Sat 30th Mar: SL: Warrington Wolves v Catalans Dragons KO 15:00 (Sky/BBC iPlayer/SuperLeague+)

[Expatknight]

58 minutes ago, bromleybulldog said:

For all the criticism of Abdull's weight/ fitness etc, he actually played the full 80, scored the last try in the 79th minute and was a worthy man of the match. Don't know what people want from a player if they can criticise that. I thought he was brilliant and would walk into any SL team in that form.

Agree totally, I must admit though I did think he was carrying a bit more weight than last time I saw him, but he still ran well, lasted the full 80 and his kicking was sublime and, as you say, a worthy man of the match.

[Bradman Better]

18 hours ago, graveyard johnny said:

matty dufty working at turnstile no8

Actually he is working at turnstile No. 1

[Bradman Better]

18 hours ago, DavidM said:

When I run rugby league I’m banning drums from all grounds 

The Australians don't allow it at their grounds.   But the NZ Warriors do.

[Bradman Better]

17 hours ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Johnstone really thriving at Catalans. 

I agree.

The rumours that he will go back to Wakefield in 2025, if true, suggest that he must have some personal problems we don't know about.

Maybe sunshine is bad for his skin? 

Why anyone would choose to move from Catalans to Wakefield in the current circumstances of club rugby league competitiveness, fan base size, home stadium quality, weather quality, and food quality, is utterly incomprehensible. 

[Bradman Better]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think Steve McNamara is in his 7th season  at Catalans. Often criticized on here in previous roles, he seems to have firmly established himself in Perpignan, demonstrating the sort of stability and success (and relationship with the owner?) that has eluded many a SuperLeague coach. It would be good for the game if Burgess could do the same at Wire, joing the ranks of coaches like McNamara and Peet, both consummate professionals.

No way that your wish will be realised. Sam Burgess has taken this position in order to qualify himself for Head Coach at South Sydney in the future.

Sam is a close friend of South Sydney owner Russell Crowe. He flew to Italy to spend a few days with Russell recently. Sam is planning on a return to Australia and live there for the rest of his life.

[Harry Stottle]

14 minutes ago, Bradman Better said:

I agree.

The rumours that he will go back to Wakefield in 2025, if true, suggest that he must have some personal problems we don't know about.

Maybe sunshine is bad for his skin? 

Why anyone would choose to move from Catalans to Wakefield in the current circumstances of club rugby league competitiveness, fan base size, home stadium quality, weather quality, and food quality, is utterly incomprehensible. 

Perhaps he is just homesick, it happens.

[Kayakman]

2 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Perhaps he is just homesick, it happens.

Sam has found the sun and sand....he will be staying.

[Bradman Better]

22 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Perhaps he is just homesick, it happens.

Maybe.

But it is only a 90 minute flight from Perpignan to Manchester or Leeds. He could afford to do that for a few days each month to minimise the homesickness problem. More likely he has a female partner who cannot leave her job in England, or needs to be with her family in England, or else a close relative who is ill.

Does anyone on this forum know anything about what might be drawing Tom Johnstone to return to Wakefield? I am sure that Catalans management, the coach, the players, and the fans want him to stay.

Edited March 31 by Bradman Better

[Bradman Better]

1 hour ago, Kayakman said:

Sam has found the sun and sand....he will be staying.

Sam will be returning to and staying in Australia after he completes his time gaining necessary coaching experience at Warrington.

Plenty of giants of British rugby league moved to and stayed in Australia. Not everyone who ever played for an Australian club, but many. For example, Dick Huddart, Cliff Watson, Tommy Bishop, and of course Sky's former much loved employee Mike Stephenson -- formerly of  of Dewsbury and now of Palm Beach, Sydney.

 

Cliff Watson (below) was one of the great British Test props. He played for Cronulla Sharks alongside Tommy Bishop, in 1971-73. He died in the Cronulla area of Sydney, in May 2018, at age 78.

 

 

St Helens icon Dick Huddart (pictured below on the right with Mike Stephenson), was one of the greatest second row forwards to have ever played the game. He died in Australia in 2021 at the age of 85.

 

Half back Tommy Bishop (below) , in his Cronulla Sharks jersey in 1971.

 

Tommy Bishop, an icon of the Cronulla Sharks club, is still alive and hugely respected by the management and fans of the Cronulla team for which he played with Cliff Watson.  Below we see him being embraced in the club dressing room after a match against South Sydney, by a new brilliant Cronulla half back, Nicho Hines, in 2022

 

 

Edited March 31 by Bradman Better

[Trojan Horse]

Hopefully Johnstone comes back to where he belongs at Trinity next season. 
 

The club is much more professionally run now and there has been huge strides made and investment at Trinity. 
 

With Walmsley on other wing who looks quality that’s a few quality wingers who can both finish given the slightest of chances. 
 

