#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Parkinson mid-month musings

Entry 40, 16th December 2010.


It has been an interesting few days in rugby league with three particular issues for me to get my teeth into.

First of all Crusaders RL: While I am glad that the Crusaders have emerged from administration to reform I feel it is unfair that where other teams have had to suffer the equivilent point deduction of 3 wins, Crusaders have been deducted two wins or four points. The RFL has explained that the difference is down to the fact that the new club has agreed to inherit a good chunk of debt which the old club amassed and will pay this off. I would guess that the part of the debt to be serviced is the rumoured £500,000 owed to the Rugby League itself who stepped in to help run the crisis torn club during their first season in Super League.

The RFL will also do everything in its power to ensure a Welsh presence in the top division due to the revelations a couple of weeks ago that the country will co-host the 2013 World Cup Event.

While I can see the merits of having such an expansion team in Super League and I truly wish them well, the RFL has to ensure that it is not showing preferential treatment. I would also like to see more English and Welsh lads in their squad next season as opposed to their squad at times being more New South Wales than Wales!

Next on the agenda, England Academy. I applaud and salute the efforts of the England Academy squad in overcoming the Aussie Schoolboys 2-0 in the recent test series. Having been present and had the fortune to report on the first game of the series, the England side was well drilled, ultra committed, skilful and patient. All seventeen players on that day, and indeed the people in the squad can feel proud of their achievements and many of those lads should form the backbone of the 2013 England team for the World Cup. That said, how many will get the opportunity?

Afterall, would we all be talking about Sam Tomkins if Tim Smith hadn't got injured at Wigan? It's a travesty if some of these young guys paths are blocked. It's now a case of these boys pushing through the glass ceiling and being given their heads and time to make an impact at first team level. In my opinion George Burgess can emulate his two older brothers while Adam Milner looks a good prospect at hooker and Sam Powell and Gareth O'Brien are two very useful halfbacks pushing through. Out in the centres, Jordan Thompson of Castleford looks the part and the teenager made 15 appearances in the first team at the Jungle last term, also scoring 4 tries.

It is with sadness that I read today about the Tigers signing Willie Isa, a 21 year old Samoan centre or winger from Melbourne Storm for the season. What is wrong with giving young Thompson more game time? This shows everything that is wrong with the game over here and is probably the reason why more Australian Schoolboy players end up in the NRL - they are given a chance.

And finally, for now! Scottish Football's announcement on a re-evaluation of their league structure.

Readers of my blog over the last few weeks will have seen my musings about the lower leagues and it seems that all is not well in Scottish Football either where as well as the country shivering to a halt in recent days, the two big Glasgow clubs of Rangers and Celtic dominate year in, year out with teams being relegated from the top flight struggling financially for years after relegation or subsequent promotion campaigns.

The Scottish FA have a proposal to run two fully professional 12 team top divisions with everyone below that playing on a regional basis. My own thoughts on the way Rugby League in the semi-pro Championships would operate echo this, although it falls down somewhat through only having 21 clubs and only 7 on the red side of the Pennines if you include the Cumbrian teams too. Next season bar a game against Swinton, and Widnes, Leigh's closest rivals in georaphical terms are across the great divide in Halifax. For me the Championships are three clubs short of the ideal number, although I still think there is value in everyone playing each other in their own league twice and every team in the other league once.

I must admit that three years on I am still against franchising. It is artificial and hasn't done what it said it would do. I think to a certain extent it has killed Championship rugby and I will be amazed if clubs can retain a 2500 average once the drawbridge is pulled up next season. I fully expect Widnes to be given the nod for Super League but what then for the rest of us?

The RFL have recently opened another online consultation to find out fans views on a regionalised pyramid structure for the amateur leagues that are going to run and I will watch for the results with interest.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Centurions reveal kit "in the flesh" and squad list

Entry 39, 11th December

Thursday night saw the Centurions host a Season Launch Night to a sold out Banqueting Suite at Leigh Sports Village. The well attended event was opened up by General Manager David Bradshaw who told the crowd about the demise of the Game-on Magazine and revealed the Centurions would again be producing a programme in 2011.

Leigh's Salford-esque new shirt was on view and it was better than the sketches but still received a mixed reaction. That said in my opinion it will be smart enough with a pair of jeans and there is hope that Santa delivers one to this journalist!

Chief Executive Allan Rowley then took over proceedings and introduced Head Coach Ian Millward to the audience. Millward spoke about training, differing emphasis and his hopes of seeing several young players develop their games further in 2011.

Millward's backroom staff of Assistant Coach Paul Rowley, Reserve Coach Neil Jukes and Player Performance Manager Gary Eccleston were introduced and each gave a quick round-up on progress in their areas at the moment with Rowley helping to implement the current weights and fitness programme, Jukes spoke of his pride in seeing four regular members of last years Reserve side in the first team squad for 2011 and revealed the competition has become Under-23s for the new season. He was also hopeful of more players being able to make the step up in the not too distant future. Eccleston also gave an insight on how the Centurions are looking to the future with the new scholarship which Leigh will be running from next season.

