General RL Discussion!

First topic message reminder :

A thread we're we can discuss our sides, what's happening in RL, the future and everything else to do with Rugby League.

I really hope that Cas can keep up there early form and stay in the top 8.

Luke wrote:

George Hotel1895 wrote:

Luke wrote:Toulouse could have a problem,  with having to play the required number of games. But if they do they are the stand out team in my opinion.

It's not Toulouse fault that some clubs refuse to go there.
In my opinion Toulouse should be awarded the win by 24-0

Only London have refused, part time clubs don't have to go yet as quarantine would mean a number if players can't go.

That sends out mixed messages to me from the RFL. This could well turn out to be nightmare for the RFL at the end of the season

Championship continues to produce close competitive games, Batley flying at the moment.

League One kicked off today, good wins for Workington at Hunslet and Keighley over Doncaster.

Having seen most of the tries of the championship. God Widnes's defence was absolutely atrocious, quite a few of the Toulouse tries were far to easy.
Good to see that Kieran Dixon's defence hasn't improved.

I saw the Dixon.......errrr.....efforts The first one was bizarre. Still doubtless he will burn Bradford with the ball (again) when the York games come round.

I see Toulouse now have Tony Gigot on board, in fairness a very dangerous side when they click and passes go to hand.

The Beast wrote:I saw the Dixon.......errrr.....efforts  The first one was bizarre.  Still doubtless he will burn Bradford with the ball (again) when the York games come round.

I see Toulouse now have Tony Gigot on board, in fairness a very dangerous side when they click and passes go to hand.

In my opinion i think Toulouse are the best side in the championship and will win the league

This year's challenge cup final will between St Helens and Castleford.  After they won there semi finals quite comfortably after surviving a bit of a scare comebacks. But they were both really in control.


And congratulations to the BBC for showing the women's challenge cup final (St Helens winning), a decent game that will know hopefully push the sport forward and attract a few more spectators and players to the game.

Around half way through the season and the RFL will scrap the new ball steal rule from next year. Please just please stop phaffing around with the rules all is needed IMO is to clean up the rucks.

The Beast wrote:Around half way through the season and the RFL will scrap the new ball steal rule from next year.  Please just please stop phaffing around with the rules all is needed IMO is to clean up the rucks.

They've need to clean up the rucks for years, and are no closer to doing it. The rest I agree, stop changing the rules just for change sake.

Luke wrote:

The Beast wrote:Around half way through the season and the RFL will scrap the new ball steal rule from next year.  Please just please stop phaffing around with the rules all is needed IMO is to clean up the rucks.

They've need to clean up the rucks for years, and are no closer to doing it. The rest I agree, stop changing the rules just for change sake.

I haven't been happy with the constant rule changes for some and i don't suppose I'm alone.
Make a rule and stick with it

George Williams confirmed as heading back to the UK soon. Interesting and classy decision by Wigan to allow him to sign for another club, could have had another Iestyn Harris situation that frankly I would not wish on anyone.

The Beast wrote:George Williams confirmed as heading back to the UK soon.  Interesting and classy decision by Wigan to allow him to sign for another club, could have had another Iestyn Harris situation that frankly I would not wish on anyone.

Indeed, but i wonder as well if Wigan have a big player signing coming in for next season so didn't want to use up a a faie bit of the salary cap on Williams? Just saying

I find it weird. 
That England v all stars on Friday, a sort if international.  And the club's are playing a full round (covid apart), including 3 on the night. Seems counter productive to me.

England squad for Friday's game v All Stars

John Bateman (Wigan Warriors); Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves); Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons); Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors); Luke Gale, Ash Handley (both Leeds Rhinos); Morgan Knowles (St Helens); Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity); Jonny Lomax (St Helens); Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers); Tommy Makinson (St Helens); Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos); Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves); Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons); Alex Walmsley (St Helens); Joe Westerman (Wakefield Trinity).