As for Johnstone thriving. He’s doing nothing different. The only difference is the shirt he’s wearing. I’ve watched almost every one of his games live and he’s always been class. Sometimes obviously better than others round him. People just never noticed much outside of Trinity fans due to who he played for. If he returns he will be playing in a much more balanced and invested in Trinity team I suspect. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

5 minutes ago, Trojan Horse said:

Hopefully Johnstone comes back to where he belongs at Trinity next season. 
 

The club is much more professionally run now and there has been huge strides made and investment at Trinity. 
 

With Walmsley on other wing who looks quality that’s a few quality wingers who can both finish given the slightest of chances. 
 

As for Johnstone thriving. He’s doing nothing different. The only difference is the shirt he’s wearing. I’ve watched almost every one of his games live and he’s always been class. Sometimes obviously better than others round him. People just never noticed much outside of Trinity fans due to who he played for. If he returns he will be playing in a much more balanced and invested in Trinity team I suspect. 

Tbf I made the ‘thriving’ comment and meant no disrespect to Wakefield Trinity by it.

He caught my eye too at Trinity on your TV games as the guy is pure box office let’s face it in terms of skill and pace.

Sometimes though a player can change teams and not have the same impact which is not the case in Tom Johnstone’s case.  He’s just picked up where he left off.

If he does return to Wakefield then I would be very chuffed if I were a fan of your team.

 

[Wiltshire Warrior Dragon]

I would think that Steve Mac. would be pleased with what he saw from all three of the less than regularly selected, young, French lads - Rouge, Romano and Tison.  I thought they all turned in, by the standards of a very good game, above average displays.

[Bradman Better]

36 minutes ago, Wiltshire Warrior Dragon said:

I would think that Steve Mac. would be pleased with what he saw from all three of the less than regularly selected, young, French lads - Rouge, Romano and Tison.  I thought they all turned in, by the standards of a very good game, above average displays.

Rouge was very good, despite not being a specialist full back.

Romano gets a lot of games at centre. He is developing nicely.

[JohnM]

3 hours ago, Bradman Better said:

No way that your wish will be realised. Sam Burgess has taken this position in order to qualify himself for Head Coach at South Sydney in the future.

Sam is a close friend of South Sydney owner Russell Crowe. He flew to Italy to spend a few days with Russell recently. Sam is planning on a return to Australia and live there for the rest of his life.

I'm not a Wire fan, just a fan of sensible coaches. Don't know much about his Australian situation, but for the greater good of the game over here, I'd like to see him stay for at least three or four years gaining not just experience, but skill, capability, knowledge and ...gulp...success.

Edited March 31 by JohnM

[N2022]

2 hours ago, Bradman Better said:

I agree.

The rumours that he will go back to Wakefield in 2025, if true, suggest that he must have some personal problems we don't know about.

Maybe sunshine is bad for his skin? 

Why anyone would choose to move from Catalans to Wakefield in the current circumstances of club rugby league competitiveness, fan base size, home stadium quality, weather quality, and food quality, is utterly incomprehensible. 

Don't know what you mean? Wakefield are having their best season in years...

[Dunbar]

3 hours ago, Bradman Better said:

I agree.

The rumours that he will go back to Wakefield in 2025, if true, suggest that he must have some personal problems we don't know about.

Maybe sunshine is bad for his skin? 

Why anyone would choose to move from Catalans to Wakefield in the current circumstances of club rugby league competitiveness, fan base size, home stadium quality, weather quality, and food quality, is utterly incomprehensible. 

I don't really see how someone preferring to live closer to home and family as 'personal problems'.

The lifestyle in the south of France sounds very attractive but it is a different culture with a different language.  These can be quite isolating factors and I wouldn't blame anyone for placing those factors over the quality of the stadium in their decision making.

[soulboy]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

I'm not a Wire fan, just a fan of sensible coaches. Don't know much about his Australian situation, but for the greater good of the game over here, I'd like to see him stay for at least three or four years gaining not just experience, but skill, capability, knowledge and ...gulp...success.

He’s signed a 2 year contract. If he sticks that out I’ll be staggered.

Read the article in the Warrington Guardian.

[JohnM]

46 minutes ago, soulboy said:

He’s signed a 2 year contract. If he sticks that out I’ll be staggered.

Read the article in the Warrington Guardian.

I can't do that. Imagine if someone who knows me , saw me doing that.

[headtackle]

Congratulations to Warrington for filling a stand that would otherwise have been empty with no travelling support

£5 for adults and teens and £1 for kids yesterday

As a Saints fan I took my lads to hide under cover and check out our title rivals. Great to see though a load of young kids and adults many of whom had obviously never been to a game before. Beer selling nicely as well yesterday so imagine Warrington will have done well out of it.

For those new to the game a great game to watch only decided at the end. 

