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Yes, if we keep being too precious about stuff like this we won't get very far. Vernon Kay is a Northerner, describing it as he did isn't offensive, and trying to pick them up on pedantic points is not going to win friends. This is a new broadcaster for the game, so far so good, they appear enthusiastic and are pushing it on RU and now Motor Racing shows, let's lose some of the chippiness.

Completely disagree... playing long established northern teams like Hunslet, Swinton, Keighley, Oldham, Doncaster, Crusaders and Rochdale etc... is the best way to really test yourself & learn. Skolars younger players have learned a lot & improved by playing against the better teams even if it resulted in a loss.

Nothing stopping anyone or any team working to make the game stronger "where it's wanted".

Not suppressing as that game was played when no crowds were allowed in.

I'm as cynical as anyone about this working long term but 2,182 is decent and a really positive start.

I was pretty sceptical beforehand, but it's the best venue they've played at this century - would be absolutely perfect for SL if there was a way to get a winning team on the pitch. The design of the stadium meant there was a proper atmosphere even for a game that wasn't massively competitive, and there's plenty of space and facilities for fanzone type stuff and entertainment. For a last roll of the dice, it looks like a good choice.

Yes, it was the choice made by David Hughes. Wimbledon did everything asked of them, promoted the event, pushed it to their fans, advertised it, tried there best to make it an event to be remembered. Facilites are excellent, refreshments spot on, everything you could have asked your host to do they did, and we got a superb attendance thanks to them. All London had to do was to ensure the performance on the pitch matched the rest of the match day experience. However the performance provided did not match the surrondings they played in, as the squad build is not up to the same standard as the stadium played in. Will we see the LB owners invest in a squad worthy of the ground we are playing in? I'm not holding my breath

You`ll have to excuse me for being a bit thick here but I`m not sure if you are a) inferring that people are less likely to go to the televised game because they can watch it at their local boozer before kicking on to their local game whereas some previously may have made the trip to the televised game or b) or whether it is a good thing now because with a televised game , only once per month admittedly, League lovers can down to the pub on that Saturday, catch a match of the day on the pub tv and then head down to their local game the same afternoon, which does sound pretty appealing on the face of it anyway. Looking at it from x-thousands of miles away I think you`ll probably get enough of a crowd to be presentable on TV and if more pubs and clubs are sticking it on at 12.30 then that exposure is only going to be a good thing as well, and that`s not counting the probably considerable number of people at home who`ll stick it on while their having their lunch or just because it`s live sport. Anyway pretty exciting, I`d just wish, once daylight savings kick-in they`d beam it in over here for a Saturday night 9.30 p.m. timeslot, I`d love to see a bit of live Super League, even just for something different.

2182 at london today and lots of widnes fans Think the broncos have made an error going part time

So it was, I presumed the Championship started after Super League and this was a Cup fixture, as there were several other Challenge Cup games today.

Oldham have just got bumped out of the Cup by a bunch of amateurs.................

Problem is; playing the heartlands clubs when you are trying to build a club is a recipe for disaster. Getting smashed every week isn’t going to help them attract players, supporters or sponsors.

I saw a couple yesterday and I wasn't even watching channel 4 really, just flicking. I know it's the norm for other sports but it really is great to see as it's very rare for RL to get such treatment. The frequency seems almost strange as a RL fan!

Channel 4 seem to be doing a great job promoting their Super League launch. They were running more promotions yesterday.

Off to Hull again, this time for my second go at Peter Pan parkrun. It's a deceptive course, flat but with grass sections and lots of corners and hairpins. 24.11, so 80 seconds quicker than my last visit, but into the wind was brutal. it never seems to be possible to catch up what you lose on the headwind when the wind is behind you.

Right I've set up the 2022 NRL Supercoach League ! Everyone is welcome whether you've played here before or are new. You can find this league here: https://supercoach.foxsports.com.au/nrl Follow the instructions there to join, pick a team name, a squad and join our league by clicking the green link and enter the code 445675 N.B. You can change any squad you pick any number of times before Round 1 starts. Basic facts: There only 20 places available in this league. They are available on a first come first served basis. Get in early to ensure a place. All places do go! This is our 2022 league title with the six figure code to enter TotalRLSCLeague22 (445675) My team this year is called Darrington Drovers and is already entered which means there are 19 places still available in the league. I've not yet picked my squad. You can pick one straight away if you want. There’s unlimited changes allowed before the season gets under way so you can change any picks you make wholesale if you want. You have to be in it to win it... or join in the fun.

