Fri 25th-Sun 27th Apr: The Betfred Championship Match Thread

[DEANO]

28 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Concerning times for the Championship with Halifax only naming 18 players and London 19 for their match-up this weekend and Widnes also only able to name 19. A lot of Championship clubs being padded out by loans and DR, plenty of clubs struggling for depth especially when the inevitable injuries arrive.

This is what makes the game a farce. Seems that  dual reg has a huge bearing on results and clubs set out to rely on the system when assembling small squads

[Expatknight]

1 hour ago, DEANO said:

This is what makes the game a farce. Seems that  dual reg has a huge bearing on results and clubs set out to rely on the system when assembling small squads

Dual reg is an abomination and should never have been brought in, maybe then clubs would have had more interest in bringing on their own players and getting involved in pathways from the community game, but that is just my opinion, for what it’s worth.

 

[Ainley Top]

2 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Concerning times for the Championship with Halifax only naming 18 players and London 19 for their match-up this weekend and Widnes also only able to name 19. A lot of Championship clubs being padded out by loans and DR, plenty of clubs struggling for depth especially when the inevitable injuries arrive.

That's the plan️

[Enk27]

Bradford played well today, asked a lot of questions that Oldham weren’t ready for.

In particular we had no answer for their kicking game, think 4 tries came from the same set kick into the corner.

Great atmosphere and hope that one bad loss doesn’t dent enthusiasm.

 

When it rains it pours though, heard rumours that a Bradford fan even won the golden gamble….

[Bull Mania]

 

3 minutes ago, Enk27 said:

Bradford played well today, asked a lot of questions that Oldham weren’t ready for.

In particular we had no answer for their kicking game, think 4 tries came from the same set kick into the corner.

Great atmosphere and hope that one bad loss doesn’t dent enthusiasm.

 

When it rains it pours though, heard rumours that a Bradford fan even won the golden gamble….

Probably our best performance. Really good win for us. 

Think we probably got you guys at right time, few injuries and maybe a bit of fatigue creeping in as you get use to the higher intensity week in week out. Think Oldham could do with thier bye week soon, regroup and go again.

[RoughyedsFan_merged]

Unfortunately fairly easy to see coming when the teams were announced.

I’m unconvinced our best 13 will be in the top six at the end of the season, so you can’t really compete at this level missing your starting winger, centre, nine, second rower and loose forward. Might have competed better if the replacements were like for like but it was square pegs in round holes.

Noble not stupid and completely set about Danny Craven on the wing, basically every try came down that side.

Edited April 25 by RoughyedsFan_merged

[RoughyedsFan_merged]

36 minutes ago, Bull Mania said:

 

Probably our best performance. Really good win for us. 

Think we probably got you guys at right time, few injuries and maybe a bit of fatigue creeping in as you get use to the higher intensity week in week out. Think Oldham could do with thier bye week soon, regroup and go again.

I would be surprised if all of the players supposedly injured tonight were unable to play, Ashurst for example was good enough for 18th man.

The club appear to be going all in on the 1895 cup Semi Final.

[tim2]

On 24/04/2025 at 17:33, JonM said:

 

The Craig Lingard derby is the hardest one to predict this week I reckon.

I support Sheffield and didn't see that scoreline coming.

I couldn' go, but reports from Sheffield fans suggest Batley were poor.

[Fevrover]

7 hours ago, RoughyedsFan_merged said:

I would be surprised if all of the players supposedly injured tonight were unable to play, Ashurst for example was good enough for 18th man.

The club appear to be going all in on the 1895 cup Semi Final.

Which is silly because it doesn't guarantee anything, Fev will not be easy. Imho the league is far more important.

[RoughyedsFan_merged]

1 hour ago, Fevrover said:

Which is silly because it doesn't guarantee anything, Fev will not be easy. Imho the league is far more important.

I agree. We were lucky to win the last game.

[Just Browny]

On 24/04/2025 at 19:01, StrennyKnight said:

And that's also why it continues to mystify me that we don't seem to be able (or willing) to sell the Championship to a broadcaster as a viable TV/streaming product.

 

14 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Concerning times for the Championship with Halifax only naming 18 players and London 19 for their match-up this weekend and Widnes also only able to name 19. A lot of Championship clubs being padded out by loans and DR, plenty of clubs struggling for depth especially when the inevitable injuries arrive.

The ups and downs of rugby league

[The Phantom Horseman]

37 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

 

The ups and downs of rugby league

The Championship has still been a really good comp this season, partly because it's probably more open than it's been for years, but it's undoubtedly tough going for some clubs, unsurprisingly as the central funding has plummeted in recent years. It wasn't that long ago that the top 4 were all getting £500k+ for the following year, that's a pipedream now.

[Wakefield Ram]

24 minutes ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

The Championship has still been a really good comp this season, partly because it's probably more open than it's been for years, but it's undoubtedly tough going for some clubs, unsurprisingly as the central funding has plummeted in recent years. It wasn't that long ago that the top 4 were all getting £500k+ for the following year, that's a pipedream now.

Try being in L1....it's basically semi-amateur. 

Edited April 26 by Wakefield Ram

[Johnny Ringo]

Super duper scouper league has ruined the Championship, it's made it into a training ground for squad players they hoover up but cant keep them match fit. Championship teams find good amateurs hard to sign up because those players have seen friends dropped by Championship clubs in order for SL squad fillers to get games. 

Edited April 26 by Johnny Ringo

[Enk27]

11 hours ago, RoughyedsFan_merged said:

I would be surprised if all of the players supposedly injured tonight were unable to play, Ashurst for example was good enough for 18th man.

The club appear to be going all in on the 1895 cup Semi Final.

At the fan forum Mike and Bill made it clear that this wasn’t the plan at all. The view is that each game plays into the next one.