I am going with

Tomkins
Handley
Bateman
Lynne
Makinson
Gale
Lomax
Walmsley
McShane
Cooper
Currie
Farrell
Westerman

Oledski
Clark
Ratchford
Philbin

Going back to that issue. I am not sure of the truth however it has been reported that the clubs knew of the international date and made the decision to play games that day/weekend.

Some suggestions that clubs have been trying to to avoid releasing players for the game.

I am in the club that the national team is very important and a good world cup could boost the club game. If the above is correct it seems a bit short sighted, granted All Stars is not ideal but what else can they do?

All Stars Squad;

Jake Connor (Hull FC), Kenny Edwards (Huddersfield Giants), Jackson Hastings (Wigan Warriors), Liam Kay (Wakefield Trinity), Kruise Leeming (Leeds Rhinos), Ricky Leutele (Huddersfield Giants), Peter Mata'utia (Castleford Tigers), Suaia Matagi (Castleford Tigers), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Junior Moors (Featherstone Rovers), Pauli Pauli (Salford Red Devils), Nathan Peats (Leigh Centurions), Matt Prior (Leeds Rhinos), Chris Satae (Hull FC), Andre Savelio (Hull FC), Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield Giants), Ken Sio (Salford Red Devils), Kelepi Tanginoa (Wakefield Trinity), Luke Yates (Huddersfield Giants)

Struggling to understand why there are SL games on Friday on the same day as the England game??

The Beast wrote:England squad for Friday's game v All Stars

John Bateman (Wigan Warriors); Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves); Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons); Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors); Luke Gale, Ash Handley (both Leeds Rhinos); Morgan Knowles (St Helens); Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity); Jonny Lomax (St Helens); Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers); Tommy Makinson (St Helens); Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos); Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves); Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons); Alex Walmsley (St Helens); Joe Westerman (Wakefield Trinity).

I am going with

Tomkins
Handley
Bateman
Lynne
Makinson
Gale
Lomax
Walmsley
McShane
Cooper
Currie
Farrell
Westerman

Oledski
Clark
Ratchford
Philbin

I'd go for this game,

Tompkins, 
Makinson,
Lyne,
Currie,
Davis,
Ratchford,
Gale,
Walmsley,
McShane,
Oledski,
Bateman, 
Farrell, 
Westerman.

Clark,
Philban,
Cooper,
Knowles.

The Beast wrote:All Stars Squad;

Jake Connor (Hull FC), Kenny Edwards (Huddersfield Giants), Jackson Hastings (Wigan Warriors), Liam Kay (Wakefield Trinity), Kruise Leeming (Leeds Rhinos), Ricky Leutele (Huddersfield Giants), Peter Mata'utia (Castleford Tigers), Suaia Matagi (Castleford Tigers), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Junior Moors (Featherstone Rovers), Pauli Pauli (Salford Red Devils), Nathan Peats (Leigh Centurions), Matt Prior (Leeds Rhinos), Chris Satae (Hull FC), Andre Savelio (Hull FC), Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield Giants), Ken Sio (Salford Red Devils), Kelepi Tanginoa (Wakefield Trinity), Luke Yates (Huddersfield Giants)

Not sure I'd class them as All Stars, but would go.

Connor,
Kay,
Mata'uia, 
Leutele,
Sio,
Hastings,
Sezer,
Satae,
Leeming,
Tanginoa,
Edwards,
Savelio,
Moors.

Pauli,
Prior,
Yates,
Matagi.

The Beast wrote:Struggling to understand why there are SL games on Friday on the same day as the England game??

Like I said, don't get it either.  
If you are putting fixtures on the same weekend, play them on the Sunday so this is a stand alone game, with at least a day to reflect before continuing the sl season.

Got to feel for Huddersfield. 
Due to the ridiculousness of playing league games on the same time as an international, were only able to name 13 players in there original squad.

A farcical week ends with a narrow defeat for England. Hopefully a useful run out and I think Shaun Wane will have gained important information i.e. Jake Connor is not an international full back.

Credit to Jermaine McGillvary saying it as it is; English Rugby in decline

Great to see the Barrow v Workington game getting over 3,000. And seems like they got there money's worth.

