Sat 22 July : Betfred RL Challenge Cup Semi Final : St Helens v Leigh Leopards KO 14:30 BBC1

[graveyard johnny]

7 minutes ago, meast said:

Not any containing Leigh fans by the look of it  

rows 11 and 12 in block d are now unavailable  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkGiFpJC9LM

[Fevrover]

19 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

which stand were the normal looking ones in?

Good un that lol.

[Tippytoe]

53 minutes ago, Jughead said:

Leigh or Hull KR will be the seventh consecutive different winners. Same old clubs though. 

Humble pie  

[StandOffHalf]

48 minutes ago, hullste said:

If it had been Knowles and not Asiata, they would have been foaming at the mouth baying for blood on here. Very poor technique which has resulted in a serious injury for Paasi. If the MRP is consistent then a lengthy ban is coming but it went unpunished in the game

It was more a case of throwing something/anything in front of a rampaging Paasi.

Personally I would like to see those non-wrap incidents result in 10 minutes and bans. They can be very nasty.

[hullste]

30 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

It was more a case of throwing something/anything in front of a rampaging Paasi.

Personally I would like to see those non-wrap incidents result in 10 minutes and bans. They can be very nasty.

Ask Paasi, season probably over so very nasty and reckless to both the opponent and himself as he appeared to lead with his head in the tackle

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

2 hours ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

When I went down to Wembley in 2017 on the coach, I was truly shocked to my soul to discover a species of human even nerdier than people such as myself (aviation nerds), the bus spotter. My God, they were everywhere with their anoraks and cameras, I thought I was in a zombie movie when my Acklams of Beverley coach pulled into the car park and they all started descending on it. Christ, I still get shivers now...

I agree, HG.  You cannot get nerdier than a bus spotter!

My interest in RL developed in the 1960s when my family moved fro Gloucestershire and we lived in Astley.  One of the bus services running through the village was the 26 from Leigh to Salford.  It was jointly operated by Leigh Corporation, Salford Corporation and Lancashire United Transport.  Leigh, whose buses were blue and cream, typically used one of their AEC 'Renown' double deckers, with bodywork by East Lancashire Coachbuilders of Blackburn; by contrast, Salford tended to use exposed radiator Daimler CVD6 double deckers, with Metro-Cammell bodywork, always looking attractive in their dark green and cream livery; and the LUT double deckers were usually Guy 'Arab' mark V's with Northern Counties of Wigan bodywork, turned out in the distinctive red and cream (but with an orange tinge) livery of that company.

As you say, HG, you cannot get nerdier than a bus spotter....!

[Old Frightful]

 

[Harry Stottle]

Must say I am somewhat puzzled by all those who are calling for Asita's head to be put on the block, what he executed were great defensive tackles non of the many commentators or the match officials considered anything wrong with the tackles, OK I will say it the game has been sanitised massively from what I grew up with sometimes for the better but not in situations like this if a player on a one to one tackle on an opponent lowdown does he have to consider am I going to hit him in a place I shouldn't? Totally bolux.

[Wellsy4HullFC]

2 hours ago, Padge said:

Check the list of recent finalists

I think the point is more how long has it been since there wasn't a final involving one of those 4?

You have to go back to 1986 for the Challenge Cup.

Every SL final has featured one.

As good as it's been that there's been a number of new faces recently (and winners), it's always against one of the old guard.

 

[Dunbar]

15 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Must say I am somewhat puzzled by all those who are calling for Asita's head to be put on the block, what he executed were great defensive tackles non of the many commentators or the match officials considered anything wrong with the tackles, OK I will say it the game has been sanitised massively from what I grew up with sometimes for the better but not in situations like this if a player on a one to one tackle on an opponent lowdown does he have to consider am I going to hit him in a place I shouldn't? Totally bolux.

I was OK with both tackles.

There is a big difference between attacking the leg of a standing player who is held up and tackling low on a player running at speed which is the case in these two tackles.

Very unfortunate if either player is injured but for me it wasn't foul play.

[Padge]

9 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

I think the point is more how long has it been since there wasn't a final involving one of those 4?

You have to go back to 1986 for the Challenge Cup.

Every SL final has featured one.

As good as it's been that there's been a number of new faces recently (and winners), it's always against one of the old guard.

 

No, the point was it's always the same finalists. If you check the history of the cup, guess what, you get repeats of the same finalist, win or lose.

Bloody hell in the 50s people were sick of seeing...
In the 60s

Teams dominate for periods, Hull, Hull KR even managed it around the 1980s, the fact that they fell apart is just one of those things

[Jughead]

2 hours ago, meast said:

Just caught up.. on catch up  

Congratulations to Leigh and their fans, even the strange looking ones the cameras seemed to have no problem picking out ,I'm sure the local shops will be stocking up on cheap cider and beer as I type  

I thought at half time that 6 points wasn't enough for Saints, given the possession and territory they had and so it proved, despite dominating for most of the game, they seemed to lack any idea in the final third, and reminded me of Huddersfield in that they just didn't seem to have that creativity there, Leigh's defence was superb and scrambled well though.

Saints under Wellens look a pale imitation of St Helens, is he a good coach? Lam certainly seemed to outcoach him today, is it another Cunningham episode for Saints?

Couple of other observations on the game- I thought Hardaker's try could have been disallowed, there appeared to be clear hands on the Saints attacker from Briscoe?

Also, not seen much mentioned, even in commentary but Asiata, managed to injure both Paasi and Walmsley with what looked like head first challenges into their knees, I'm not saying they were deliberate or malicious but they both looked reckless and dangerous and I hope this isn't the start of a new trend, to see two identical incidents in the same game from the same player is a worry.

Well done Leigh.

