DPRL

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

2010-12-16T21:22:00.001Z

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

2010-12-11T19:30:00.001Z

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

2010-12-09T21:58:00.003Z

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

2010-12-06T21:44:00.001Z

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.”

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Elliott happy with England Victory

2010-12-06T21:42:00.001Z

Entry 36, 6th December 2010

After seeing England Academy defeat Australia for just the fourth time. I caught up with boss Dave Elliott for his reaction:

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT – ELLIOTT PRAISES PERFORMANCE OF HIS BATTLING YOUNG CHARGES

England Academy coach Dave Elliott was full of praise for his super seventeen after England's Academy elite defeated Australia's finest in gripping style on Saturday.

“I'm extremely happy and really proud.” The Cumbrian said.

“I think the guys have shown a lot of passion there for England but also a lot of commitment and patience. We could easily have folded at 30-18 and a big, big pat on the back for the fellas, I thought they were outstanding today.”

At the heart of England's dominant start was Bradford youngster George Burgess. “George had a point to prove.” Elliott said. “It's always hard having a famous older brother but he set a platform for us. He was really strong in go-forward and really strong in the game.”

He wasn't the only one, with the coach quick to praise Wigan scrum half Sam Powell as “sensational”, he continued, “I thought our two halves were really good to be honest. Gaz O'Brien kicked them to death, and Sam was really good, especially when we were behind. Adam Milner was too, he came off the bench when we were 30-18 down and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and got us back into it. As a captain he showed a real passion and gave a real captain's knock. Our back-row impressed and we were really strong off our bench.”

“We said before that we'd train as a team and win as a team and that really stood out.”

England's preparation had been hampered with the team based up in Barrow before the game was switched to Leigh. As a result of the icy conditions it meant much of the preparation was done indoors.

“It was really tough and up until Friday we hadn't had a team run.” Elliott explained, “We'd been training indoors and all weather pitches were we could. We've been working a lot on our metal side and our mental preparation. This week was all to be about fine tuning. It was about keeping the lads together and making them believe that this could be a special week and it's turned out to be.”

“The Australians are big, athletic and physical but I think now people should start looking at our fellas. We've got some big athletic kids who potentially have got big futures in this game. The Australians are a fantastically skilled side. The game was a great advert for rugby league. There were times I was looking on thinking 'that was a fantastic game to watch'. Our fellas should be really proud of their efforts.”

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Match Record 6

2010-12-06T21:38:00.001Z

Entry 35, 6th December 2010

GREAT BRITAIN STUDENTS 20
AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES 30

Leigh’s international double header weekend entered a second day when Leigh East’s state of art 3g pitch hosted a hotly contested student international between the two old foes.

From the outset tempers were short and the first major incident, other than loose handling from both sides in the cold and fog was a 6th minute brawl where particularly Australian Levi Freeman was lucky to remain on the pitch. With several transgressors from the two sides it took the match officials a little time to sort out and Matt Garside (GB) and Anthony Don (Australia) were sinbinned.

It was Great Britain who settled down first and the Students took the lead when hooker Jonnie Horton, a massive influence in the first half, darted out from behind a play-the-ball and Nigel Scott supported to go under the posts before goaling himself for a 6-0 lead on 16 minutes.

With the pack featuring Adam Scott, Mike Sykes, Andy Marsh, Kris Hodson and Mark Wool, Great Britain remained in control and added a second try after 21 minutes. It came after a flowing move down the left was sparked by a Wool offload and Garside seared through the defence before finding Nigel Scott a second time.

Scott continued his point accumulation with the conversion and then added a 26th minute penalty when Garside was tackled high. Great Britain remained in ascendancy but couldn’t add further points despite the promptings of Jymel Coleman and Horton. The closest they came to a try was in the 34th minute when Coleman and Nigel Scott gave Jack Sampson some space but Australia tackled back with relish and centre Michael Commerford stood his ground.

Three minutes later Horton split the defence and won a penalty for his side. This allowed Nigel Scott the chance to add his fourth goal and increase the hosts advantage to 16-0.

From the resumption Great Britain knocked on and sensing an opportunity Jonathan Thurston look-a-like scrum half Cameron Bruce opened the defence with a pass to Mitch Seaton who returned the favour for the halfback to go under the posts and convert.

It meant that despite not really being in the contest for field position in the first half, Australia were well poised for the second period.

While Great Britain sought the warmth of the dressing rooms, the Australian coaching staff kept the team on the pitch and it meant that they started the second half a completely different animal.

A couple of minutes into the new half Sampson was pinned behind his line and from the resulting possession, Australia drove within range for the excellent Tommy Butterfield to bury through a mass of bodies.

With Don looking an increasing threat, the fullback broke into Great Britain territory. Marsh then conceded a penalty but it took a wonderful pass out of the tackle from Seaton to unlock the defence fully for Adam Hansen to finish well at the corner. A superb touchline conversion from Bruce put the Universities in front and they didn’t look back with Gary Windass and Luke Kelly setting a good lead.

Butterfield nabbed his second try after 52 minutes and when prop Marty Cordwell powered over for the fifth Australian try in succession twelve minutes later, the game was threatening to run away from the Students.

To their credit, the Students knuckled down again with Adam Scott prominent in many of their best plays while Sampson threatened on occasion. Largely though, Australia continued to work through their game with the field kicking of Drew Dalton pushing Great Britain back in demoralising fashion before Nigel Scott combined with Adam Scott to pull back a consolation near the end.

All eyes will turn to Cheltenham on Wednesday night with Great Britain looking to repeat their first half performance over the course of eighty minutes while the Australians will also want more consistency.

GAMEBREAKER: Halftime gave Australia time to focus and their quick start to the second half caught Great Britain out.

GAMESTAR: Tommy Butterfield controlled the game from dummy half for Australia in the second half and also notched two tries for his troubles.

GREAT BRITAIN STUDENTS

1        Jack Sampson

2        Kris Wilkes

7        John Paxton

11 Matt Garside

4   Harry Mostyn

19 Pat Smith

12 Nigel Scott

17 Adam Scott

23 Jonnie Horton

18 Mike Sykes

13 Andy Marsh

21 Kris Hodson

5   Mark Wool

Substitutes (All Used)

20 Jymel Coleman

3   Laurence Pearce

15 Liam Gilchrist

14 Dan Kerr

Tries: Nigel Scott (16, 21), Adam Scott (78).

Goals: Nigel Scott 4/4, Mark Wool 0/1.

Sinbinned: Matt Garside (6 – Fighting).

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES

1        Anthony Don

2        Hillal Kara Ali

3        Mitch Seaton

4        Michael Commerford

5        Adam Hansen

6        Drew Dalton

7        Cameron Bruce

8        Marty Cordwell

9        Tommy Butterfield

10    Gary Windass

11    Levi Freeman

12    Simon Larkis

13    Luke Muttdon

Substitutes (All Used)

14    Michael Gavan

16    Brenton Stonier

17    Luke Kelly

18    Daniel Sleeman

Tries: Bruce (39), Butterfield (44, 52), Hansen (49), Cordwell (64).

Goals: Bruce 5/5.

Sinbinned: Anthony Don (6 – Fighting).

Referee: Warren Turley

Penalties: 15-12

Attendance: Approx 200.

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match:

Great Britain: Nigel Scott

Australia: Tommy Butterfield.

Scoring Sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 14-0, 16-0, 16-6; 16-12, 16-18, 16-24, 16-30, 20-30.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Match Record 5

2010-12-06T13:00:00.001Z

Entry 34, 6th December 2010

England Academy 38
Australian Schoolboys 30

Dave Elliott's England Academy team were the toast of the country on Saturday evening after a superb performance saw them twice overcome twelve point deficits to take the opening spoils in the two match series.

Following a midweek switch from Barrow, the impressive Leigh Sports Village was the setting for the first test between the Australian Schoolboys and England Academy and by the time kickoff arrived there was no sign of the snow that has proved so troublesome across the country.

The game also marked a return to the field for Super League referee Steve Ganson, himself no stranger to the international scene.

England opened the score after two minutes when two quick penalties saw them march 60 metres upfield. The first came on the back of a high tackle from prop Matthew Groat. This put England in ascendancy and after big drives from George Burgess and Ben Evans, Sam Powell sent the ball left for Wigan team-mate Danny Bridge to cross the line. Gareth O'Brien added the first of seven goals and it started a period of dominance for the English.

Starved of possession and haemorrhaging penalties, Australia were up against it as the England pack, led by powerhouse Burgess, who looks set to follow brothers Sam and Luke into the big time, set the platform.

During his first stint Burgess was excellent. With fearless running and just enough aggression in the tackle to have a few Australian forwards giving a sidewards glance everytime he was on the radar. Skipper Adam Milner and eventual man-of-the-match James Laithwaite also worked hard.

Milner knocked on at the line after four minutes but England continued to force the Australian defence to scramble with Jacob Gagan twice denying tries to opposite wing Reece Lyne.

A rare excursion took Australia into the England half when scrum-half Harry Siejka fired a superb touch finder and the hosts lost the ball. This allowed a counter attack down the left from Trent Jennings at the base of the scrum but Gareth O'Brien tackled back. It was a frustrating time for Australia with captain Paul Carter and Michael Chee-Kam penalised.

With 23 minutes gone, England missed out on a try when Milner's foot brushed the touchline and momentum was lost with the withdrawal of Burgess. It was the Joeys turn to pounce. First Siejka split the defence with a run right out of the Geoff Toovey box of tricks before linking with Gagan down the right. That fifty metre attack put the hosts on the back foot and after Jordan Thompson came up with an excellent tackle on Jack Wighton, he was unable to stop Jennings finish at the corner like Brent Tate, ducking his shoulder through the gap.

This gave a difficult conversion attempt to interchange forward Anthony Gadd but he kicked it to tie the game at 6-6 after 26 minutes.

Australia looked to be getting on top and were soon in the England twenty on the back of some strong running by Chee-Kam and a couple of rare penalties. Sadly for the Joeys, a promising move came to nought when Carter saw the ball slip from his grasp.

Back came the English and they scored a second try when Ryan King went over at the corner after Gareth O'Brien spun a pass out just like his Warrington mentor Lee Briers. O'Brien also converted but not to be outdone, Australia's response was quick and a swirling kick was spilled by England allowing Vaipuna Tia Kilifi to romp over. Gadd again levelled the game with his second goal.

There was still time for more drama when big David Klemmer was sinbinned for talking back to Mr Ganson before the break but Australia held out to go into halftime locked at 12-all.

The second half began superbly for the Australian Schoolboys and they caught England napping in the first few minutes of the half. The otherwise solid Matthew Russell knocked on at the back for England when he tried to recover a well placed Siejka grubber kick on the greasy surface.

The position was set and the Schoolboys went route one with simple ruck plays. After Siejka was stopped on the line, Redman dived over and Gadd's goal finally put some daylight between the Australians and England.

Despite England marching downfield to a threatening position, it was Australia that scored against the run of play. Unlucky Lyne saw a grubber kick for him expertly picked up by Gagan and he outflanked Rhys Evans and Gareth O'Brien before Lyne flew at him to haul him back inches from the try line.

With England's defence splintered, the ball came to the middle and Jack Wighton motored through to score another Gadd improved try.

Errors began to creep into play and after Australia spilled the ball England scrum-half Powell scooped up and went over, showing some nifty dance steps to evade the clutches of Tautau Moga that wouldn't have looked out of place on television on a Saturday night! O'Brien's third goal made it 24-18, but again Australia stepped up their efforts and notched a further six points when a Siejka linked with Carter for the Bulldogs player to go under the posts after 62 minutes.

At 30-18 it should have been game over for England but they blasted back into the contest three minutes later when a rare offload in the wet unlocked the defence.

Greg Burke got the pass away and Milner scurried down the middle before linking with Wigan's Leigh-born Matthew Sarsfield and he went over under the posts. It was then the turn of Thompson to get over the line when a towering kick from O'Brien was spilled by Henare Wells after 69 minutes and the centre was quickest to react. All of a sudden it was 28-30 and the Australians were left reeling when O'Brien tied the game with a 72nd minute penalty after Carter said too much.

England then went for the throat with Burgess, Milner and Burke to the fore. This extra impetus allowed halfbacks O'Brien and Powell to take centre stage and Powell obliged with great opportunism, to pounce on his own kick for a second try following a Gerard McCallum fumble. O'Brien converted and then rubbed salt in Australian wounds with a late penalty to confirm a pulsating 38-30 win.

GAMESTAR: Any one of five in white shirts. George Burgess was a collossus, Adam Milner turned the game, James Laithwaite was non-stop throughout while halfbacks Gareth O'Brien and Sam Powell were a classic combination.

GAMEBREAKER: Powell's second try which followed a difficult grubber kick was opportunism personified and with the conversion it was 36-30 with only a few minutes left. It capped a magnificent turnaround for the young England team.

ENGLAND

1 Matthew Russell

2 Ryan King

3 Jordan Thompson

4 Rhys Evans

5 Reece Lyne

6 Gareth O'Brien

7 Sam Powell

8 George Burgess

9 Adam Milner (C)

10 Ben Evans

11 Danny Bridge

12 Jack Hughes

13 James Laithwaite

Subs (All Used)

14 Adam O'Brien

15 Jared Stewart

16 Greg Burke

17 Matthew Sarsfield

Tries: Bridge (2), King (33), Powell (55, 72), Sarsfield (65), Thompson (69)

Goals: O'Brien 7/8

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS

1 Henare Wells

2 Jacob Gagan

3 Tautau Moga

4 Trent Jennings

5 David Nofoaluma

6 Jack Wighton

7 Harry Siejka

8 Chris Grevsmuhl

9 Chad Redman

10 Matthew Groat

11 Lachlan Burr

12 Vaipuna Tia Kilifi

13 Paul Carter (C)

Subs (All Used)

14 Gerard McCallum

15 Michael Chee-Kam

16 Anthony Gadd

17 David Klemmer

Tries: Jennings (26), Tia Kilifi (36), Redman (42), Wighton (47), Carter (62).

Goals: Gadd 5/5.

Sinbinned: Klemmer (37 - Dissent)

Referee: Steve Ganson

Penalties 20-7 to England

Attendance: 732

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 - Australian Schoolboys and England Academy name their teams

2010-12-04T11:24:00.000Z

Entry 33, 4th December 2010

The two teams have been named ahead of the Academy International at Leigh this afternoon.

Follow @DParkyRL on Twitter for score updates if you can't get there. If you can it's £3 entry - a bargain to see the stars of tomorrow.

Here is the named Australian side

1. Henare Wells    QSSRL
2. Jacob Gagan             NSWCHS
3. Tautau Moga             QSSRL
4. Trent Jennings    NSWCHS
5. David Nofoaluma    NSWCCC
6. Jack Wighton    ACT
7. Harry Siejka    NSWCHS
8. Chris Grevsmuhl    QSSRL
9. Chad Redman             NSWCHS
10. Matthew Groat    NSWCCC
11. Lachlan Burr    NSWCHS
12. Vaipuna Tia Kilifi    NSWCCC
13. Paul Carter (C)    NSWCHS
14. Gerard McCallum    NSWCHS
15. Michael Chee-Kam    ACT
16. Anthony Gadd    QSSRL
17. David Klemmer    NSWCHS

So far on tour, the schoolboys have once again proved a class apart for Wales U-18s and the England Community Lions U-18s winning 52-4 and 56-6 respectively.

Here are the list of scorers from the game with Wales:

Harry Siejka - 2T 5G
Chad Redman - 2T
Paul Carter - 2T
Jacob Gagan - 2T
Tautau Moga - 1T
Chris Grevsmuhl - 1T
Anthony Gadd - 1G

And then the scorers from the game against the Community Lions at Featherstone:

David Nofoaluma - 2T 1G
Trent Jennings - 2T
Michael Chee-Kam - 1T
Vaipuna Tia Kilifi - 1T
Tautau Moga - 1T
Iain Riccardi - 1T
Henare Wells - 1T
Chris Grevsmuhl - 1T
Anthony Gadd - 5G
Harry Siejka - 2G

Once again here are the 17 lads looking to topple the Aussies with Rhys Evans, Reece Lyne and Adam Milner all enjoying first team run outs for their clubs in Super League.

1 - Matthew Russell (Wigan Warriors)
2 - Ryan King (Wigan Warriors)
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 (Castleford Tigers) (capt)
10 - Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves)
11 - Danny Bridge (Wigan Warriors)
12 - Jack Hughes (Wigan Warriors)
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)

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 More thoughts on the future of the Championships

2010-12-03T23:45:00.000Z

Entry 32, 3rd December 2010

I believe that clubs building for Super League or wishing to challenge for honours should be in the Championship, yet I do support promotion and relegation.

There needs to be a way of getting away from the thought of this and the Northern Rail Cup achieving a tick in a box. They are competitions that should be prestigious enough to win in their own right.

The Championship One Division is the one that urgently needs looking at as these clubs need more money pumping into them.

This competition needs to not become a graveyard for clubs and offer fans hope for the future while also looking at new clubs starting or those like Bramley and Hemel who may be able to step up.

I think from 2012 that any promotion/relegation should include Toulouse.

Some people may suggest that franchasing or licensing is the way forward for the competition but I dod not believe it is so.

I think the Championships are also about giving chances to players who have been overlooked at Super League level for whatever reason and these clubs play a very important part in the future of both the game and players careers.

One thing I would like to see are more local derbies in the system which could maybe be achieved by operating some sort of conferencing with the top two in each conference heading into semi-finals for perhaps another cup/cups - perhaps resurrecting the Lancashire and Yorkshire Cups. I just think it wouldthen give chance of another big day out for fans of clubs to enjoy.

I believe in its current format there aren't enough fixtures to sustain a viable competition. Conferencing to a certain extent may help to provide these extra fixtures.

If this would not work, perhaps look at a system like was tried in Scotland where a cut-off point at a certain date is reached and clubs in the top half and the bottom half of the table then separate and play each other again for extra fixtures.

Perhaps a structure similar to the Rugby Union Championship could be adopted where after 20+ games the clubs are separated into groups to contest who makes the finals etc or even look at an Anglo-French Cup. I also always liked the Divisional Premiership Competition that seemed to work with a degree of success before the Northern Ford Leagues were amalgamated/grand finals were contested beyond 1998.

The short lived Challenge Cup Plate also produced some interesting games during its one season in place.

I would also like to see perhaps something like a Champions Challenge tournament to kick the season off.

As you can tell I'm an ideas man... What do others reckon to some of these thoughts?

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Challenge Cup Draw nears...

2010-12-03T22:50:00.000Z

Entry 31, 3rd December 2010.

The following press release came direct from the RFL about the Preliminary and First Round Draws in the 2010/11 Carnegie Challenge Cup:

George Hotel to host Carnegie Challenge Cup draws

The draws for the Preliminary and First Rounds of the 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup will take place at the iconic George Hotel in Huddersfield on Tuesday December 7.

Warrington Wolves captain Adrian Morley, who lifted the Carnegie Challenge Cup in both 2009 and 2010, will be a guest of honour to make the draw alongside team-mate and 2010 Lance Todd Trophy winner Lee Briers.

Representatives from all 65 community clubs involved in the early stages of Rugby League’s oldest and most prestigious knockout competition have been invited to attend the draw which will take place at around 7.00pm.

All the teams from the National Conference League Premier, First and Second Divisions are included in the draws along with the winners of a number of regional community leagues and Cups.

These include the champions of the Yorkshire, Hull and District, Cumberland, North West Counties and Pennine Leagues as well as the winners of the Lancashire and Yorkshire County Cups and Cumberland ARL nominees Seaton Rangers.

Other teams involved are Valley Cougars and Carluke Tigers – the Welsh and Scottish champions - seven University teams, five RLC teams, the RAF, Army, Royal Navy and the British Police.

The early stages of the competition are split into two pools, Pools A and B. Pool A contains the 39 National Conference League clubs, the five regional League winners, the Yorkshire and Lancashire County cup winners and the Cumberland ARL nomination.

Pool B contains the Combined Services teams, the British Police, student teams, Welsh champions, Scottish champions and Rugby League Conference teams.

The Preliminary Round draw will be made in two stages. In the first, seven matches will be drawn from Pool A with 19 clubs receiving a bye to the First Round where they will join the 14 NCL Premier teams.

Two matches will then be drawn from Pool B, with 11 clubs receiving a bye to the First Round where they will join the three services teams.

The First Round draw will also be made in two stages. Firstly 20 matches will be drawn from Pool A and then eight matches will be drawn from Pool B.

The Preliminary Round ties will be played over the weekend of January 8 and 9 with the First Round ties scheduled to be played over the weekend of January 22 and 23.

For more information about the Carnegie Challenge Cup visit www.carnegiechallengecup.co.uk

Pool A

Bradford Dudley Hill (NCL Premier)

Castleford Lock Lane (NCL 2)

Castleford Panthers (NCL 1)

Crosfields (NCL 2)

East Hull (NCL Premier)

East Leeds (NCL 2)

Eastmoor Dragons (NCL 2)

Eccles & Salford Juniors (NCL 1)

Egremont Rangers (NCL 2)

Elland (NCL 2)

Heworth (NCL 2)

Hull Dockers (NCL Premier)

Hunslet Warriors (NCL 2)

Ince Rose Bridge (NCL 1)

Leigh East (NCL Premier)

Leigh Miners Rangers (NCL Premier)

Milford Marlins (NCL 1)

Millom (NCL 1)

Myton Warriors (NCL 1)

Normanton Knights (NCL 1)

Oldham St Annes (NCL 1)

Oulton Raiders (NCL 1)

Ovenden (NCL 2)

Rochdale Mayfield (NCL 1)

Saddleworth Rangers (NCL Premier)

Shaw Cross Sharks (NCL 2)

Siddal (NCL Premier)

Skirlaugh (NCL Premier)

Stanley Rangers (NCL 1)

Stanningley (NCL 1)

Thatto Heath Crusaders (NCL Premier)

Waterhead (NCL 2)

Wath Brow Hornets (NCL Premier)

West Bowling (NCL 2)

West Hull (NCL Premier)

Widnes St Maries (NCL 1)

Wigan St Judes (NCL Premier)

Wigan St Patricks (NCL Premier)

York Acorn (NCL Premier)

Drighlington (Pennine League)

Fryston (Yorkshire League)

Norland Sharks (Hull League)

Halton Simms Cross (North West Counties)

Seaton Rangers (Cumberland ARL Nomination)

Kells (Cumberland League Winners)

Lancashire Cup winners

Yorkshire Cup winners

Pool B

Leeds Met Carnegie (Student)

University of Hull (Student)

Loughborough University (Student)

Northumbria University (Student)

University of Central Lancashire (Student)

Gloucestershire University (Student)

Edge Hill University (Student)

Featherstone Lions (RLC)

Warrington Wizards (RLC)

Kippax Knights (RLC)

St Albans Centurions (RLC)

Northampton (RLC)

Carluke Tigers (Scotland champions)

Valley Cougars (Wales Champions)

Royal Navy RL (Combined Services)

Royal Air Force RL (Combined Services)

Army RL (Combined Services)

British Police

-ends-

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 England Academy Team has a local flavour

2010-12-03T22:43:00.000Z

Entry 30, 3rd December 2010

England Academy coach Dave Elliott has named his squad to take on the formidable Australian Schoolboys at Leigh on saturday (2PM) and it is a side packed with players from Wigan and Warrington. Warrington have four members of the squad in: Rhys Evans (centre), Gareth O'Brien (stand-off), Ben Evans (prop) and James Laithwaite (loose forward).

The Warriors in the squad are: Matthew Russell (fullback), Ryan King (wing), Sam Powell (scrum-half), Danny Bridge (second row), Jack Hughes (second row), Greg Burke (substitute), Matthew Sarsfield (substitute)

Super League experience is provided by Reece Lyne (Hull) while the team is skippered by Castleford hooker Adam Milner. Also George Bugess, younger brother of South Sydney forward Sam is selected in an international side for the first time since turning professional with his twin brother at Odsal.

According to an RFL press release, former Centurions Youth Development officer and coach Elliott said, “We know the Australians are big, strong lads who’ll make things tough for us,” said Elliot. “So we’ll be going into this game expecting the same type of physical game we always get from Australia.

“But we’ve got a group of very talented players to chose from ourselves. Several of our squad have already had Super League experience and that combination of talent and experience provides us with a team capable of putting in some really good performances and getting a result.

“There is a confident mood in camp and the conditions could prove tough for the Australians so we’ll have to exploit that on the day.”

The full squad announced for tomorrow's game is:

1 - Matthew Russell (Wigan Warriors)
2 - Ryan King (Wigan Warriors)
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 (Castleford Tigers) (capt)
10 - Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves)
11 - Danny Bridge (Wigan Warriors)
12 - Jack Hughes (Wigan Warriors)
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)

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Marshall bags Golden Boot

2010-12-02T22:07:00.003Z

Entry 29, 2nd December 2010

I'm glad to see that one of my predictions has come good this year! Whilst Featherstone let me down at the final hurdle in the Championship and Warrington couldn't rise to win the Super League crown, I was right with my pick of Benji Marshall as the World's best player.

To be honest it was a no brainer.

I went into some detail of Benji's career in an earlier article but for those of you who didn't see what I put, here it is again:

BENJI MARSHALL

For several years Benji Marshall has wowed the crowds in the NRL and certainly since working with Tim Sheens the talented halfback has taken his game to a whole new level.

The 25 year old was first graded in the NRL as a precocious teenager in 2003 and made his debut for Wests Tigers in a Round 20 game against Newcastle Knights. After leaving his native New Zealand, he went on to play for the formidable Australian Schoolboys after being offered a rugby scholarship by a school in Queensland.

He looked set to add to his experience in 2004 and helped guide Wests to win the World Sevens event before two dislocated shoulders brought an end to his season.

The following year he was back and better than ever. He played 27 games for Wests during the season and scored 15 tries as the merged club won the Premiership for the first time.

Once again, injury intervened in 2006 and again in 2007. It looked like another frustrating season lay infront of Marshall in 2008. He opened the season as part of a team that defeated St George 24-16 but only played one further game in the first 9 weeks. Thankfully for him and the Tigers, his return saw him again take up an important role and he was at his best when the Bulldogs were vanquished 56-4, scoring a try, laying a couple on and kicking 8 goals for a 20 point haul.

