Sun 25 Jul: The Betfred Championship Match Thread

[Cardypaul]

20 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

To be fair it only seems to be Fev fans,I wonder why that is.

Usually because the expansion is at Fev’s expense. 
The thing which gets me is what you class as expansion getting more areas playing rugby league is expansion to me some people think you only achieve expansion if you are in SL.

[Griff]

11 hours ago, Cardypaul said:

Usually because the expansion is at Fev’s expense. 
 

Get that paranoia checked out.

[Hello]

13 hours ago, Smudger06 said:

No it's not Toulouse fault but looking beyond Toulouse it's not anyone's fault. 

But a fair compromise needs to be reached to achieve sporting integrity. 

I'm not that bothered, this isn't a Fev and Toulouse thing, it looks like they are both gonna get 1 and 2 and recieve the Playoff Bye, that is what matters.

Im looking at this from achieving sporting integrity for RL. At the moment we are not achieving that and so Toulouse and the RFL need to figure out a plan before the end of the regular season that is more satisfactory than letting anyone in the League just play whatever amount of games they feel like playing. 

"Whatever amount of games they feel like playing" big lol!

[Davo5]

14 hours ago, Smudger06 said:

The RFL should cover the cost of getting the Toulouse home games relocated to ensure the minimum needed, that would be a better compromise and show good will. All I'm looking at is the table and it looks mad as, 100% Toulouse and Fev and then the 2nd metric, they are 8 points behind!!! It's hideous looking.....

What’s mad is Toulouse not being able to do play their biggest rivals at home and then having fans of that rival complaining about the number of games they’ll play.

[Griff]

1 minute ago, Davo5 said:

What’s mad is Toulouse not being able to do play their biggest rivals at home and then having fans of that rival complaining about the number of games they’ll play.

Quite.

Or complaining that they're not top even though they have a bigger points difference.

I'd have a lot more sympathy for Fev's position if they'd insisted on going to France to fulfil the fixture in Toulouse.

[POR]

15 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

What’s mad is Toulouse not being able to do play their biggest rivals at home and then having fans of that rival complaining about the number of games they’ll play.

FEV fan's couldn't care less how many games TO have played we think us playing more and being battle hardened is an advantage the only thing were bothered about is  that we can watch FEV every week 

we can't wait for sunday

oh and smudger 06 who you quoted  isn't a FEV fan

14 minutes ago, Griff said:

Quite.

Or complaining that they're not top even though they have a bigger points difference.

I'd have a lot more sympathy for Fev's position if they'd insisted on going to France to fulfil the fixture in Toulouse.

You can't insist on breaking rfl and government policy and FEV had to cancel fllghts to La villa Rose that they had already booked

as for the league table all FEV fans are bothered  about is 

Played 13 Won 13 and hope at the end of the season it will say Played 21 Won 21 

 

 

[Trojan]

15 hours ago, Davo5 said:

To be fair it only seems to be Fev fans,I wonder why that is.

Except of course Toulouse entering SL isn't really expansion is it?  RL already exists in France.  The idea of letting Catalans into SL IIRC was to revive interest in the game in France, so that they could operate their own elite comp. and produce a competitive France international XIII.  This aim seems to have been lost. And TBH I can't see some of the lower level SL clubs being delighted at having to fund trips to France every season should Toulouse achieve SL status.  Which I'm pretty certain they will given all the tacit assistance they've received from the RFL.   I'd like to bet which way the 5r0/50's go on Sunday at POR.

[David Shepherd]

Just now, Trojan said:

Except of course Toulouse entering SL isn't really expansion is it?  RL already exists in France.  The idea of letting Catalans into SL IIRC was to revive interest in the game in France, so that they could operate their own elite comp. and produce a competitive France international XIII.  This aim seems to have been lost. And TBH I can't see some of the lower level SL clubs being delighted at having to fund trips to France every season should Toulouse achieve SL status.  Which I'm pretty certain they will given all the tacit assistance they've received from the RFL.   I'd like to bet which way the 5r0/50's go on Sunday at POR.

I don't buy the TOXIII getting special treatment argument. They're victims of circumstance this season and I have no issue with the way the season and the table has panned out.

It's actually in the SL clubs' short term financial interest for Fev to go up and we know how SL can only see the ends of their noses. They'll much prefer a few hundred Rovers fans swelling the coffers than zero Toulouse fans and the cost of getting over there.

