The 2025 Valkyrie Thread

[Kyle Grason]

Just wondering why Tara, Kelsey, Ashleigh and Live weren't given numbers for this season?  

[JonT]

15 minutes ago, Kyle Grason said:

Just wondering why Tara, Kelsey, Ashleigh and Live weren't given numbers for this season?  

Probably on their way to Fev

[Clarence Street]

24 minutes ago, Kyle Grason said:

Just wondering why Tara, Kelsey, Ashleigh and Live weren't given numbers for this season?  

They're all long term injuries according to Emma Kennedy in an article in The Press 2 or 3 days ago.

[Stirlin]

Latest from Lindsay.

 

[StrennyKnight]

Good to finally see the Valkyrie season (at home) getting underway. I was really interested to see how the new additions to the squad would fit in to the team. On today's showing, all of them look really promising. Thought Tara Moxon and Jazz Rampton both looked quick and dangerous on the left - and Izzy Bibby was really sharp and busy playing at Hooker. Ellie Williamson also seems to be a decent player, involved in plenty of good things the Valks did.

For the established members of the team, Andrade was an obvious standout with her linebreaks and tries - but a mention too for Lisa Parker too,  who I thought got through a massive amount of work today. Its a real shame we can't seem to get the ball out wide a bit quicker though. Partington is sadly isolated for much of the game on the right wing. Does anyone know where Liv Wood was today by the way? Is she injured?

Thought today, on the whole, we were pretty solid through the middles (like much of last year) but adding in the extra pace and strength out wider makes 2025 looks quite promising.... Although I realise that it will be a very different story when we come up against the other 3 teams from the top 4 over the coming weeks (No disrespect to Fev meant, the effort and application from their whole team was clear to see today and they look on the whole a much better team than the one we played against last time out)

Would be interested to know what anyone else who watches the Valkyrie regularly thought of the game and team today.

[andyacko]

Fixture clash coming up on 11th May.

Valks in semi-final action - looks like St Helens at St Helens (again?????). KO 1.45pm

Knights home to Hunslet KO 3pm

[HolmeKnight]

1 hour ago, andyacko said:

Fixture clash coming up on 11th May.

Valks in semi-final action - looks like St Helens at St Helens (again?????). KO 1.45pm

Knights home to Hunslet KO 3pm

It seems mad that the semi-final draw has been made before all the quarter-finalists are even known.  RFL making assumptions (which will probably turn out right).

Suggestions:  1) Move Hunslet to the day before (no clash with football).                                                                                                              2)Show the semi on the big screen and put the Knights kick-off back a bit.

Also, they're assuming a Wigan-Leeds semi at the LNER. Leeds usually bring a fair few fans but most of the tickets will have already been snapped up by Hull KR fans. Not sure if the RFL have thought this through (again)!

[Simon Hall]

58 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

Suggestions:  1) Move Hunslet to the day before (no clash with football).                                                                                                              2)Show the semi on the big screen and put the Knights kick-off back a bit.

 

1. The Hull KR-Catalan Challenge Cup Semi is on the Saturday at the LNER.

2. The club/RFL should not be moving kick off times/dates for Championship games to avoid clashes with Women's cup games. 

 

 

[HolmeKnight]

14 minutes ago, Simon Hall said:

1. The Hull KR-Catalan Challenge Cup Semi is on the Saturday at the LNER.

2. The club/RFL should not be moving kick off times/dates for Championship games to avoid clashes with Women's cup games. 

 

 

I realised later that the other semi is the day before. However, I think the club should be doing all it can to avoid clashes between the men's and women's teams. It should be trying to be inclusive. 

[Simon Hall]

5 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

I realised later that the other semi is the day before. However, I think the club should be doing all it can to avoid clashes between the men's and women's teams. It should be trying to be inclusive. 

Easy enough to do with league games but cup games are always going to be more difficult.

[HaxbyKnight]

Am I a cynic thinking it odd that Leeds and Saints avoid each other again? 

[JonT]

3 hours ago, HaxbyKnight said:

Am I a cynic thinking it odd that Leeds and Saints avoid each other again? 

Was thinking just the same.....

[Gav Wilson]

On 16/04/2025 at 10:14, andyacko said:

Fixture clash coming up on 11th May.

Valks in semi-final action - looks like St Helens at St Helens (again?????). KO 1.45pm

Knights home to Hunslet KO 3pm

Where's the draw details please mate? 

[andyacko]

5 hours ago, Gav Wilson said:

Where's the draw details please mate? 

Fixtures for the group stage of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup are confirmed today with holders St Helens starting their campaign against Warrington Wolves at the Totally Wicked Stadium on Saturday April 12 (KO 3.30pm).

Both teams were placed into Group A alongside Cardiff Demons during a live draw on BBC Sport in January with the Demons making the trip to Warrington a week prior during the competitions opening round (April 5, KO 2pm).