The Beast wrote:Struggling to understand why there are SL games on Friday on the same day as the England game??

You are not alone in thinking that

The Beast wrote:A farcical week ends with a narrow defeat for England. Hopefully a useful run out and I think Shaun Wane will have gained important information i.e. Jake Connor is not an international full back.

Credit to Jermaine McGillvary saying it as it is;  English Rugby in decline

Well said on all counts

IMHO Game of the Season today, Featherstone v Toulouse.

Outside of a Bulls game or perhaps what should be an excellent Hull derby (one day hopefully), I don't recall a more anticipated recent fixture.

The Beast wrote:IMHO Game of the Season today, Featherstone v Toulouse.

Outside of a Bulls game or perhaps what should be an excellent Hull derby (one day hopefully), I don't recall a more anticipated recent fixture.

Agree, and got to say an excellent win for Toulouse. Who should go up this season.

Luke wrote:

The Beast wrote:IMHO Game of the Season today, Featherstone v Toulouse.

Outside of a Bulls game or perhaps what should be an excellent Hull derby (one day hopefully), I don't recall a more anticipated recent fixture.

Agree, and got to say an excellent win for Toulouse. Who should go up this season.

It is easy to see how many points they score but on average they concede 9 per game which is very very impressive.

The Beast wrote:

Luke wrote:

The Beast wrote:IMHO Game of the Season today, Featherstone v Toulouse.

Outside of a Bulls game or perhaps what should be an excellent Hull derby (one day hopefully), I don't recall a more anticipated recent fixture.

Agree, and got to say an excellent win for Toulouse. Who should go up this season.

It is easy to see how many points they score but on average they concede 9 per game which is very very impressive.

Defence wins games and allows them to play the type of rugby they can do. And from the sounds of it they don't just play the expansive game,  but can dig in and ground it out like they did at Featherstone. 
And given they now play at the rugby union stadium which is a good stadium, they're set up for sl, and staying in it which us just as important.

Toulouse are nailed on to reach the the Championship grand final.

Having watched a re-run of Wigan v Saints somewhat surprised that Willie Isa wasn't sent off. I would not be surprised if he has a long bad after these clips.

Congratulations to Leigh on getting there first win of the season. 

Also commiseration to Swindon who are relegated, after massively over achieving last year.

I do feel for Swinton, they are from what I have seen much better than their results suggest. They have played some entertaining rugby, the obvious issue being defence.

Not greatly surprised that Whitehaven beat Widnes but 64 - 6 was a shock partly until I read that the latter only had 16 fit players.

Congratulations to Catalans,  who after there golden point win today guarantee that they will win the league leaders shield.
Thoroughly deserved as they have been the best and most consistent performers this season.

On a side note, both the Saints/Catalans and Leeds/Hull games where exhilarating stuff for different reasons, really entertaining games.

So for my first Sunday off since before crowds allowed back (and probably only Sunday during the season).
And I'm at keighley/North Wales game, looking forward to it.

Luke wrote:Congratulations to Catalans,  who after there golden point win today guarantee that they will win the league leaders shield.
Thoroughly deserved as they have been the best and most consistent performers this season.

On a side note, both the Saints/Catalans and Leeds/Hull games where exhilarating stuff for different reasons, really entertaining games.

Frankly an astonishing finish to the Saints/Dragons game, it might be some time before anything like that happens again. Admittedly I have not seen any of the Leeds v Hull game.

The Beast wrote:

Luke wrote:Congratulations to Catalans,  who after there golden point win today guarantee that they will win the league leaders shield.
Thoroughly deserved as they have been the best and most consistent performers this season.

On a side note, both the Saints/Catalans and Leeds/Hull games where exhilarating stuff for different reasons, really entertaining games.

Frankly an astonishing finish to the Saints/Dragons game, it might be some time before anything like that happens again.  Admittedly I have not seen any of the Leeds v Hull game.

The ending masks what should have been a straight forward win for Saints. They pretty much dominated it after the first 10 minutes. And how they have it away is beyond me.
But in all honesty I found the hull/Leeds game more entertaining as it was 2 average sides, trying to beat each other in what was a fascinating game. Think Hull need to move on from Snyed, as other than his kicking game not sure what he offers them. 