Hopefully on Sunday the table will correct itself and we'll have a massive crowd to celebrate our 1895 victory.

[Tommygilf]

19 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Yeah whats happened? I were stood with the Fax fans obviously. I draw the line at PC where signing about someones haircut is racism if thats what you are talking about? I were stood next to the stewards when they got the order to go and stand with our group of fans, they couldn't believe it either and I had a bit of a chat with one of them who didn't agree either. I thought they did a great job of handling a tricky situation to be fair to them and had a laugh and a joke with our fans.

I also talked to a lot of Fax fans on the way out and not a single one mentioned about been embarrassed by the fans behaviour.

It wasn't just his hair, though that was a bit crass. He was constantly on the end of abuse - and felt singled out for it too. I don't know where you were stood but a few different Fax fans near me told them to pack it in at various points, though not without some initial disagreement. I'm glad they did say something though and that they did eventually pack it in.

It felt uncomfortable to be honest and put a bit of a sour note on what was an entertaining game. Sadly it just felt a bit village idioty. I'm glad I didn't have mates who were newer fans to the game or were black or something with me because it would have been embarrassing and its not a feeling I like having at an RL game.

That a steward didn't know why he was being asked to do something is a poor reflection on him and his training really, not the chanting.

[Griff]

1 hour ago, POR said:

FEV fan's couldn't care less how many games TO have played we think us playing more and being battle hardened is an advantage the only thing were bothered about is  that we can watch FEV every week 

we can't wait for sunday

oh and smudger 06 who you quoted  isn't a FEV fan

You can't insist on breaking rfl and government policy and FEV had to cancel fllghts to La villa Rose that they had already booked

as for the league table all FEV fans are bothered  about is 

Played 13 Won 13 and hope at the end of the season it will say Played 21 Won 21 

But will there always be that asterisk against your record saying that you didn't fulfil the fixture in Toulouse ?

[The Blues Ox]

1 hour ago, Tommygilf said:

It wasn't just his hair, though that was a bit crass. He was constantly on the end of abuse - and felt singled out for it too. I don't know where you were stood but a few different Fax fans near me told them to pack it in at various points, though not without some initial disagreement. I'm glad they did say something though and that they did eventually pack it in.

It felt uncomfortable to be honest and put a bit of a sour note on what was an entertaining game. Sadly it just felt a bit village idioty. I'm glad I didn't have mates who were newer fans to the game or were black or something with me because it would have been embarrassing and its not a feeling I like having at an RL game.

That a steward didn't know why he was being asked to do something is a poor reflection on him and his training really, not the chanting.

Niggly player gets subjected to nasty chants shocker. There were no doubt he were signalled out though after a grapple tackle on Saltonstall and then when he lost his rag and reacted the fans he were always going to be subjected to chants. In no way were those chants a reflection on the color of his skin though for that to even be sugested I thought was bad form.

[ShropshireBull]

2 hours ago, Trojan said:

Except of course Toulouse entering SL isn't really expansion is it?  RL already exists in France.  The idea of letting Catalans into SL IIRC was to revive interest in the game in France, so that they could operate their own elite comp. and produce a competitive France international XIII.  This aim seems to have been lost. And TBH I can't see some of the lower level SL clubs being delighted at having to fund trips to France every season should Toulouse achieve SL status.  Which I'm pretty certain they will given all the tacit assistance they've received from the RFL.   I'd like to bet which way the 5r0/50's go on Sunday at POR.

That makes no sense. If Toulouse in SL increases the amount of money in the sport in France via attendances and commercial income of course that is expansion. Plus it´s a brand new rivalry game for France and a third fixture you can take on the road on Magic weekend. Toulouse in SL is an absolute no brainer and would be a huge boost for the sport. 

Edited July 26, 2021 by ShropshireBull

[Robin Evans]

4 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

Niggly player gets subjected to nasty chants shocker. There were no doubt he were signalled out though after a grapple tackle on Saltonstall and then when he lost his rag and reacted the fans he were always going to be subjected to chants. In no way were those chants a reflection on the color of his skin though for that to even be sugested I thought was bad form.

A chap I know well, and know without question is NOT a racist in any way shouted "make his eyes watta" towards a Bradford player of mixed race yesterday. His ethnicity was irrelevant. Yet he was reported for racist abuse which as you rightly suggest is utter bad form when it's not the case. It draws attention from real acts of racism not to mention the hurt and impact on the individual being accused.