That momentum was carried into the 2008 World Cup and Marshall got better as the tournament went
on, playing a key role in a semi-final defeat of England before impressing against Australia in the final when the Kiwis won in excellent fashion 34-20.

2009 signalled a change for Marshall as he switched from stand-off to scrum half. Initially the changeover was slow but when Benji got up to speed with the position he excelled. This term has seen Marshall return to the blistering form of 2005. In 27 NRL matches he scored 12 tries, kicked 76 goals and 3 drop goals while he has really found his form in the Four Nations, leading from the front against England and conjuring a couple of plays when the Kiwis backs were to the wall last weekend.

He has now appeared 130 times for the Tigers, scoring 53 tries, kicking 207 goals and those three drop goals for 629 points.

####

Now the Rugby League World is at Marshall's feet. He was inspirational in the Four Nations Final and magic in the previous game against Australia, almost single handedly bringing Kiwi respectability back after the Aussies got out to a big lead. To be honest, Benji has always been destined for superstardom in the sport and his crowning try in the 2008 World Cup Final, well I still see it in my minds eye, the fumble from Billy Slater, the look of disgust and then abject panic as the champion halfback scooped up the mistake and scored.

His play at the very death of the 2010 Four Nations Final will go down in history. It made glorious television and radio as he took the ball to the line on the last tackle, fired a wide pass right for Shaun Kenny-Dowall to work the numbers game and forge a break for Jason Nightingale. If that pass was not sublime enough, with the vision and the footwork to really create, Marshall then had the gumption to follow up and when Nightingale's inside pass was played at by Darren Lockyer, it was the Kiwi who picked up the pieces and looked set to score himself before a desparing tackle slowed him down and another speculative offload, this time over his left shoulder was collected on the bounce for Nathan Fein to go under the posts.

I'd describe it as Rugby League poetry, equal to any of Shakespeare's sonnets or the best of William Blake. He is a pivotal player and I believe he is getting better.

Today, Marshall spoke to the Wests Tigers Website. He said: “To win this award, after coming back from three shoulder reconstructions, winning the Four Nations, and having my best ever year since I’ve started in the NRL, is pretty overwhelming,’’ Marshall said.

“I’m pretty excited. It is something I definitely won’t take for granted.”

“Losing my Dad was pretty tough. He was my number one supporter. He watched every game I played in and would offer advice,’’ Marshall recalled.

“ I said at his funeral that I would dedicate this year to him. Before every game I said a prayer, something I normally don’t do, but I did it because I knew how much he loved his church.

“I not only wanted to play for myself but in memory for him.

“My mum has been keeping track of everything I do too, so she would be over the moon.”

“I have matured on and off the field this year. On the field, I feel I have taken on more of a leadership role and directed the team around more than usual,’’ he said.

“I have to give plenty of credit to the Wests Tigers players for what they do around me and letting me play my game. They make me look good a lot of the time.

“I also like to thank the coaching staff of Tim Sheens, Royce Simmons, Peter Gentle and everyone involved with the club. Without them, these awards don’t happen for me.”

"I have plenty of respect for everything Tim has done for me," he said.

“Coming from school as a touch footy player who didn’t really know much about rugby league, Tim taught me everything I know.

“I am the player I am today because of Tim and I still have plenty more to learn.

“We have a great relationship on and off the field. He has definitely been like a father figure for me in Sydney.”

Again my congratulations to Benji on an outstanding 2010. I hope 2011 is just as successful and that I get the chance to see Mr Marshall playing for the Kiwis in next season's Four Nations.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 More from the RFL about the Academy International at Leigh on Saturday

2010-12-02T17:42:00.001Z

Entry 28, 2nd December 2010

Being on the RFL press list gets you some interesting stories sent through and one such story that landed in my inbox today featured England Academy skipper Adam Milner. The Castleford hooker is a top prospect and will be looking to break into the Tigers first team on a regular basis before too long. Before then however, he has the little matter of leading the England Academy team out against the Aussie Schoolboys.

Here is a copy of the press release:

England Academy captain Adam Milner is relishing the opportunity to lead his country from the front when they face the Australian Schoolboys in the first of a two Test series at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, December 4. (K.O 2:00pm)

Milner will join a list of past England Academy captains which includes England’s recent Four Nations captain James Graham. Graham’s international teammates Sam Burgess and Luke Robinson are just a selection of other players who have recently represented the England Academy side before progressing to senior level and Milner is hoping to follow their footsteps.

“It’s a great privilege for me to be named as captain of the England side,” said Milner. “It’s also a bit of a surprise. I’ve never really been a captain before but I’m really honoured to be given the captains role and I can’t wait to lead the boys out to face the Schoolboys.”

“If I can be anything like some of the players who have previously played for the Academy then I’d be delighted. To be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Burgess and Graham is an honour for me, but I know I have a long way to go before I can be considered in their class. But it’s a great confidence boost to know so many academy players have gone on to become England players.”

On the eve of the Academy's first Test against the Australian Schoolboys, Milner and his squad know they have the opportunity to prove themselves against their counterparts from Down Under and he says there is a confident mood within the Academy camp.

“Training so far has been going good,” said the Castleford Tigers player. “We’ve worked hard at getting the squad to blend together and the team spirit now is fantastic.

“We’re expecting the games against the Australians to be very tough and we’ve heard rumours about the players coming over here, but we've been studying their team to see what exactly we’re going up against and what we need to do.

“We’ve got some very talented players in this side and I’m confident that we can perform well on the day and get the result that we all want.”

Tickets for the England Academy versus Australian Schoolboy on Saturday, December 4 at Leigh Sports Village (K.O 2:00pm) can be purchased on the day and cost £3.

-ends-

#rugbyleague Blog 2010/11 More International Action in Leigh this weekend..

2010-12-02T12:50:00.000Z

Entry 27, 2nd December 2010

More International Rugby League is on its way to Leigh on Sunday when the respective Student teams of GB and Australia do battle.

Here is the official press release sent out by the RFL

The Great Britain Students Rugby League side are making their final preparations ahead of a two game Test Series against Australian Universities which is scheduled to kick off on Sunday.

The first Test Match at Leigh East is scheduled to kick off at 2pm and Great Britain will be heading into it full of confidence after triumphing in their two warm up fixtures.

Great Britain Students Head Coach Paul Fletcher said: “It’s going to be a very close series as Australian Universities boast some very talented players.

“But I feel our boys are better prepared than ever after two tough warm up games and our training camp at Liverpool University. Our forwards are working very well and we are forging some excellent combinations in attack, so the signs are very positive.”

Rochdale's Town team provided the first competition for the Great Britain Students team, losing out 42-18, before Combined Services provided a thorough work out in an entertaining game at Cheltenham which the students won 38-12.

The second Test Match is scheduled to be played at the Prince of Wales Stadium in Cheltenham on Wednesday night kicking off at 7.30pm.

The Australian Universities team have prepared for the series by triumphing over a France select XIII in Paris on November 23 and beating a French Universities side 30-26 three days later on November 26 at stade Mercier, Cobeil Essonnes, Paris.

Australian Universities also inflicted a heavy defeat on the Combined Services team in Portsmouth on Wednesday night.

Great Britain Students

> Jack Sampson (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Patrick Evans University of Gloucestershire)
> Kris Wilkes (Llandrillo College)
> John Paxton (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Matt Garside (Northumbria University)
> Dan Kerr (Loughborough University)
> Harry Mostyn (Loughborough University)
> Jy’mel Coleman (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Pat Smith (Sheffield Hallam University)
> Nigel Scott (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Mark Wool (Loughborough University)
> Michael Sykes (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Adam Scott (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Laurence Pearce (Bishop Burton College)
> Liam Gilchrist (University of Central Lancashire)
> Andy Marsh (Manchester Met University)
> Kris Hodson (c) (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Joe Walsh (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> John Horton (Leeds Met Carnegie)
> Lee Hudson (Edge Hill University)

Coach: Paul Fletcher

Australian Universities

> Jarrod Biggs (Queensland University of Technology)
> Cameron Breust (University of Canberra)
> Tommy Butterfield (University of the Sunshine Coast)
> Michael Comerford (Central Queensland University)
> Martin Cordwell (Queensland University of Technology)
> Drew Dalton (University of Western Sydney)
> Anthony Don (Newcastle University)
> Levi Freeman (Master Builders Association Training Centre Canberra)
> Michael Gavan (Newcastle University)
> Joshua Goulton (University of Wollongong)
> Adam Hansen (University of Technology Sydney)
> Hillal Kara-Ali (University of Western Sydney)
> Luke Kelley (Australian Business Academy Sydney)
> Simon Lakis (Australian College of Physical Education Sydney)
> Luke Muttdon (University of Wollongong)
> Paul Salamakis ( McDonalds Training Department, Sydney)
> Mitch Seaton (Charles Sturt University Albury)
> Daniel Sleeman (Griffith University)
> Brenton Stonier (Central Queensland University)
> Gary Windass (Meadowbank College)
> Darcy Wright (Queensland University of Technology)

Coach: Grant Stephensen

Great Britain Students v Australian Universities (1st Test)
Sunday December 5
Leigh East
KO 2pm

Great Britain Students v Australian Universities (2nd Test)
Wednesday December 8
Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham
KO 7.30pm

#rugbyleague Blog 2010/11 - International Rugby returns to Leigh... tell as many people as possible!

2010-12-01T21:02:00.000Z

Entry 26, 1st December 2010

The Leigh Sports Village will hold its second Rugby League International this weekend when Great Britain Academy will take on the Australian Schoolboys. This was confirmed today when I received the following e-mail from the RFL:

England Academy versus Australian Schoolboys fixture relocation

Due to unforeseen weather conditions across England, the RFL in collaboration with Barrow RL, have decided to relocate the first Test game between the England Academy and Australian Schoolboy’s to Leigh Sports Village.

The game was scheduled to take place at Barrow’s Mark Coward Stadium, but due to adverse weather conditions the fixture will now be contested at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday December 4. (K.O 2:00pm)

Tickets for the fixture can be purchased on the day and cost £3

### Ends ###

Spread the word, retweet this message and feel free to post a link wherever you like advertising the fixture. This is great for Leigh to host another prestigious fixture but also don't miss the chance to see these Aussie Schoolboys. In the past these tours have unearthed such gems as Israel Falau, Brad Fittler and the like. You really could be seeing a superstar of tomorrow, today if you get my meaning!

I'll be covering the game and bringing a match report and news on these very pages. Stay tuned in.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Roby going nowhere

2010-11-29T21:51:00.000Z

Entry 25, 29th November 2010

St Helens hooker James Roby has committed his future to the Super League club. The number nine, one of few players to really impress in the recent Four Nations Tour for England, had been linked with several Australian clubs but has now put pen to paper on a new 4 year contract that ties him to St Helens until the end of the 2014 season.

Roby has big shoes to fill, having been awarded the famous number nine shirt for the 2011 season in Royce simmons squad selection. The 25 year old has scored 58 tries in 203 appearances for Saints and after inking the new contract he said:

"It was a big but ultimately easy decision for me."

"The Saints have been my only club and are only going to get stronger."

"We are moving to a fantastic new training facility this season and to a new stadium the next. We've got a top new coach in Royce Simmons and have made some great new signings for next season."

"The next few years will be more than exciting for the club and at a time when I should be reaching my own peak."

St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said: "This is a big boost for us and a clear endorsement of the future of the club."

"James is one of the best players in the world and crucial to our continued success. Having come through our academy and been at the heart of our success in recent years, he represents all that we strive for and produce at the club."

So much for the Aussies coming cherry picking the talent eh Eamonn? Roby was quick enough to sign on the dotted line when given the chance.

For what it is worth, I think this is a statement of intent from St Helens. For several years Roby has been understudy to the great Cunningham but now is his chance to step from behind the shadows. I think he can do it. He's already proven in more than 200 appearances he can and to be honest there is not a more exciting sight in Super League than seeing the jet-heeled hooker get away from a tackler or two. He's deceptively strong too and I think he is only going to get better.

In the words of a popular lager advert at the moment - good call James!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 More news from the RFL - GB Community Lions lose in France

2010-11-25T17:56:00.000Z

Entry 24, 25th November 2010

I received the following match summary about events in France last night when the GB Community Lions lost out to the France U25s team.

Great Britain Community Lions downed in Carcassonne

France U25s 24 v 6 Great Britain Community Lions

The Great Britain Community Lions went down to a 24-6 defeat to France U25s in Carcassonne last night.

Despite a tremendous effort from the Lions the French outfit – which contained several players with Super League experience – proved to be too strong.

The game was scoreless up until just before the half hour mark when Great Britain where penalised in front of their own posts, and despite many in attendance expecting them to take the two points on offer they decided to run the ball and were rewarded when quick handling gave centre Damien Cardace room to cross out wide for a score that was improved by David Guash.

That proved to be the only points until the final seconds of the half, before another French penalty was awarded and the reliable Guash was again on target to open up an 8-0 lead at the break.

The second period was just eight minutes old when France increased their advantage and stand off Guash was again involved.

A clever kick from the man-of-the-match was pounced on by winger Carlos Mendes-Varela and as the extras were again added things were looking bleak for GB at 14-0 down.

However, the Lions dug deep and with scrum half Tony Baker leading the side forward the side produced their best spell of play of the evening.

The efforts were eventually rewarded when Baker attacked the line before hitting his Ince Rose Bridge team mate Wayne Leyland with a great pass. Although there was still plenty of work to do the classy centre did it with ease and rounded a couple of tackles before touching down.

Captain Jordan Precious slotted over the difficult conversion and the Lions were back in the contest.

Despite another surge of effort that was as good as it got for the visitors and as the game entered its final quarter another great kick from Guash was collected by half back partner Stanilas Robin and he crossed the whitewash to re-open the 12 point gap.

With seven minutes left Precious was sent to the sin-bin and the hosts took full advantage to score the final points of the night as hooker Kane Bentley spotted a chink in the GB defence and touched down under the posts, leaving Guash with the simple act of tagging on the extras.

France U25s

1 Clement Soubeyras

2 Carlos Mendes-Varela

3 Damien Cardace

4 Mickael Tribillac

5 Quentin Nauroy

6 David Guash

7 Stanislas Robin

8 Mohamed Jamil

9 Kane Bentley

10 Andrew Bentley

11 Yoan Tisseyre

12 Kevin Larroyer

13 Florian Quintilla

Subs

14 Thibaut Ancely

15 Julian Bouquet

16 Maxime Herold

17 Eloi Pelissier

Great Britain

1 Joseph Budd (York Acorn)

2 Neil Wall (Bradford Dudley Hill)

3 Colin Marangon (Army)

4 Wayne Leyland (Ince Rose Bridge)

5 Shaun Robinson (Saddleworth Rangers)

6 Ryan Smith (Leigh Miners Rangers)

7 Tony Baker (Ince Rose Bridge)

8 David Dunwell (Normanton Knights)

9 Gary Phillips (Wigan St Patricks)

10 Anthony Gallear (Wigan St Patricks)

11 Mark Holmes (Hunslet Warriors)

12 Caldon Bravo (Hunslet Warriors)

13 Jordan Precious (Skirlaugh)

Subs

14 Tom Howley (Army)

15 Marc Donnelly (Army)

16 Andrew Lake (St Albans Centurions)

17 Moulay Mehdi (Hunslet Warriors)

Scorers

France

T Cardace, Mendes-Varela, Robin, Bentley

G Guash (4)

T Leyland

G Precious

Half time: 8-0

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 A Quick advert from the RFL about a potential stocking filler!

2010-11-25T17:49:00.000Z

Entry 23, 25th November 2010

Coming soon - the perfect Xmas gift...

‘RUGBY LEAGUE’S GREATEST EVER TRIES’ DVD

“It’s Wide to West …”

This is what the greatest game is all about: skill, power, speed, courage, drama, passion. It’s the definitive collection for any Rugby League fan - 250 of the most sensational tries ever scored.

From Boston to Offiah, Hanley to Schofield, Lydon to Long and Murphy to McGuire, Rugby League has always been blessed with great names scoring breathtaking tries.

Sit back and enjoy the truly magical moments from the last 50 years including: Challenge Cup classics, International gems, last gasp winners and the very best from the Sixties right the way through to Super League.

Available to buy from all good DVD retailers and online stores

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Three more referees taken onto the Super League panel

2010-11-25T12:47:00.001Z

Entry 22, 25th November 2010

Congratulations are in order for three highly promising match officials who will be working for the RFL in Super League next season. Warren Turley, Rob Hicks and Tim Roby have all been fast-tracked and will each work with the RFL.

Knowing both Warren and Rob personally I am very pleased for the pair of them. Both are competent officials and certainly Rob's stock grew last season when he was officiating televised games in the Championship most weeks.

Here is the official press release from the Rugby League:

Refereeing trio make it official

Twenty-year-old student Warren Turley is on track to become one of Rugby League’s top match officials after receiving an RFL bursary to continue his studies at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Turley will have his tuition fees paid for by the sport’s governing body, who will also contribute towards his living costs. He will benefit from being able to train with the RFL’s Match Officials Squad based at Leeds Met’s Headingley Campus.

Turley, who hails from Leigh, refereed his first professional game in 2006 aged just 16 and has been a touch-judge in Engage Super League as well as refereeing in the Co-operative Championships. He will continue to officiate in both roles.

He is joined in the Match Officials Squad by two other up-and-coming talented referees in Robert Hicks and Tim Roby.

Hicks, 29, currently works as a solicitor. He officiated his first game was in 1999 and rose to prominence in 2010 when he refereed both the Northern Rail Cup final and the Co-operative Championship Grand Final as well as running the line at the 2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final. He will split his time at the RFL between the Match Officials Department and the Legal Department enabling him to continue practising Law.

Tim Roby, 21, has just graduated from York University with a first class honours degree in politics. His first professional game was in 2005 and he has touch judged regularly in top Super League games before ending the 2010 season as a referee in the Championship.

Match Officials Director Stuart Cummings said: “It’s good to introduce some new personal into the squad ahead of the new season. Tim and Robert will benefit from the experience that has developed in the group while the extra numbers in the squad will increase the pressure on the squad to perform.

“Having Warren available to come into the office when his studies allow will benefit his officiating as he looks to work towards his goal of being a full-time referee. It is also important that the referees have a qualification to fall back on at the end of their refereeing career and it is good that the RFL can assist Warren in achieving this.”

Anyone interested in taking up Rugby League refereeing should visit www.therfl.co.uk/referee to find out more.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: The way forward for the Championships?

2010-11-24T23:30:00.000Z

Entry 21, 24th November 2010.

Since Monday when the League Express newspaper carried a story about a review of the Championship competitions, I've been thinking about the best way to go for Rugby League outside of Super League. From 2012, it appears likely that the RFL will make changes to the structure of the competitions.

I believe that the current structure whilst creating a vibrant Championship on the field, hardly packs the punters in and when six clubs over recent times have entered administration it does call into question the longevity of the competition.

I believe that something does need to be done and would propose more local derbies for starters.

When Leigh won the Trans Pennine Cup in 2001, which itself was a pre-cursor to the current Northern Rail Competition, the first seven or eight games of the season were all local derbies and there were some decent crowds against the likes of Oldham and Swinton while I also remember 6,500 on at Widnes for a Boxing Day game.

I do not believe the current structure contains enough games and also there is a difference in geographical spread.

Clubs on the red rose side of the Pennines are currently: Widnes, Leigh, Swinton, Oldham, Rochdale, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow, while in Yorkshire there is Batley, Dewsbury, Doncaster, Featherstone, Halifax, Hunslet, Keighley, Sheffield and York. Now add to that list the outpost clubs of South Wales, Gateshead and London Skolars, not forgetting French club Toulouse.

I make that eight teams this side of the hills, nine in Yorkshire and four far flung clubs.

Eight teams playing each other home and away would produce 14 games, nine clubs would make 16 fixtures while four clubs would produce just 6 games. Perhaps my initial call for more derby games would not work?

I wonder whether it would be possible for ease of numbers adding South Wales and London Skolars to the Red Rose numbers, therefore meaning that there would be 18 games for each club there and with the inclusion of Toulouse and Gateshead in the Yorkshire ranks, that would mean 20 games in that pool. The demise of the Blackpool club is sure making this difficult. Mulling it over I can see why there is so much debate.

I wonder how strong some of the teams are in the Summer Conference National League? I saw the Grand Final last term when Warrington Wizards defeated Huddersfield Underbank but with the likes of Bramley and Hemel Stags, how far would they be from being able to step up and mix it in a semi-professional environment?

Perhaps the answer lies in just combining the current two divisions. If this was done on a home and away basis that would give a total of 40 league games to each club, which over the space of a season is too many games to fit into a 9 month season, especially when factoring in the Northern Rail Cup and Challenge Cup games, it would then involve a good number of teams having to play a few Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday schedules.

An alternative to that would be home and away to everyone in your current division and a mixture of home and away games (just once) playing against everyone else. This would give 30 and 29 fixtures respectively which would appear to be the best fit, therefore guaranteeing 15 or 14 home league games. With Northern Rail Cup games factored in, and this perhaps returning to geographical spread, I think this would give most teams a 35-36 game season plus any play-offs.

I obviously need to have even more of a think.... No wonder the RFL are asking fans opinions and views! It is more difficult than I originally thought!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 It's a taxing issue

2010-11-22T19:31:00.001Z

Entry 20, 22nd November 2010

I read with interest in the League Express at lunchtime about the RFL's new "Tough Love" stance on Championship Clubs, outstanding tax bills and players.

For those people that haven't seen anything on it yet, it's the lead story on page 3 of this week's edition but to summarise the story, the RFL are planning changes in the way it runs the Co-operative Championship competitions from 2012.

Outside Super League all is not rosy. Blackpool were expelled from the league the other week while in the last few years there have been well documented problems at Doncaster, Rochdale, Gateshead, Keighley and Whitehaven. Combined with Blackpool that's six clubs that have entered administration in recent times and if you go back just a couple of years earlier, Widnes befell the same fate in 2007.

The article pointed out that central distribution to Championship clubs was around £120,000 per year and also said that the "RFL is working closely with HM Revenue & Customs to ensure that clubs are discouraged from falling behind with their payments of PAYE and other tax liabilities."

Key figures in the review will be formal Huddersfield Giants Chief Exec, Ralph Rimmer; now Chief Operations Officer at the RFL and Simon Evans, the RFL Registrations and Salary Cap Manager.

Already one club has fallen foul of the new stance - Batley Bulldogs.

Batley were refused registration for a couple of players because of tax debt, this despite the club saying it had the agreement and terms in hand.

Each club has been asked to provide certain information to Red Hall which will allow books to be scrutinised. RFL Club Financial Manager Steve Williams said "We wanted to check that they were running their businesses in a proper, prudent way. We wanted to know whether they needed any help. The magic formula is prudence and cutting your cloth accordingly."

Someone should perhaps tell Hull Kingston Rovers who announced losses of £3M not long ago.

While it's good to see the RFL getting involved and able to help clubs and give them guidance, by the same token is it not detrimental to clubs if they are being denied registering players in the way that Batley have? I think particularly in Batley's case this is unlucky, they are a tightly run ship and it goes against the grain.

Playing devils advocate again, if such guidance was available at Gateshead in 2009 would they have got themselves in trouble?

Sustainability does however need to become a big watchword. Chatting to people within the sport I do get the feeling of realisation.

What I want the RFL to do though is to take the "whole game" approach. As well as looking at clubs in Championship One, the clubs in Super League should also be open to the same scrutiny and shouldn't sit untouchable. I still feel the same messages should be fed into somewhere like Crusaders who are in administration at the moment. Particularly as Crusaders announced 4 signings last week, and no hint of registrations being denied!

On the wider Championship issue, I expect to see some big changes in the Championship next year. For me the key factor is home games. I reckon everyone needs at least 18 home games to make the system viable and I can see conferences being introduced with all the clubs playing each other in a similar vein to American Football.

For now though I'll forego that just to say that I would be happy with one set of rules for everyone!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Match Record 3: National Conference League

2010-11-20T17:33:00.000Z

Entry 19, 20th November 2010.

Venue: Twist Lane, Leigh
Date: 20/11/10
Match: Leigh Miners Rangers v Skirlaugh

LEIGH MINERS RANGERS 30
SKIRLAUGH 16

A gutsy second half performance from Miners saw them overcome the 49th minute dismissal of skipper Daryl Kay to post a big result and do their search for the league leadership no harm whatsoever.

The hosts made the better start and scored in the third minute when hooker Danny Jones pushed the ball to stand-off Martin Lewis. He in turn found Linford Wetherby and rather than being hemmed in on the touchline, Wetherby ran diagonally, evading three defenders before a gap appeared in front of him. He finished well which allowed Tom Bradbury to pot the first of five goals.

Miners dominated the opening ten minutes and added another two points to their tally when Skirlaugh went high and Bradbury made it 8-0 with his 50th goal of the season. From their next set, Ross bradley was tackled into touch and Skirlaugh began to build their attack. It was to be a frustrating half in many respect for the visitors as they missed chance after chance, had a try disallowed and another effort ruled held up in-goal.

After 13 minutes an expansive move down the left saw Jamie shaw, Ian Kerman and Matt Danville combine and Stuart Smith looked to have put Jason Bell over for Skirlaugh's first try but the final pass was deemed forward. Eventually the pressure from the visitors told direct from a scrum after 20 minutes. Forward Sean Wildbore took the unusual step of feeding the pack before loose forward Danville passed back to him and he fed Mike Johnson at the corner. Kerman struck an excellent goal and Skirlaugh meant business when another move down the right put Johnson in space again with only scrambling defence chasing back.

Confidence was certainly growing for the visitors and their big pack looked to be taking control, particularly when Kerman found Johnny Young and Trevor Penrose looked a certain scorer before Adam Thomason intervened to hold the big man up. Another move looked to have caught Miners out but as the ball came right from Wildbore, Kirk Abel spilled it. A minute later Miners substitute Tom Eckersley was penalised in possession but Kerman surprisingly swept his attempt on goal wide of the posts.