I know its not great for Season ticket holders and others who have paid full price but much better being in a full stadium than having empty stands 

[Kayakman]

On 31/03/2024 at 06:22, Bradman Better said:

Sam will be returning to and staying in Australia after he completes his time gaining necessary coaching experience at Warrington.

Plenty of giants of British rugby league moved to and stayed in Australia. Not everyone who ever played for an Australian club, but many. For example, Dick Huddart, Cliff Watson, Tommy Bishop, and of course Sky's former much loved employee Mike Stephenson -- formerly of  of Dewsbury and now of Palm Beach, Sydney.

 

Cliff Watson (below) was one of the great British Test props. He played for Cronulla Sharks alongside Tommy Bishop, in 1971-73. He died in the Cronulla area of Sydney, in May 2018, at age 78.

 

 

St Helens icon Dick Huddart (pictured below on the right with Mike Stephenson), was one of the greatest second row forwards to have ever played the game. He died in Australia in 2021 at the age of 85.

 

Half back Tommy Bishop (below) , in his Cronulla Sharks jersey in 1971.

 

Tommy Bishop, an icon of the Cronulla Sharks club, is still alive and hugely respected by the management and fans of the Cronulla team for which he played with Cliff Watson.  Below we see him being embraced in the club dressing room after a match against South Sydney, by a new brilliant Cronulla half back, Nicho Hines, in 2022

 

 

Thank you very much for the wonderful reply.  I have no doubt that they all stayed and thrived in Cronulla but you missed the real reason....the beach at Cronulla.....it is a great beach and there is plenty of parking...I especially enjoyed the view on many occasions!

All the best.

[Josef K]

19 hours ago, headtackle said:

Congratulations to Warrington for filling a stand that would otherwise have been empty with no travelling support

£5 for adults and teens and £1 for kids yesterday

As a Saints fan I took my lads to hide under cover and check out our title rivals. Great to see though a load of young kids and adults many of whom had obviously never been to a game before. Beer selling nicely as well yesterday so imagine Warrington will have done well out of it.

For those new to the game a great game to watch only decided at the end. 

I know its not great for Season ticket holders and others who have paid full price but much better being in a full stadium than having empty stands 

I’m a season ticket holder at Saints and it doesn’t bother me whatsoever if free tickets are handed out for two or three games. I would sooner see the away end full instead of it being left empty. Like you say headtackle some of them might return, whilst others who cant afford to attend it gives them a chance to see live RL. If it’s a nice day the kiosks in the concourses should do a roaring trade. I would’ve loved to have known how much money Saints made from the bar takings on Friday. 

[Dave T]

23 hours ago, headtackle said:

Congratulations to Warrington for filling a stand that would otherwise have been empty with no travelling support

£5 for adults and teens and £1 for kids yesterday

As a Saints fan I took my lads to hide under cover and check out our title rivals. Great to see though a load of young kids and adults many of whom had obviously never been to a game before. Beer selling nicely as well yesterday so imagine Warrington will have done well out of it.

For those new to the game a great game to watch only decided at the end. 

I know its not great for Season ticket holders and others who have paid full price but much better being in a full stadium than having empty stands 

This offer is an annual one when we play French teams and I don't think there is much controversy tbh. I think it's a great opportunity and even if you're a season ticket holder it's a chance maybe to get new people along. 

My general view on these things is that season ticket holders usually want the club to do well, and it was a good event at the weekend, far better than closing the stand. 

[Leeds Wire]

On 31/03/2024 at 11:22, Bradman Better said:

Sam will be returning to and staying in Australia after he completes his time gaining necessary coaching experience at Warrington.

Plenty of giants of British rugby league moved to and stayed in Australia. Not everyone who ever played for an Australian club, but many. For example, Dick Huddart, Cliff Watson, Tommy Bishop, and of course Sky's former much loved employee Mike Stephenson -- formerly of  of Dewsbury and now of Palm Beach, Sydney.

 

Cliff Watson (below) was one of the great British Test props. He played for Cronulla Sharks alongside Tommy Bishop, in 1971-73. He died in the Cronulla area of Sydney, in May 2018, at age 78.

 

 

St Helens icon Dick Huddart (pictured below on the right with Mike Stephenson), was one of the greatest second row forwards to have ever played the game. He died in Australia in 2021 at the age of 85.

 

Half back Tommy Bishop (below) , in his Cronulla Sharks jersey in 1971.

 

Tommy Bishop, an icon of the Cronulla Sharks club, is still alive and hugely respected by the management and fans of the Cronulla team for which he played with Cliff Watson.  Below we see him being embraced in the club dressing room after a match against South Sydney, by a new brilliant Cronulla half back, Nicho Hines, in 2022

 

 

You need to stop typing your opinion as fact. If you do, I’ll refrain from calling you a forum troll.