New women's rl website

[unapologetic pedant]

4 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

In the end it will boil down to money as one of the main reasons and a payment of £50 per game will not get near to the likely money the ladies get for playing high level RU. There is also the argument that RU is so much less physically demanding than RL.

If WSL South had a greater number of competitive teams, suspect the RFL might bow to the inevitable, just accept it as an off-season comp for Union players, totally detached from the Northern structure.

4 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

If the worry is about them not having a strong team later in the season then to me it just shows they are not ready for SL but theres no reason to not put them in and play a normal schedule, let them limp over the line, while other ambitious teams try and push themselves to the next level.

They won't necessarily "limp over the line" though. Could face an embarrassing scenario like the Scottish Men's RL comp where a team made the GF, then defaulted because it clashed with the Union pre-season.

[The Blues Ox]

9 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

They won't necessarily "limp over the line" though. Could face an embarrassing scenario like the Scottish Men's RL comp where a team made the GF, then defaulted because it clashed with the Union pre-season.

To be fair we had the same with Oulton last season on making the playoffs been unable to raise a team.

[unapologetic pedant]

5 hours ago, The Blues Ox said:

To be fair we had the same with Oulton last season on making the playoffs been unable to raise a team.

I did contemplate mentioning the tribulations at Oulton. Let's put that one down to unforeseen circumstances.

Cardiff and London wouldn't be unforeseen. As you said on the previous page, they ought to be two of the challengers for promotion. 

BTW, if Cardiff and London accept their invites, does it spell the end for Championship South? What will Bedford do? Suppose the Army can arrange fixtures sporadically.

[The Blues Ox]

Latest rumor is that Dewsbury have asked to withdraw from the Championship and Wakefield could be set to take their place. Wakey new coach rumored to be Huddersfield U19 coach Jacob Holmes and if that is true it will be interesting to see how it fits in with his role at Hudds.

[unapologetic pedant]

Been on my mind for a while to address the subject of branding for Women's RL in the UK.

Quiet period, hence -

Our enduring problem is obvious to anyone who has ever typed "Women's Super League" or "Women's Rugby League" into a search engine. 

One doyen of the TRL forum is in the habit of rearranging NRLW to WNRL. Same poster who doggedly insists on labelling RLWC as RWC. I appreciate the respective grammatical and historical points. However, this is a purely pragmatic matter.

The NRLW acronym maximizes the benefits of NRL brand recognition in Australia and overseas.

The RFL really need to consider whether WSL is helping or hindering. In the absence of a more compelling alternative, perhaps SLW might better serve our interests?

[The Blues Ox]

On 20/12/2024 at 19:46, The Blues Ox said:

Latest rumor is that Dewsbury have asked to withdraw from the Championship and Wakefield could be set to take their place. Wakey new coach rumored to be Huddersfield U19 coach Jacob Holmes and if that is true it will be interesting to see how it fits in with his role at Hudds.

This now seems to have been confirmed and Dewsbury are no longer on the RFL match centre and it seems they have folded. Wakey still in League 1 for the moment.

[unapologetic pedant]

Brad Donald has resigned as Jillaroos coach following an investigation. Details are scant. Only specific rumour that was doing the rounds concerned a disobliging comment about a journo. Has to be more. Sounds like one of these pearl-handled pistol affairs where "resign" becomes a transitive verb. 

Comes in the wake of Blake Cavallaro "resigning" as inaugural Bulldogs NRLW coach in similarly opaque circumstances.

Jess Skinner is Donald's interim replacement for Vegas. Should help to have a woman at the helm in terms of image and promotion. She speaks well in the media.

[Richard de la Riviere]

Interesting last line. I wish there were more female coaches in the women’s game. 

[unapologetic pedant]

Am I alone in feeling narked at the way the Women's section is swamped with TRL stories?

 

[The Blues Ox]

13 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Am I alone in feeling narked at the way the Women's section is swamped with TRL stories?

 

Nope.

[Stirlin]

1 hour ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Am I alone in feeling narked at the way the Women's section is swamped with TRL stories?

 

Nope 2

[bird]

22 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Am I alone in feeling narked at the way the Women's section is swamped with TRL stories?

 

No

[unapologetic pedant]

2 hours ago, bird said:

No

(pe)

Can Nopes be monetized?

For balance, I asked next door's cat and he didn't seem fussed either way. Got that idea from the BBC complaints procedure.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 10/11/2024 at 21:36, unapologetic pedant said:

These N. American games where the goalposts are not on the goal-line are disorienting to watch.

Venue for USA v Greece next Friday is New Silver Bowl Park. Same as the nines comp.

Judging from the images I've seen, would expect pitch and posts to be satisfactorily set up.

Greek squad is a mix of Aussies and domestic players. Plus one from Cardiff Demons.

[unapologetic pedant]

Loving the Georgie Dagger profile from England RL. Snippet from the gym -

"Bloody ell. That wer evvy that"

 

[unapologetic pedant]

On 22/02/2025 at 22:51, unapologetic pedant said:

Greek squad is a mix of Aussies and domestic players. Plus one from Cardiff Demons.