Despite being under the cosh for a good twenty minutes, it was Leigh Miners that struck before the break. First Joe Harrison looped a long pass to Scott O'Brien before halfback partner Lewis feigned to pass and surged on to make the line with a couple of tacklers on him. Bradbury couldn't convert and Skirlaugh saw another chance go begging before Miners and O'Brien in particular were unlucky not to add to their tally thanks to a great chase back that just stopped short of the line.

Skirlaugh made a great start to the new half with their big pack laying the foundation while an O'Brien kick at the other end was too far ahead for Bradbury to get to. A penalty gave the visitors ascendancy and they grabbed the chance when young stand-off Jamie Shaw skipped through from twenty metres and then showed decent speed to finish the move. A second goal from Kerman made it 12-12 and the visitors struck again three minutes later when Lewis worked the left attack for Miners and passed for Thomason. Unfortunately for the hosts, the ball went to ground and Shaw collected. Although he was checked, the tackle wasn't completed and the stand-off claimed his second try to hand Skirlaugh the lead.

Before awarding the try, referee Cliff Tamou sent Miners skipper Kay from the field for saying something out of turn. Kerman couldn't convert from a wide angle but the visitors were fancied to go on and win now they were up against twelve men. as is sometimes the case, it was then the turn of the twelve men and particularly halfbacks Lewis and O'Brien to step up.

First of all Miners went into a holding pattern before the first O'Brien intervention came in the 58th minute. Sensing something may have been on, O'Brien kicked over the advancing line and contested possession shoulder to shoulder ith Carl Booth. Unfortunately for the Skirlaugh player he fumbled and then lost his footing which allowed O'Brien to regther and send John Woods over under the posts. Bradbury converted and this was still an intersting contest at 18-16.

Miners defended manfully and then advanced their lead after 65 minutes. First a Martin Lewis kick was palmed back infield by Wetherby which allowed Bradbury to follow up and score his sixth try of a busy season.

A couple of minutes later Miners found their way through again off Lewis' boot but after Bradbury combined with Wetherby, the inside pass from the wing went forward. Skirlaugh could not breach the defence and when the visitors conceded a penalty forty metres from the posts, Bradbury goaled to make it 24-16. If Skirlaugh thought the game was up for them then, it certainly was three minutes later when a wonderful chip from O'Brien stood up and he bravely followed it to claim his 12th try of the season. Bradbury's final goal only confirmed the 30-16 victory.

LEIGH MINERS

1 Haydn Bud Skinkis
2 Daryl Flannery
3 John Woods
18 Andrew Hodson
5 Linford Wetherby
6 Martin Lewis
7 Scott O'Brien
8 Craig Connor
9 Danny Jones
10 Daryl Kay
11 Tom Bradbury
12 Ross Bradley
13 Adam Thomason
Subs
14 Joe Harrison
15 Liam Rowson
16 Lee Gittins
17 Tom Eckersley

Tries: Wetherby (3), Lewis (38), Woods (58), Bradbury (65), O'Brien (78).
Goals: Bradbury 5/8.

SKIRLAUGH

1 Stuart Smith
2 Mike Johnson
3 Kirk Abel
4 Carl Booth
5 Jason Bell
6 Jamie Shaw
7 Ian Kerman
8 Steve Cochran
9 Tommy Harrison
10 Steve Atkinson
11 Sean Wildbore
12 Johnny Young
13 Matt Danville
Subs
14 Ricky Hough
15 Gary Smith
16 Matt Barrow
17 Trvor Penrose

Tries: Johnson (20), Shaw (46, 49).
Goals: Kerman 2/4.

Referee: Cliff Tamou
Penalties: 10-8
Half-time: 12-6

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 Match Record 2: Gillette National Youth League Grand Final

2010-11-20T11:17:00.000Z

Entry 18, 20th November 2010.

Continuing my ambitious project of recording all of the rugby league games I attend over the course of the next year, here is my second installment and a full match report.

Venue: Bigfellas Stadium, Featherstone.
Date: 19/11/10
Match: DEWSBURY CELTIC V INCE ROSE BRIDGE

DEWSBURY CELTIC 6
INCE ROSE BRIDGE 42
By DAVE PARKINSON at Bigfellas Stadium, Featherstone.

Foggy Featherstone was the setting for the last Gillette National Youth League game before the competition switches to summer in 2011. A tough truncated season came down to a Grand Final between underdogs Dewsbury Celtic and Ince Rose Bridge.

Despite a plucky effort from Celtic and in particular stand-off Andy Bates and multi-skilled prop Josh Brooke, it was the Wigan team that dominated the game from the start with Kenny Baker, Declan McLoughlin and Jack Morrison particularly outstanding.

The moment prop Jordan Lyons spilled the ball on the first carry, Celtic were on the back foot and the impressive Baker was twice hauled down close to the line before human bowling ball Morrison knocked-on.

Bates gave an example of his tricky running style but it was Ince Rose Bridge that opened the score in the fourth minute when a towering kick from halfback Connor Matthews dropped from the gloom and Celtic fullback Josh Sykes couldn’t take. The rebound off his body came back off the posts and Matthews pounced for Baker to kick the first of five goals.

The signs were ominous for Dewsbury Celtic when smart footwork from Declan McLoughlin saw the stand-off create a gap. Ince Rose Bridge then went for the kick again from Matthews and centre Joe English tapped it away from Sykes into his other hand from the bounce and then had enough momentum to get to the line. Baker stroked the conversion over the crossbar and Rose Bridge led 12-0.

The Wigan side piled forward and nearly came up with a third try from Danny Robbins only for a perfect last ditch tackle from Celtic wing Joe Edwards to halt the movement. Not to be denied, Rose Bridge nabbed their third try on 16 minutes when clever work from Matthews and prop Brad Roden released McLoughlin on a veering run to the try-line.

By this time Ince were on a roll and the Dewsbury team had no answer, being marched back seventy metres in two minutes thanks to big forward drives and two penalties. Centre Danny Farnworth was kept from scoring before Baker twisted over from dummy half to ensure a 22-0 lead inside the first twenty minutes.

With Bates; Brooke and Lewis Wilson finding some form, Celtic rolled up their sleeves and only some fine clean-up work from Liam Hand stopped the Yorkshire side from scoring after a magical run from Bates and a solid kick from scrum-half Ryan Crossley.

Eventually Dewsbury Celtic were rewarded with the final play before half-time. Taking the ball inside his own half Brooke spotted space and fired a perfect cut-out pass left. This put centre Matthew Sheridan in a bit of space and he found the support of Oliver Hallas for a great finish. Sheridan’s conversion made it 22-6 at half-time.

The underdogs made the better start to the second half with a bomb from Brooke being spilled but all Dewsbury’s early pressure came to nothing when Elliot Castlehouse knocked-on at the line.

Ince Rose Bridge quickly redressed the balance, first with a crunching English tackle forcing a drop out from another intelligent Matthews kick and then substitute Adam Jones broke the line and ran 30 metres. From the very next play, Rose Bridge trio of Matthews, McLoughlin and Baker combined for Nathan Penny to score their fifth try and there was more to come.

Another big surge from Jones caused problems for Dewsbury Celtic and as they were still trying to organise McLoughlin grubbered through for Matthews to touch down. Baker made it 32-6 with the conversion and was the key man as Ince got to within ten metres of the line. His quick play-the-ball gave the chance for Matty Meadon to scoot over.

Trailing 38-6, Bates tried to inspire his team and went close with a typical piece of running while big substitute Thomas Quinn also won a penalty but the defence was impregnable as Castlehouse was denied again.

At the other end McLoughlin forced a drop out with a tackle on Sykes behind the line before a classic dummy and step saw him collect a second try. It wasn’t quite the perfect night for the stand-off, he was sin binned four minutes from the end for deliberately slowing a play-the-ball. Despite a spirited finish from Celtic, the Rose Bridge defence held firm to secure a comfortable win before they collected the trophy from Great Britain rugby league legend Garry Schofield.

DEWSBURY CELTIC:
1 Josh Sykes
2 Joe Edwards
3 Matthew Sheridan
4 Elliot Castlehouse
5 Oliver Hallas
6 Andy Bates
7 Ryan Crossley
8 Josh Brooke
9 Danny Buckley
10 Jordan Lyons
11 James Delany
12 Tommy Crabtree
13 Lewis Wilson
Subs (All Used)
14 Sam Whitworth
15 Andy Smith
16 Jack Maguire
17 Thomas Quinn

Try: Hallas (35).
Goal: Sheridan 1/1.

INCE ROSE BRIDGE:
1 Nathan Penny
2 Liam Hand
3 Danny Farnworth
4 Joe English
5 Danny Robbins
6 Declan McLoughlin
7 Connor Matthews
8 Jack Morrison
9 Matty Meadon
10 Brad Roden
11 Mike Houghton
12 Mike Kenny
13 Kenny Baker
Subs (All Used)
14 Ben Sumner
15 Adam Jones
16 Matty Cambell
17 Jake Robins

Tries: Matthews (4, 49), English (8), McLaughlin (16, 60), Baker (19), Penny (44), Meadon (52).
Goals: Baker 5/8.

Official Man-of-the-Match: Kenny Baker.

Scoring Sequence:
0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-22, 6-22; 6-26, 6-32, 6-38, 6-42.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11 BARLA announce new sponsorship ahead of Dubai Sevens

2010-11-19T13:00:00.000Z

Entry 17, 19th November

I received an e-mail this morning which contained the following press release:

BARLA PRESS RELEASE

BLAKELEY’S ON BOARD WITH THE BARLA BULLDOGS AT EMIRATES AIRLINES DUBAI SEVENS

BARLA are pleased to announce that Blakeley’s Waste Management Ltd are to sponsor the BARLA Great Britain Bulldogs for an undisclosed four figure sponsorship which will see the companies name and logo emblazoned on their shirt when they compete in the Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens next month.

This is the second year that the Bulldogs have been invited to this prestige blue riband tournament but the first time that Blakeley’s Waste Management Ltd have sponsored a BARLA International side.

Blakeley’s Waste Management Ltd has been established for over 25 years and has built a reputation for excellent service in the field of waste management. They are located on an 8 acre site near Wigan and offer a comprehensive range of waste management collection and recycling services across the North West of England. The Company has recently received approval for its ambitious plans to create an Environment, Energy and Ecology Centre at its site. The facility will use state of the art automatic separation equipment to maximise recycling of waste and the energy plant will convert material normally destined for landfill into green Electricity. The company s aiming to have a Zero landfill solution by 2012.

Managing Director Stephen Blakeley, a former director of Leigh Centurions said, ”I was involved in rugby league for many years and I have always had a great passion for the game both at professional and amateur level. I was a director at the Leigh Centurions for some years before resigning to concentrate on running my business.

"However Rugby league is in my blood and like to do what I can to help so I was pleased to help when I was told about the invitation to the Emirates Airlines Dubai Sevens. We are sponsoring the over thirty fives side BARLA Great Britain Bulldogs, I wish them all the best for the tournament and hope they can continue the success of last year."

Mick Turner BARLA Great Britain International Manager,

“I am pleased to welcome Steve Blakeley and Blakeley’s Waste Management Ltd on board as one of BARLA’s sponsors and thank them for sponsoring the Bulldogs which will see their name on the front of the shirt.

“In these economic times it is difficult to gain such sponsorship and during a conversation with Steve about the forthcoming trip I became aware of how passionate he is about the sport of rugby league and ”he had no hesitation in offering to help the trip financially.

*** ENDS ***

I have two points to make on this. Firstly I think it's great that Blakeley's are back in Rugby League Sponsorship. Steve is a good man who over several years was invaluable to Leigh Centurions and did a good job on the board. I hope his association is a long a fruitful one and wish him and his company all the best.

The second point is one I raised last year. Why are we as a Rugby League nation, entering teams in a Rugby Union competition. This is where I am at odds with the BARLA Mantra of "see the world", What benefit is this competition to our crack amateur players? Okay I can see the value of networking for the Masters but why should clubs raise funds to send their players halfway around the world to play another sport? Another question I have is would Rugby Union do the same if they were invited to a League tournament?

Call me a flat capper but I am sure funds are better raised elsewhere, or am I on my own in that thought. Let me know over on Twitter @DParkyRL I'd be interested to read your comments.

#rugby league BLOG 2010/11: When does a player drain equate to a couple of players?

2010-11-19T00:04:00.002Z

Entry 16. 19th November 2010

Eamonn McManus at St Helens sounds a worried man.

A story today suggested the Saints Chairman is seeking the RFL to take action in order to prevent a player drain of talent to the NRL.

I’m sorry but I just can’t agree with him. Currently there are just two English players playing regularly in the NRL (Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis) while one youngster is trying to make his way (Gareth Widdop).

At the end of last week there was a shock fourth player announcing a move to Australia, none other than Michael Worrincy who has played the last couple of seasons with Bradford Bulls.

I would hardly call this a player drain, particularly when in the Super League there were reportedly 111 overseas players according to Widnes Sporting Director Terry O’Connor. It makes the four pale into insignificance by comparison, especially when Super League Clubs can sign up to FIVE Australian or Kiwi players EACH.

What it does point to is my opening statement, McManus is a worried man. He knows that the likes of James Graham and James Roby, arguably two of the jewels in the Saints squad, have boosted their reputations down under following good performances in an outgunned England team during this past Four Nations Tournament.

Perhaps more pressing is the thought that from the end of next season Graham in particular is out of contract and has already reportedly been sounded out by a couple of clubs. To be honest I couldn’t blame any player for looking towards Australia, the current exchange rate is good, the lifestyle is different with cold wet November nights a thing of the past, plus the best league competition too.

I also reckon both players would do well in that competition with Roby’s sniping from dummy half and Graham’s toughness.

I wonder if the first thing on Mr McManus agenda is a meeting with both players next week?

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Schofield back in coaching

2010-11-18T20:37:00.000Z

Entry: 15, 18th November 2010
Congratulations must go to Garry Schofield. He has been appointed coach of Barrow and I think this is an interesting move for both parties.

He is also the second former Great Britain international to return to the sport in a week following Denis Betts appointment by Widnes Vikings.

Unlike Betts, Schofield has continued to be involved in Rugby League and recently coached the BARLA Young Lions. He blossomed into a top stand-off during his playing career, which started for Hull in 1983. He then moved to Leeds where his name was made before a short spell as player-coach of Huddersfield Giants and as a player with Doncaster. He also had stints in Australia with Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs.

Often outspoken, I feel it is good to have him back in the professional echelons and I hope he is given a fairer chance at Barrow than the 13 games he was given as a learner coach at the Galpharm all those years ago.

While Schofield enjoyed a long playing career that saw him win 45 Great Britain caps and an OBE for services to the sport he has sadly been missing for too long, despite re-inventing himself as a coach and having a regular column in the main rugby league magazine.

When I first started watching rugby league in the early 90's I used to look up to the skills of players like Schofield and having interviewed him following his involvement with the GB Allstars I do think he has plenty to offer.

While some might think it's a gamble, I think it is worth a punt for Barrow and it will be interesting to see just who the Raiders bring on board now, having fallen short of chairman Des Johnston's expectations last term.

That disappointing finish, allied with losing previous coach Steve McCormack to alternate employment at the end of August meant that the Raiders only briefly threatened to repeat their wonderful Championship heroics of 2009. A 38-0 pummelling of Widnes was a superb performance and promised much but sadly for Barrow, their dream died in the next game when Sheffield Eagles mounted a late fightback to claim a 21-14 win.

With Schofield's appointment at Barrow confirmed, another former stand-off returned to the coaching ranks when Nigel Wright agreed to become his assistant. Wright himself was likened to Schofield during his early career and emerged through the ranks at Wakefield Trinity before a big move that made him the most expensive teenager in rugby league saw him swap Belle Vue for Central Park and Wigan.

Sadly for the talented Wright, injuries intervened and he returned to Wakefield for a season before appearing to break into the Wigan team again. Once more injuries stacked up against the promising player and he was forced to retire at an early age. Wright then turned his hand to coaching, first of all in Australia where he built a reputation before returning to the UK.

His last professional coaching position was on the staff at Warrington.

An interesting quote from the story that appeared on SportingLife.com came from Barrow Chairman Johnston:

"Exciting rugby is what the Raiders will be about," he said.

"The players need to be comfortable with the ball in hand and have licence to express themselves.

"We are in the entertainment business and an exhilarating Barrow team will have supporters flocking through the turnstiles.

"It was not easy to make a final decision from some excellent candidates for the post - all of whom I thank for their interest - but in the end I believe we have a coaching team who will provide what we need.

"They have a wealth of contacts within the sport which can only benefit the club."

Schofield's appointment certainly makes the Championship an interesting place to be next season. There are some pretty big names knocking around at the clubs:

Barrow: Garry Schofield & Nigel Wright
Batley: Karl Harrison
Dewsbury: Warren Jowitt
Featherstone: Daryl Powell
Halifax: Matt Calland
Hunslet: Paul March
Leigh: Ian Millward & Paul Rowley
Sheffield: Mark Aston
Toulouse: Giles Dumas
Widnes: Denis Betts
York: Dave Woods

I look forward to it with relish and hope to catch up with Schofield at some point next season.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Well there are two clubs making a profit!

2010-11-15T20:26:00.000Z

Entry 14, 15th November 2010.

We already know that Widnes reavealed a million pound profit at the back end of last season. Quite how they did is anyone's guess and they should be saluted for their finances, but I feel another club deserves a big pat on the back.

Reading today's rugby league trade press I noticed an article in the Rugby Leaguer and League Express about Batley Bulldogs. The Championship's constant over achievers have announced a trading profit of £32,973 for the year ending 31st October 2010. This followed a £7,257 loss during the same period in 2009. This points to really prudent book-keeping at the Bulldogs and suggests they don't throw money about like other teams have done in the Championship and Super League.

Batley have always given the impression of being a small but well run club that won't over stretch themselves and are another shining example of what can be achieved with a committed coach and squad, in addition to a dedicated board of directors.

I was delighted that they won the Northern Rail Cup in 2010, and this despite my red rose roots. It was one of the games of the season and if I think on, over the next few days I'll post the report I penned for the Rugby Leaguer and League Express on here.

I'm sure that most of the profit would have been from prize monsy involved in lifting the cup but even so it is a highly creditable position to announce and I for one am looking forward to Leigh's visit to the Mount in 2011.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Featherstone Rovers doing it the right way

2010-11-15T20:12:00.000Z

Entry 13, 15th November 2010.

Over the weekend Featherstone Rovers opted against applying for a Super League franchise despite winning the Minor Premiership this past season and appearing in a Grand Final.

Rovers cited their support base in being the main reason for not submitting a bid although Rovers director Andrew McNeil reckons the club are heading in the right direction.

A statement appeared on Fev's official website (http://www.featherstonerovers.net) over the weekend in explanation.

Featherstone director Andrew McNeil, who has been liaising with the RFL in working towards the club's bid explained; "We feel we can make a massive contribution to Super League. The club has just about reinvented itself over the past few years. We are well on the way to no longer being labeled a ‘small town club', but an ever growing club that just happens to be in a small town. Our player development and coaching system is state of the art and runs continuously from scholarship to first team.

"The addition of a women's team provides another exciting opportunity, we want to build on this addition with a scholarship or centre of excellence approach to girls' participation in the sport as part of the overall system.

"Our stadium is modern, but needs expansion and we are well on the way to putting everything in place. Our development plan goes beyond just the stadium. With the land at our disposal, we will also be able to maintain the vast training area required to operate so many teams and engage so many people."

He continued; "We need to grow our support base. We seem to have a large group of fans who only come to big games. We want them to enjoy the Rovers' experience on a regular basis and we are working on that. This is the conundrum we face, or it might even be two conundrums. Where do the people who come to go for the rest of the year, and why is there this resistance in general to enjoy an afternoon or evening at Featherstone? People have said to me that Rovers aren't going to be allowed to progress to the top level because the powers that be don't want us. This is simply not the case. The message we need to share is one of the enjoyable, passionate and good value experience that watching Rovers is.

"We have liaised and co-operated with the RFL extensively. They have been helpful and encouraging. We are not dreamers: we have ambition and we are making that ambition work for us. Having that ambition means we have a responsibility to see it through and that underpins our business. We are doing what we are doing not just because of Super League, but because we believe in making our club the best it can be for its own sake. Then only then will we be ready.

"But until then the people of the local area and beyond, who we are working so hard to reach out to get the message, then a license bid has to be on hold for the immediate future."
**Ends**

Now I have to admit, I've got a lot of time for clubs like Featherstone. It's perhaps not something I would have said a dozen years ago when Aussie import Danny Baker was rampaging over Leigh's David Hill and Karl Pratt was racing in for another try, but age, experience and maturity have taught me to look at rugby league a bit differently.

Rovers in particular are a long standing team in a mould not too dis-similar to Leigh. Both towns were hit hard by the Miners strikes of the mid eighties and both towns relied on the local industries for work. I'm sure at one point Rovers were everyone's favourite underdog. Particulary in the early 80s when they caused a big shock at Wembley and won the Challenge Cup with victory over Hull. During this period they assembled a strong team and gave first chances in the game to players like Deryck Fox and Paul Newlove.

A few years ago, Rovers sank to the bottom tier but have been a steadily improving club for the last three or four years.
In 2007 they defeated Oldham at a packed Headingley in the National League Two Grand Final while they survived the spectre of relegation in 2008 before pushing for a play-off spot in 2009, knocking out Sheffield and Widnes before falling to Halifax in the Final Eliminator. This past term they were the most consistent team over the course of the season. They lost two games in the league and qualified for the Grand Final at the first attempt with a thumping win over Halifax. sadly for Rovers, Fax got their own back in the grand Final with Ben Black's Golden Point drop-goal settling arguably the most dramatic Grand Final to date.

They have a respected man at the helm in the form of Daryl Powell and I think they will be there or thereabouts next season. I do think as Mr McNeil pointed out that they need to boost crowds but there appears to be a firm base to build on unlike other clubs operating in quicksand.

I particularly like his comment about building Rovers - "We are doing what we are doing not just because of Super League, but because we believe in making our club the best it can be for its own sake. Then only then will we be ready." That should be turned into a banner and displayed on the door of every boardroom in the game. Wise words indeed.

I for one wish Rovers well. This is the correct way to go about things.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: RL Comment: Panthers booted out, Crusaders in administration

2010-11-14T09:10:00.000Z

Entry 12. 14th November 2010

Despite New Zealand giving everyone involved in Rugby League outside Australia a boost, my attention was switched back to domestic matters at the end of last week with two pieces of news. The first came in a brief email on Thursday from the RFL.

It read:

RFL cancels membership of Blackpool Panthers

Blackpool Panthers RLFC have had their membership of the RFL cancelled and will take no part in the 2011 Co-operative Championship after they failed to meet a deadline from the game’s governing body.

The club, which went into administration in early October, was poised to present plans for their participation in Championship One on Thursday November 11 however no information was forthcoming from officials.

RFL Chief Operating Officer Ralph Rimmer commented: “The RFL has done everything possible to ensure the continuing involvement of Blackpool Panthers in Co-operative Championship One and we had every hope that a credible plan would be presented.

“Despite a flexible approach to deadlines and ongoing support from the RFL as well as a commitment from the club’s representatives right up to the last minute that a plan would be forthcoming, we have received notification that no proposal will be presented.

“With plans for the 2011 season at an advanced stage we have had no choice but to regretfully decide to cancel their membership.”

-ends-

Now it would be fair to say that the Panthers have limped along for the last six months since their chairman Bobby Hope decided that he wasn't going to fund the venture anymore after a spell of poor health and crowds at a much lower level than was expected.

Blackpool were whacked ten points for their finances in the season and to be fair have been floundering since going into administration at the start of October. There had been talk of former Oldham investor Bill Quinn leading a consortium but the RFL have said they can't hang on any longer and acted accordingly.

While the people at the club, and particularly Bobby Hope can be criticised, and rightly so, I feel sorry for the hardcore 200-250 who watched the Panthers every week. Those people could now potentially be lost to the game.

I also feel sorry for their players. I know many of them due to ealrier service with Leigh and to be honest they deserve better. This decision now means that any deals agreed or signed with Blackpool have become null and void. The uncertainty already saw Martin Ainscough, Neil Holland and Dean Thompson find another club while Friday saw Mike Morrison sign a deal with Swinton (who themselves appear to be pushing the boat out ahead of their season at The Willows).

While not wishing to speak badly about the RFL I hope their stance is repeated with other clubs. For me they have made an example of the Panthers who let's be honest have been operating in something of a development area since moving from Chorley in 2004.

I only hope there has been enough interest generated by the Panthers to sustain the amateur game in Blackpool and I also would like to see a future professional team in the area. If there is to be a next time, lessons must be heeded. The club needs a base and must develop in its own time. This is one of the pitfalls of recruiting heavily and boosting expenditure way beyond income. I liken it in a business sense to trying to build foundations on quicksand.

Sadly this seems a common method in rugby league.

The second piece of news to make me take notice was that of Crusaders entering administration. Now this is a story that has been doing the rounds for a couple of weeks. Basically when the club moved from South Wales it inherited crippling debt which it has battled all season. With that in mind it makes you appreciate what a job Brian Noble did there last term in just getting them to the play-offs. Sadly the previous business model I spoke of - "Let's throw money at it" was used and again a club has got in lumber.

Last year I'm sure I wrote about there being two separate companies set up that can be connected with this club and I'm still not sure of the where's and why's so I'll leave that thought where it is for now.

The main point I am wanting to make here is that for me the RFL have set a precedent here. I wait to see if any action will be taken to revoke Crusaders license should there be no movement in six weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I am not decrying Wrexham, the town has already shown an appetite for the sport, I just wish there was some consistency shown.

I now believe that the Crusaders are in the right place. North Wales I feel is more susceptible to Rugby League growth and wouldn't it be nice to think that there could be the potential to grow clubs in places like Rhyll and Llandudno? For me Rugby League needs to grow from amateur bases with the Summer Conference a decent platform.

I'll be watching the situation with interest.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: NZ are Four Nations Champions

2010-11-13T12:09:00.000Z

Entry 11, 13th November

AUSTRALIA 12 NEW ZEALAND 16

An exhausting game was ended in the most exhilarating fashion when Nathan Fien added the finishing touch to a wonderful move. Australia were clinging to a 12-10 advantage two minutes from the end of the game when Kiwi maestro Benji Marshall went down the right. Marshall then fired out an accurate pass. Shaun Kenny-Dowall sent Jason Nightingale free and his inside pass was played at by the Australian defence. Marshall followed up and slipped a speculator over his shoulder for Fein to take the second bounce and cross for a try by the posts.