I hope the car park lights are going to be on after the game tomorrow night. It was like playing blind man's buff after the other two games this season, people trying to find their cars.

And Scarborough Pirates

Taking nothing away from them but it’s how they go from here that matters. You can point to Round One’s attendance but if they’re still getting that sort of figure in June/July, it’s superb. They’ve had big crowds for the first game in a new venue before but never maintained them, for whatever reason and London aren’t the best at learning from previous mistakes.

You need to get up to date with what is actually going on in the world Joe biden is now president of the USA

2182 is higher than their average crowd in Superleague in 2019. ( For comparison, 1133 watched a game against Salford, 1205 a game against Wakefield, 1419 against Huddersfield, 1503 against Hull KR).

Leigh got an additional £400k as a Super League parachute payment, that money, or at least half of it would be better spent on a development league imo

*2,182

Except it was not the cup and was R1 of the championship.

That’s a great Challenge Cup attendance figure for a Championship club. I believe this is more than Salford got for their home Challenge Cup fixture against Widnes last year.

£3 at Rochdale Hornets today for match specific prog It was a monthly magazine last time I went but as they may not have a home game for two months I suppose it still could be later in the season

And this is what they look like.

Unless they'd ever show a match from Toulouse or Perpignan, then yes they'll all be up North because that's where all the other clubs are located.

Vernan Kay referred to it as ‘super league rugby’ and ‘proper northern egg chasing’. Someone needs to have a word with him and remind him to refer to it as Rugby or Rugby League. And drop any reference to northern.

Nadal out on his own now with 21 GS wins. Will Djokovic be able to wait until Monday before claiming it’s unfair.

Joined. Time to get some homework done on who to bring in to the Marvels!

Most clubs don't seem to care. Leigh, Rochdale and Workington CBA to reply to a Twitter enquiry. Only a couple of the others, as far as I can see, are advertising - online - any sort of programme. Thus far... Print: Barrow (£2), Leeds, Rochdale (£3), York (£3). Digital: Oldham (£3), West Wales (£2). Among the amateurs... Print: Bentley (£1), Leigh Miners Rangers (£3, w/a), Thornhill. It's a very short list!

or stick it in the vangarde , no restrictions after 6 .

I hope you are all happy. I’m now having to watch Sunday brunch.

Programmes will be available for the Leeds - Hull game today. TOM BRISCOE TESTIMONIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME Tom Briscoe’s Testimonial matchday programme will be available from sellers around the ground, please be aware this is cash only. Leeds Rhinos Ticket Office will also have a small number of programmes available should you wish to pay by card. Prices for these will be £2.

GOOD Rugby League without scrums is like fish and chips without salt and vinegar.

So therefore play to your strengths. It doesn't always have to be payed down the middle all the time, and although I agree the pack isn't the biggest there are other ways to skin a cat. Kicking game and moving it effectively could be quite entertaining this year. Also think that although not the biggest they do look mobile which will help with new rules which increase the amount of time the ball is in play. Looking forward to seeing what Mr Rowley can deliver tbh

He can send them my way if he wants!

Good result in the Women's Test in Manuka. Australia fell 1 wicket short of a win and England was only 12 runs short of a win. I guess there are good draws.

Whilst there were some good fixtures in the challenge cup, it was also National Cup today. I think there are only, 20 entrants this year but it is good to see support from a few conference sides. Why the dates of the two competition had to coincide when there are no amateur fixtures next week is beyond me Looked initially so Haresfich who are publicity shy so made the long trip up to Cumbria and Cockermouth I had previously visited a pitch adjacent to the Union ground where they changed but things are now looking up for the club with money fri the World Cup Legacy fund and others, they have taken over what I assume was a little used community centre and have worked hard to install two bars and fence off the pitch A crowd of 250 attended and the bard were busy, so a few years ago they would have given all the bat money to the Union club who may well have been good hosts but are their competitors for players. The social side I’d a.so taking off with a race night after the game and bingo and sportsman’s dinners advertised On the field they looked like what they are, a team playing out of season and not fully fit, playing against one from a higher division. I was very impressed by some of the passing from Waterhead who won 66 to 6 with a diplomatic final whistle after 70mins when Cockermouth scored their points I would love to more in this area but as a sign of the times,my first visit was got a 6pm and I drove there and back in a day, now I need a hotel afterwards from a 2pm Off now to Rochdale to see the Hurricanes first match having watched the Bears a couple of times from their inception and about half the home games at The Butts Have seem the comments on West Wales, Cornwall etc and am concerned about the score here as well. Hopefully will be proven wrong Note Haresfinch v Orrell in next round in two weeks so should attend. If anyone has a game next week, please post