Two-time Challenge Cup winners Leeds Rhinos will welcome the newly promoted Leigh Leopards to AMT Headingley (KO 1pm). They will compete in Group C alongside Sheffield Eagles.

The opening matches in Group B will see reigning Betfred Women’s Super League champions York Valkyrie face Huddersfield Giants (KO 3pm) with Featherstone Rovers travelling to the LNER Community Stadium the following weekend.

In Group D, 2024 Semi-Finalists Wigan Warriors begin their campaign at home to Barrow Raiders with London Broncos – who won the Women’s Southern Championship last year – also drawn alongside them.

Saturday 10 May, LNER Community Stadium, York

Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup

Semi-finalists TBC (seeded to be winners of Groups C and D) -  (KO 12pm)

Betfred Challenge Cup

Hull KR v Catalans Dragons (KO 2.30pm)

 

Sunday 11 May, Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup

Semi-finalists TBC (seeded to be winners of Groups A and B) - (KO 145pm

Betfred Challenge Cup

Warrington Wolves v Leigh Leopards (KO 4.15pm)

Edited April 17 by andyacko

[Gav Wilson]

Cheers mate, that's a shame!

Edited April 18 by Gav Wilson

[HolmeKnight]

On 16/04/2025 at 13:15, Simon Hall said:

1. The Hull KR-Catalan Challenge Cup Semi is on the Saturday at the LNER.

2. The club/RFL should not be moving kick off times/dates for Championship games to avoid clashes with Women's cup games. 

 

 

2.  Exactly what the club has done (4pm ko).  Personally, I'm delighted.

[Simon Hall]

15 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

2.  Exactly what the club has done (4pm ko).  Personally, I'm delighted.

Fair enough, no one can complain about an hour later kick off. 

[StrennyKnight]

If they decided to open the turnstiles at 1.30 and put the BBC coverage of the Valkyrie SF on the big screen at the LNER before the Hunslet game, do you think many would go in early?

I would - I'd even promise to buy a pie and a pint....

Probably wouldn't be worth their while doing it, I know.

[georgeb1]

31 minutes ago, StrennyKnight said:

If they decided to open the turnstiles at 1.30 and put the BBC coverage of the Valkyrie SF on the big screen at the LNER before the Hunslet game, do you think many would go in early?

I would - I'd even promise to buy a pie and a pint....

Probably wouldn't be worth their while doing it, I know.

no , unfortunately the majority would not support it , last weeks double header was testimony to that

[HolmeKnight]

42 minutes ago, StrennyKnight said:

If they decided to open the turnstiles at 1.30 and put the BBC coverage of the Valkyrie SF on the big screen at the LNER before the Hunslet game, do you think many would go in early?

I would - I'd even promise to buy a pie and a pint....

Probably wouldn't be worth their while doing it, I know.

As I understand today's York Press article that's exactly what they're going to do.  All the screens will be showing the semi-final. 

I really think there's no reason for any Knights fan not to support the Valkyrie. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS two years running.  No brainer!  If only the Knights could aspire to those levels!

[Simon Hall]

18 minutes ago, HolmeKnight said:

As I understand today's York Press article that's exactly what they're going to do.  All the screens will be showing the semi-final. 

I really think there's no reason for any Knights fan not to support the Valkyrie. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS two years running.  No brainer!  If only the Knights could aspire to those levels!

I reckon if there was only 3 other decent men’s teams in the country we’d have a chance. 

[StrennyKnight]

1 hour ago, HolmeKnight said:

As I understand today's York Press article that's exactly what they're going to do.  All the screens will be showing the semi-final. 

I really think there's no reason for any Knights fan not to support the Valkyrie. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS two years running.  No brainer!  If only the Knights could aspire to those levels!

Thanks for that HK. I havent seen that anywhere yet (I don't pay for anything behind the Press paywall so didn't see much additional information in their article today). Hopefully quite a few fans will go in a bit early to watch the Valkyrie then.

Feel sorry for the them having to play an important SF with probably not much of a following from York. Hopefully the Wire and Leopards fans who decide to take in the game before their SF will cheer for us - can't imagine either would willingly cheer for a Saints team

[RBKnight]

11 hours ago, Simon Hall said:

I reckon if there was only 3 other decent men’s teams in the country we’d have a chance. 

Point taken, but then again if the other three teams were the Rhinos, Saints and Wigan ? 

[HolmeKnight]

1 hour ago, RBKnight said:

Point taken, but then again if the other three teams were the Rhinos, Saints and Wigan ? 

Absolutely.  If the Knights were competing with those three clubs fans would be overjoyed.  All the more reason to support the Valks (though I make us third favourites this year, behind Saints and Wigan).

[HaxbyKnight]

Looks like Jess Sharp is facing a lengthy ban. She is charged with a grade E biting offence, which has been referred to the tribunal.

Edited May 1 by HaxbyKnight