I find that so bloody annoying

Edited July 26, 2021 by Robin Evans

[Griff]

7 hours ago, POR said:

oh and smudger 06 who you quoted  isn't a FEV fan

 

Why would I care about who smudger supports and why is FEV in capitals ?  Is it some sort of acronym ?

[Gooleboy]

6 hours ago, Griff said:

But will there always be that asterisk against your record saying that you didn't fulfil the fixture in Toulouse ?

Will you be there on Sunday cheering Toulouse on along with all the other fans on here? 

[Gooleboy]

5 hours ago, ShropshireBull said:

That makes no sense. If Toulouse in SL increases the amount of money in the sport in France via attendances and commercial income of course that is expansion. Plus it´s a brand new rivalry game for France and a third fixture you can take on the road on Magic weekend. Toulouse in SL is an absolute no brainer and would be a huge boost for the sport. 

All they have to do is win the Play Off Final.

[kiggy]

23 minutes ago, Gooleboy said:

Will you be there on Sunday cheering Toulouse on along with all the other fans on here? 

I will be there I'm really looking forward to it, my first match this season. A proper test for both teams. 

[DimmestStar]

The problem for Toulouse is that there are not many people interested enough to pay money to watch them so they are totally dependent on their benefactor. They seem to be more popular with English fans on this forum than locals who mostly are mad keen Rugby Union fans.

In any case I always support English teams against overseas teams.

So I'm hoping for a Featherstone win on Sunday and a Featherstone promotion.

[RigbyLuger]

21 minutes ago, DimmestStar said:

The problem for Toulouse is that there are not many people interested enough to pay money to watch them so they are totally dependent on their benefactor. 

How many clubs in our professional leagues are not?

[Griff]

3 hours ago, Gooleboy said:

Will you be there on Sunday cheering Toulouse on along with all the other fans on here? 

No. I'll be supporting my own club.

I don't care who wins as long as everyone gets a fair shot.

[Scubby]

1 hour ago, DimmestStar said:

The problem for Toulouse is that there are not many people interested enough to pay money to watch them so they are totally dependent on their benefactor. They seem to be more popular with English fans on this forum than locals who mostly are mad keen Rugby Union fans.

In any case I always support English teams against overseas teams.

So I'm hoping for a Featherstone win on Sunday and a Featherstone promotion.

I stood on the terraces for years as a kid at Featherstone, without away fans the core was around 2500 fans max and that was in the first division with international players. Why are people obsessed with what Toulouse might or might not get if they are in SL. Why is 2500 Toulouse fans worse than 2500 Featherstone fans or is it entirely based on how many away fans will rock up 10 miles down the road for a derby?

They got over 6000 for a Championship game in 2019 in the stadium that is now their permanent home. They have had no home games in 2 years despite winning over 20 consecutive league matches. How might that have helped boost interest?

Wigan drew 5,500 for a SL game last week. There aren't thousands and thousands of northern RL fans queuing up to watch RL club games any more. The only way to expand is new markets. The game is dying on its ass.

Edited July 26, 2021 by Scubby

[DimmestStar]

Big city Toulouse missed out on the SL place behind small town Perpignan based Catalans 15 years ago.

The reason? Nobody much likes Rugby League in Union obsessed Toulouse.

 

[Gooleboy]

1 minute ago, DimmestStar said:

Big city Toulouse missed out on the SL place behind small town Perpignan based Catalans 15 years ago.

The reason? Nobody much likes Rugby League in Union obsessed Toulouse.

 

Toulouse played a home Play Off Semi Final in 2019 and there was more away fans there than home fans. If they do win the Play Offs this season I can't wait to see this massive influence they are going to have on SL.

[Trojan]

10 hours ago, ShropshireBull said:

That makes no sense. If Toulouse in SL increases the amount of money in the sport in France via attendances and commercial income of course that is expansion. Plus it´s a brand new rivalry game for France and a third fixture you can take on the road on Magic weekend. Toulouse in SL is an absolute no brainer and would be a huge boost for the sport. 

The same argument has been made for various "expansions"  where have they got us?

[ShropshireBull]

Really,  the same arguement about giving Catalan and French rugby league a rivalry game has been made before?  Unlikely.