Marshall who kicked the resulting conversion to tie up a 16-12 win, held the trophy aloft and said, "It means an awful lot to us. We are trying to close that gap. I'd like to thank the New Zealand supporters. To my boys its a pleasure to stand up here and be your captain, we've done a lot of hard work this week."

New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said, "We were a lot better than we were last week, it was a matter of giving us an opportunity and we did that tonight, I'm so very proud of the guys. Australia are a champion side but we showed some fairly good qualities tonight too. Last week showed us there is still a gap and for me and the NZ RL it's a matter of closing that gap. We did some of that tonight, but it's an ongoing project."

The contest was one of attrition from the start and Australia got away to a better opening when Darren Lockyer slid a grubber kick behind the defence after referee Tony Archer and touch judge James Child missed a foot in touch by wing Brett Morris. Lance Hohaia struggled to take the bounce and Brent Tate followed up to touch down. The conversion from Cameron Smith gave Australia a 6-0 lead and the Kangaroos continued to keep the pressure on New Zealand.

Midway through the first half, Australia were unlucky to lose Luke Lewis with injury just as the second row appeared to be hitting form.

Gradually, New Zealand worked their way into the game with their pack eventually winning field position and their defence tough and uncompromising. It took until just before half-time for the visitors to unlock the Australian defence and it was through that man Marshall. His short pass looked forward but Kenny-Dowall raced through for his skipper to level matters at 6-6.

A short brawl on half-time between a number of players from both teams saw the temperatures rise further prompting the referee to speak with both captains. This masked a further problem for Australia who were forced to play on without Tate in the second half. The centre was inconsolable having suffered a suspected knee problem.

Despite playing with their backs to the wall, it was Australia who struck with a fine try before the hour as they bashed away at the Kiwi defence and then switched the ball down the left for Greg Bird to conjure up an offload to send Billy Slater into space and past a stranded Hohaia. Again Cameron Smith goaled from a difficult position and it was 12-6 to Australia, heading into the final quarter.

Hohaia continued to remain involved for New Zealand, bravely returning kicks and chiming in where possible while the sheer toughness of Jeremy Smith was to be admired. The Kiwis visibly upped their efforts and forced Australia into a number of errors, forcing a drop out and then a succession of penalties that eventually told.

Once again the Australian lock-picker was Marshall as he weighed up the options open to him in the blink of an eye. He put a tremendous grubber kick to the in-goal and Nightingale timed his run to perfection to claim the try. Marshall's conversion attempt looked good until the final second when it struck the post and bounced out.

Still clinging to their slender advantage, Australia tried to close out but Marshall and company had other ideas with a wonderful attack which brought the spectacular team try for Fien to win the Four Nations Trophy.

Australia: Slater; Morris, Tate, Tonga, Tuqiri; Lockyer (captain), Cronk; Scott, Smith, Shillington; Lewis, Thaiday, Gallen. : Learoyd-Lahrs, Bird, Gidley, Myles.

Tries: Tate, Slater
Goals: Smith 2/2

New Zealand: Hohaia; Nightingale, Kenny-Dowall, Mannering, Perrett; Marshall (captain), Fien; McKendry, Leuluai, Blair; Harrison, Matulino, Smith. : Eastwood, Luke, Nuuausala, Manu.

Tries: Kenny-Dowall, Nightingale, Fien
Goals: Marshall 2/3

Attendance: 36,299.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Four Nations Final Preview: This time it's for Real!

2010-11-12T20:18:00.000Z

Entry 10. 12th November 2010

Four weeks of tough Rugby League action comes to a close in Brisbane tomorrow when the Four Nations final will be played at Suncorp Stadium.

It would be fair to say that Australia owe New Zealand after the Kiwis won the 2008 World Cup with a superb performance in the final. I get the feeling that the Australians have been simmering about that for two years and they will be keen to back up last year's 46-16 Elland Road defeat of England and win their second Four Nations crown on the bounce.

There is no doubting that the Aussies will be confident as well, afterall they did win at Eden Park last week to send the majority of the 44,000 crowd home very unhappy.

For Australia there is no Petero Civoniceva with some speculation suggesting that the big man will not get the opportunity to pull on a Green and Gold jumper again however we must remember the likes of Stephen Price and Reuben Wiki who both carried on pulling on the international uniform.

Billy Slater, Willie Tonga, Luke Lewis and Darren Lockyer all return to the Kangaroos line up with Nate Miles on the bench.

Such is the changing culture of the Australian side that only four of the seventeen played in the 2008 World Cup final while in comparison, New Zealand still call on ten of their number from that fateful day.

Another old face to return for Australia is Darren Lockyer and the veteran halfback still holds the key in my view. This will be his 54th test and what is more he reclaims the captain's armband.

The Australian team annouced is:

Billy Slater
Brett Morris
Brent Tate
Willie Tonga
Lote Tuqiri
D. Lockyer (c)
Cooper Cronk
Matthew Scott
Cameron Smith
David Shillington
Luke Lewis
Sam Thaiday
Paul Gallen

While the bench is expected to see Myles, Gidley, Learoyd-Lars and Watmough.

In comparison, the Kiwis still look strong but they will be hoping to get Marshall as involved as possible. I also think Lance Hohaia is a useful player and he always plays well, particularly against England. Gregg Eastwood has put behind him some patchy form for Leeds and has been stepped up the the front row while Thomas Leuluai continues ahead of Isaac Luke at hooker. With no Frank Pritchard due to injury, Kiwi's boss Stephen Kearney has named another big bench.

Here is the NZ squad.

Lance Hohaia
J. Nightingale
S. Kenny-Dowall
Junior Sa'u
Sam Perrett
Benji Marshall (c)
Nathan Fien
Greg Eastwood
Thomas Leuluai
Adam Blair
Bronson Harrison
Simon Mannering
Jeremy Smith
Interchange (from): Issac Luke, Ben Matulino, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam McKendry, Sika Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lewis Brown

I think we are in for a cracker - let's just hope it's better than last week, and a different result!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: The Race for the Golden Boot Pt 3.

2010-11-11T23:13:00.000Z

Entry 9. 11th November

My last couple of entries have been concentrating on the list released at the start of the week concerning potential winners of the 2010 Golden Boot. Here are the last two names on the list:

BILLY SLATER

Slater previously won the Golden Boot award in 2008 and simply oozes class. A silky runner from anywhere on the field and a real predatory streak for tries make him arguably the best player in the world currently.

In truth the 2010 season has not been one of his most prolific, yet having said that he has still claimed ten tries and barring injury he should reach 200 games for Melbourne Storm next year along with fellow Australian international Cameron Smith.

Slater debuted in 2003, three months before his 20th birthday at the formidable Cronulla home Toyota Park and for the next couple of years his stock grew. In 2006 however he struggled with suspension and injury that restricted him to 14 appearances. One of those appearances was the Grand Final and Slater was in good form despite the Brisbane Broncos winning on the big occasion.

The following season he went through a good spell of form, setting up 20 tries over the course of the campaign and also scoring 9 tries in 8 games at one point.

He won Premierships with Melbourne in 2007 and 2009, although those successes have since been stripped from the club due to salary cap breaches.

Such was Slaters form in 2008 on the State of Origin, international and NRL plains that he was named Golden Boot winner and there is every chance he could do it again.

In 179 games for Melbourne Billy Slater has scorched over for 112 tries and at 27 he is just about approaching his prime.

SAM THAIDAY

Raw boned and ultra committed, Thaiday is tough, uncompromising yet also skilfull. He has been with Brisbane Broncos his entire professional career.

The 25 year old had made 127 appearances for Brisbane Broncos by the end of the 2010 season and in fairness this past season has been another one of progression for Thaiday. He debuted for the Broncos as an 18 year old at Suncorp Stadium in 2003 when the Bulldogs were in town. He made his Queensland State of Origin debut in 2006. After being used predominantly as a bench player, then Broncos boss Wayne Bennett switched Taiday to the starting line-up and amongst other changes, this made the Brisbane club the form team of the competition and eventual premiership winners.

His form in the second half of that 2006 season saw Thaiday come to the attention of the international selectors and his performances have grown at that level.

He was the Broncos player of the season in 2008 and has become a mainstay of Queensland State of Origin sides in the last few years. Perhaps an example of how Sam has improved over the last couple of years was demonstrated a couple of times in 2010 when he was first of all named official Man-of-the-Match against New Zealand in the ANZAC test and he was arguably the best forward on show during Australias recent 34-14 defeat of England. Sam would be my outside bet for the award.

However I don't have a say and each of the players would be worthy winners.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: The Race for the Golden Boot Pt 2.

2010-11-10T00:06:00.001Z

Entry 8. 10th November

Six players have been nominated for this year's Golden Boot and a seventh wildcard could enter the fray.

Each of the nominations have merits, obvious strengths, and are fine players in their own right.

On Monday I looked at Paul Gallen, James Graham and Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Today I'll look at another and pick my wildcard punt.

BENJI MARSHALL

For several years Benji Marshall has wowed the crowds in the NRL and certainly since working with Tim Sheens the talented halfback has taken his game to a whole new level.

The 25 year old was first graded in the NRL as a precocious teenager in 2003 and made his debut for Wests Tigers in a Round 20 game against Newcastle Knights. After leaving his native New Zealand, he went on to play for the formidable Australian Schoolboys after being offered a rugby scholarship by a school in Queensland.

He looked set to add to his experience in 2004 and helped guide Wests to win the World Sevens event before two dislocated shoulders brought an end to his season.

The following year he was back and better than ever. He played 27 games for Wests during the season and scored 15 tries as the merged club won the Premiership for the first time.

Once again, injury intervened in 2006 and again in 2007. It looked like another frustrating season lay infront of Marshall in 2008. He opened the season as part of a team that defeated St George 24-16 but only played one further game in the first 9 weeks. Thankfully for him and the Tigers, his return saw him again take up an important role and he was at his best when the Bulldogs were vanquished 56-4, scoring a try, laying a couple on and kicking 8 goals for a 20 point haul.

That momentum was carried into the 2008 World Cup and Marshall got better as the tournament went
on, playing a key role in a semi-final defeat of England before impressing against Australia in the final when the Kiwis won in excellent fashion 34-20.
2009 signalled a change for Marshall as he switched from stand-off to scrum half. Initially the changeover was slow but when Benji got up to speed with the position he excelled. This term has seen Marshall return to the blistering form of 2005. In 27 NRL matches he scored 12 tries, kicked 76 goals and 3 drop goals while he has really found his form in the Four Nations, leading from the front against England and conjuring a couple of plays when the Kiwis backs were to the walls last weekend.

He has now appeared 130 times for the Tigers, scoring 53 tries, kicking 207 goals and those three drop goals for 629 points.

My Wildcard pick would be none other than

DARREN LOCKYER

For 333 games Darren Lockyer has lit up the NRL and in 52 tests for Australia, he has done the same thing. Lockyer has been around the top end of the NRL for 15 long years and that looks set to continue. He made his debut for the Brisbane Broncos way back in June 1995 and despite a couple of niggling injuries, he was still going strong with 18 appearances for the Broncos this past season.

Just the sheer length of his honours board suggest he is a living legend down under and such praise is well deserved. Not only is he a true world class stand-off with the guile and knowhow to unlock a defence, for much of his early career he was also a wonderful fullback and a more than useful goal-kicker. He is a State of Origin veteran for Queensland and years after his retirement, Lockyer is sure to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga such has been his influence on that arena. Lockyer has also appeared in Australain World Cup campaigns in 2000 and 2008 and even appeared in four tests for the Super League Australian team during the great rugby war that rocked a nation between 1995 and 1997.

Having broken the Australian records for most international appearances and most international tries, I think he would be a great choice, particularly if he can inspire the Australians to Four Nations glory in his own back yard of Brisbane this weekend.

Long may his reign continue.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: The Race for the Golden Boot

2010-11-08T21:41:00.000Z

Entry 7. 8th November

Six players have been nominated for this year's Golden Boot and a seventh wildcard could enter the fray.

Each of the nominations have merits, obvious strengths, and are fine players in their own right. Over the next couple of days I'll give my take on them. Here are the first three.

Paul Gallen

The New South Wales and Cronulla Sharks forward is as tough as teak and has missed more than his fair share of games due to disciplinary issues but now at the age of 29 is approaching his zenith.

He debuted back in 2001 for Cronulla, and so far the Sharks have been his only professional club. After making his mark on the first team, Gallen suffered a bulging disc in his lower back during the 2006 pre-season which resulted in surgery and a super quick recovery time of just nine weeks. That season also saw Gallen debut for the NSW Origin team and he also earned selection to the Prime Minister's X111 squad that played Papua New Guinea and won 28-8 in Port Moresby.

During that close season he signed a four year deal with Cronulla and went on to appear in the 2008 Centenary Test for Australia against New Zealand. He has now played 14 test matches for his country and finally appears to be settling down from the controversial character that seemed to regularly flout the rules.

Gallen has made 180 appearances for the Sharks, scoring 40 tries and during a pheonomenal 2010 season, the workaholic made 795 tackes in 23 games, ran for 4056 metres and took the ball to defences 505 times.

James Graham

Scouser Graham is the only England player in with a shout of winning the Golden Boot and the 25 year old St Helens prop continues to win praise for his no-nonsense approach to the game.

He debuted for St Helens in 2003 and went on to win consecutive Challenge Cups with Saints in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

After winning the RL Man-of-Steel in 2008 and a place in the world thirteen, he continued his form into 2009, again winning selection to the world thirteen. James had another successful year in 2010, save for a loss of cool against Wigan in the Grand Final. He appeared 32 times for Saints and scored a respectable seven tries - not bad for a prop forward!

After leading the 2004 GB Academy side to a series victory against Australia, it was almost inevitable that Graham would take on a leadership role at some point in his career. That came during the recent Four Nations tournament when de to injuries to Jamie Peacock and then Adrian Morley, he was asked to skipper the side.

By the end of the 2010 domestic season Graham was closing in on 200 appearances for St Helens where he has also scored 46 tries.

With his contract up at the end of next season, he could well find himself in demand amongst the NRL clubs and following in the footsteps of England team-mate Sam Burgess.

Shaun Kenny-Dowall

6'5 giant Kenny-Dowall has earned rave reviews this past season, really claiming a spot for both his club, Sydney Roosters and the Kiwi National team.

Shaun first left his New Zealand home for Sydney in 2004 and worked his way through the junior grades at the Roosters before making his debut at the start of the 2007 season against South Sydney.

His first try hat-trick came three months later in a 64-30 rout of the North Queensland Cowboys and he claimed his first four-try haul against the Brisbane Broncos. This was the first time a Sydney Roosters player had done so for 35 years.

He finished the 2010 season with a Grand Final appearance against St George, but the Dragons won 32-8 to take the crown. Nevertheless with over 3500 running metres to his name and some mighty impressive stats which include 21 tries in 28 games, there is no doubting that Kenny-Dowall has emerged from simply a player of immense promise to one of undoubted talent.

His current club tally stands at 85 appearances, 58 tries and 3 goals, and the scary prospect is that Kenny-Dowall is just 22. I wonder how those stats will read at 32?

Kenny-Dowall's representative career began with the 2006 and 2007 Junior Kiwis and he toured with the All Gold's New Zealand 2007 squad and played against a "Northern Union select" at Warrington, he then made his full test bow against France. After missing out on selection to the Kiwi's 2008 World Cup Squad, he played for the Maori as they took on an Indigenous Dreamteam in a curtain-raiser to the World Cup Final.

During the current Four Nations he has become a mainstay in the centres and scored tries against both England and Australia.

Tomorrow I'll give my thoughts on the other nominations for the Golden Boot.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/11: Australia Stun Kiwis at Eden Park

2010-11-07T17:06:00.000Z

Entry 6. 7th November

This was supposed to be the game where New Zealand showed the sporting public that there is a true shift in power in the Southern Hemisphere. What eventuated was a case of clinical ruthlessness from Australia. Even with a few changes to their side, no Darren Lockyer or Billy Slater as a casing point, this still showed New Zealand what they have to apsire towards.

New Zealand made a confident start but a disappointing kick was snapped up by Darius Boyd. It then took the Australians just six minutes to open scoring after Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith kept the ball alive for Cooper Cronk to shoot through the defence. Smith converted and it was 6-0.

Australia kept the pressure on with Todd Carney forcing a drop out but the Green and Golds were unable to add to their score and when David Shillington went high with a tackle at the other end of the field, Benji Marshall planted the ball between the posts to put the Kiwis back within striking distance at 6-2.

As the Kiwis massed their attack, a sound grubber kick from Lance Hohaia forced a drop out but again Australias defence held firm.

A couple of minutes later Carney spun a pass wide for Brett Tate and he was able to smuggle the ball out of a Sam Perrett tackle for Brett Morris to touch down. Again Smith made it six points with the conversion and New Zealand went through the horrors when they booted the ball out on the full from the restart. After moving within striking distance, Tate became try scorer with a lunge from dummy half and hooker Smith again goaled for an 18-2 lead.

It was then that the Kiwis finally got going. Frank Pritchard won a penalty and all of a sudden New Zealand moved with purpose. Marshall's excellent grubber kick was chased by Nathan Fein and forced a drop out while the Kiwi Marshall almost got things moving with Hohaia only for an Australian hand to intervene.

The pressure did eventually tell on Australia when Thomas Leuluai found Pritchard and he went through the heart of the defence for a power-packed try. Marshall converted and the Kiwis could count themselves unlucky a couple of minutes later when Simon Mannering broke the line but instead of finding Jason Nightingale, he popped the ball up into the grateful arms of Dean Young.

A dust-up between Shillington and Isaac Luke livened the game up further before the break but with the clock ticking down, Marshall booted his third goal to send the Kiwis in with just an eight point deficit at half-time.

As in the first half, Australia scored first in the second when a flying Morris threw the ball inside for Boyd and he scored his first international try. It was too far out for Smith and Australia had to be on their guard when quick thinking from Marshall saw him tap a penalty and duck and weave downfield for a forty metre gain. Again this came to nothing while at the other end a knock-on from Hohaia was touched by New Zealand hands meaning a penalty to Australia. With field position and possession, Australia did what they do best.

Robbie Farrah darted out of dummy half and slid a pin point kick to the in-goal area for clubmate Chris Lawrence to chase. The debutant grounded cleanly and Carney goaled to make it 28-10. Another mistake from the Kiwis was punished as they compounded a knock-on by not setting up correctly at the scrum. Australia used numbers well with Tate handing on to Morris and he seared 40 metres down the wing to the try line. Carney added his second goal and at 34-10 the contest was over.

New Zealand continued to plug away and will certainly fancy their chances next week in the final if they can get Benji Marshall a proper platform to work his magic from. A rare mistake from Boyd came after 63 minutes and it was the Kiwis turn to punish as a superb Marshall offload found Nightingale for an unconverted try.

The New Zealand stand-off was incredibly unlucky eight minutes later when he just lost the ball over the line after some great footwork but he did not let this deter him and a majestic pass bamboozled the defence and allowed Shaun Kenny-Dowall to score the final try of the game in the 76th minute. Marshall booted his fourth goal but the Kiwis lost out 34-20 and must regroup ahead of next Saturday's final in Brisbane.

I for one can't wait for that!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/2011: Match Record 1: Leigh Miners v Dudley Hill.

2010-11-06T16:46:00.001Z

Entry 5: 6th November

I've decided that over the course of the next twelve months I'm going to blog about every game that I've either been watching as a spectator or covered. This means that by the time the end of September 2011 arrives there should be a whole host of games that I've written about and I'm quite interested about where my travels take me.

Match number: 1
Location: Twist Lane, Leigh.
Game: Leigh Miners v Dudley Hill
Score: 42-12

It was the Miners who got the better of their plucky visitors despite the Bradford side having the better of play at the start of both halves.

It took Miners a good twenty minutes to settle into the game and the first try came when Flannery cleverly linked with Woods and his pass sent Ryan Smith racing in for the first of his hat-trick. Tom Bradbury added the goal and Miners led 6-0.

A few minutes later Dudley Hill were reduced to twelve men after their fullback butted one of the Miners players.

The hosts took advantage of the extra man with tries from workaholic Darryl Kay and Smith before half-time and led 18-0 at the interval.

Once again the visitors bossed territory at the start of the second half but fell further behind when Jimmy Muir outpaced the defence from sixty metres. There was no let up as Smith followed a Scott O'Brien break for his hat-trick and O'Brien himself got in on the act after some almost super human work from John Woods. The final Miners try went the way of birthday boy Kay with Bradbury adding his 7th goal.

Hill scored a couple of converted tries themselves to add some respectability to the score while Miners ended their run of two defeats to move within touching distance at the top of the table again after the 42-12 win.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/2011: Looking ahead to the Kumuls

2010-11-05T17:35:00.001Z

Entry 4: 5th November

There may well be fireworks tonight but be rest assured there will also be some tomorrow when New Zealand take on Australia and Papua New Guinea meet England in the Four Nations.

I've already gone into quite a lot of detail as to where I feel there have been deficiencies in the England game but pride really is at stake against a PNG team shorn of many of their stars and struggling.

Having said that, the Kumuls are not to be taken lightly. They boast a quintet of players that all have experience of the English game, playing for teams such as Sheffield (Menzie Yere), Featherstone (and from next year Wakefield in the case of Jessie Joe Parker), Halifax (Makali Aizue) and Hunslet pair Michael Mark and the superbly named Charlie Wabo.

Yere has just completed his second season in the Championship with the Eagles and still appears to be improving. His defensive work against Australia earned him the nickname "Jukebox" in the Aussie press.

Parker was having a tremendous season with Featherstone before having to return home. Certainly for the first half of the year, the raw boned centre was Rovers main go-to attacking player and even claimed a couple of tries against Warrington in a 48-24 defeat.

Aizue has had something of a mixed year at Halifax. After joining them in the close season and playing a few games, he got injured and then fell out of favour only to force his way back into contention in the closing stages. He turned in a couple of inspirational performances at the end of the season, including a crackerjack performance in the Championship Grand Final as Halifax recovered from 22-4 down to win 23-22 in extra time.

The last names I mentioned were those of Michael Mark and Charlie Wabo. Both have done well for Hunslet this year having first come over to try their luck in England after the 2008 World Cup. Wabo is a clever hooker and caused the Kiwi defence a couple of problems last week, especially when he chipped over the defence and regathered to then send stand off Glen Nami racing to the line. Mark is a winger small in stature, big on heart that has had little chance to show his wares in this competition but has scored a number of memorable tries for the Hawks.

It is hoped that England do not take to their task with any complacency. The team should have too much for PNG and for the first time on tour, club halfbacks Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson are paired together while Tony Clubb of Harlequins returns to the international side alongside Warrington's Garreth Carvell who is on the bench. There is also a recall at substitute for Gareth Widdop.

Here is the England team in full:

1 Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
2 Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)
3 Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants, Newsome)
4 Tony Clubb (Harlequins RL, Greenwich Admirals)
5 Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)
6 Kevin Brown (Huddersfield Giants, Thatto Heath)
7 Luke Robinson (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal)
8 James Graham (St Helens, Blackbrook) (capt)
9 James Roby (St Helens, Blackbrook)
10 Sam Burgess (South Sydney, Dewsbury Moor)
11 Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers, Castleford Lock Lane)
12 Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves, Normanton Knights)
13 Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Interchange
14 Darrell Griffin (Huddersfield Giants, Oxford Cavaliers)
15 Garreth Carvell (Warrington Wolves, Stanningley)
16 Ben Harrison (Warrington Wolves, Barrow Island)
17 Gareth Widdop (Melbourne Storm, King Cross)

Hopefully I'll be blogging a little more positively after the game!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/2011:

2010-11-04T21:16:00.000Z

Entry 3: 4th November

One thing another year of international failure has highlighted is the reliance of overseas players in the British game, particularly in the key positions of 1, 6, 7 and 9.

A look at the players who had those shirt numbers for Super League clubs in the UK last year just illustrates my point:

Bradford: Dave Halley (English), Brett Kearney (Australian), Matt Orford (Australian), Heath L'Estrange (Australian)

Castleford: Ryan McGoldrick (Australian), Rangi Chase (NZ), Brent Sherwin (Australian), Ryan Hudson (English)

Crusaders: Clinton Schifcoske (Australian), Michael Witt (Australian), Jarrod Sammut (Australian), Lincoln Withers (Australian)

Harlequins: Chris Melling (English), Luke Dorn (Australian), Danny Orr (English), Chad Randall (Australian)

Huddersfield: Brett Hodgson (Australian), Kevin Brown (English), Danny Brough (Scottish), Luke Robinson (English)

Hull: Jordan Tansey (English), Richard Horne (English), Sean Long (English), Shaun Berrigan (Australian)

Hull Kingston Rovers: Shaun Briscoe (English), Scott Murrell (English), Mick Dobson (Australian), Ben Fisher (Scottish)

Leeds: Brent Webb (NZ), Danny McGuire (English), Rob Burrow (English), Danny Buderus (Australian)

Salford: Karl Fitzpatrick (Irish), Stefan Ratchford (English), Jeremy Smith (NZ), Malcolm Alker (English)

St. Helens: Paul Wellens (English), Leon Pryce (English), Kyle Eastmond (English), James Roby (English)

Wakefield: Matt Blaymire (English), Ben Jeffries (Australian), Sam Obst (Australian), Tevita Leo-Latu (NZ)

Warrington: Richard Mathers (English), Lee Briers (Welsh), Richie Myler (English), Michael Monaghan (Australian)

Wigan: Sam Tomkins (English), Thomas Leuluai (NZ), Paul Deacon (English), Mark Riddell (Australian)

The worrying trend is that out of 52 players in key positions for Super League clubs, only 24 are eligible for the England international side and when you factor in that players like Richard Horne, Sean Long (Hull), Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow (Leeds), Leon Pryce and Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) have sat out huge swathes of the season or picked up term ending problems and the fact that other players (Paul Deacon, Paul Wellens, Danny Orr) are nearer the end of their careers, you can see the problems we have at international level.

