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Sat 9 Oct: SLGF: Catalans Dragons v St Helens KO 18:00 (Sky)


Who will win?  

89 members have voted

  1. 1. Who will win?

    • Catalans Dragons by 13 points or more
      3
    • Catalans Dragons by 7 to 12 points
      16
    • Catalans Dragons by 1 to 6 points
      29
    • St Helens by 1 to 6 points
      10
    • St Helens by 7 to 12 points
      19
    • St Helens by 13 points or more
      12

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  • Poll closed on 09/10/21 at 17:30

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49 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Games like last night fascinate me. Sure it would have been nice to have had a couple of great tries with free flowing handling, but I always enjoy the ebbs and flows of momentum and last night had me absolutely hooked. 

Saints were worthy winners, but I dont think there was much in it at all, they had the first half, but I thought Catalans were outstanding to absorb the pressure and be 2 pts down at half time. 

In the 2nd half, whilst Saints had spells where they were on top, I thought Catalans were more effective. This is where I thought they had a bad run of luck. 

Three key decisions in that 2nd half went against them.

The foot in touch would have given them an attack in Saints half. 

I 100% think it was a penalty try, a foul that prevents a try is an easy decision imho. 

And finally taking the ball of Catalans with 2 minutes to go when Tomkins played the ball stood up whilst being interfered was bizarre. 

On top of this Catalans were forcing drop outs, a 40-20, Tomkins was looking lively and we had seen some gaps in that Saints defence (Tomkins and Maloney making breaks) - they were creaking. 

I can understand the unhappiness around the knees in the head during the try, but I do think it was accidental rather than the nasty tactic some adopt in situations like that. 

But overall, it was an outstanding game of rugby, despite the tries being attrition Al I thought it was a really good open game with both teams trying to entertain. 

A bit of controversy and some talking points are not bad things, that's sport, it happens, it's all part of the fun. 

 

Just on the tompkins play the ball, he played for that and refs are wise to this gamesmanship. This also happened when Catalan number 10 ran into a stationary walmsley to pretend to be blocked. This was a bad call the otherway. 

These things need stamping out like the throwing the ball at a tackler who is caught the wrong side of the ruck has with a penalty for gamesmanship.

100% agree on the penalty try, there was no other defender in the area. Weather the knees to the head was intentional or not this should have been a penalty after scoring so an 8 point score (penalty kick under the posts) if he puts this on report then he thinks its a foul. Its as simple as that, same as yaha should have been a penalty try.

I know you think it was unintentional but so was the makinson one.

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16 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

I’m sure the vast majority of folk are. Walking around with my young family in Catalans gear garnered a range of responses, many nice, but some along the lines of ‘Catalans are W*%nkers’, right in our faces. Neanderthal idiots. That’s all it is. Bumped into Jonny Vegas who had some light-hearted banter with the kids, just how it should be! 

One major observation for me was the distinct lack of other club colours compared to previous years. Did you get the same impression? 

This is a problem that does keep cropping up at club RL events sadly. But it is a societal problem far bigger than RL too so its hard to see what they can do.

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That game  was the best I've seen for a long time, equal if not better than the NRL final and deserved a better audience

That's the kind of game that has been lacking for a long time and the type  that that could bring the fans back.

 

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On the 2 incidents involving Yaha :-

The referee was correct not to award a penalty try as the initial contact by Makinson was on Yaha’s bicep so his momentum was stopped by a legitimate hit. His arm then bounced up into Yaha’s head and was correctly deemed to be accidental contact with the head hence a yellow card. I can understand the call for a penalty try but if the initial contact that halts the player is legal (and it was) then a penalty try can’t be given.

At the other end, Yaha slid into Naquama knees first without any attempt to make a legitimate tackle. In fact his arms were down by his sides. The contact with the head may have been accidental but, as per Makinson’s tackle and as we have seen all year, accidental contact with the head is a yellow card. Moore chickened out by putting it on report.

I’m not prejudiced, I hate everybody equally

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11 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

100% very few fans from other clubs and if 45000 were they then I am Boris Johnson.

Great game though reminded me of a good old GB v Aus test match at times.

Problem we have is that many fans don't support the game just their clubs in what is becoming a diminishing market.

Had a long 3/4 hour chat with an Ex SL CEO and Ex SL coach and one of the greatest ever players over the last decade after the game and there is without doubt a serious worry that the game is in decline and needs a major overhaul off the pitch.

Everyone agreed on several points and one of them was franchising.

 

Paul

Saints were there in numbers and 45k felt bout right.

Doom and gloom post is unnecessary. A Hull KR victory in the semi would have seen close to a sell out. 

Fans dont support the game.... well over 1000 catalan fans spent a huge amount with a weeks notice to make the game. Catalan fans lined the streets to the semi and sold out the stadium.