But they acknowledged that we did need to look into strengthening the squad.

The players we played last night are great players, sadly a lot of them were playing in unfamiliar positions.

Nevertheless Bulls are an amazing team, the speed that they came forward was unlike any other team we’ve seen so far. 

[Just Browny]

1 hour ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

The Championship has still been a really good comp this season, partly because it's probably more open than it's been for years, but it's undoubtedly tough going for some clubs, unsurprisingly as the central funding has plummeted in recent years. It wasn't that long ago that the top 4 were all getting £500k+ for the following year, that's a pipedream now.

Yeah I agree, the Championship is always a terrific comp and this year there is no clearly outstanding team.

[Just Browny]

40 minutes ago, Johnny Ringo said:

Super duper scouper league has ruined the Championship, it's made it into a training ground for squad players they hoover up but cant keep them match fit. Championship teams find good amateurs hard to sign up because those players have seen friends dropped by Championship clubs in order for SL squad fillers to get games. 

I think it's poor to blame the Super League for what is clearly an awkward position. The Championship clubs are grown ups (well maybe not that Batley chairman) and have agency over their own decisions.

If the Super League clubs had a high quality academy/reserve league and hoovered up all the Championship standard players for that, you'd moan about that too I daresay.

The main trouble is that Super League is pro, Championship is semi-pro, so clubs have a mutual dependency: SL pay the bills for their kids, Championship clubs can offer playing time and a good standard of match and coaching.

P.S. I do think it's ridiculous to see senior players like Konrad Hurrell turning out on dual reg.

Edited April 26 by Just Browny

[DaveyJalfrezi]

6 hours ago, tim2 said:

I support Sheffield and didn't see that scoreline coming.

I couldn' go, but reports from Sheffield fans suggest Batley were poor.

A bit of both Tim.

I thought Eagles played well whereas Batley didn’t

6 hours ago, tim2 said:

I support Sheffield and didn't see that scoreline coming.

I couldn' go, but reports from Sheffield fans suggest Batley were poor.

There still seems to be the group of people who rather than give Craig Lingard a bit of credit are putting the win down to Batley being poor.

The win wasn’t a surprise but the score line was a bit but in my opinion it was a true reflection on how the game went.

[tim2]

7 minutes ago, DaveyJalfrezi said:

A bit of both Tim.

I thought Eagles played well whereas Batley didn’t

There still seems to be the group of people who rather than give Craig Lingard a bit of credit are putting the win down to Batley being poor.

The win wasn’t a surprise but the score line was a bit but in my opinion it was a true reflection on how the game went.

Looking at the team sheet there's no way the Eagles should be struggling. The injuries and "new coach adjustment" are probably the reasons so far. Let's hope we kick on from here.

[SUPERSTUD]

2 hours ago, Just Browny said:

I think it's poor to blame the Super League for what is clearly an awkward position. The Championship clubs are grown ups (well maybe not that Batley chairman) and have agency over their own decisions.

If the Super League clubs had a high quality academy/reserve league and hoovered up all the Championship standard players for that, you'd moan about that too I daresay.

The main trouble is that Super League is pro, Championship is semi-pro, so clubs have a mutual dependency: SL pay the bills for their kids, Championship clubs can offer playing time and a good standard of match and coaching.

P.S. I do think it's ridiculous to see senior players like Konrad Hurrell turning out on dual reg.

You may have a different outlook if you were a committed contracted player at a club and attend four times per week including two training sessions, captains run and match day. Then stood down for DR to waltz in! As you say the Championship clubs need to decide how they perceive their future identity to be. Some of these clubs possess some good 20-25 year old players who can be the backbone for years to come. Or deploy the in out in out shake it all about method. Supporters want to identify with their respective club’s players. Solidarity and future foundations. DR just provides constant change and a sticking plaster effect.

[Just Browny]

11 minutes ago, SUPERSTUD said:

You may have a different outlook if you were a committed contracted player at a club and attend four times per week including two training sessions, captains run and match day. Then stood down for DR to waltz in! As you say the Championship clubs need to decide how they perceive their future identity to be. Some of these clubs possess some good 20-25 year old players who can be the backbone for years to come. Or deploy the in out in out shake it all about method. Supporters want to identify with their respective club’s players. Solidarity and future foundations. DR just provides constant change and a sticking plaster effect.

You seem to have responded to a point I didn't make. If I were in the position to describe, I think I'd be annoyed at my employer (the Championship club) not "Super Dooper League".

But then again there are players at all clubs who train and don't get picked to play, that's sport once you get past primary school age.

[Wakefield Ram]

3 hours ago, Just Browny said:

You seem to have responded to a point I didn't make. If I were in the position to describe, I think I'd be annoyed at my employer (the Championship club) not "Super Dooper League".

But then again there are players at all clubs who train and don't get picked to play, that's sport once you get past primary school age.

Championship clubs are stuck with either not using DR and losing out to teams who do. Or use DR and hacking off their fringe players.  DR benefits SL clubs. It just distorts the Championship. 

[kiggy]

Back on track, talking about the footy.

Fev 10 v TO 18

[The Daddy]

5 minutes ago, kiggy said:

Back on track, talking about the footy.

Fev 10 v TO 18

Oh is this thread about RL too? 

They really needed that win. Any more losses at this stage and it becomes difficult to keep up with the pack. 

I still think TO are a couple of players short, but hey. With the IMG gradings it's essential that they win or as a minimum finish high up in the league 

[PECETTO]

1 minute ago, The Daddy said:

Oh is this thread about RL too? 

They really needed that win. Any more losses at this stage and it becomes difficult to keep up with the pack. 

I still think TO are a couple of players short, but hey. With the IMG gradings it's essential that they win or as a minimum finish high up in the league 

Players are back soon from enjured