What can we do? Well I reckon we need to fast track young halfbacks and team decision makers. Okay I know my list includes Sam Tomkins, Kyle Eastmond and Richie Myler who each have good talents and potentially great ones, but there needs to be more.

Perhaps we could look at mentoring programmes? There must be ways of using some of the experienced former players that are around to really bring the best out of these players. I'm sure the likes of Garry Schofield, Paul Sculthorpe and perhaps now he's hanging the boots up, Keiron Cunningham, they could all become involved in giving these youngsters ago instead of the usual response which is to drop a young player in at the deep end and hope that he does a job.

Particularly in a play-making role, players need time. Earlier in his career John Duffy wasn't given that chance and opportunity at Warrington and also did not play as regularly at Salford. It was only at Leigh where he was able to prosper and perhaps even despite the successes he has had in his career, he would have done even more had he been given more of an opportunity during his early years as a professional.

It is also time to use the good coaches that we have in this country. This past season at Leigh, Ian Millward has to a certain extent took the Centurions stand-off Martyn Ridyard under his wing, turning a good 23 year-old amateur player into a more rounded Championship half-back and while I'm not suggesting that Ridyard is ready for Super League currently, the Championship does have its share of promising talents who could step up to the rigours of Super League and to not use good coaches like Daryl Powell just seems like a waste.

I think the top clubs need to open their eyes and spread their nets. Kyle Briggs at Featherstone has had an excellent season and a player who has flirted with Super League in the past, Anthony Thackeray at Widnes has also grown his game. In fact it is interesting to note that Hull KR for example have allowed 22 year old Chaz I'Anson to leave for Widnes at the same time as recruiting 23 year old Australian Blake Green for next season while Bradford have chosen to completely bypass the young halfbacks at their club like Cain Southernwood in favour of recruiting virtual unknown Marc Herbert from Canberra.

On the positive side I was encouraged to read that just this week Wigan have promoted hooker Logan Tomkins and halfback Sam Powell to their senior group of players. I hope they can both force their way into first team reckoning in the next 18 months.

One thing is for sure, despite the efforts of the current England boys, and there is no doubting their effort, we need to develop our attack and to do that we need the playmakers to be given their chance.

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/2011: International Thoughts from England's second game

2010-11-02T18:29:00.000Z

Entry 2: 2nd November

The Rugby League papers on Monday were predictably questioning Steve McNamara's team selection for last Sunday's game with Australia in Melbourne and for good reason too.

After playing mostof the season at hooker, Luke Robinson found himself starting at scrum-half while one time clubmate at Wigan Sean O'Loughlin was moved from loose forward to stand-off. Neither move truly worked. O'Loughlin defending on an edge got caught out a couple of times and Luke Lewis gave him a torrid time while Robinson only looked truly at ease when operating from hooker.

Despite some excellent work from the likes of Graham, Roby, Burgess and Ellis and a promising start that saw the English take an 8-6 lead after 15 minutes, they then went through the horrors over the next twenty minutes as Australia ran in the points, all of which came off the back of mistakes.

When also factoring into the mix the performance of the referee, it meant that Australia eventually coasted to a convincing 34-14 win. This led to McNamaras team selection rightly coming under fire, although I think we have more problems.

Once again overall we were too meek and mild and after Burgess cut through for the first England try, in truth they rarely threatened, with a limp kicking game and a defensive system that cracked under a bit of pressure.

I have been critical amongst peers about the England backline and my opinion has not changed. Out of all the backs currently out there for England, there is only possibly Sam Tomkins and at a pinch Ryan Hall, who could play in the NRL.

Darrell Goulding is still a work in progress. Tom Briscoe was quiet, Leroy Cudjoe was left badly exposed and that was perhaps not all his fault - he's only played in the centres a handful of times.

The big disappointment for me was Ryan Atkins. Here is a player that has looked good in a backline with the likes of Matt King and Chris Riley at Warrington but here he looked sluggish, lethargic and in truth awful.

It is creatively where England struggle most though and until the Super League competition can create more halfbacks, and I'm not talking 31 year old Aussies here or 22 year old foreign "Jonny Come Lately's", I'm talking about British kids. Allow the likes of Myler, Eastmond etc to develop. A halfback only learns by experience. I also agree with a couple of other people's views on the game. Mentally we look soft and can't reach a level of intensity needed to test the Australians for half an hour, let alone eighty minutes.

The Aussies kept things simple without ever seeming to truly excel. Still on this form it is NZ who will reign supreme. The fact of the matter is that despite 15 years of being told otherwise, Super League isn't increasing the talent pools and I think a talent identification system should be brought in, in addition to trusting some of these youngsters in games instead of ditching them for an established player.

I feel another rant coming on at some point later tomorrow evening!

#rugbyleague BLOG 2010/2011:International Thoughts from England's first game in the Four Nations.

2010-11-01T19:30:00.000Z

Entry 1: 1st November

On the day when a lot of clubs are starting a long pre-season, on a night that is dark and was particularly wet when I left work, I was thinking about international Rugby League.

I've been keeping up with the Four Nations and in my opinion England alone are a running a distant third in the world, way behind the Kiwis and those Aussies too!

I suppose I didn't need a certificate from Mensa to work that out. Looking at the two games I feel that we have been heavily outplayed by both Southern Heisphere nations and it got me thinking about why this was so?

The first game saw a particularly slow and ponderous first twenty minutes and by the time England woke up they were 12-0 down. Players that haven't made many handling errors all season were coming up with plenty and the pack was out thought, out manouvered and outmuscled quite badly. This in turn gave the halfs and backs very little to work with.

Early in the second half when Kenny-Dowall marauded through the middle for his try, evading four in the process and the majestic Benji Marshall made it 18-0 with the conversion. At this stage I feared for England. Suddenly they got a bit of possession in the Kiwi half though and James Roby got the visitors moving with a try to which young Gareth Widdop goaled. 18-6 quickly became 18-10 as finally England shook off their lethargy to score a wonderful try. Roby and clubmate and skipper James Graham started the move before the ball reached new Saints recruit Michael Shenton. After a quiet first half Shenton was enjoying his second and after splitting the defence he found Kevin Brown. Despite Brown seemingly running through treacle, he linked with Widdop and the Melbourne Storm fullback crossed the line before missing the conversion.

Inspired, England again looked to have got on the scoreboard after around 55 minues when Brown won the race with Gregg Eastwood to claim a Sam Tomkins kick. Surprisingly the video refere ruled against England and just under two minutes later that man Marshall popped up in suport of Jason Nightingale to loop around the cover and head into the corner. The conversion made it 24-10 and there was no way back. The nervous start killed the game from an England point of view but I would put it down to a little bit more than that.

I reckon it came down to the intensity of the Kiwis and the patience they showed in the first fifty minutes.

A plus was that when England clicked into gear, they looked improved and even dangerous but until they can find their own style or brand of rugby then they will continue to struggle.

For me that Kiwi pack is currently the best in the business and roll on next weekend when everyone has a chance to see a Final dress rehearsal when they will take on Australia.

I'll be back with some thoughts on the England/Australia game tomorrow.

Wonderful entertainment on Co-operative Grand Final Day

2010-09-27T23:59:00.000+01:00

My first Grand Final since Leigh's 2004 success was a reminder certainly on the field about the superb sport we have in rugby league.
Each game was good for a different reason. Warrington Wizards and Huddersfield Underbank Rangers got us underway and what a game this was - a real credit to that competition, full of skill, tough and pretty quick.

Rangers opened the score when hooker Adam Carroll forced his way over the line after just six minutes. Neil Barrett's conversion made it 6-0 and the Warrington side struck back after seventeen minutes.

Without doubt this was the highlight as Wizards player-coach Chris Campbell scored a memorable try. From a twenty metre tap the Warrington side moved the ball quickly and Campbell glided down the wing with his effortless running style to finish from at least fifty metres with apparent ease.

After trailing 18-6, Huddersfield Underbank hit back to level the score at 18-18 after battling Joe Worthington burst through the middle from close range.

National Conference League player of the season Jono Smith put a drop goal over to edge the Wizards in front and when a superb crossfield kick was caught by Dave Yii who then did incredibly well to get the ball out for wing Graham Healey to gleefully get over in the corner. That meant that the Warrington side prevailed 23-18.

The second final that from Championship One arguably had most riding on it. Promotion from Championship One was at stake with the chance to join Hunslet in the higher division next year.

This saw fancied Oldham take on York with the Roughyeds finally looking to win and make it fourth time lucky for their long suffering fans.

From the off, York looked the better team and scored an early try through Wayne Reittie. Oldham then equalised thanks to the vision and quick thinking of stand-off Neil Roden. The veteran chipped over, regathered and then kicked on again for Mick Foggerty to ground.

York grabbed the only other try of the second half when fullback James Haynes virtually crawled his way to the line after Dave Ellison conceded a penalty. Lee Waterman's goal made it 10-4 and that was how it remained at the break despite the City Knights twice losing the ball after creating chances.

Waterman added a penalty in the second half and the teams went toe-to-toe and set-for-set before York broke and after Nathan Freer was halted close, Chris Thorman's quick thinking and dummy took him over the line. The stand-off duly converted and became the central figure as his kicking game took centre stage.

Eleven minutes from time Thorman knocked over a drop goal to make it 19-4 and the last ten minutes were enjoyable for the City Knights and like pulling teeth for Oldham. An excellent passing move led to Steve Lewis scoring a superb try and Thorman confirmed his man-of-the-match billing with the conversion to finish with a personal tally of nine points (a try, 2 goals and a drop goal) in the 25-4 win.

It was real blood and thunder stuff in the Co-operative Championship Final as top two Featherstone and Halifax played out a game that no-one present at the Halliwell Jones Stadium will forget.

Rob Worrincy scored one of the great final tries with a 100 metre dash but Rovers soon took a stranglehold and led 12-4 before the game was delayed for 45 minutes due to a fire in the stand that housed the majority of Halifax fans. This resulted in an entire terraced end moving onto the pitch. The blaze was dealt with by stewards and the fire service arrived to make sure it was safe to continue. Everyone was allowed back onto the terrace before a further announcement told people to make their way to the Martin Dawes all-seater stand opposite. As fans funneled though the Featherstone players wives and girfriends were led from the stand and housed elsewhere.

Eventually the game got back underway and it remained 12-4 at half-time.

Two further tries in the first 13 minutes saw Rovers build a 22-4 lead but like a prize one day cricket team on a run chase, Fax clawed it back and when Stephen Bannister got over and Lee Paterson equalised with the conversion, it was all level at 22-all.

The game moved into sudden death extra-time and we saw a bit of Black magic as Ben Black etched his name into Halifax history in a similar way John Pendlebury did 23 years earlier with a well struck drop goal that had the little Aussie celebrating and jumping for joy as it left his boot.

A compelling game finished 23-22 to Halifax and in the lyrics and style of Nat King Cole, it certainly was "unforgettable".

Roll on 2011, my appetite is whet already!

RL Match Report: Wigan through to Super League Grand Final

2010-09-25T19:28:00.000+01:00

Wigan won through to Old Trafford to play arch rivals St Helens for the Grand Final and Leeds boss Brian McClennan admitted that the Rhinos had "thrown the kitchen sink at them."

Pat Richards opened the scoring with a penalty after 14 minutes but Leeds struck right back when Martin Gleeson lost possesion in a Danny Buderus tackle, the ball moved right and Kevin Sinfield rounded Harrison Hansen to finish from thirty metres before converting.

Leeds defence was dominant and restricted Wigan to just thirty metres progress on their next possession. The Rhinos gained their first penalty after 22 minutes and tried to launch an attack only for Ian Kirke to spill the ball.

Wigan's kicking game continued to misfire which put Leeds on the front foot while in comparison the Rhinos varied things in the same area. Wigan lost the influential Sean O'Loughlin temporarily to injury and this didn't help their organisation.

Good thinking from the Rhinos nearly launched Ryan Hall but the pass from Brent Webb after Buderus worked the right side drifted forward.

Iefeta Paaleasina charged through the middle after 27 minutes but his offload did not find support and Leeds went within inches of claiming a try before being awarded a penalty for obstruction. Wigan kept their line intact with Gleeson sparking a counter attack. The ball came right to Darrell Goulding and he sped down the wing before kicking forward and appearing to knock on. The decision was referred up to the video referee but the score remained the same.

The game moved from end to end before Thomas Leuluai put a high kick for Richards which was spilled by Hall. Wigan drove to the line with Mike McIlorum held on the line and the Warriors moved play right again for Goulding to force his way over from a speculative Joel Tomkins offload. Richards converted and suddenly the Warriors were in front.

Richards tried a long range drop goal against a swirling breeze but the teams went in at half-time with Wigan leading 8-6.

At the start of the second half Paul Prescott went over the top of Chris Clarkson and Sam Tomkins almost broke before Paul Deacon launched a wonderful kick that saw Scott Donald fluff the ball allowing Joel Tomkins the opportunity to juggle and then place the ball down for his fourth try in five matches. Once again Richards converted and all of a sudden it was 14-6 to Wigan.

Another try followed quickly for Wigan when the ball came free from a McIlorum carry and George Carmont dabbed on and won the race to claim the score.

Leeds were backpedalling. It was 20-6 after just seven minutes of the second half and they were struggling to make metres as Wigan upped their defensive efforts.

The Rhinos needed inspiration and they gained possession and then a penalty thanks to Matt Diskin. In using the ball, Leeds came close to getting their first try of the second half only for Sam Tomkins to intervene.

With the Rhinos season on the line Keith Senior conceded a penalty due to back chat and Wigan went downfield again only to see Joel Tomkins penalised for a tackle on Rob Burrow.

Wigans defence held with Richards stopping Buderus but when equally solid tackling put Goulding into touch Leeds had another opportunity. The Warriors swarmed and continued to upset the Rhinos despite a superb break from Brett Delaney.

The Warriors continued to control the pace of the game despite Leeds efforts they were frustrated time and time again before Danny Buderus touched down after 76 minutes. Even this wasn't clear cut and went upstairs for video referee Ben Thaler to disallow the effort. This sparked mass celebrations at the Wigan end and when Leuluai was tackled high by Webb, the Warriors pushed the ball into the corner for Carmont, Harrison Hansen and Joel Tomkins to work the ball to Gleeson it sent Wigan to Old Trafford for the first time since 2003. Richards added his fifth goal to make it a 26-6 win.

Wigan boss Michael Maguire said "there's a great feeling in the camp and I'm very proud. In the fist half we werent getting the defence that we liked but in the second half the boys definitely came out and performed."

WIGAN 26 (Tries: Darrell Goulding, Joel Tomkins, George Carmont, Martin Gleeson. Goals: Pat Richards 5/5) defeated LEEDS 6 (Try: Kevin Sinfield, Goal: Kevin Sinfield 1/1.)

RL Comment: The Parkys - My end of season awards

2010-09-23T22:45:00.000+01:00

Well we've reached the time of the season where black-tie dinners are the order of the day but instead of reaching for the bow tie, just hold on.....These are my own awards that I would present to people this year.

Super League Coach of the Year: Michael Mcguire (Wigan) for turning around the club into a real force.

Super League Player of the Season: Adrian Morley (Warrington) an excellent workhorse, Morley is a fine player that leads by example and does seem to get better with each passing year.

Super League Young Player of the Year: Sam Tomkins (Wigan) is going to become some player. One of the best in the league at stand-off, he has added an extra dimension to his game playing at fullback. He could indeed turn into the British Darren Lockyer. Praise indeed.

Super League game of the season: Wigan's 22-20 success over Warrington at Halliwell Jones Stadium was a wonderful game. There was very little between the teams and I felt that game had everything.

Championship Coach of the Year: Daryl Powell (Featherstone). He has assembled a good squad of players that work really hard for each other and are tough to beat. Up until the point of writing, with the Grand Final still ahead, Rovers have only lost twice in the league all season - a superb record.

Championship Player of the Year: Liam Finn (Featherstone). I agree with the Championship official award. This time last year Liam Finn had guided Dewsbury to a 100% season and he's come close again this term back in the colours of Rovers. A controlling scrum-half, he has really brought the game of Kyle Briggs on an awful lot. His kicking is very good, in fact I'd liken him to a younger, slightly quicker Ian Watson.

Championship Young Player of the Year: I agree with the official choice of Zak Hardacre (Featherstone) and Gareth Moore (Batley) although instead of a shared award I'm going to give it to Moore who has come on a bundle this season and alongside experienced Paul Handforth really stood up to help Batley secure their first piece of silverware in 86 years at Blackpool. Hardacre has scored 20+ tries since securing a place on Rovers wing while I also want to give honourable mentions for Sam Smeaton (Featherstone) and Danny Craven (Widnes). Smeaton replaced Jessie Joe Parker and has settled in to the centres really well, while Craven pushed into first team at Widnes and played most of the games over the final third. He looks a class act and I will watch his development with interest.

Sadly I haven't seen enough Championship One rugby to comment although Hunslet have been good this term and ran in lots and lots of points.

RL Press Release & Comment

2010-09-19T15:36:00.000+01:00

St Helens have selected Huddersfield Giants as their opponents in next Friday's historic Engage Super League Qualifying Semi-final, the last competitive match to be played at GPW Recruitment Stadium.

Saints announced their preferred choice at the Club Call conference this afternoon when all four clubs who remain in the most exciting Engage Super League play-off series were represented.

St Helens, the highest ranked winning club after the opening round of the play-offs, elected not to use Club Call to choose Wigan Warriors as their last opponents at Knowsley Road, their home for the last 120 years.

Instead, Wigan will travel to defending Engage Super League champions Leeds Rhinos next Saturday for their Qualifying Semi-final, the winners of which will go straight into the Engage Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford on Saturday October 2.

Next week's Qualifying Semi-final schedule is as follows:

Friday September 24 - St Helens v Huddersfield Giants (8.00)

Saturday September 26 - Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors (5.15)

Well it was a no brainer really. If they'd picked Wigan and lost no Wigan fan would have let St Helens ever forget.

RL Comment: Clubcall

2010-09-19T11:32:00.000+01:00

So the big day of the clubcall has arrived and I still can't help but think this is something of a gimmick, I don't know what anyone else thinks about it.

Every other team sport has a structure and this is unusual, however gimmick or not in my eyes, it does buy the RFL more media attention because it is different.

Last year it was Leeds that had the clubcall and they opted to play Catalans Dragons. This year, by virtue of being the highest placed winner on the league ladder after the first week of the play-offs, St Helens have the honour and the unusual step of being able to pick who they will play in the last ever first team game at Knowsley Road.

The teams they can pick from are arch nemesis Wigan, who defeated Hull KR 42-18 on Friday night or tough nut Huddersfield who accounted for Warrington 34-22.

Huddersfield coach Nathan Brown was already putting his troops on standby for a trip to St Helens, although he did say, "whoever we play now, they are both good teams."

This is true, should Saints opt to take on Wigan, it would pit Huddersfield against current Super League Champions Leeds.

So despite my personal thoughts on the issue, I guess we'll find out in a couple of hours who will play who, and the media will report accordingly.

RL Comment: Giants deserve shot at the big time (Spoiler Warning)

2010-09-18T23:08:00.000+01:00

Huddersfield Giants are 80 minutes away from a trip to Old Trafford after they dumped much fancied Warrington out of the Super League play-offs by virtue of a 34-22 win at the Halliwell Jones Stadium tonight.

From the outset, Huddersfield ran harder with the likes of David Fa'alogo, Keith Mason and Darrell Griffin keen to make an impact. This laid the platform from where their little men bossed proceedings. With Luke Robinson and Danny Brough alternating things at dummy half and then later mixing things with Shaun Lunt, Warrington didn't know what to expect while linkmen Brett Hodgson and Kevin Brown gave excellent performances.

The Giants were first to trouble the scoreboard after three minutes when a switched pass by Robinson found Stephen Wild and the Salford-bound backrower cut through for the try and Brett Hodgson chipped in with his first goal.

Warrington then thought they had claimed a try to Chris Hicks after Lee Briers angled kick but the video referee felt otherwise.

The Wolves were then lulled into a false sense of security by Brough. He had been kicking early in the tackle count but as he feigned, the halfback instead stepped and blistered through the defence before Danny Kirmond supported at his shoulder for the second try of the game.

A near perfect first quarter was brought to an end when Brett Hodgson kicked through and Lee Gilmour cleverly controlled the ball with his foot to touch down. Again the fullback was on hand to convert and mae it 18-0.

Finally Warrington began to build a bit of pressure and two kicks down the left from David Solomona and Ryan Atkins saw Hodgson get the ball dead for a drop out.

That spell proved short lived as Huddersfield motored down the ground again and only good work from Chris Hicks denied a try for David Hodgson after a clever grubber kick by Kevin Brown. The next try was all Brown's doing after Larne Patrick drove close to the line. A quick play-the-ball then released Brown and he showed strength to get downward pressure despite the attentions of two players.

With just four seconds play remaining in the half, Brough struck a masterly drop goal from forty metres and Huddersfield led 23-0.

Warrington needed the first try in the second half and it came after four minutes when Michael Monaghan's pass was taken by Mick Higham who proved as slippy as an eel to get through the defence. Ben Westwood goaled before Brough's kicking and the Giants eager chase saw them force a couple of drop outs. From the first, Warrington conceded a penalty when Briers dumped Lunt but Hodgson missed the goal.

On 53 minutes, Hodgson converted an altogether more straightforward penalty and a 19 point lead looed too much for the Wolves to overcome. It was at this stage that mistakes started to creep into the Giants game.

Hicks grounded a try in the corner for the Wolves on the hour and Huddersfield were rocking five minutes later when Higham somehow broke through from dummy half after searching for the penalty and acquplaned over despite the best efforts of Brett Hodgson.

Brough appeared to give Huddersfield the edge with another blistering break and chip kick and when Briers again trangressed, Hodgson put over his fifth goal. Leading 27-16, Huddersfield threw the ball away and as a scrap broke out, Matt King sent Hicks in for his second try of the game. Westwood converted superbly from the touchline and this sparked a frantic finish.

If Brough's first drop goal was majestic, his second after seventy eight minutes was anything but. After referring the decision upstairs, referee Phil Bentham awarded the goal which just about scraped the crossbar on its way over.

At the restart, Warrington went short and regained possession through King. A miracle play on the left looked on but instead of finding an unmarked Chris Riley the lofted pass was plucked out of the air by Leroy Cudjoe who set off running, realised the tackler coming across was Adrian Morley and moved through the gears to touch down 90 metres down field. Hodgson converted for his sixth goal of the evening and the Giants will now wait on the result of "club call" tomorrow lunchtime before knowing who and when they will play next week.

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS 34 (Tries: Wild, Kirmond, Gilmour, Brown, Cudjoe. Goals: B Hodgson 6/8, Drop Goals: Brough 2) defeated WARRINGTON WOLVES 22 (Tries Higham 2, Hicks 2. Goals: Westwood 3/4) at Halliwell Jones Stadium.

This was a cracker of a game with the right result. Huddersfield wobbled but managed to settle the ship while Warrington were shocked at the tenacity and pressure being put on them by their visitors in the first half.

SL PREVIEW - THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS BUT THEY HAVE TO BEAT WARRINGTON

2010-09-18T11:49:00.000+01:00

Huddersfield Giants haven't beaten Warrington in three attempts this season and in order to upset the applecart and upset the expected top four party, that is exactly what they need to do.

At the Galpharm in February, Warrington won through narrowly - 14-10 before an outstanding performance in the Challenge Cup saw a demolition job. It was expected to be a close game, afterall the two clubs got to the 2009 final but it turned into anything but with Warrington winning by 60-4. The worrying thing for the Giants is that cutting edge centre Chris Bridge is back, and in form.

The England international scored five tries against the Giants in May and since returning to the Wolves first team panel he has scored 3 tries and 6 goals in two games. This has come after he was tipped not to play again this term after an injury sustained in June against Leeds.

The last time the teams met was at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and once again, Warrington had the upper hand winning 36-20.

Tries on that day for the Wolves came from Paul Wood, Chris Riley, Adrian Morley, Bridge, Chris Hicks (2) and Matt King while Bridge also weighed in with four goals. Huddersfield registered tries by Luke Robinson, Jomahl Lolesi, and Leroy Cudjoe (2) with Brett Hodgson booting a couple of goals.

Brett Hodgson is looking to continue the Giants recent form, which took an upturn after coach Nathan Brown performed a U-turn and opted to stay at the Galpharm for the rest of his contract after earlier saying that he was going to return to Australia.

The experienced fullback, who enjoyed a lengthy NRL career with Wests Tigers and picked up the Man-of-Steel award last year, will take up a two year contract with the Wolves in November but until then he is fully committed to the Giants.

Huddersfield have some usefl players. Wingers Leroy Cudjoe and David Hodgson have scored 23 and 25 tries respectively while at halfback there is an embarrassment of riches with Kevin Brown, Luke Robinson and Danny Brough all taking on the roles at various times this season. Robinson is a tough character who has also worked a lot at hooker this season with former Workington Town number nine Shaun Lunt. Lunt has bagged himself 11 tries while in a solid pack David Fa'alogo, Larne Patrick, Lee Gilmour, Andy Raleigh, Eorl Crabtree and Darrell Griffin have all made an impact with Keith Mason looking to do likewise if he can force his way into selection having served his three match ban for an incident at Wigan.

Warrington are perhaps even more explosive.

In addition to Bridge, Chris Hicks, Chris Riley and Matt King have all claimed 20 or more tries this season and even if they can be contained, Ryan Atkins could cause untild problems. The brains trust will probably lie with Michael Monaghan and Lee Briers after Richie Myler failed to recover in time from his turned ankle and the Wolves pack is among the best in Super League with Morley, Ben Westwood and Ben Harrison all very consistent while Paul Wood and David Solomona really add to the team from the bench.

All in all it looks like another interesting game in prospect.

Although bookmakers are tipping a Warrington win, we only have to look back a month for what was the Giants result of the season - an 18-16 defeat of Wigan in their own back yard! That in itself offers caution.

SUPER LEAGUE ROUND UP - WIGAN TOO GOOD FOR ROVERS

2010-09-17T22:19:00.000+01:00

Once again, Wigan proved too good for Hull Kingston Rovers although this time it came in the heat of play-off rugby.