Now I think you mean neutrals going to big games is diminishing but you can blame magic for that. Offering big discounts to current fans for magic is lazy and the opposite of what should be happening.

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6 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

That’s a very close summary to my own feelings, although as it was the Dragons, we went without question. 

It was a high octane game of rugby league shown at its best, but the game in general has lost its way and there doesn’t appear to be any visible plan to get it back on track by firstly stabilising and then growing the sport.

I think it goes without saying that we need a new CEO and board installed as soon as possible, and we should also be looking to gradually replace the bulk of the staff at RFL headquarters as they have unwittingly become part of the problem purely by association with the current heirarchy.

the cuts to central funding and the implementation of ‘pay to play’ at community level just shows how far we have fallen, but it’s the speed of the decline which really worries me!

Cash is long and the quickest way to reverse this decline is to sell out the games major events as that will immediately bring hard cash back into the game.

it’s also imperative that there’s an established and regular international calendar, and I would start by bringing back the Tri-Nations format but only have the Aussies here every 3 or 4 years as we have to reduce their influence on the British game, as they to are one of the reasons for the decline in the UK.

The silence front the RFL is also worrying as it implies they have no idea how to address any of the issues facing the game.

the League One clubs in particular must be very worried about what the future holds

 

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12 minutes ago, Derwent said:

On the 2 incidents involving Yaha :-

The referee was correct not to award a penalty try as the initial contact by Makinson was on Yaha’s bicep so his momentum was stopped by a legitimate hit. His arm then bounced up into Yaha’s head and was correctly deemed to be accidental contact with the head hence a yellow card. I can understand the call for a penalty try but if the initial contact that halts the player is legal (and it was) then a penalty try can’t be given.

At the other end, Yaha slid into Naquama knees first without any attempt to make a legitimate tackle. In fact his arms were down by his sides. The contact with the head may have been accidental but, as per Makinson’s tackle and as we have seen all year, accidental contact with the head is a yellow card. Moore chickened out by putting it on report.

Well Catalan made 5 accidental head contacts. No yellows

Saints did one, one yellow

Unbiased reffing?

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2 hours ago, glossop saint said:

Well that must have been the perfect final for this forum. Plenty of empty seats to discuss, a Saints win to please the anti expansionists, a dodgy ref performance and a brilliant opportunity for people to vent their frustrations against Saints using a keyboard. If only there was a way to bring in Leigh or Fev and it would tick all the boxes. 

Post of the thread!🤣

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10 minutes ago, Death to the Rah Rah's said:

It was a high octane game of rugby league shown at its best, but the game in general has lost its way and there doesn’t appear to be any visible plan to get it back on track by firstly stabilising and then growing the sport.

I think it goes without saying that we need a new CEO and board installed as soon as possible, and we should also be looking to gradually replace the bulk of the staff at RFL headquarters as they have unwittingly become part of the problem purely by association with the current heirarchy.

the cuts to central funding and the implementation of ‘pay to play’ at community level just shows how far we have fallen, but it’s the speed of the decline which really worries me!

Cash is long and the quickest way to reverse this decline is to sell out the games major events as that will immediately bring hard cash back into the game.

it’s also imperative that there’s an established and regular international calendar, and I would start by bringing back the Tri-Nations format but only have the Aussies here every 3 or 4 years as we have to reduce their influence on the British game, as they to are one of the reasons for the decline in the UK.

The silence front the RFL is also worrying as it implies they have no idea how to address any of the issues facing the game.

the League One clubs in particular must be very worried about what the future holds

 

Most sports have the pay to play model.

Forget the aussies coming over, they are self serving cowards that didnt even tell us they were pulling out of the world cup, cant rely on them.

The championship has a TV deal.

The plan for expansion is neurturing expansion in the lower tiers, this is working, Newcastle, Toulouse, Coventry etc....

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29 minutes ago, Northern Eel said:

I’m sure the vast majority of folk are. Walking around with my young family in Catalans gear garnered a range of responses, many nice, but some along the lines of ‘Catalans are W*%nkers’, right in our faces. Neanderthal idiots. That’s all it is. Bumped into Jonny Vegas who had some light-hearted banter with the kids, just how it should be! 

One major observation for me was the distinct lack of other club colours compared to previous years. Did you get the same impression? 

A lot of Leeds fans funnily enough but yeah not many other teams 

My kids (7 and 9) have been to the CC Final and various Champ/SL games but never OT. Me and the missus debating if we will bring them next year as it is always definitely more stag-doey than Wembley

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Really enjoyed that. A compelling game from start to finish, with the outcome always in doubt and 100% gripping for the neutral such as myself.

As for the crowd, it didn't actually look so bad on TV except when it panned to the Catalans end - but that was inevitable given the circumstances that we've debated to death. However, the atmosphere came across as absolutely banging on the TV, so well done to the crowd for that at least

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Back from the game.

