Keighley

[Ilkley Fax]

Pleased this season is coming to an end, although still looking forward to the game, which I'd expect to be fairly close. Pity O'brien won't be available for what could have been his last game - if they play with the same commitment and enterprise they showed last week I'd be hopeful of a win.

[Magicsponge]

Thought someone said AOB season was over before London,maybe he forgot that a 2 match ban is delayed a week so will be fully served next pre season..?

Anyway he is one I would keep so I hope we see him again.Think I saw we had 6 under contract….so Calcott,O’Brien,Carter,Will,Tibbs,Forster then it’s a struggle to name anyone else who you’d want to keep.

[Tony Fax]

Well, what a waste of a season that was!

Regarding possible signings for next season .......... we're still awaiting the SKY deal with SL which could have a huge bearing on available players as a bad deal could see a SL culling of squads and even a return to a 12 team SL. I've never known it so quiet on the transfer front, with a smattering of 2nd rate aussies and has beens (eg Bateman for the bullies), there seems to be great caution. I also notice another SL club owner has jumped ship (York).

As I've said on another thread, the whole league structure needs a massive improvement with automatic promotion and relegation with the ditching of the stupid IMG ratings, otherwise that's it for me.

As for the Keighley game, yes it should be close but we should win it ...... Fax 24 Keighley 16.

[Tony Fax]

17 man squad announced including injured halafihi and non playing Thompson. Alfie missing. Very fitting the last match of the season sums up the entire season.

[Faxpanthers2025]

Think Alfie got a knock in the London game from memory. tangata’s return was a very brief one…

[Cowfax]

A squad looking very thin on quality or size. I also wonder how many named  are actually fit. I am sure even many of the lads. likely to play are carrying knocks.  Hopefully we can finish what i believe  to be  the most demoralising  season since 77/78 with a win. 

Heaven knows what will happen to the championship if the NRL invest.

Fourteen super league clubs without "A" teams?

A championship then made up of fourteen feeder clubs with every player on dual reg so no consistency of selection?

[Tony Fax]

26 minutes ago, Cowfax said:

Heaven knows what will happen to the championship if the NRL invest.

Fourteen super league clubs without "A" teams?

A championship then made up of fourteen feeder clubs with every player on dual reg so no consistency of selection?

That really would be the death knell for rugby league, and not just the championship. It makes me laugh when I hear some pundits harp on what great health SL is in when the majority of the clubs are losing millions and are insolvent. Then there are the fans who are fickle as they come .......... watching the Hull KR v Toulouse highlights we heard how the reigning Super League and World Cup champions got boo-ed with the stadium almost empty with 10 minutes to go because they can't stomach a defeat. And what about returning "super power" the Bulls taking barely 100 fans to Leigh? Great health my ass. 

[BamfordsBarmyArmy]

2 hours ago, Tony Fax said:

17 man squad announced including injured halafihi and non playing Thompson. Alfie missing. Very fitting the last match of the season sums up the entire season.

I don't understand why they keep naming Thompson .. I'm guessing they're not playing him because he's obviously too young/ that would be reckless, but it's weird how they treat him.. last outing at the shay, named in the 17.. interviewed him before kick off only for him to disappear down the tunnel/ not seen for the rest of the game.. I guess is a reflection of just how thin on numbers we actually are (I think this coaching team / these players have done amazingly this year - but this IS weird!)

[BamfordsBarmyArmy]

Well that game was a sickener - I thought we were far and away the better team in the first half - should have had more points on the board .. When they started coming at us in the second half it was clear we had no game management .. although acknowledge several players out of position / significant role juggling going on .. ho hum - onwards and upwards for next season hopefully 

[Ilkley Fax]

Really frustrating game, especially losing to a team including the most annoying ###### in the league who not for the first time scores a decisive try. Doubly irritating that this came when we'd just taken Curtis Davies off who'd had a good game keeping him quiet. Hard to blame the players as we're obviously down to the bare bones, necessitating players playing out of position, particularly Ben Will and Carter - and competing against a much bigger pack. Glad, as I'm sure everyone associated  with club is, that this seasons finally over - next few weeks will hopefully give us some indication if we've got a better season to look forward to next year.

[Faxpanthers2025]

Kyle’s post match interview is interesting. Clearly hoping to make some big changes and get some much needed quality in. He seems positive about next year which is a good sign. Wouldn’t have thought he’d stick around for another year of this given his skills and pedigree in the game. (about 35 mins in)
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p7402j?at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=twitter&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_medium=social

[Tony Fax]

Fantastic effort by both teams in the deadest of dead rubbers. Lack of quality showed in the second half and I'm sure Alfie, calcott and O'brien would have made a 20 point difference, but overall keighley deserved the win imo. Hopefully we'll have a solid squad come next year so have a happy closed season everyone and merry Xmas 🖐

Ps and another great effort by the fans, 1680 is excellent in the circumstances  

Edited August 30 by Tony Fax

[Cowfax]

A tough watch. Plenty of effort from both sides but once again too many errors.  Fairbank must ache today , how many tackles did he make and big minutes too. I hope we can find another half back for next year assuming Soric stays.  

[Tony Fax]

18 hours ago, Faxpanthers2025 said:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p7402j?at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=twitter&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_medium=social

Interesting hearing George flannagan at the end saying how much he loves playing at the shay with the banter with the fax fans. 

He's still undecided whether to retire. Would be a laugh signing him for his Swan song season, he still packs some punch and he (and we) would love our new friendship after all those years of goading each other!

[Beaver 535]

Poor quality game which was to be expected with the sides on show. I was impressed with Emanuel Waine for Keighley he would be a good signing for us made of granite and certainly would add some punch upfront. As for us just look at our bench to tell you the end of this season couldn't come quick enough. 

Hopefully now we can get a chance to see this boards level of wealth and ambition for strengthening the infrastructure of the club and playing squad for next year.