Twice this season Hull KR lost out to Wigan but after 9 and 20 minutes, Rovers fans must have been in dreamland as they led their illustrious opponents.

The hosts opened the scoring through the prolific Pat Richards following a wonderful cut-out pass from Sam Tomkins before Peter Fox got in at the corner and Michael Dobson converted from wide out just a moment later.

Rovers were then in dreamland as first Scott Murrell kicked on before Ben Fisher grubbered a second time. Streaming up was Ben Cockayne and he finished his 7th try of the season well for Dobson to make it 12-6 to the visitors.

Wigan launched another attack and scored a second try when Mark Riddell found a short running Liam Farrell for his 9th try of the season.

Once again Rovers equalised and when Dobson landed his third goal from a penalty against Riddell, that nudged the Hull side in front after 20 minutes.

If Rovers had shaded the first twenty minutes, Wigan dominated the next fifteen and Darrell Goulding slid in at the corner after 23 minutes after earlier having the ball stolen from him by fullback Shaun Briscoe.

Richards converted and the hosts got themselves on the scoreboard for a fourth time just before the interval after Sam Tomkins ran 40 metres across field and five metres forward before looping a pass for Goulding to grab his second. A magnificent touchline goal from Richards made it 24-14 at the break.

Gradually Wigan wore down their opposition at the start of the new half and they eventually made it count on the scoreboard when Thomas Leuluai was adjudged to have grounded the ball by referee Richard Silverwood despite appearing to be stopped in the nick of time by a two man tackle.

Within a couple of minutes Wigan went on the charge again and Martin Gleeson picked his way over in classy fashion from twenty metres. Rovers threatened to make a game of it after 67 minutes when Dobson kicked to the ingoal and Fox nipped in behind Sam Tomkins to ground as the fullback became too preoccupied with holding Cockayne off.

The Warriors needed another try and it came within a couple of minutes when good work took the hosts close before Joel Tomkins showed good evasive skills to claim a try and Richards kept up his 100 per cent revord with the boot to book Wigan a spot in next weekend's elemination semi-finals.

WIGAN 42 (T: Richards, Farrell, Goulding 2, Leuluai, Gleeson, J Tomkins. G: Richards 7/7) defeated HULL KR 18 (T: Fox 2, Cockayne. G: Dobson 3/4) at the DW Stadium.

SL Preview: Wigan v Hull KR

2010-09-17T18:01:00.000+01:00

Like the Highlander films "There can be only one" as Wigan take on Hull Kingston Rovers at the DW Stadium tonight.

This has the potential to be a good game with Wigan still smarting from their narrow defeat to Leeds and Rovers cock-a-hoop at beating their neighbours last week.

I feel that both packs are fairly evenly matched with Clint Newton in pretty good form for the visitors while Ben Galea worked himself to a stand-still last week. The occasions I have seen Rhys Lovegrove this season he too has impressed while Michael Vella is another right up there in the performance rankings at Craven Park.

Last week I felt Ben Fisher had an excellent game. His distribution was crisp and his workrate tremendous - 44 tackles being credited to him in the League Express. Shaun Briscoe will return to the scene of his first professional club, as will Liam Colbon. Ben Cockayne also had a superb game for Rovers. He is a player that can really get under the skin of the opposition but a look at his stats just shows how much he added to the Robins against their arch local rivals. He made 23 tackles, took the ball in 16 times and made 138 metres.

Another former Wigan player is Michael Dobson and when he plays well, Rovers excel. Last week was one of his good days, and what a day! His field kicking was excellent and he banged four goals over too.

It could be a battle of the little big men and I wonder whether Michael Maguire will move Man-of-Steel nominations Sam Tomkins and Pat Richards?

Tomkins has done a good job at fullback and has something of the Darren Lockyer about him, which can only be good for England's hopes in the end of season Four Nations but I wonder whether due to injury to Paul Deacon he will move up to the halves to partner Thomas Leuluai.

Wigan will be dangerous, make no bones about it. Martin Gleeson and George Carmont are both shrewd operators in the centre while the likes of Richards and Darrell Goulding have finished off chances and half chances all season.

Leuluai himself is the only British based player to be selected in the squad so far announced by New Zealand for the Four Nations and he has matured into an even better player whether at halfback of hooker. Stuart Fielden and Andy Coley give the Warriors good go-forward while Liam Farrell has been this years Super League bolter. Farrell started the season on the fringes of the Wigan first team and was farmed out to Widnes on a dual contract. There he excelled and ever since being recalled by the Warriors he has appeared more in the first team than the Under-20s. He is learning all the time from people like Sean O'Loughlin who deserves all the press heading his way this season.

The scene is set - let's hope it's a good game and not the wash out we witnessed at the same ground earlier this year when Wigan found it all too easy on their way to a 32-6 win.

RL Comment: Man of Steel Nominations

2010-09-17T17:32:00.000+01:00

The nominations were revealed for the Man-of-Steel awards the other day with two players from Wigan and one from Warrington in the frame.

Veteran prop Adrian Morley, willow-the-wisp halfback or fullback Sam Tomkins and top points getter Pat Richards are all in the frame.

To be fair all three have had excellent seasons with Morley leading the Wolves superbly and picking up the Challenge Cup for Warrington for a second year in succession. Tomkins has excelled at Wigan whether at stand-off or fullback and is one of the most exciting talents in Super League while the form of Richards has already been acknowledged by the Rugby League Writers Association who named the former Wests Tigers winger as their player of the season after a campaign that has seen him break Andy Farrell's points in a year record. To date Richards has amassed 430 points this season from 31 tries and 153 goals.

The nominations came via the fact that all Super League players were polled.

My money is on hard-man Morley picking up the award at the RFL's dinner ahead of the Grand Final.

I just think he's a well respected player and whilst the other two are certainly more explosive and can create and score, their plaudits often come after the hard graft is put in by forwards.

RL Comment: Sad News

2010-09-15T23:44:00.000+01:00

I was very sorry to hear of the death of Chris Percival. The former Widnes centre, 31, lost his battle with Cancer after a brave fight.

Chris was a player with a big heart and a knack for scoring important tries. He came through the ranks at Halton Farnworth Hornets before taking the professional ticket with hometown Widnes. He debuted in 1996 although it wasn't until 1998 that he started appearing regularly in the first team.

That season he made 19 appearances including twelve starts and he then appeared 31 times the following season when he also crossed for eleven tries..

He starred for Widnes in 2001 when they accounted for much fancied Leigh in a big elimination Semi-Final at Hilton Park and even scored a try as the visitors overcame a 12-4 half-time deficit to win 26-18. It was one of sixteen tries that Percival scored that season - his best return for Widnes.

He played for the Vikings until 2003, including 23 appearances in Widnes first Super League season (25 in total).

Between 1996 and his final game, Percival had amassed 123 starts, a further 14 as substitute and roared over for 51 tries.

Percival then joined Leigh Centurions ahead of their 2004 season. It was to be a good campaign for him and Leigh. He played 20 games over the course of the season and scored 20 tries. He looked set to play an important part in the Centurions play-off tilt but a bad leg injury brought a premature end to his season.

In typical fashion he battled back and on two occasions returned to Reserve Team rugby only to get injured again. His Leigh career was unfortunately over and he moved to Oldham in 2005, only to be dogged by similar problems that restricted appearances.

He later returned to amatuer rugby where he played alongside brothers Neil and David for Halton Simms Cross. The team enjoyed a wonderful 2007 when they lifted the BARLA National Cup after winning against Ince Rose Bridge in the final.

The father of one began his Cancer battle 18 months ago.

May I wish all of Chris's friends and family my very best wishes at this sad time.

RL Comment: Play-offs alive and well

2010-09-12T23:17:00.000+01:00

Wow, what a game!

The word classic is often used by the sky commentary team but for once I believe them. I really enjoyed the Wigan/Leeds game. This was rugby how it was supposed to be played. It had everything - brilliant attacking plays, punishing defence, good kicks, poor kicks, play-acting, penalties, controversy... and it was only the end of week one!

It was a shame that the Wigan public didn't fully back the concept, not that the 12,177 crowd listed on sky was bad, but it is some 3000 short of the average. Anyway, that minus point apart, I can't wait til next week, where two more cracking games are on the cards.

Notice how I've not mentioned the score just in case someone hasn't seen the game yet.

I'll have more on a say on it tomorrow!

RL Comment - Crusade over in Wales for 2010

2010-09-11T17:52:00.000+01:00

Crusaders saw their play-off aspirations evaporate at the Galpharm when former Widnes forward Jordan James was sinbinned with eleven minutes remaining and the score in the expansion sides favour by 10-6.

During his spell off the field, Larne Patrick scored in support of Darrell Griffin. Clinton Schifcoske levelled matters with a penalty that came courtesy of the restart before a wayward pass from Wellar Hauraki couldn't be taken in by Vince Mellars. This allowed Danny Brough the chance to collect possession and offload for Leroy Cudjoe to finish from 30 metres. Cudjoe's 23rd try of the season couldn't have come at a more crucial time and Brett Hodgson goaled for the 18-12 win.

There was little to choose between these sides throughout and in the first half, Crusaders played the better percentage rugby. That half remained locked at 0-0 until just after the half hour when Brough tried to get a pass away and halfback Rhys Hanbury collected and set sail on a 40 metre intercept. Clinton Schifcoske goaled and then added a penalty to ensure that the visitors, cheered on by a vociferous Welsh crowd, led 8-0 at half-time.

Just four minutes into the second half, Huddersfield scored when smart play from Luke Robinson saw him run at the defence, find the hole and then dummy support to go over himself. It was a wonderful individual try, full of guile and trickery. Hodgson converted and Schifcoske put another penalty over before the frantic last ten minutes came after James was yellow carded for pulling the ball away from Cudjoe when he was trying to get the ball back in play for a twenty metre restart.

Some people may point to the validity of having a team in Super League from Wales, especially considering that just two of the seventeen players on show were British but there is no doubting the job that Brian Noble has done. He has now led three different teams into the Super League play-offs but whether he will remain at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham next year remains to be seen.

RL Comment - Rovers set the standard

2010-09-11T10:31:00.002+01:00

I've been very impressed with Featherstone Rovers this season.

The Yorkshire club who just squeezed into the top six last year and went within a game of a Grand Final appearance have been excellent in 2010.

They lost just two games in their league campaign (to Toulouse and Sheffield Eagles respectively) and can boast some of the Championship's top players.

Their domination of the competition was evident on Thursday night when they hosted Halifax.

In April, Rovers had bashed Matt Calland's men 44-4 but everyone expected a close game after Fax roared through the last few weeks and put a good winning run together.

Halifax even grabbed the first try when quick thinking from Sean Penkywicz saw the hooker surge to the try line off a tap penalty.

It was Rovers however that struck back quickly to level through Stuart Dickens when the prop went through a hole in the middle of the defence.

Kyle Briggs, who went on to enjoy an excellent game, struck the first of seven goals and two tries in three minutes from Liam Welham and the impressive Tommy Saxton quickly made it 16-6 to Rovers.

A smart pass from veteran Graham Holroyd found Shad Royston and the fullback was able to notch his now customary try. The Championship's top goal kicker Lee Paterson converted but Rovers claimed their fourth try just after the half hour mark when Dane Manning got in.

Halifax again replied when a sweeping move right saw Royston push into the line to create the extra man and Rob Worrincy went over in the corner. Patterson's conversion made it 22-16 and that looked set to be the half-time score before Briggs took the line on and got between two forwards. He then goaled to make it 28-16 at the break.

Fax were faced with a simple equation - score first. They didn't, or should that read couldn't. Featherstone's defence reigned supreme and eventually their attack took advantage.

For twenty minutes Halifax battered at the Featherstone line but time and again it stood firm.

Rovers spied their chance and Irish international Liam Finn showed a good turn of pace to race through from twenty metres. At 34-16 it was game over and Briggs then stepped up to rub further salt in the wounds with two tries that saw him finish with a hat-trick and a personal tally of 26 points from the game.

It will take a good team to stop Rovers from lifting the trophy at Warrington on 26th September.

I'm looking forward to seeing that game.

Jason Demetriou interview

2010-09-06T23:22:00.000+01:00

After reporting on Salford defeating Wakefield 16-12 in the last regular Super League game of the season, I caught up with one of the games gentlemen in Jason Demetriou and the popular Aussie, a fixture at Belle Vue since 2004, spoke fondly of his time with the club and hopes for the future.

"Today was a bad day but I've finished after seven good years at Wakefield and had three good years at Widnes as well. I've had a great career and there's no regrets from me. I would have liked the club to have done better, from where we were last year to where we are now this year, we've probably gone back four or five years, which is a shame."

"When I came to the club we were fighting relegation every year. We then made the play-offs in 04, 07 and 09, and the Challenge Cup Semi-Finals in 08. We had that top five finish last year. Unfortunately it has slipped backwards.

"There have definitely been some really tough times and as captain I've had to do my bit to help the club though those times but I must credit Ted and Diane and the club's administration staff because they have done a good job as well as John Kear and Paul Broadbent who have copped a lot of stick this year.

"When you look at the players we were attracting l;ast year to the quality of players we are attracting now. It's not good and there's a lot of doubt about whether we'll get a franchise or not. That's not helping. I do know that within the club they are very confident of that but outside the club it's not so confident."

"We had a great start and Brough was a good player, no doubt about that but he wanted to leave and the club cashed in on him but it's not just that. We had what happened with Terry Newton as well - a Great Britain international and a quality player in the middle of the field, Shane Tronc left, we lost James Stosic in the off season. It's been one really experienced player after another and we've been forced to play with younger players and credit to them, they've done a good job, but we are in a massive hole now and I said to the players after the game there that they are going to have to come back with a really good attitude and work really hard in the pre-season. If they do that I'm sure they will get back to where they were.

"I'd definitely like to do the coaching. I've been passionate about coaching for a long time and I've worked with a lot of young players at Wakefield. Ideally I'd like to stay and do some coaching. I'll sit down and speak with John and Beans (Broadbent) and maybe we can thrash something out there, I don't know. I've got a couple of meetings in the pipeline about player-coaching in the championship but it's something I'm definitely interested in and I think I can add a lot to the squad from a coaching point of view."

"Unfortunatley today I hurt my ankle in the first ten minutes and was limping around for most of the game and I nearly put Blanch away in the last couple of seconds. I could have been a hero but that was the story of the game really, we dropped the ball and we didn't quite get that end we wanted, but even today there were four possibly five hundred fans and the reception I got at the end of the game was overwhelming and I want to pass on a massive thanks to all the Wakefield fans."

I'm sure Wildcats fans everywhere will wish Jason well with whatever he does next.

In other Wakefield news, John Kear speaking after the game said that the Wildcats would return to pre-season training ahead of 2011 on 11th October.

RL Comment: London...

2010-09-04T15:57:00.000+01:00

London club Harlequins have spoken to put fans minds at ease about their future.

Ever since their coach Brian McDermott said he was returning to Leeds as second in command to Brian McClennan, there has been speculation on what the future holds for Quins.

McDermott himself was quoted as saying: "There are some harsh facts that bills need to be paid.

"I have met some fellows of integrity in my time and I have met some fellows whom I rate as men. David Hughes is probably up there, he is top drawer.

"Without qualm and without fuss he has divvied up an incredible amount of money, almost soccer-style money, to keep this club afloat.

"In the last couple of years certain things have happened which have meant he has had to divvy a little bit more up.

"It has been tough on him and he can't continue to do that, and nor should he.

"That's why I fear for the club. I do have a concern and I hope the people who are making the decisions at the top end make some correct decisions."

Last night the Quins issued a statement from their chairman David Hughes which can be seen in full at: http://www.league.quins.co.uk/news/12266.php.

In it he said: "As supporters may be aware, I currently own 35% of The Club but provide 100% of the funding for the losses which have been substantial over the past 2 years and we asked the RFL to help find a solution to this current situation which was unsustainable."

"They have helped find a solution that will shortly allow me to take ownership of 100% of the shares in The Club. This will allow us to really step up the search for investment which we still need to secure to provide a further stimulus and give Harlequins RL the best possible chance to realise the fantastic potential that it has."

Hughes also said "We carry no debt and no overdraft and so I want to make it crystal clear that the well publicised discussions with the RFL have not been around financial support of The Club and I can categorically state that we have not asked for, and not received a financial bail of any sort."

The Quins chairman continued, "I am delighted to be able to tell you tonight that the discussions with the RFL have been extremely constructive and positive and whilst difficult at times, we have agreed a partnership approach based on a range of Technical, Physical, Marketing and Financial support to help ensure the future of the game in the region."

"I would like to pay tribute to the RFL team involved in the discussions for their supportive approach and allowing us to achieve this excellent solution."

Now I am delighted that pro rugby will continue in London and I'm not one of these who feels a London club is pointless. London Skolars also appear to be getting a number of things right that will hopefully see them grow and prosper after a couple of poor years that have seen them around the lower reaches of the game.

What worries me is the positioning of this club. Harlequins isn't based in one of the most accessible areas of the capital and to be honest the area is steeped in rugby union, over a hundred years of it. The Women's Rugby Union World Cup Final will be played there tonight and I bet there will be a much bigger crowd in attendance that the 3,211 that was declared against the Challenge Cup holders last night.

If I was Mr Hughes I would give serious consideration to relocating and judging on the couple of games that took place at Queens Park Rangers, their Loftus Road ground may be better suited because of the number of Australian and New Zealand expats that live in the area. I'll have to give anywhere else in the capital more serious thought before commiting fingers to my keyboard!

Strategically I can see the importance of clubs in the region, but the truth is that they have been around for thirty years and all the things being printed now were printed about the original pioneering team that started life as Fulham and played at the famous (or is that infamous) Craven Cottage.

I find it interesting that Mr Hughes reports no debt at his club despite some gates this season that have been put to shame by Widnes Vikings in the Championship, just in the same way that I found it interesting that Widnes themselves were able to declare a million pound pre-tax profit recently.

The RFL are lending support to the continued crusade for the game in the capital and it is worthwhile when you look at participation levels in the amateur game, and despite Mr Hughes obvious declarations to the contrary there will be money involved. Indeed as he said in his own statement "we have agreed a partnership approach based on a range of Technical, Physical, Marketing and Financial support."

While this may not constitute as a "financial bail" it is still an investment and it will cost money.

I wonder if the RFL now own the other 65% of shares in the club which previous financier and chairperson Ian Lenagan had up until recently, despite his involvement at Wigan.

I'm sure all will become clear over the next couple of months or years.

Warrington back up to second in Super League

2010-09-03T22:05:00.000+01:00

Warrington won through in the capital, bouncing back from an early 12-0 deficit to eventually wrap up a 36-22 win that could yet see them finish the league season in second place to Wigan.

For the meantime, the Wolves are second, although St Helens know exactly what they need to do when they take on Castleford Tigers tomorrow evening.

For Quins it was a Bridge too far... literally, as Chris Bridge ran rampant on his return to first team duty.

The former Bradford player a few weeks ago thought he would be out for the season but better progress saw him force his way into the club's Wembley plans. Although he didn't make the game under the arch, he certainly lit up The Stoop with a twenty point haul.

Warrington built a 24-12 lead in response to their early problems. Andy Ellis and Luke Dorn scored for Quins before Jon Clarke, David Solomona, Mike Cooper and Bridge all went over before half-time.

Dorn scored his second try for the London team but Warrington responded with Solomona and Bridge notching their braces and although Dorn completed a fine night for him with a well-taken hat-trick, the winners were Bridge and Warrington.

Roll up, roll up! The circus has started....

2010-09-03T21:54:00.000+01:00

While Halifax and particularly Widnes Vikings gear up for a tilt at obtaining Super League with all kinds of strange announcements (4700 crowds and £1M profits in a recession), the scramble to avoid being named as the team to lose their licence is gathering pace in the top division.

Salford have just about got the build on their new stadium started and have lined up a big array of talented players to come to the Willows next season, Castleford are well on course to announce a series of captures led of course by Danny Orr, returning in a player-coaching capacity after spells with Wigan and Harlequins, and recent Challenge Cup Winner (and serial "Tweeter") Richie Mathers.

Across the Calder, things have been a little bit quieter at Wakefield although an interesting story emerged today - this taken from Sporting Life:

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/09/03/RUGBYL_Wakefield.html

"Wakefield chairman Ted Richardson has offered to hand over control of the Super League club in a bid to attract new investment.

The Wildcats directors issued a statement revealing they are prepared to step down en bloc as the club seek to consolidate their place in the top flight.

Wakefield are among the clubs thought to be in danger of losing their Super League licence in 2011 and are pinning their hopes on moving in as anchor tenants into a new stadium at Newmarket, just off the M62.

In the statement, the club said: "The current board of directors feel the timing is right to look to restructure the board.

"To facilitate this, the existing directors are happy to either work with new investors or step aside in order to take the club to the next level and further enhance its licence application."

The club say they are already in discussions with interested parties.

Richardson, Wakefield's majority shareholder and long-serving chairman, is currently awaiting the outcome of a Rugby Football League tribunal called to rule on his position at the Super League club after he entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement to prevent his own company being wound up."

I wonder where this will lead? Basically are Wakefield admitting they are skint? Does the board want out?
It must be a frustrating time if you are Wildcats boss John Kear, currently preparing his team for a game at Salford on Sunday.

End of season disappointment..

2010-09-03T21:40:00.001+01:00

I sit here, 24 hours after Leigh's season came to a shuddering halt against a handy Sheffield Eagles team. It was disappointing, seeing a Leigh season that promised so much up until the midpoint of the season, come away with nothing but pride from the season.

Last night's game against the Eagles still resonates. From leading 18-12 at half-time, Leigh slumped to a 24-26 defeat. This was one that got away although few fans could argue with the result. Leigh eventually lost despite holding an eight point advantage at one stage in the third quarter. Don't get me wrong, the Eagles deserved their win, they made linebreaks on either flank and were unlucky not to score a couple of extra tries, particularly down the wing of Menzie Yere and Danny Mills. Both those players looked dangerous with Leigh having no answer and no real attack from distance, despite a number of solid performances.

Tim Bergin scored the first try after four minutes from a suspicious pass from Simon Brown after Chris Hill was yellow carded for making contact with Brown a few seconds earlier when the former Doncaster man put a raking kick down field.

Thankfully the half-back fluffed his kick, as he did with four other attempts and Leigh fired straight down the ground. The Centurions won a penalty and David Armitstead twisted over despite the attentions of a couple of players. This came after the excellent Mike Morrison ran strongly and Dave McConnell cleverly worked the position.

With Leigh still down to twelve men, the Eagles swept the ball down their right and Peter Green stormed on before linking with Joe Hirst and he touched down.

Leigh then showed good persistance and it paid off when Robbie Paul sent Paul Smith through with a nice short pass. Mick Nanyn converted and although Sheffield were fortunate when Yere's try was awarded by the video referee just as it appeared that Alex Szostak and then Brendon Lindsay were halted.

A couple of minutes later, Chris Hill made up for his earlier blemish with a cracking break down the middle. Ricky Bibey supported and a flying Eagle tackled back to dislodge the ball. Leigh played on and John Duffy claimed possession before Martyn Ridyard and McConnell worked the numbers and Steve Maden got Nanyn over for his 20th try of the season before the big centre expertly split the posts and make it 18-12.

At the start of the new half Leigh came up with three errors. First they kicked the ball out on the full, then James Taylor lost the ball and a missed tackle allowed Yere to bullock over the line after just a couple of minutes.

Sheffield's tail feathers were up but Leigh held them out. Duffy then turned creator with a slide rule grubber kick that saw Steve Nash get his first try of the season and at 24-16 Leigh should have closed the game out.

The Eagles then upped their game and Leigh couldn't live with their speed. Szostak scored a controversial penalty try while Leigh saw a Stuart Donlan effort over-ruled before a telling play brought the Centurions to their knees and a chip over from the experienced Lindsay resulted in a mistake at the back and Sheffield linked play well for Bergin to gallop over.

Fair play to the Eagles, they highlighted Leigh's shortcomings and took advantage in the end, despite at one point appearing content to blow opportunity after opportunity.

The loss will no doubt herald a host of departures from the Sports Village and although there have been no official announcements so far, I think Leigh fans have seen the last of Mike Morrison, Dave McConnell, Dave Alstead and Nick Stanton in the first team.

My interview piece with John Duffy - prior to Leigh v Sheffield Play-off on 2/9/10

2010-09-03T00:52:00.000+01:00

Leigh Centurions take on Sheffield Eagles again tonight at the LSV (7.30pm), just two weeks after previously taking on the Eagles in the league at Bramhall Lane.

From here on in, it is knock out rugby all the way for the Centurions who have turned things around after being effectively relegated from the competition last year.

Key man John Duffy who played halfback in that 28-29 defeat in Sheffield reckons it is time for Leigh to take out their revenge. The Scotland international scored a try and was a big figure in Leigh coming back from a 22-10 half-time deficit.

"We've watched plenty of videos and have come up with a gameplan that we are all comfortable with. We know about the way to beat them and being on home soil we are looking to have a massive performance and continue in the play-offs."

"They have plenty of explosive guys out wide." Duffy said alluding to the likes of Misi Taulapapa, Tangi Ropati and Menzie Yere. "To be fair their pack did well and they had a great kicking game through Brendon Lindsay and Simon Brown. We have done a lot of work on where we went wrong and where we need to rectify it to get the win."

"We were a little bit off the mark last time. We got back on level terms and they came straight back down our end and scored on us. We have got to be more professional and get the job done."

Duffy is planning to use all of his experience - he has taken part in every play-off series since 2001, other than in 2005 when he was in Super League with Leigh - to help guide the Centurions further.

"These are really exciting times and it also gives you that extra push when you get to this point of the season and players that you've built up a friendship with are leaving. You know it is your last few games with them and you want to do your best and send them out on a high."

The Centurions have seen Lee Mitchell and Tommy Goulden ruled out of the game but Paul Smith is expected to return to the team.

Footnote: Leigh lost the game 24-26 to Sheffield Eagles.

Wembley Reaction with two Warrington players

2010-09-02T00:30:00.000+01:00

Mick Higham:

Mick, your thoughts on the final?