Some inexcusable things went on at the stadium with two sets of absolute w*nkers who spent the first half flipping each other and threatening to come to hands. The security guy could have escorted out at least 5 of them idiots and did nothing.

As for the game, pity that decision on Yahas penalty try but it was a toss up. 1st against 2nd, cup winner against league leader shield and it came down to 2 points.

The saints fans near us were a charm and we hope to come back next year and this time maybe... Win it!

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Just now, Robin Evans said:

Well.... they will have the opportunity..... I don't think they will succeed like. 😉

Ha! We are thinking of hopping over to Headingly to watch the womens final.... If I were a madman and decided to watch the Champ final at 6pm in heartland Fev where would you recommend... Are the club doing a live screen at the stadium? 

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Just now, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Ha! We are thinking of hopping over to Headingly to watch the womens final.... If I were a madman and decided to watch the Champ final at 6pm in heartland Fev where would you recommend... Are the club doing a live screen at the stadium? 

I do believe the club are showing it on the big screen. Don't forget your passport. Enjoy😊

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16 minutes ago, Derwent said:

On the 2 incidents involving Yaha :-

The referee was correct not to award a penalty try as the initial contact by Makinson was on Yaha’s bicep so his momentum was stopped by a legitimate hit. His arm then bounced up into Yaha’s head and was correctly deemed to be accidental contact with the head hence a yellow card. I can understand the call for a penalty try but if the initial contact that halts the player is legal (and it was) then a penalty try can’t be given.

At the other end, Yaha slid into Naquama knees first without any attempt to make a legitimate tackle. In fact his arms were down by his sides. The contact with the head may have been accidental but, as per Makinson’s tackle and as we have seen all year, accidental contact with the head is a yellow card. Moore chickened out by putting it on report.

I am not convinced it should have been a pen try. But hitting shoulder then head is a pen, therefore this isn't the reason it wasn't/shouldn't be given.

Often players go in with knees when they are trying to drop quickly to stop a try, you see it all the time. Not intentional but would be a pen normally, often ignored in try scoring positions. 

I though the ref did well, some calls went each way, but as I've said before it's impossible to ref a game without making an error. 

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2 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

On my way back to London on the train from Manchester and at every stop NFL fans are getting on the train Crewe Srafford the train is rammed full of them.

I remember a train from London to Leeds years ago rammed with RL fans heading to watch a GB v Australia tests.

 

I'd love go an NFL game, it's rare so an attraction.

Same three teams winning all the main RL Trophies isn't rare or attractive to neutrals 

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1 minute ago, David Dockhouse Host said:

I'd love go an NFL game, it's rare so an attraction.

Same three teams winning all the main RL Trophies isn't rare or attractive to neutrals 

I think that is part of the problem with RL in the UK. Obviously Catalan being in the final was different this year, but saints were there again, and won again, it gets boring. It isn’t the top teams fault either, it is up to the other teams to catch up, there just isn’t enough quality over here to have 12 great teams. I think this year has also been one of the poorer years for superleague, the quality hasn’t been great.

Patwigaw

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9 minutes ago, paulwalker71 said:

Really enjoyed that. A compelling game from start to finish, with the outcome always in doubt and 100% gripping for the neutral such as myself.

As for the crowd, it didn't actually look so bad on TV except when it panned to the Catalans end - but that was inevitable given the circumstances that we've debated to death. However, the atmosphere came across as absolutely banging on the TV, so well done to the crowd for that at least

One of the best atmospheres I've been part of for quite some time, struggling to remember another final like it recently 

97 challenge cup was great, this I believe beats the others in between IME

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We need to face facts the no one at the RFL has any clue how to promote an event. For a smallish budget you can advertise on YouTube and Facebook (using video). Using new networks like TikTok can be cheap and very effective, getting an influencer to join in on a light training and gym session could have great results. 

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1 minute ago, 7723 said:

I think that is part of the problem with RL in the UK. Obviously Catalan being in the final was different this year, but saints were there again, and won again, it gets boring. It isn’t the top teams fault either, it is up to the other teams to catch up, there just isn’t enough quality over here to have 12 great teams. I think this year has also been one of the poorer years for superleague, the quality hasn’t been great.

I do think there's enough quality, it's just not spread round.

Teams pick their Academy players from anywhere, so the best youth go to the best teams, so difficult to stop this repeating over and over 

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Just now, Mark S said:

We need to face facts the no one at the RFL has any clue how to promote an event. For a smallish budget you can advertise on YouTube and Facebook (using video). Using new networks like TikTok can be cheap and very effective, getting an influencer to join in on a light training and gym session could have great results. 

That is modern marketing, not posters etc 

SM can be cheap but it needs to be more than a few posts, like you say young influencers are the way

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