Sat 28th Oct: International: England v Tonga KO 14:30 @ Huddersfield (BBC)

[Barley Mow]

23 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

It’s a funny world when Johnstone is our most durable winger. 

Oh no - you've gone and jinxed him now!

[WN83]

1 hour ago, Just Browny said:

The slight concern is that both Johnstone and Ashton usually play on the left, so one of them is going to have to play on a less usual side of the field.

I thought Toby King looked rusty early in the game last week, as he’s been playing right centre at Wigan but he was shifted to the left.

Usual playing sides is one of the reasons Farrell probably starts on the bench tomorrow, when realistically I think he deserves Batemans place. I thought he was pretty poor last week but unless they play two left sided second rowers, he’s going to keep his place. Liam Farrell is a waste from the bench IMO. He’s an 80 minute player of ever there was one. 

Edited October 27, 2023 by WN83

[GeordieSaint]

42 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

It’s a funny world when Johnstone is our most durable winger. 

Sadly Makinson is too old for international rugby nowadays. He’s regularly injured, even at SL level. The likes of Young, Johnstone, Ashton et al are the future. 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

20 minutes ago, RBKnight said:

Close up, the RFL's RugBee is disturbingly similar to Frank Sidebottom......

Ha..yes I thought that at Wembley! 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

21 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

Oh no - you've gone and jinxed him now!

First carry he undo's all the surgeons good work?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Sadly Makinson is too old for international rugby nowadays. He’s regularly injured, even at SL level. The likes of Young, Johnstone, Ashton et al are the future. 

The way he throws his head into contact I'm amazed he has lasted just on head knocks 

Probably.needs to go out sooner rather than later 

[Exiled Wiganer]

21 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Sadly Makinson is too old for international rugby nowadays. He’s regularly injured, even at SL level. The likes of Young, Johnstone, Ashton et al are the future. 

When you have built a (v successful) career on running as hard as you can into the defence, there is only so long before it takes its toll. 

[StandOffHalf]

The plethora of left wingers perhaps shows that Super League players favour attacking down the left where they can pass off their stronger side (a right to left pass).

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

8 hours ago, JohnM said:

Good question. 

1. Strong RFL presence featuring

- promotion of the game at all levels so that fans can be paired with their local amateur teams.

- meet the ref: encourage people to become match officials

- BBC Sports and Sky Sports booths

- merchandise booths : International, National and club

- travel agent promoting tours to NRL country

2. Interactive entertainment features to stop kids and fans from moaning: 

3. As much as possible indoors or under cover/marquee

4. Street food outlets WITH SEATING.

5. League Express booth

6.  Hall of Fame Meet the players

 

Maybe a couple of hundred little England flags to wave 

A bit of a better build up to kick off in ground....better music / anticipation / announcing etc ....was low key at Saints 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

The plethora of left wingers perhaps shows that Super League players favour attacking down the left where they can pass off their stronger side (a right to left pass).

Always been the case that anyway 

[GeordieSaint]

3 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

When you have built a (v successful) career on running as hard as you can into the defence, there is only so long before it takes its toll. 

Completely agree EW. Makinson has been awesome. But he’s getting to a time in his career where injuries and competitors for the international spot are catching up. If everyone was fit, he wouldn’t be first choice right winger. Genuinely think this series should be his last. 

[graveyard johnny]

is it just me? or when he was a player was he not called SEAN  wane? and not SHAUN?

[Zilla Budgie]

Hopefully Robbie Mulhern will make the 17 tomorrow.

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Maybe a couple of hundred little England flags to wave 

A bit of a better build up to kick off in ground....better music / anticipation / announcing etc ....was low key at Saints 

Good point.  Better build up, better announcements, and DECENT P.A. systems are a must.

As one who has actually been part  of the pre-match and half time music on several occasions *,  I think it has an important role to play but it has to be at sensible levels so that I can still talk to the people around me. 

* in the late 1950s I made several appearances in the brass band that played at various Internationals and Cup semi-finals at Station Road.   

[graveyard johnny]

22 minutes ago, JohnM said:

 

* in the late 1950s I made several appearances in the brass band that played at various Internationals and Cup semi-finals at Station Road.   

I was the streaker in the 1989 workington v doncaster game on a very cold wet february sunday afternoon - it was a very small part

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

34 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

I was the streaker in the 1989 workington v doncaster game on a very cold wet february sunday afternoon - it was a very small part

Yes there is footage knocking about online....must have been VERY cold Johnny  

[Derwent]

36 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

I was the streaker in the 1989 workington v doncaster game on a very cold wet february sunday afternoon - it was a very small part

Our resident streaker back then was called, and I kid you not, Cocky Robertson.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Derwent

[Chrispmartha]

I might go to the game but will be a last minute decision does anyone know if you get digital tickets on your phone when you order?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

52 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

I might go to the game but will be a last minute decision does anyone know if you get digital tickets on your phone when you order?

Yes you get an email

I bought an extra one today and got the email soon after 

[Chrispmartha]

3 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Yes you get an email

I bought an extra one today and got the email soon after 

Cheers 

[Zilla Budgie]

Don't mind if Tonga win this one, as I live near Tau Liku 

[Guest]

14 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Completely agree EW. Makinson has been awesome. But he’s getting to a time in his career where injuries and competitors for the international spot are catching up. If everyone was fit, he wouldn’t be first choice right winger. Genuinely think this series should be his last. 

He's just turned 31. Not 41.

[GeordieSaint]

39 minutes ago, Leonard said:

He's just turned 31. Not 41.

He’s a tad bit older than that and plays half the season on one leg. He’s genuinely been and still is a really good player. But his best days are past him and the likes of Young and Johnstone are now better. 

[Dunbar]

15 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

is it just me? or when he was a player was he not called SEAN  wane? and not SHAUN?

I'm with you on this.  I'm sure I remember both Shaun Edwards and Shaun Wane regularly being listed as Sean back in the day.

[Just Browny]

I'm not saying you are wrong; it would have been an era of teams being listed down the phone and you couldn't Google things in two seconds like these days. But this programme from 1986 suggests neither person has had a name change.

 

Edited October 28, 2023 by Just Browny