Slight correction. Squad also includes a Greek-born American. 

[unapologetic pedant]

England have named their 18. Bit surprised Jas Bell didn't make the cut.

Jenna Foubister is the other omission. Less of a surprise, given her age.

[BroncoFan]

Scratching my head actually.

First of all, this is not a shot at any player selected but a bench of Northrop, Mottershead & Sykes blows my mind.

Sykes would be my starting hooker but with Katie on the bench I would assume Sykes will be playing at either prop or second row.

I just can’t see where points are going to come from, Coach Barrow thinks a smaller mobile pack is the way to go, if it comes off then he is a genius.

Disappointed to see Jas Bell miss out, NRLW scouts would’ve loved her.

[RBKnight]

Don't agree on hooker, but agree that the bench is "underwhelming" - not convinced that Shona Hoyle has the heft to play as a middle forward at international level.

Edited February 28 by RBKnight

[Richard de la Riviere]

2 hours ago, RBKnight said:

Don't agree on hooker, but agree that the bench is "underwhelming" - not convinced that Shona Hoyle has the heft to play as a middle forward at international level.

I’m curious to know when this small pack policy will end. At least Craig Richards picked some size on the bench. At least some of Australia’s bigger props like Johnston-Green, Elliott and Kemp aren’t playing, but there’ll still be a size mismatch that is unbridgeable. 

[RigbyLuger]

5 hours ago, RBKnight said:

Don't agree on hooker, but agree that the bench is "underwhelming" - not convinced that Shona Hoyle has the heft to play as a middle forward at international level.

She's one of those on the cusp, where you'd think Emily Rudge may feel a bit aggrieved at missing out when Hoyle's form at Leeds was hardly great. (Notwithstanding her commitment issues that Rudge admitted to.)

[RBKnight]

58 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

She's one of those on the cusp, where you'd think Emily Rudge may feel a bit aggrieved at missing out when Hoyle's form at Leeds was hardly great. (Notwithstanding her commitment issues that Rudge admitted to.)

ER is an edge forward usually. If you wanted a big fit 2nd row to move to the middle you'd go for Sav Andrade (on the outside of the squad ). He hasn't picked Jas Bell, and has excluded Channy Crowl altogether, so Stu Barrow must think his little 'uns can get the job done. Hmmmm.....

 

[unapologetic pedant]

Assorted thoughts -

Don't understand the Jas Bell omission. For one thing, the Vegas pitch is smaller than regulation.

We'll probably struggle to contain Shannon Mato. Likewise Tarryn Aiken and Tamika Upton, for different reasons.

Bennett compares well to Higgins.

Dodd/Travis/Cunningham compares quite well to Kernick/Clydsdale/Taufa.

The lines run by Eboni Partington are better suited to centre than winger.

Anna Davies is prone to defensive misreads. Will be tested like never before.

Get the prayer mat out for Renouf/Hardcastle v Kelly/Penitani.

Interchange is a worry too.

Georgie Dagger might cop some serious attention. Markers need to be busting a gut to get out and apply kick pressure. Very hard these days with kickers a protected species. Becoming impossible to do anything that doesn't risk putting your team in a hole. Play at the kicker - penalty where the ball lands. Play at the ball - back to 1 on the tackle count.

Let's hope her Aussie critics are right and Ali Brigginshaw is indeed well past-it and shouldn't be playing. 

Let's also hope those Pies and Wire fans chanting "England, England" at the Jillaroos stick around for the game.

[unapologetic pedant]

On 12/06/2024 at 00:02, unapologetic pedant said:

Last Women's War of the Roses game in 2020. Result was Yorkshire 0 Lancashire 23.

I'll repeat that - Yorkshire 0 Lancashire 23.

On 13/06/2024 at 15:39, unapologetic pedant said:

There was a bit of momentum behind the two games in 2019. All dissipated by the three in the middle of Covid the following year.

Digging up these posts in light of Stu Barrow's comment from the presser that, "we tried to replicate the intensity in training and in manufactured Lancashire/Yorkshire Origins".

The 2020 games were played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions. Was any reason given for thereafter ditching the War of the Roses concept?

As a stepping stone to Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns, Lancashire v Yorkshire is a far more meaningful rep fixture than England v Wales or France. Reducing it to the status of training-ground exercise was downright perverse. 

[WRLFan]

18 hours ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Digging up these posts in light of Stu Barrow's comment from the presser that, "we tried to replicate the intensity in training and in manufactured Lancashire/Yorkshire Origins".

The 2020 games were played behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions. Was any reason given for thereafter ditching the War of the Roses concept?

As a stepping stone to Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns, Lancashire v Yorkshire is a far more meaningful rep fixture than England v Wales or France. Reducing it to the status of training-ground exercise was downright perverse. 

There was a Yorkshire v Lancashire game last year which served as an England trial game and was a proper game except no conversions were taken IIRC

Was Played at Oldham and free entry to public if I remember. Decent crowd. 

Think Lancashire won and Barrow picked his 30 for the training squad 

Fully expect same game this year