It was then the turn of the players to take centre-stage - literally as each was summoned, given a rousing reception as their favourite song belted out over the sound system and then had to face some questions from the Chief Executive. We heard all about players getting a liking for using rowing machines, about Stuart Littler's hopes for the season ahead and also saw a new svelt Mick Nanyn. We also heard reference to Anthony Nicholson's Tuna and Egg diet and the hopes of Jamie Ellis to be playing against men next season, with Allan Rowley quickly quipping that he'd been outstanding in a recent game against Haydock Ladies! It was all good fun and the players were in good humour with team spirit appearing high amongst the group.

The first team squad list was revealed as follows:

1 Stuart Donlan

2 Steve Maden

3 Stuart Littler

4 Mick Nanyn

5 Dean McGilvray

6 Martyn Ridyard

7 Robbie Paul

8 Chris Hill

9 John Duffy

10 Ricky Bibey

11 James Taylor

12 Tommy Goulden

13 Steve Nash

14 Adam Higson

15 Andy Thornley

16 Anthony Nicholson

17 Craig Briscoe

18 Danny Meekin

19 Jon Pownall

20 Sam Hopkins

21 Matty Blythe

22 Tom Armstrong

23 Mick Govin

24 Andy Gorski

25 Jamie Ellis

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 England Academy name their team to take on the Aussie Schoolboys

Entry 38, 9th December 2010.

The latest press release from the RFL landed in my in-box before.

England Academy are looking to make history tomorrow with the second test at LSV. Here is the write-up:

England Academy Head Coach Dave Elliott has selected his 17-man squad for the second Test against the Australian Schoolboys.

The Academy side recorded an impressive 38-30 victory over the Schoolboys in the opening Test game and they are determined to seal a 2-0 series win at Leigh Sports Village on Friday December 10. (K.O 7.30pm)

The England Academy Squad to face the Australian Schoolboys:

1. Matthew Russell (Wigan Warriors)
2. Ryan King (Warrington Wolves)
3. Jordan Thompson (Castleford Tigers)
4. Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves)
5. Reece Lyne (Hull FC)
6. Gareth O'Brien (Warrington Wolves)
7. Sam Powell (Wigan Warriors)
8. George Burgess (Bradford Bulls)
9. Adam Milner (Capt) (Castleford Tigers)
10. Olsi Krasniqi (Harlequins RL)
11. Danny Bridge (Wigan Warriors)
12. Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves)
13. James Laithwaite (Warrington Wolves)
14. Adam O'Brien (Bradford Bulls)
15. Jared Stewart (Leeds Rhinos)
16. Greg Burke (Wigan Warriors)
17. Matthew Sarsfield (Wigan Warriors)

Tickets for the second Test between the England Academy and the Australian Schoolboys are available on the day and cost £3 Adult and £2 Concessions.

Please support this fixture.

Sadly I won't be able to attend this one myself but best of luck to the England boys!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Australian Schoolboys coach Brendan Barrow gave his reaction to the loss to England

Entry 37, 6th December 2010

In the aftermath of their surprise 38-30 defeat to England Academy, the Australian Schoolboys were entrenched in their dressing rooms for forty minutes with coach Brendan Barrow leading the inquest.

When he did emerge Barrow gave frank and honest assessment of his team's performance.

“We knew it was going to be tough and in the first half we had a few things to deal with and we were fairly heavily behind on the penalty count but we were happy about where we were at half-time.”

“We were 12-all and came out after the break and really exploded out of the blocks well and did a great job there but we went into a bit of a sad time there at the back end of that second half. We struggled with some effort and the scoreline resembled that.” He said.

After twice holding twelve point advantages, the Schoolboys loosened their grip on the game and allowed England to overhaul them.

“It was a couple of little things that we did, just one or two things that changed momentum and I think the boys learned that. You don’t need to make a lot of things go wrong in this game to turn momentum. We had some really good momentum going forward and we probably played with that a bit and got bored with it and weren’t prepared to do a couple of little things and it swung it back England’s way.”

Barrow continued, “A couple of penalties legged them up a bit and they got into a try-scoring position and went on from there. All credit to them, they used that momentum change.”

“We have to play for eighty minutes. I was really proud of the boys at half-time, they really got a lot thrown at them in the first half and we probably should have been behind by a lot on the scoreboard, but we played great offensively and defensively to stay in the game, they did that and we had a good chat at halftime. We put a couple of tries on right after then and then got out to 30-18, and that momentum thing kicked back and we’ve just got to learn to deal with that and handle that a bit better next time.”

When questioned about his side’s discipline, Barrow commented, “There were a lot of penalties, everyone could see that. We have to have a look and see where we went wrong in those areas. We are over here in England, on English soil and we’ve got to abide by the rules, look at that and learn from it.”

Despite being hampered by the weather and late change of plans for the game, the Schoolboys refused to blame them for defeat.

“Preparation was great I couldn’t fault it and our first half showed it when we stuck at everything well but you can’t win a game in fifteen minutes in rugby league but you can lose one. I think that’s what we did tonight.”

“We are grateful that we got to play. If we’d stayed where we were we wouldn’t have played.”

The Australians are 1-0 down in the two match series and their mindset is simple.

“We’ll be back next week and it’s pretty obvious what we have to do.”