It's hard to put in words, it's an unbelievable feeling. First time in 30 odd years to get there last year and to go back again this year and win it against a team like Leeds, it's a fantastic feeling. It makes you hungry for more. We want to kick on and get the other trophy that's available and hopefully go back next year and retain our trophy. We are a good set of lads, we are all hungry, we all want to work for each other and the change in Warrington, it's really a club that's going places.

Big thing for yourself with injury affecting you last year?

I was fortunate enough to get a chance back in the team last year and this year it's been a bit more difficult, we've got a fully fit squad and everyone is playing well. I was fortunate enough to get the nod on the bench and play my part. But everyone that didn't play, and everyone who was involved played their part. It's a 25 man effort and all the coaching staff. It's just reward.

This must be what you really dream of all the way through?

Definitely. As a little kid from a rugby town where I'm from in Leigh, you dream of these days when you are older and when they come true, you've just got to savour every moment and hopefully there's a few more to come. It's a real great day.

Thanks to everyone for their support.

Homecoming Reaction with Paul Wood

Paul, these are tremendous scenes aren't they?

It's fantastic. Last year we couldn't quite believe it, but this year its absolutely outstanding. Like Tony Smith said to do it two years on the bounce and to bring the trophy back and see as many people as this, it's something very special.

This is an amazing period in your career, you've been here for eleven years, ten years as a first team player and your last two years have been trophy filled?

Yeah, to be at the club for eleven years and then be involved in a Challenge Cup Final and get the chance to play at Wembley. It's been absolutely fantastic, a dream come true. I can't quite describe what it feels like. It's not how I thought it would feel. I tried to build myself up and tried to imagine what it'd feel like, but now I've experienced it, it's surpassed what I've expected.

You came onto the field and it was all up in the air, twenty minutes gone, not much between the sides?

It was nervous times to be honest. When I walked out and we did the line-up, then the song and then we got the chance to meet the special guests, I was trying to take it all in. It was very nervewracking. Then a chance to go on the field after twenty minutes and be involved in it. It was very nervous times but I handled it better than I thought. I was happy and it was a great opportunity to play and fulfil school kid dreams.

Do the nerves diminish second time round?

Not really. The full build up to the week, it's a very emotional week. It takes a lot out of you it's very draining and when you come to the bus journey home, you are very flat and very tired because of the build up. We had the after party last night and to come here, it picks you up again and to see what it means to so many fans, it's absolutely fantastic.

Give us an idea of the preparation for such a final?

As a team, we've been building for 12 months since we brought the trophy home. Our preparation started then so it's a lengthy build-up. The week into the final, we left Warrington on Thursday, went into camp until Saturday. It was basically focusing on the game and spending a lot of time with each other. Talking about what's going to happen, key points, gameplan and who we are going to target. Theres a lot of build up. I can guarantee there's been a lot of hard work and the reward, well we've brought it home.

Do you almost treat it like a seige mentality?

Not really, it's one of those things, we train so hard for this. We came in training in November, put a lot of hard work in, it starts to bring the cup home and hopefully win the Super League Grand Final. It doesn't just start from when we kick a ball in the first game of the season. A lot of preparation goes in.

And this is almost the start of a journey for Warrington, there' still a league game left and there's still play-offs to go for?

That's it. We started in November and our goal was to win the trophies that were available to us. We've brought one of them home. There's still another up for grabs and hopefully we'll put ourselves in a good position to do it. We've still got a Super League game left. We need to win that and we need to perform in the play-offs and hopefully get to the Grand Final.

It would be great to be back here with that Super League trophy?

Oh yeah, it'd be fantastic if we can do that. But it's going to be very hard work. We've done all we can so far to prepare to try and get us there. We'll keep doing that until we get to the play-offs.

And it's back to London again at the weekend?

Back on Friday to play Harlequins and then come back home to prepare for the play-offs but we need a big game.

Co-operative Championship Play-off fixtures this week

2010-09-01T00:50:00.000+01:00

Well we've reached that time of year again where all the league form goes out of the window and it comes down to eighty minutes of hard graft to decide who will progress in the play-off series.

The Championship operates a top six play-off and the following teams made it through the tough weekly rounds: Featherstone, Halifax, Leigh, Barrow, Widnes and Sheffield. Five of those teams made the play-offs last year while Leigh have risen up the table this term having been officially relegated at the end of last season and then re-instated in the competition after Gateshead were found to have overspent and the outpost club had to start again.

This weekend's fixtures in the Championship Play-offs are:

Thu 2 Sep: Leigh Centurions V Sheffield Eagles
ko: 19:30, Venue: Leigh Sports Village

Sun 5 Sep: Barrow Raiders V Widnes Vikings
ko: 15:00, Venue: Craven Park

It is also the start of the play-off series in Championship One to decide the second promotion place. Hunslet Hawks proved worthy winners of the league title and now Oldham, York, Blackpool, Rochdale, South Wales Scorpions and Workington Town will do battle.

The sudden death semi-finals this weekend are as follows:

Sun 5 Sep Blackpool Panthers RLFC V Workington Town RLFC
ko: 15:30, Venue: Fylde RUFC

Sun 5 Sep Rochdale Hornets V South Wales RLFC
ko: 15:00, Venue: Spotland Stadium

It should be a great weekend of action!

Wembley Experiences

2010-09-01T00:25:00.000+01:00

I was very proud to attend the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday when I was part of a commentary team with my long time friend Adrian Jackson for Radio General, Warrington Hospital Radio.

In addition to being able to relay the game back to those in the hospital, it was a good day for extending contacts and catching up with people not seen in a while.

It was also my first visit to Wembley since 1994 when a fleet-footed Jonathan Davies was the scourge of the Australians and he raced away to score the decisive try of an 8-4 GB win in that years Ashes series. (Remember when we used to have those... I feel a future blog coming on!)

I was impressed with the new stadium. The home of English football is an excellent stadium, rising from the industrial North London sprawl to dominate the landscape in a way I'd liken to those scenes of the big starship (we built this city... not that one!) hovering above Johannesburg on the acclaimed Sci-Fi film District 9.

Virtually as soon as you hit the end of the M1 the massive arch is visible and Warrington fans were certainly doing the "March to the arch" to coin a saying often used by Adrian.

Once parked up we found our way to the media entrance and were booked in by a couple of helpful people from the RFL and then referred across to stadium security who checked our bags in similar fashion to what you now find in airports. To continue the tenuous holiday links they also stuck luggage tags to our bags, (if I can get a photo I'll put it online to show everyone).

We then found our way to the media area. There are two working rooms, a central room where food and drink was available and two separate banks of media seats. and a more central bank of radio commentary positions. The views from the seats were awesome, unobstructed and despite it being a good couple of hours before kick-off I was already getting goosebumps at the sheer scale of the stadium.

I kept thinking that this stadium has more seats than Leigh has people!

The game passed quickly with Warrington easy winners in the end by a comprehensive 30-6 scoreline.

Knowing that the area was something of a bottleneck, we didn't leave the stadium immediately and after a long drive back I was eventually reunited with my car back at the hospital at 11pm after leaving it at 7am. It was a truly amazing day, although I was still in shock at being charged £30 for parking the car. It's certainly a payday for the stadium, there were two other "bargains" I spotted - pie and a pint - £8.30 and Fish and Chips - £7.00!

Back for good?

2010-08-31T01:03:00.000+01:00

After a couple of months hiatus from blogging, I felt it was about time to return. Okay it's not quite a Take That comeback but we'll see what happens!

Prior to April, I was doing a regular column for the Leigh East programme which provided a lot of impetus for this blog and when the sad news came through regarding Jim McCulloch passing away, I was never asked to continue my involvement and as a result things dried up on here too.

My time away has seen a number of personal firsts for me, which I intend to report over the course of the next few days.

I'll also be looking to put a bit of Challenge Cup Final Reaction on here following a couple of interviews I managed to grab.

So plenty to look forward too, but in the meantime it's just good to be back!

RL Comment: This will sound xenophobic

2010-04-16T13:56:00.000+01:00

The recent impact that a volcano in Iceland has had on every airline and aeroplane in the UK has brought something sharply into focus. Although it is nice to welcome foreign teams to the Challenge Cup, is it in fact the right thing to do when teams like Leigh and Salford, instead of being able to take 2 hour flights are now subjected to 24 hours of arduous travel?

In truth what value do the French teams add to the competition? It's a subject that could be debated over full evenings in pubs and clubs.

My own view is that there should just be the two clubs, Catalans and Toulouse that enter because they are playing in these competitions. If there is to be further foreign teams let's create a seperate competition, althought that said with acts of god you still don't know if teams will be able to travel.

I'd hate to be a member of the Leigh or Salford teams this weekend as they face challenging cup ties versus Limoux and Catalans respectively, they will be shattered!

I know in Leigh's case they didn't set off anywhere until around 7pm last night, then they stayed in Folkestone and continued their journey today.

I personally think it needs a rethink.

Super League Match Summary

2010-04-09T22:40:00.000+01:00

HUDDERSFIELD 24 CASTLEFORD 0

Injury hit Castleford gave as good as they got in a Yorkshire derby tonight at the Galpharm Stadium, however despite their immense effort and emerging with credit, it was the Giants that took the points.

Huddersfield fell to a surprise 30-18 defeat at Salford on Monday and their defence won through as the injury hit visitors, missing the influence of their two first choice halfbacks and highly rated youngster Joe Westerman could not find a way through. In fact just twice in the game did they ever truly trouble Huddersfield. The first came when a Ryan McGoldrick grubber kick went agonisingly close to an out stretched Ryan Clayton while the second opportunity went the way of loan man Mike Cooper but the young Warrington forward could not hang onto the ball as the decision got pushed upstairs to video referee Ian Smith.

Huddersfield opened the scoring midway through the first half when Kevin Brown somehow got the ball away and David Hodgson flew in at the corner for Brett Hodgson to convert. David Hodgson grabbed a second try after five minutes of the second half before Castleford had the ball for nine sets thanks to penalties and Huddersfield errors.

The Giants defence stood firm and they responded with two further tries in the last 15 minutes. First Hodgson ran clear for his hat-trick before Danny Brough linked with Luke Robinson and his pass on the right saw Jamahl Lolesi score his first try in 11 months and Brett Hodgson added his fourth goal to move Huddersfield up to third in the table.

Stats from around the RFL - prior to tonights game

2010-04-08T23:18:00.000+01:00

WINNING RUNS

WIGAN WARRIORS have won five successive matches, all in the Engage Super League. Their last and only defeat this season was 22-20 at Bradford Bulls on 5 March.

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS have won eight successive matches, consisting of all five Co-operative Championship matches, two Northern Rail Cup and a Carnegie Challenge Cup-tie. Their last and only defeat this season was 36-6 at Leigh Centurions in the Northern Rail Cup on February 14.

LEIGH CENTURIONS have gone nine successive matches without defeat, including a 20-20 home draw against Barrow Raiders in the Co-operative Championship on February 25. They have won their last seven Cup and League matches. Their last and only defeat this season was 13-12 at York City Knights in the Northern Rail Cup on February 7.

BLACKPOOL PANTHERS have won a club record seven successive matches, including all four Co-operative Championship One matches. Their last defeat was 34-8 at Barrow Raiders in the Northern Rail Cup on February 7. Blackpool’s previous best winning run was four last year.

OLDHAM have won five successive matches, including all four Co-operative Championship One matches plus a Carnegie Challenge Cup-tie. Their last defeat was 24-22 at home to Sheffield Eagles in the Northern Rail Cup on February 22.

LOSING RUNS

HARLEQUINS RL have lost six successive matches, all in the Engage Super League. Their last and only win this season was 16-4 at home to Catalans Dragons on February 14.

LONDON SKOLARS have lost 22 successive matches, including all 11 this season. Their last win was 24-18 at Workington Town on May 17, 2009.

DEWSBURY RAMS have lost five successive matches, all in the Co-operative Championship. Their last win was 42-10 at home to amateurs Drighlington in the Carnegie Challenge Cup third round. They have lost all six Championship matches.

MILESTONES

LEE BRIERS of Warrington Wolves needs two tries for a career century of Super League touchdowns (not including play-offs). All of the half-back’s 98 tries have been scored for Warrington, having played three times in Super League for St Helens without scoring.

PAUL SYKES of Bradford Bulls needs 19 points for a career total of 1,000. The utility back has scored 772 points for London Broncos/Harlequins RL, 169 Bradford plus 40 in representative matches, including a try for Great Britain.

LEADING SCORERS

ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE
(League matches only)
Tries

Pat Richards (Wigan) 13
Amos Roberts (Wigan) 12
Chris Riley (Warrington) 12
Darrell Goulding (Wigan) 11
Leroy Cudjoe (Huddrsfld) 9
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 9
Francis Meli (St Helens) 9
Chris Hicks (Warrington) 8
Matt King (Warrington) 7
David Hodgson (Huddrsfld) 7
Danny McGuire (Leeds) 7

Goals

Pat Richards (Wigan) 51
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 44 (1)
Michael Dobson (Hull KR) 32 (1)
Danny Tickle (Hull) 28
Michael Witt (Crusaders) 25
Chris Bridge (Warrington) 21
Joe Westerman (Castleford) 20
Matt Orford (Bradford) 20 (2)
Danny Brough (Huddrsfld) 19
Brett Hodgson (Huddrsfld) 19
( ) Drop goals included in total

Points

Pat Richards (Wigan) 154
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 123
Michael Dobson (Hull KR) 75
Danny Tickle (Hull) 64
Leroy Cudjoe (Huddrsfld) 60
Michael Witt (Crusaders) 58
Joe Westerman (Castleford) 56
Chris Bridge (Warrington) 50
Matt Orford (Bradford) 50
Danny Brough (Huddrsfld) 50

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP ONE CLUBS
(All matches, including Carnegie Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup)
Tries

Johnny Campbell (Batley) 14
Shad Royston (Halifax) 13
Lee Waterman (York) 12
Damian Munro (Blackpool) 11
Jesse-Joe Parker (Featherstone) 10
Anthony Thackeray (Widnes) 10
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 10
Rob Worrincy (Halifax) 9

Goals

Shane Grady (Widnes) 54
Gareth Moore (Batley) 51
Lee Paterson (Halifax) 51
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 47 (1)
Lee Waterman (York) 46
Kyle Briggs (Featherstone) 41
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 40
Danny Jones (Keighley) 37 (1)
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 34
Scott Kaighan (Workington) 33

Points

Shane Grady (Widnes) 140
Gareth Moore (Batley) 122
Lee Paterson (Halifax) 122
Lee Waterman (York) 114
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 112
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 109
Kyle Briggs (Featherstone) 102
Danny Jones (Keighley) 89
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 88
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 86

RL Comment - Toulouse - Sadly RL is 3rd rated sport

2010-04-08T22:18:00.000+01:00

Having spent a cracking few days in France watching my team Leigh Centurions emerge with an excellent 36-6 victory, it gave me a chance to look at the sporting scene in a city that people are dubbing the 4th of France.

I think the following sums up where the sport is in that city.

Toulouse FC attracts an average of 30,000 people to each game at their modern stadium, the club also has a TV channel that broadcasts on the local digital network from evening to morning. There is widespread coverage in the press, local news and radio.

Stade Toulouse RU are currently near the top of the Orange Top 14 Championship and rugby union is huge in the city. The club plays before average crowds of 19,000 at a good facility and boasts three boutiques that I am aware of in the city, one at the ground, one in the city centre, and one at the airport. Being in the city made me realise how big a sport rugby union is in the area, the papers and magazines were full of it and many cars carried Stade Toulouse badges, stickers etc. On the Saturday following Leigh's match an entire afternoon on Canal Plus Sport was dedicated to Union, they showed one game live and there were then highlights from every other game in the championship. Stade themselves played the night before, in direct competition with Olympique-Leigh and drew 19,000 for their game with Paris based Racing Metro.

Toulouse Olympique play in somewhat modest surroundings by comparison, a ground with two seater stands and space for standing at both ends, Arnaude Stadium serves a purpose and is a municipal owned ground with a capacity circa 4,000. The official crowd figure given was 1,225 but I would hotly dispute that and say there was anywhere between 600-850 on the ground. The following day La Depeche newspaper did carry a report on the game and there were several journalists and a radio commentary crew in attendance. Olympique have items on-sale from the ground and there is a shop but when I returned on Saturday this was closed so I didn't get chance to spend the Euros that were burning a hole in my pocket.

This just showed me how far Rugby League has to go in this big city. I do however expect things to be somewhat different next week when I travel to Carcassonne and Limoux.

RL Comment - Keighley prove they are no mugs in Championship

2010-04-08T22:01:00.000+01:00

Apologies for not adding any blogs for a few days, with travel from France, limited availability of internet and then a health problem to contend with I haven't had chance to comment much on the RL scene until now.

Tonight's Championship game deserved a better score than the eventual 40-20 win for Halifax. For me Keighley Cougars were much closer than that and had the games outstanding player in former Fax junior Danny Jones. Not only did he continue his consecutive point scoring run to 40 games, he was also at the hub of everything for the visitors and was desperately unlucky to end on the losing side.

Keighley took the lead through Jon Presley before James Haley and the boot of Lee Paterson put Fax in front. Although Jones levelled matters for Keighley with a penalty, a two try scoring burst from the hosts saw Stanley Gene and Rob Worrincy.

Leading 16-6 at half-time Fax looked to take advantage of a mistake by Keighley from the kick-off, however it was the Cougars and Tom Burton that scored next. Sean Penkywicz then went in for the hosts before former Halifax prop Andy Shickell touched down an astute Jones kick to close the gap to 22-16.

This seemed to spark Halifax and it was the hosts that scored the next three tries through Dylan Nash, Steve Bannister and Paterson, who finished a length of the field move and also added six goals. Keighley did have the last word however when Jones spun a pass to James Haythornthwaite and the teenager cleverly avoided a tackle to twist over in the final minute.

Over the Easter period, Keighley have come alive in the Championship. After starting the league season with minus nine points and a big loss to Widnes, they have steadily got better and after earning a credible draw with Sheffield on Good Friday, things got better on Easter Monday with a 42-10 defeat of fellow promoted team Dewsbury Rams. When you take these two results and the Halifax game into consideration when the Cougars really did deserve a bonus point for their tenacity in defeat, it suggests that the previous thought of Keighley returning to Championship One may not happen if they can continue with these types of performances.

Halifax still don't look like the team they were. After losing to Hunslet in the Northern Rail Cup they conceded 40 point defeats to Leigh and Featherstone, they put 50 on Toulouse and then laboured to this win. I don't know quite what is going on at the Shay but they will have to get their FAX right soon!

RL Comment - Mini sabatical

2010-03-31T22:16:00.000+01:00

I'm taking a short break until next week when due to levels of internet coverage in France, I won't be posting anything.

Not that rugby league stops moving. It was interesting to read about Brendan Worth (Toulouse) and Richard Chapman (Hunslet) being banned.

Here in Toulouse most people look to be backing the local rugby union club although I have seen 3 posters in the Minimes district near Olympiques home advertising Friday night's game with Leigh, hence my reason for being in town. The trouble is, so are Stade Toulouse who play Racing Metro also on Friday night.

Another thing I'd like to comment on - well more like congratulate - is the style of Warrington's play this season. I was at the Wolves game with Wakefield last Friday and although I've not had chance to write a report on it, this was entertaining and although the Wolves bombed about 4 scoring chances, and had Ryan Atkins possible hat-trick wiped out by a curious decision, they still had more on Wakefield than the 32-16 score suggested.

I must pass big wraps onto Chris Riley. I know Warrington fans have mixed feelings about him but 10 tries so far and a hat-trick in his last game is not to be sniffed at!

Leigh were also very impressive in their 48-10 demolition of Halifax and there is a report of that game here: http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/sport/leighcenturions/5199187.Leigh_Centurions_run_riot_at_league_leaders_Halifax/

Anyway I shall be back next month!

RL Comment - A Sad Weekend - Farewell Jim

2010-03-29T23:03:00.000+01:00

I'd like to dedicate this particular RL Comment to the memory of Jim McCulloch who died suddenly last Saturday at the age of 60. I was very sad to hear the news. Not only was Jim a very nice man, one that would always stop and chat, but he was also a highly valued committee man at Leigh East.

People like Jim are the reason we have so many good amateur clubs in this country, the legacy and work they do must never be forgotten, or taken for granted as it tends to be to a degree in professional circles.

It was a priviledge and an honour to know Jim, his boundless enthusiasm and wit shone through and he has been a big help to me, particularly in preparation for East's recent Challenge Cup game against Hunslet.

When Jim told me a couple of years ago that he had taken over doing the Leigh East programme, he asked me to provide an article, I was only too happy to oblige. It has been a pleasure communicating and working with Jim and the programmes themselves are a testimony to just some of the great work Jim was involved with at Leigh East. It was Jim that designed the current Leigh East site and he has done a sterling job on that.

I will miss you Jim and I want to thank you for giving me your acquaintance and friendship.

Getting the chance to know people like Jim is one of the reasons I love rugby league and there is no doubting that Easts now have a void that can not be filled.

Rest in Peace Jim.

SL Preview - Warrington v Wakefield

2010-03-25T23:45:00.000Z

It has been a busy week for Wakefield overall with the signing of Paul Cooke, followed by a big win over Salford and news that Scotland international Danny Brough had joined Huddersfield. There is no doubting that the Wildcats will miss the influence of Brough who scored a try and banged over 18 goals before his high profile departure.

In Cooke however, Wakefield have a talismanic figure, who on his day is a real class player, he is a talent and easy to spot, standing 6'5!

Included in the Brough transfer was the permanent signing of Michael Korkidas who joined the Wildcats on-loan prior to the season, and the loan recruitment of Danny Kirmond who comes into contention for selection.

Kirmond used to play on the wing before joining Huddersfield in 2007 but has since successfully moved to the pack and second row. If selected Kirmond will debut but perhaps more important for him, it will be his comeback from a major knee operation.

Warrington are still smarting from defeat at St Helens last week where too many mistakes cost them. Hoping to continue his run of form will be former Australian international Matt King who has been outstanding for the Wolves this season. He has scored seven tries to tie with Chris Riley at the top of the club try charts but importantly all seven have come in the last four games.

The Wolves welcome back experienced halfback Lee Briers following his knee injury sustained on the 20th February against Wigan while there are a couple of former Wakefield connections amongst the Warrington ranks with Ryan Atkins facing the club where he made his Super League name and David Solomona and Ben Westwood playing against their former team.

For Atkins it is quite special and he told Adrian Jackson from Radio General's Final Hooter Show, "It's a game that has been ringed on the calendar since the fixtures were out." Atkins also revealed that there had been "a lot of banter" between former team-mates and spoke of his close friendships with Sean Gleeson and Tevita Leo-Latu.

Kick-off at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday night is 8pm.

RL Comment - Muddy Marvelous! Keighley v Batley

2010-03-25T23:31:00.000Z

I don't know how anyone else felt about the televised Championship game tonight, but I felt this was another good honest rugby league clash between two sides that wanted to put on a show in dreadful conditions.

I felt it beat last weekend's Super League fare between Crusaders and Catalans Dragons hands down as far more rugby was played. In fact I think the generous teams were doing their best for Sport Relief with a sponsored snoozeathon last week was that bad! Yes there were lots of mistakes and skill levels were a bit lacking in places, but for honest endeavour and having a go, you couldn't criticise either team.

Paul Handforth again showed why he is one of the better halfbacks knocking about outside Super League with a controlling influence on the game and direct input to three of Batley's tries. Keighley too gave their all and they showed once more that they will be a match for anyone on their own ground.

Here is how Sporting Life reported the game, which finished a 22-12 win for visiting Batley:

Batley broke their duck in the Co-operative Championship with a 22-12 win over Keighley at a muddy Cougar Park on Thursday night.

The Cougars had their first win in their sights when they led 12-10 at half-time thanks to tries from Tom Burton and Danny Jones and two goals from Jones in reply to tries from Chris Buttery and Mark Barlow.

Both sides had scores disallowed by video referee Stuart Cummings before the Bulldogs secured the points with late tries from Sean Hesketh and Danny Maun.

Northern Rail Quarter Final pits together 2009 Finalists

2010-03-24T20:38:00.000Z

Widnes and Barrow, who both provided a thrilling Northern Rail Cup Final last year have been drawn to face each other in the pick of the Northern Rail Cup ties pulled out of the hat in this evenings Quarter Final draw.

Hunslet have been rewarded with a home tie against Leigh Centurions following their surprise 42-36 win over Halifax last weekend.

Here is the official RL Press Release.

Northern Rail Cup quarter final draw

The draw for the 2010 Northern Rail Cup quarter finals has been concluded and the ties are as follows:

Keighley Cougars v York City Knights
Widnes Vikings v Barrow Raiders
Batley Bulldogs v Sheffield Eagles
Hunslet Hawks v Leigh Centurions

The quarter final ties will be played on the weekend of June 5 and 6 with one game brought forward to Thursday June 3 to be screened live on Sky Sports.

RL Comment - Brough is a Giant

2010-03-24T13:06:00.000Z

The "will he/won't he?" saga of Danny Brough is now over after the Scotland international joined Huddersfield Giants today in a transfer that includes Michael Korkidas and Danny Kirmond going in the direction of Wakefield plus cash.

Brough is a talented player but how many halfbacks do Huddersfield want or need on their books? Kevin Brown, Gregg McNally, Brough and Luke Robinson are just four I can name quickly while there is also Kyle Wood, currently with Batley on a dual contract to throw into the mix. I find this an interesting move and one that surely signals that a couple of those players are on their way out. Giants boss Nathan Brown was obviously impressed by Brough and Robinson has also spoken about the healthy competition that the latest recruit provides.

It certainly means that there is more chance that the Giants will push for honours this year - these are heady days up at the Galpharm Stadium.

Here is a copy of the official statement released on the Huddersfield Giants website:

GIANTS SIGN DANNY BROUGH

Huddersfield Giants and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats can confirm that they have completed a deal which will allow scrum half Danny Brough to join the Giants.

Following protracted negotiations, the compensation package that has been agreed between the two Engage Super League clubs sees Brough join the Giants with immediate effect until the end of the 2014 Super League season.