Visiting the folks this weekend so a first go at Banbury in a few years. Three laps of a park with two of those having loops of a little grassy island to get you to 5k. No real inclines but otherwise it’s a decent mix of surfaces, straights, curves etc. Made it round in 23:02 which was good enough for 17th out of 210. It’s not much of a PB course so I think proper runners go elsewhere - hence that position!

As others have already said Rocket with televised C4 games kicking off at 1230 pm if your own team has a game at 3pm kick off you can watch the televised game in your local ground boozer then on to your own match , agree with your other points made.

I think Cuthbo will do a good job for you the problem at York was we were always down to the bare bones with injuries so he was maybe playing when he shouldn’t have been and not getting the chance to recuperate. With the squad you have got I’m sure you will get the best out of him and able to rest him when needed unlike us last season. You have some squad there now hardest thing will be to keep them all happy but a nice problem to have and great to see players of that calibre in the championship I will be looking forward to seeing them on Monday especially leilua obviously hoping you start the season slow. You should be favourites to win promotion now and if you do get promoted and build on the squad again you should have no problem staying in super league best of luck after Monday obviously

It`s interesting isn`t it because that`s exactly what I`ve been thinking all through this ` no one is going to turn up because it`s on t.v. ` debate. I`d always thought that televised games attracted better crowds for two main reasons, a) to get on t.v. it is one of the better games that weekend and more likely to draw a crowd anyway, and b) the fact that it is the televised game then has the habit of convincing people, especially casuals who then think well it must be a good game because it`s on t.v. to go along or even take the family or go with a friend. Of course the weather can make a big difference in these situations because as we all know you`ve got to be a die hard to go if the weather isn`t much chop, too easy to stay home and watch it on t.v. But yes certainly I always thought your first sentence was pretty true.

Today I enjoyed a trip to the Miners in Leigh. CC Challenge Round 2 . That brought Anthony Murrays resurgent North Wales Crusaders side to his own ( maybe ) ) grass routes The ground was packed to the rafters and with at least 1500 in there a good time for all concerned. The gate receipts for the Miners will half fund this year's campaign from today alone. For me . bumping into old mates, icons of the amateur game and the pros that came from us . Legends everywhere. with a common voice as to how good it was to be back-- Crusaders had a good day today as well. Their travelling support loved it - especially Wales Leader Mike Nicholas. The big crowd helped. 40 - 8 was on analysis a bit tough on the amateurs who had breaks which if they had converted them would have made a better picture . Crusaders on this showing are certainly top end of Div 1 That Patrick Ah Van by the way needs some stopping at this level !! spiritual home.. The place was packed to the rafters

Clubs don't advise these live games because they don't want them effecting ticket sales, from their point if view its like advertising to stay home, watch it on TV and not visit the stadium....they don't see that getting eyeballs on screens will bring ever better TV deals and sponsorships......they mostly hope / expect other clubs to do they hard work in making TV a success and take the hit on their own ticket sales......appalling business model.

Not seeming to answer for Robin, but my take on it as I think would be Robin's from his previous comments, being in SL and let's be real about this in the natural order of club's neither of Fev or Leigh are going to enter the big boys club of the top 6 richest, wealthiest and best supported, so we will almost certainly be a bottom 6 SL club - maybe a "purple patch" of a season will come about once every blue moon but that will not be the norm So in a system that does not have relegation and something to fight for and make games interesting in the sense that they have a competitive meaning instead of the result doesn't matter, I would not want to be a part of that, I would sooner be relegated.

That's goofy. They've gone to the time and effort to put it together, which is the hard part. Then they want folk to buy a PDF file for 3 quid? Small print runs are cheap nowadays. Run off 100 a match. They'll go

The names 'legend" and "genius" are too easily trotted out. Barry Crier was well deserving of both titles. Thank you Mr Crier For all the laughs you gave me.