The game I was at today was interesting,  2 sides running hard and giving there all. Once Keighley realised that spreading it was going to get them results they ran out deserved winners.

I guess technically news however London have confirmed that they will be part time from next season. A blow but with this and other Championship/League One clubs facing at least a 50% cut in central funding inevitable. Frankly I have been waiting for this ever since SL moved away from the RFL and I would not be surprised if some clubs do not survive.

On the plus side for London, part time is not on the pitch necessarily a bad move. Bradford using a hybrid of full/part time for example look to be in the running for their highest league finish for.......5 years? In the championship other clubs have found having more full time players have not always translated into better results e.g. York who I thought would be top 4 this year.

Strong rumours suggesting Championship rugby will be shown on TV next season, live and or highlights and which broadcaster as yet TBC.

Congratulations to Barrow on winning the league 1 title, and winning promotion to the Championship. Been a great season for them.

Should be some very interesting lower league action with weekend. Championship Semi's Fev v Fax & Toulouse v Batley. To be honest I don't see any shocks but maybe Fax could give Fev a few problems?

League One playoff Keighley/Doncaster should be a cracker.

Championship sides appear to be upping their signings for next year e.g. Fax apparently looking at Lachlan Walmsley, Matty Gee, Titus Gwaze and Joe Keyes. York have signed Jamie Ellis, Bradford mentioned on their thread. I wonder if clubs are "gambling" to ensure a table finish to secure a spot in the 10/10 alleged/proposed new format? Not so much of a gamble but a necessity.

Sounds like potential problems at Toulouse. Some stories of players leaving the club due to vaccination rules. Really hope that this can be resolved, looking forward to see how a full strength side get on.

Toulouse now announce that Jonathan Ford is to leave. If Mark Kheirallah also leaves as has been suggested that will leave two key positions uncovered two weeks before the start of the season. I would not be surprised if Ryan Hampshire ends up with them.

The Beast wrote:Toulouse now announce that Jonathan Ford is to leave.  If Mark Kheirallah also leaves as has been suggested that will leave two key positions uncovered two weeks before the start of the season.  I would not be surprised if Ryan Hampshire ends up with them.

Neither would i. Hopefully he can show the ability he has, and he has tons, and not come up short

Seems like Jamie Shaul is there first choice.

Luke wrote:Seems like Jamie Shaul is there first choice.

I've always rated him, but others only see the negative side in him.

Have you guys received an e-mail with the IMG survey? Includes some interesting questions regarding a 10+10 structure, French clubs and IMO worrying references to the Hundred cricket format.

The Beast wrote:Have you guys received an e-mail with the IMG survey?  Includes some interesting questions regarding a 10+10 structure, French clubs and IMO worrying references to the Hundred cricket format.

No haven't got one. I don't know what the 100 cricket format is, but a 7/9's tournament at the beginning of the season wouldn't bother me to much.

Hull FC have released four players, Jordan Johnstone, Marcus Walker, Aidan Burrell & Luke Gale.

It's Luke Gale that I am interested in your views on. IMO an excellent player, I always thought so when he was at Bradford despite their struggles. Outstanding at Cas including the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award, England international. What was seemingly gone wrong? Relived of the Leeds captaincy, off to Hull and now released after 1 season, thoughts?

The Beast wrote:Hull FC have released four players, Jordan Johnstone, Marcus Walker, Aidan Burrell & Luke Gale.

It's Luke Gale that I am interested in your views on.  IMO an excellent player, I always thought so when he was at Bradford despite their struggles.  Outstanding at Cas including the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award, England international.  What was seemingly gone wrong?  Relived of the Leeds captaincy, off to Hull and now released after 1 season, thoughts?

There's undoubtedly a player there. But he's been poor for a few years now. Think he suits a off the cuff type club (like Rovers under Smith), where it's a more regimented style he's poor/lost. Or where he's not the main focal point. Heard he's off to Wakefield.