks

Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow

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On 10/05/2020 at 17:43, Futtocks said:

 I remember Andre Agassi writing about how he was pushed into Tennis and, despite winning some of the sport's highest honours, ended up loathing the sport. That's not a healthy thing, no matter how much the fans are entertained by the superlative performances

Yep he's whinged about that for years..... From his 20m dollar LA mansion

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On 13/05/2020 at 15:03, The British Lion said:

 

Don't get me wrong - Im a League man through and through. But I do wonder if such a challenge took place again, then we wouldn't see a run away score in League v Union match, and actually, League would not fare well at all in a Union v League game as Wigan did due to the League coaching in Union and better fitness levels in the sport now.

I'd be very nervous about the outcomes now as compared to back then.

I'll reiterate I am league first but.... 

The Bath pack was lighter than Wigan in the game and mullered them in the scrum. Now, I suspect it would be out and dangerous to even attempt contested scrums in a cross code game

In professional union games now they'll barely let teams contest scrums if no specialist tighthead left due to injuries in a game ... Even if a loose head prop even wanted to give it a a go 

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1 hour ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

I'll reiterate I am league first but.... 

The Bath pack was lighter than Wigan in the game and mullered them in the scrum. Now, I suspect it would be out and dangerous to even attempt contested scrums in a cross code game

In professional union games now they'll barely let teams contest scrums if no specialist tighthead left due to injuries in a game ... Even if a loose head prop even wanted to give it a a go 

Absolutely it would be dangerous if the Bath pack went full steam ahead in the scrum. Let’s not pretend though that Bath didn’t take advantage of the scrum as they scored quite a few penalty trys from them. As you say nowadays even if two RU teams were playing if one team didn’t have a qualified front row the game would’ve had uncontested scrums. 

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2 hours ago, bobbruce said:

Absolutely it would be dangerous if the Bath pack went full steam ahead in the scrum. Let’s not pretend though that Bath didn’t take advantage of the scrum as they scored quite a few penalty trys from them. As you say nowadays even if two RU teams were playing if one team didn’t have a qualified front row the game would’ve had uncontested scrums. 

Yep... Bath certainly did not hold back then. These days with an average tight 5 player weighing 2 stone more it'd be very dangerous

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Both sides made concessions, which was very civilised of them.

However, if the fixtures had been reversed and Shaun Edwards had been playing in the League (second) match, I think he'd have been driving Wigan on to a three-figure score, just to make a point. He was never a particularly merciful or forgiving player - you can see him giving his team-mates a real earful when Bath scored their only try at Maine Road.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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On 10/05/2020 at 18:19, Damien said:

When I think of a player who had it all but never fulfilled his talent Houghton is always one that springs to mind. He had it all but just lacked that hunger.

I know several friends that have given up top level sport because they just lacked the hunger, these days the hunger is a much earlier filter.

On 13/05/2020 at 15:03, The British Lion said:

I enjoyed these challenges and the Middlesex 7's invitationals to Wigan and Bradford back then.

Older now, I do suspect whether this was all part of a 'very clever' plan by The RFU to showcase Rugby League talent and cast vision for the future of the RFU full time full pro era. 

They have so many of League's greatest from back then in coaching. Not to mention some of the players who made it crossing codes.

It's more the coaches for me. 

Union attack looks more league like than it ever did back then. Plus defence coaches who have strengthened this aka Shaun Edwards.

Don't get me wrong - Im a League man through and through. But I do wonder if such a challenge took place again, then we wouldn't see a run away score in League v Union match, and actually, League would not fare well at all in a Union v League game as Wigan did due to the League coaching in Union and better fitness levels in the sport now.

I'd be very nervous about the outcomes now as compared to back then.

Outcomes now between SLE & PRL would be much more even, probably significantly tilted towards PRL, but PRL v NRL matches would see the NRL on top due to experience at junior level. England RU and a lot of top RU teams run league/NFL style option offences, and a big issue for SLE is actually keeping hold of coaches. I'd say that the RU hoovering of British League coaching talent has caused the Australian coaching surge, which in turn has exacerbated the issues surrounding boring Aus style 5 one ups then a kick rugby, which is turning spectators off/not making them turn on.

2 hours ago, Futtocks said:

Both sides made concessions, which was very civilised of them.

However, if the fixtures had been reversed and Shaun Edwards had been playing in the League (second) match, I think he'd have been driving Wigan on to a three-figure score, just to make a point. He was never a particularly merciful or forgiving player - you can see him giving his team-mates a real earful when Bath scored their only try at Maine Road.

Edwards is one of the top rugby coaches in the world. I don't understand why those in Wigan were cheering the deal falling through.

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On 08/05/2020 at 10:03, Oxford said:

Mike Tyson v Sonny Bill Williams, Wigan v Bath useless and as interesting as Grommit v Mickey Mouse.

Sky have got more brilliant games than soft mick and that's what we're trearted to, brilliant!

I was an interested viewer as I didn’t catch it at the time but in general my sentiments are aligned with yours. It was car crash tv. It certainly did no benefits to rugby league, other than showing how superior it was. The amount of players and coaches that were lost the other way is sad to think about. It was surprising they weren’t put off Robinson given how poor he played in both games though. 

 I do wish Sky were showing more SL classic games instead - I much preferred the Leeds vs Huddersfield game they showed on Friday night 

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2 hours ago, DoubleD said:

I do wish Sky were showing more SL classic games instead - I much preferred the Leeds vs Huddersfield game they showed on Friday night 

I found it strange that Sky chose that one out of all the matches and the Rhinos v Giants was soooo much better. I suppose for some it was interesting, maybe even entertaining and if it makes them happy great. I wasn't even interested in SRD v Gloucester  and cross breed games belong on the cross boredom forum. Give me TGG and shed loads of it thanks.

Stay safe & well DoubleD

 

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