The Asiata “challenge” on Paasi was malicious and nasty and had that been Knowles on a Leigh player, everyone would want him banned for life. There’s no way he should be anywhere but the stands come the date of the final (and for about 3 weeks after). Wellens has also confirmed that Paasi’s knee has been obliterated by Asiata, so that’s him done till about April next year, if we’re lucky. Hopefully Walmsley isn’t the same. 

[Harry Stottle]

4 minutes ago, Jughead said:

The Asiata “challenge” on Paasi was malicious and nasty and had that been Knowles on a Leigh player, everyone would want him banned for life. There’s no way he should be anywhere but the stands come the date of the final (and for about 3 weeks after). Wellens has also confirmed that Paasi’s knee has been obliterated by Asiata, so that’s him done till about April next year, if we’re lucky. Hopefully Walmsley isn’t the same. 

And uf thise tackles had been executed by golden boy in the No 1 shirt he would be the best fullback there's ever been.

[hullste]

12 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I was OK with both tackles.

There is a big difference between attacking the leg of a standing player who is held up and tackling low on a player running at speed which is the case in these two tackles.

Very unfortunate if either player is injured but for me it wasn't foul play.

I understand the go low principle to stop the big guys but it has to be a genuine attempt to tackle. No attempt to wrap the arms round, dove in recklessly with as much force as possible using his head and Paasi has a very serious injury as a result. Reckless dangerous contact at best, if there is any consistency a long ban is coming but that will be of cold comfort to Paasi.

[Harry Stottle]

5 minutes ago, hullste said:

I understand the go low principle to stop the big guys but it has to be a genuine attempt to tackle. No attempt to wrap the arms round, dove in recklessly with as much force as possible using his head and Paasi has a very serious injury as a result. Reckless dangerous contact at best, if there is any consistency a long ban is coming but that will be of cold comfort to Paasi.

Have you played the game Ste, just curios?

[Dunbar]

4 minutes ago, hullste said:

I understand the go low principle to stop the big guys but it has to be a genuine attempt to tackle. No attempt to wrap the arms round, dove in recklessly with as much force as possible using his head and Paasi has a very serious injury as a result. Reckless dangerous contact at best, if there is any consistency a long ban is coming but that will be of cold comfort to Paasi.

He did wrap his arms though. You can clearly see at the end of the tackle that he has both arms wrapped around Paasi's lower leg.

It is really unfortunate that there is a serious injury but I don't know how we can outlaw a player tackling a running player around the legs.

[Ullman]

37 minutes ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

I think the point is more how long has it been since there wasn't a final involving one of those 4?

You have to go back to 1986 for the Challenge Cup.

Every SL final has featured one.

As good as it's been that there's been a number of new faces recently (and winners), it's always against one of the old guard.

 

Well if you insist.

[SUPERSTUD]

Watched as a total neutral at home. I thought it was a proper semi final. Neither team dominated so neither could claim the right to be ultimately awarded the win. Therefore Leigh are rightfully the winners but Saints did enough to also win it. Key points were Makinson’s two missed attempts at goal. However I am glad it was him and not a younger player. TM is a class and strong minded player. Yes he will be gutted but top pro’s like him always bounce back. Finally kudos to Hardaker. Thought he was great on the day. Taking workload of his forwards and great never say die last ditch tackle. Well done to both teams. Really enjoyed it.

[Jughead]

14 minutes ago, hullste said:

I understand the go low principle to stop the big guys but it has to be a genuine attempt to tackle. No attempt to wrap the arms round, dove in recklessly with as much force as possible using his head and Paasi has a very serious injury as a result. Reckless dangerous contact at best, if there is any consistency a long ban is coming but that will be of cold comfort to Paasi.

I think it obviously didn’t help that it was from the side, bending Paasi’s joint into an unnatural position. I can only see a long ban for it and no cup final appearance for one of their key men, which will do their chances of a win no help. 

Edited July 22, 2023 by Jughead

[Dunbar]

Just now, Jughead said:

I think it obviously didn’t help that it was from the side, bending Paasi’s joint into an unnatural position. I can only see a long ban for it and no cup final appearance for one of your key men, which will do your chances of a win no help. 

If he approaching from the side, how could he do anything other than tackle him side on?

[Jughead]

Horrible to lose and not make the final (which is why I hate semi’s more than finals) but I absolutely love knockout rugby and the intensity and atmosphere that comes with it. Losing that for group stages would be the real killer to the cup, IMO. 

Even so, it’ll be cup final 23 for me and I will be supporting Leigh (if Wigan win). 

[hullste]

5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Have you played the game Ste, just curios?

Yes I played the game. Things have moved on since I last played and contact has been diluted. No doubt he put his body on the line for the cause but this day and age the challenge was reckless. Attacking joints is as dangerous as dropping weight on joints, If we allow that type of challenge players careers are at risk. Let's see what the MRP make of it???

[Jughead]

Just now, Dunbar said:

If he approaching from the side, how could he do anything other than tackle him side on?

Not attack the joints that don’t naturally in that way. I mean, that’s the very basics of it. I think it was malicious and nasty and not the first tackle of that nature that Asiata and his moon head attempted. 

[Harry Stottle]

2 minutes ago, Jughead said:

I think it obviously didn’t help that it was from the side, bending Paasi’s joint into an unnatural position. I can only see a long ban for it and no cup final appearance for one of their key men, which will do their chances of a win no help. 

You quite obviously hope so, typical comment from a Saints fan who considers losing is not in their remit, live with it.

[hullste]

Just now, Harry Stottle said:

You quite obviously hope so, typical comment from a Saints fan who considers losing is not in their remit, live with it.

I don't think any of us are using it for a reason we lost. Leigh were fantastic and I for one hope they go on and win it however it was an awful challenge and if we are looking after players and their careers then it needs addressing.