As part of that package Wakefield Trinity Wildcats will receive an undisclosed financial settlement and they have signed prop forward Michael Korkidas on a long term loan basis and utility forward Danny Kirmond on a shorter term loan.

The Giants loaned Greek international Korkidas to the Wildcats last year and he has continued to play at Wakefield on the same basis. He is now contracted to remain at the Hearwell Stadium until the end of the 2011 season.

Kirmond, who joined Huddersfield from Featherstone Rovers in 2007, will join Wakefield on loan until the end of the 2010 season.

Danny Brough commented, “I’m glad that all the speculation has now ended and my future is settled. I would like to thank the Wakefield club and their fans for their support of me. I like to think that I have contributed to their rise up the table to the point where they are now sitting in the top part of the league on a regular basis.

“In particular I have enjoyed working with John Kear who has been great to me for a long time. I felt ready for a new challenge at a new club and in Huddersfield with Nathan Brown I think the opportunity presents itself for me to play in big games.

“The Huddersfield squad is very strong and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into training with them and trying to force my way into the team.”

Nathan Brown commented “I’ve admired Danny’s game since I came to the UK and it will be fantastic to be able to work with him and integrate him into our team over the coming weeks and months. Out and out half backs with outstanding kicking games and genuine speed are becoming a rarity, so he will give us another string to our bow in the squad.”

John Kear, the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Head Coach, said: “We would like to thank Danny Brough for all he has done for this club since he joined us from Castleford Tigers and wish him well in the rest of his career.

“We’re delighted to re-sign Michael Korkidas as he is an integral part of our plans to develop a successful Super League team at the Hearwell Stadium.

“Equally we’re excited at being able to work with Danny Kirmond who is a player we’ve admired for quite some time.”

Some stats and scorers

2010-03-23T18:12:00.000Z

Continuing my publishing of bits of RFL press releases, I get one every week entitled "In Touch" which includes lists of tope tries, goals, and point scorers.

Here is some info from that latest one:

LEADING SCORERS

ENGAGE SUPER LEAGUE
(League matches only)

Tries
Pat Richards (Wigan) 10
Amos Roberts (Wigan) 10
Chris Riley (Warrington) 7
Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield) 7
Matt King (Warrington) 7
Chris Walker (Catalans) 6
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 6
Daryl Millard (Wakefield) 6
Danny McGuire (Leeds) 5
Francis Meli (St Helens) 5
Richie Myler (Warrington) 5
Darrell Goulding (Wigan) 5
Liam Colbon (Hull KR) 5

Goals
Pat Richards (Wigan) 35
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 32 (1)
Danny Tickle (Hull) 23
Michael Dobson (Hull KR) 20 (1)
Michael Witt (Crusaders) 19
Danny Brough (Wakefield) 18
Chris Bridge (Warrington) 15
Joe Westerman (Castleford) 15
Rob Burrow (Leeds) 13
Matt Orford (Bradford) 12 (1)
Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield) 12
( ) Drop goals included in total

Points
Pat Richards (Wigan) 110
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens) 87
Danny Tickle (Hull) 54
Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield) 52
Michael Dobson (Hull KR) 47
Michael Witt (Crusaders) 46
Danny Brough (Wakefield) 40
Amos Roberts (Wigan) 40
Joe Westerman (Castleford) 38
Matt Orford (Bradford) 35

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP ONE CLUBS
(All matches, including Carnegie Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup)

Tries
Johnny Campbell (Batley) 14
Lee Waterman (York) 11
Shad Royston (Halifax) 9
Rob Worrincy (Halifax) 8
Dave Alstead (Leigh) 8
Jesse-Joe Parker (Featherstone) 7
Craig Cook (Sheffield) 7
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 7
Lucas Onyango (Oldham) 7
Jon Steel (Featherstone) 7
Luke Branighan (Halifax) 7
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 7

Goals
Gareth Moore (Batley) 49
Lee Patterson (Halifax) 43
Shane Grady (Widnes) 42
Lee Waterman (York) 31
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 30
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 29
Gavin Dodd (Swinton) 29
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 27
Scott Kaighan (Workington) 26
Kyle Briggs (Featherstone) 26
( ) Drop goals included in total

Points
Gareth Moore (Batley) 118
Shane Grady (Widnes) 108
Lee Waterman (York) 106
Lee Patterson (Halifax) 94
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 82
Gavin Dodd (Swinton) 78
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 74
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 74
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 72
Scott Kaighan (Workington) 68

Championships Round-up

2010-03-21T23:32:00.000Z

The RFL have started issuing a press release about the Championships. Here is their latest one:

Co-operative Championship Review

Featherstone Rovers maintained their blistering start to the season with a superb 20-6 win away at Barrow Raiders and are now joint top of The Co-operative Championship with Halifax on nine points.

Six goals from the boot of Kyle Briggs and tries from Jon Steel and Liam Finn helped Rovers to their third consecutive league win. Jermaine McGillvary was the only try scorer for Barrow who are still searching their first league win of the season.

Halifax had gone clear at the top of the table last Thursday night with their 30-28 triumph over Widnes Vikings at the Stobart Stadium. Matt Calland’s men twice came from behind to inflict Widnes’ first defeat of 2010.

Leigh also remain unbeaten in the league after a comfortable 44-12 win over Whitehaven. Ian Millward’s men scored eight tries on their way to victory but only led 12-0 at half-time.

Steve Maden, Dave Alstead, Robbie Paul and Jacob Emmett all scored tries for Leigh as did the Warrington pair of Tryone McCarthy and Matty Blythe who are dual registered with the Centurions.

Mick Nanyn scored a try and kicked five goals while team mate Martyn Ridyard also scored a try and kicked one goal.

Toulouse moved up to fifth in the table with a 34-26 win at home against Keighley. Cedric Gay grabbed a brace of tries for the French side who also saw Clement Bienes, Rory Bromley, Sebastien Planas and Kevin Larroyer touchdown. Nathan Wynn added five goals. The Cougars try scores were Danny Jones, Oliver Pursglove, Gavin Duffy, Chris Baines and James Feather.

Mark Aston’s Sheffield Eagles secured their first league win of the season against Dewsbury Rams.

Tangi Ropati touched down for a pair of tries either side of half-time while also kicking a conversion to lead the Eagles to a 22-10 victory. Mitch Stringer and Dane McDonald also scored for the hosts.

Dewsbury had hoped of pulling off their first league victory since promotion when they trailed 12-10 at half-time through tries from Stewart Sanderson and Patrick Walker. However the Rams failed to score a point in the second half.

Co-operativeChampionship 1

In the game of the day in The Co-operative Championship 1, a late Chris Thorman drop goal proved the difference in York City Knights’ 25-24 victory over South Wales Scorpions.

In a see-saw encounter that saw the lead change hands on numerous occasions Danny Ratcliffe, Joe McLocklan, Brett Waller and Casey Bromilow all scored tries for the City Knights, all of which were converted by Lee Waterman.

Lewis Mills, Gil Dudson, Craig Richards and Steve Parry all crossed for the visitors who now drop to second in the league behind York.

Rochdale secured their second victory of the season with a 32-24 win over Workington Town at Spotland.
After racing into a 24-6 half-time lead, Rochdale had to face a second half comeback from the visitors but hung on to secure victory. Liam McGovern scored a try and kicked six goals for the home side who also saw Craig Johnson, Dean Gorton, Phil Wood and Dayne Donoghue cross the whitewash.

In a close fought encounter at Sedgley Park, Swinton defeated Doncaster 36-30 to move to fourth in the table. Both sides scored six tries apiece in a highly entertaining encounter however it was the boot of Gavin Dodd that was the difference between the two sides. Dodd added six goals whilst Doncaster’s Simon Brown only managed three.

Gateshead Thunder secured their first victory of the season with a hard fought victory over London Skolars.

A hat trick of tries by Jimmy Atkinson and one a piece by Kevin Neighbour and Tom Wilson helped secure Thunder, who lost 100-4 midweek, their first league points of the year. Chad Isles, Matt Thomas and Curtis Cunningham scored for the visitors who fell to their 19th consecutive defeat.

This weekend's results in full were:
CHAMPIONSHIP

Thursday:
Widnes 28 HALIFAX 30

Friday:
SHEFFIELD 22 Dewsbury 10

Saturday:
Barrow 6 FEATHERSTONE 20
TOULOUSE 34 Keighley 26

Sunday:
LEIGH 44 Whitehaven 12

CHAMPIONSHIP ONE:

GATESHEAD 24 London Skolars 18
ROCHDALE 32 Workington 24
SWINTON 36 Doncaster 30
YORK 25 South Wales Scorpions 24

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND UP

2010-03-20T20:19:00.000Z

BARROW 6
FEATHERSTONE ROVERS 20

Featherstone Rovers sent a message of intent to the rest of the Championship following a comprehensive defensive performance against reigning champions Barrow Raiders.

They were able to throw a defensive blanket over the Raiders for most of the game but their efforts in the last 15 minutes were particularly noteworthy as Rovers repelled everything that Barrow could throw at them before striking from close range through Liam Finn with a little over six minutes left. Kyle Briggs tagged on his fifth goal and Featherstone remained watertight until a couple of minutes from time when Jermaine McGilvray darted over in the corner and Jamie Rooney converted.

Seconds from time the Raiders conceded a drop-out and the ensuing kick sailed out of play on the full which allowed Briggs to add a sixth goal to even take the bonus point away.

Earlier, Featherstone built an 8-0 half-time lead thanks to a 16th minute converted try from Jon Steel and a Briggs penalty ten minutes later. Two further Briggs penalties after 57 and 63 minutes made it 12-0 to the visitors before the interesting finish ensured the three points went back to the BigFella's Stadium.

In the other game this evening Toulouse defeated Keighley at home 34-26.

RL Comment - My praise for Batley Bulldogs record breaking win

2010-03-20T11:30:00.000Z

Congratulations to Batley Bulldogs on their club record victory of 100-4 gainst Gateshead. Yes you did read that right. A fantastic effort by Baltey. To score 17 tries in any game is no mean feat. There is only once that I've ever seen 100 points scored in the flesh and that was a Challenge Cup tie involving Rochdle Hornets and amateurs Illingworth when Hornets won 120-4.

Leading the points on the historic night was young halfback Gareth Moore. He bagged two tries and 16 goals for a magnificent 40 points.

Moore began the rout after 3 minutes and was quickly followed by Chris Buttery and Aaron Wood (2), before his second came after 27 minutes. David Tootill and Jason Walton kept the scoreboard ticking until half-time with Michael Brown scoring the only Gateshead points.

Ten further tries followed in the second half through Tootill, Mark Barlow, the prolific Jonny Campbell (3), while Sean Hesketh, Ian Preece and Craig Potter also got in on the act with Walton scoring a second try and Preece also finishing with a brace at the end.

Once again congratulations to Batley, the victory was even more noteworthy as it came at Gateshead's Thunderdome home.

I wonder if the assembled media had enough paper to keep track of the scores?

The Bulldogs sit out of league action this weekend but return to work next week (25th) with a televised clash against the Keighley Cougars.

Once again well done to Batley. I think they will test most teams this season.

SUPER LEAGUE ROUND UP

2010-03-19T22:54:00.000Z

Three other games took place tonight in Super League.

Hull were victorious over Bradford Bulls - 18-6. Lee Radford and Jordan Tansey (2) grabbed tries for the hosts with Danny Tickle adding three goals. The Bulls again came up short with only a Stuart Reardon try and Paul Sykes penalty to show for their efforts.

Hull Kingston Rovers made history with their first win at Headingley since 1985. A rock solid defence was the foundation for Justin Morgan's side who scored first half tries by Shaun Briscoe, Peter Fox and Liam Colbon. Michael Dobson added two goals and an all important second half drop goal while all Leeds could respond with were tries from Keith Senior and Jamie Jones Buchanan while Rob Burrow kicked a goal in the Rhinos 10-17 defeat.

A pulsating game at St Helens saw the hosts establish a 12-4 half-time lead over Warrington before a second half revival brought the Wolves right back into the contest. Kyle Eastmond and Jon Wilkin scored tries for the Saints in that first half with Simon Grix responding after half an hour. Saints scored again after 46 minutes through Adie Gardner with Eastmond converting and adding a penalty. At 20-4 the game looked sewn up before Warrington roared bck with tries from Matt King, Ben Harrison and Chris Hicks, but crucially only one goal came from the boot of Chris Bridge. Gardner then scored his second try of the night after 65 minutes before Eastmond finished another good night for him with the conversion and a late penalty to ensure a 28-18 win for the Saints.

FRIDAY NIGHT CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP

2010-03-19T22:39:00.000Z

SHEFFIELD EAGLES 22

DEWSBURY RAMS 10

It is now three Championship games without a win for Dewsbury while Sheffield claimed their first league win at Don Valley tonight.

Pat Walker opened the scores for the visitors after 18 minutes with a self converted try before prop Mitch Stringer did likewise for the Eagles and added the goal. Samoan Tangi Ropati then put the Eagles ahead after 32 minutes only to see former Wath Brow wing Stewart Sanderson equalise four minutes later.

A Ropati penalty before half-time saw the Eagles in front at the break and they extended their advantage five minutes into the new half when Dane McDonald went over.

The game remained in the melting pot until the 73rd minute when Ropati crossed for his second try of the game and Stringer struck his second goal to confirm victory although the Rams finished within 12 points of their hosts to claim a bonus point.

SUPER LEAGUE XV REPORT: Crusaders v Catalans

2010-03-19T22:29:00.000Z

CRUSADERS 14

CATALANS DRAGONS 6

By Dave Parkinson

A tough and often dour struggle saw the Crusaders eventually finish with their third win of the season. It took the Crusaders last incarnation 27 games to achieve three wins last time while the Brian Noble coached 2010 side have reached the mark in just seven games.

The game was noteworthy for the debut of 35 year-old former British Lion Gareth Thomas.As a result the crowd swelled to a highly respectable 6,124 on a foul and wet night. After being bounced by David Ferriol in only the second tackle of the game, Thomas was struggling. Gamely the former Cardiff Blues player tried to get involved as often as he could and took several further drives at the defence and also chased one of many Michael Witt kicks. A second knock after 30 minutes brought an end to his involvement.

By the time Thomas left the field, Crusaders were 6-0 up thanks to a Jason Chan try, awarded by video referee Ian Smith after Witt and Lincoln Withers combined. To be fair that was as good as it got.

Missing the talents of Adam Mogg, Thomas Bosc and Clint Greenshields Catalans were reliant on their forward power but there was little guile at the back of it, despite the best efforts of Setaimata Sa, playing out of position at stand-off.

A high tackle from Jamal Fakir gave Witt the opportunity to add to the score after 32 minutes and it remained 8-0 at the break.

The second half proved to be a slightly better spectacle and after plenty of early completions only mistake from Fakir broke the mould. It was Catalans however that changed the scoreboard when a fine kick across field from Casey MacGuire was plucked out of the air by skipper Olivier Elima and Greg Mounis goaled.

The kicking of Witt then changed the face of the half, his patient kicks meant that the Dragons had to start the majority of sets by their own line. Nick Yougquest couldn't get a Tony Martin kick to sit up for him after a spirited chase down the line.

Crusaders did begin to dominate although their plays inside the twenty were easily picked off by an eager Dragons defence that held firm for three sets before losing possession for another two.

It was largely one man rugby until the 67th minute when Sa booted an attempted long kick out on the full and Crusaders built on territory to score only the third try of a tight game. Again referee Thierry Alibert went upstairs to Ian Smith after Peter Lupton ran strong and true and had a little bit of help from Martin after the otherwise impressive Dimitri Pelo appeared to stop the initial play.

The try stood however, benefit of doubt to the Crusaders, and Witt added his third goal to open up a 14-6 lead. Frank Winterstein was then curiously denied a try thanks to the reactions of Pelo and although Catalans tried to play expansively in the last ten minutes, it wasn't to be and the Crusaders prevailed by playing the better percentage game.

CRUSADERS:
Tries: Jason Chan, Peter Lupton.
Goals: Michael Witt 3/3.

CATALANS:
Try: Olivier Elima
Goal: Mounis 1/1.

RL Comment - A day for Cooke-ing up a storm and answering doubting Thomas's

2010-03-19T18:05:00.000Z

Wakefield Wildcats have completed the signing of Paul Cooke from Hull Kingston Rovers and announced his signing to a news conference. There are suggestions that he will go straight into the Wildcat's squad for this Sunday's game against Salford.

Cooke has been a controversial figure on Humberside for a few years due to eratic off field behaviour and the way his move from Hull to Hull KR came about.

The official statement that appeared on the Wildcats website reads:

"Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have signed Paul Cooke from Hull KR.

The 28-year-old England international stand off half joins the Wildcats on a deal which lasts until the end of the 2010 season. Cooke started his professional career with Hull FC in 1999 and played 204 games in black and white before moving across to arch rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in a high profile deal in 2007.

Since moving to Craven Park Paul has played 65 games for Rovers. Cooke is one of the largest halfbacks playing in the modern game as he is 6ft 5ins (1.96m) tall and weighs in at 16stones (102kg).

John Kear, the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Head Coach, said: “Paul Cooke is one of the most gifted players of his generation and we’re delighted that he has signed for the Wildcats.

“Paul is very versatile because he can play at loose forward if it becomes necessary and that’s a great option to have available for any Super League club.

“I worked with Paul when I was on the coaching staff at Hull FC so we know each other well. I’m a great admirer of his skill set and also recognise the great talent he has for playing Rugby League. “He’s the kind of player who makes other players play well and that’s a special quality we can use at the Hearwell Stadium.”

Paul Cooke said: “I’m delighted to be joining Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and working with John Kear again.

“The Wildcats have shown some great form in 2010 and I’m looking forward to joining an exciting team. “I’d like to thank everybody at Hull KR, the players, staff and, particularly, the fans for all the support they’ve given while I’ve been at Craven Park.”

A further statement was later put up explaining about Cooke's availability:

"Newly-signed Paul Cooke could make his debut for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Sunday when they face Salford City Reds in Round Seven of the Engage Super League at the Hearwell Stadium (Kick off 3 30pm).

He has been included in the 19-man squad for the game by Head Coach John Kear.

And with stand off Ben Jeffries still out of action with a leg injury the chances of Cooke being included in the action at some stage in the game look to be quite high.

There’s also a place in the squad for scrum half Danny Brough in spite of the intense speculation that he may be leaving the Wildcats.

Both hooker James Davey and prop Ben Gledhill, who were included for the squad that played at Hull KR a week ago, are retained by Kear.

Kear said: “I expect that Cooke will get a chance to play in this game but I’ll make a decision about that closer to the kick off time.”
Wildcats 19-man squad is: Matthew Blaymire, Damien Blanch, Sean Gleeson, Daryl Millard, Danny Brough, Shane Tronc, Michael Korkidas, Dale Ferguson, Glenn Morrison, Jason Demetriou, Sam Obst, Kevin Henderson, Aaron Murphy, Tevita Leo-Latu, Paul Cooke, Dale Morton, James Davey, Richard Moore, Ben Gledhill."

The other big story is the fact that Gareth Thomas, a 100 cap veteran of Welsh Rugby Union, is set to make his rugby league debut tonight for the Crusaders against Catalans Dragons in front of the Sky TV cameras.

A story that appeared on the Crusaders website yesterday read:

"All eyes will be on Gareth Thomas at the Racecourse Ground tomorrow when the former Wales and British Lions captain makes his Engage Super League debut for Crusaders RL.

The Wrexham club are expecting the appearance of Thomas to swell the crowd to between 6,000 and 7,000, double what they had originally expected, for the visit of French club Catalans Dragons.

Head coach Brian Noble confirmed today that the 35-year-old Thomas would be in his 17 after completing a fortnight’s crash course in rugby league.

“While the focus of attention will be on Gareth, it’s a tough ask for him but he’s ready for the challenge,” said Noble.

“Through all the hullabaloo, the reason he’s come is to be as good as he can at rugby league and his journey starts tomorrow.

“His application and his determination to do well will stand him in good stead. He came to us as a good athlete and he’s handled the physical side of what we’ve been doing really well.”

Thomas is expected to start on the wing and, according to Catalans coach Kevin Walters, will not be a particular target for the opposition.

“We’ve got enough problems of our own,” said Walters, who is preparing to give a debut to 20-year-old half-back David Guasch, nephew of club chairman Bernard, as he wrestles with an early-season injury crisis.

“I don’t know much about him, except that he’s a name, but he’ll be good for them and not only on the field. He’ll bring excitement and a buzz not only to the club but to the game.”

Despite being in his mid-30s Crusaders officials are hoping that Thomas will be a success. There is no doubting his commitment as a player. I found it interesting when he signed that people were still asking about his sexuality and what impact that would have.

I thoroughly believe it has no impact at all, and for people to even suggest it is somewhat insulting to a sport that has worked so hard to build up links with Stonewall and actively promotes "League for all".

I hope his debut is a success. I'll be penning a report of this game later.

Championship Match report - Widnes v Halifax

2010-03-19T08:40:00.000Z

WIDNES VIKINGS 28

HALIFAX 30
By Dave Parkinson.

Two unbeaten starts to the Championship season went head to head at the Stobart Stadium and at the end of eighty minutes it was the Vikings previously unblemished record in all competitions that went west. In truth it was a scrappy encounter between two of the top three sides in the formulative table and ultimately the bigger error count of the Vikings stopped them from repeating last season's success over Halifax.

Wearing a specially commissioned kit to help raise awareness for the "Everyman" charity, the Vikings started strongly in the televised Championship game when Thomas Coyle, in for tonsilitis affected skipper Mark Smith surged over from dummy half after a couple of strong runs from Matt Gardner and Shane Grady.

Grady, scorer of 100 points in his first seven games of 2010, added the goal and the Vikings dominated the first quarter without registering a further score.

A rising error count and regular penalties stopped the game from flowing although in defence of both teams they continued to fly at each other with some committed defence, while experimenting with their attack. One such tackle on Dave Allen after 21 minutes forced an error and from that possession and a further penalty Halifax were on the Widnes line threatening.

As the ball came right influential halfback Luke Branighan passed for Lee Paterson and his quick hands gave Rob Worrincy the chance to turn inside and beat five Widnes players to the try line for his 7th try of a productive season so far. Paterson levelled the game and this seemed to spur the visitors on. Halifax introduced Mark Gleeson to the game and the former Warrington man added an element of control and purpose.

In spite of this, a couple of Fax mistakes helped heap pressure on them and their defence looked set to crack before a wild pass from Coyle dipped and bobbled in front of James Webster and then evaded the clutches of Allen. Spying the opportunity of an intercept former Salford and Wakefield man Paul White moved on the loose ball and showed blistering pace over the first forty metres before holding off the spirited chase of Paddy Flynn and fullback Scott Yates.

Halifax finally started to roll forward as a unit and after the initial work of starting props Makali Aizue and Dominic Maloney, Frank Watene and particularly Said Tamghart made more than a nuisance of themselves.

A penalty put Halifax in prime territory and they didn't need a second invite when that man Branighan went to the line before a superb short pass brought Paterson his second try of the season and a further goal. Ben Black's towering punt caught Yates out and Dave Wrench followed up to score, but te try was disallowed for offside by the video referee while at the other end, Flynn suffered the same fate after taking an attacking kick and forcing his way over the line only for part of his body to go touch in goal before the grounding.

Spurred on, Widnes enjoyed the better of the closing minutes and registered their second try just before the hooter when Anthony Thackeray kicked high and wide from dummy half. White spilled under pressure of Flynn and Lee Doran grounded the bouncing ball to make it 16-10. Grady struck a near perfect conversion attempt that looked like it would creep over before striking the crossbarl.

The first ten minutes of the second half belonged to Halifax and Paterson increased their advantage with a penalty goal. Widnes were fortunate it wasn't more as White surged downfield only to be brought down by Yates and then a Branighan kick found an onrushing Tamghart who ran away from his supporting players.

Twelve minutes into the second half Widnes targetted the middle of the Halifax defence and on the third occasion it cracked when Thackeray's inside pass found Coyle between defenders and he surged between the posts amid bodies to score. The conversion closed the gap to two points before Halifax demonstrated their attacking play only for White to be denied by the video referee after Black had run behind a decoy.

The next eight minutes were even more scrappy and it looked like neither side wanted to take control before Thackeray ran from dummy half, sent Doran striding through a huge hole and the impressive Liam Farrell tracked up the middle to score under the posts. Grady's conversion ensured the Vikings held a 22-18 advantage after 62 minutes although the 20 year old centre could only look on as first Halifax tackled back to put Matt Gardner into touch after quick play down the left before a 30 metre penalty attempt struck the post and bounced out.

Halifax cleared their lines and then struck for a fourth try after 72 minutes when Branighan kicked right for Widnes to fumble. Eighteen year old substitute Anthony Bowman collected the loose ball and cleverly passed between two men for fullback Shad Royston to continue his prolific start to the season and ground his 9th try. With Paterson off the field, Branighan took on goal-kicking duties and converted for a narrow advantage.

The winning try came four minutes from time when Fax pushed close to the line and Branighan threaded a grubber kick behind the posts for Sean Penkywicz to pounce ahead of a couple of Vikings players. Branighan converted to make it 30-22 and time was against the Vikings. Buoyed by their recent late success over Barrow, Widnes took up the challenge and scored on the right through Richard Varkulis. The centre crossed for his 4th try of the season after excellent work from Wigan loan-man Ben Davies. Grady converted from the touchline in double quick time and the Vikings pushed down both wings before Flynn kicked ahead as the hooter sounded and Royston calmly took the ball into touch to confirm a 30-28 victory for the visitors.

Teams:

Widnes: Scott Yates, Paddy Flynn, Richard Varkulis, Shane Grady, Matt Gardner; Anthony Thackeray, James Webster; Gareth Haggerty, Thomas Coyle, Jim Gannon, Liam Farrell, Lee Doran, Dave Allen. Subs: Ben Kavanagh, Matt Strong, Ben Davies, Dave Houghton.

Tries: Coyle (4, 52), Doran (39), Farrell (62), Varkulis (79).
Goals: Grady 4/6.

Halifax: Shad Royston, Rob Worrincy, Jon Goddard, Lee Paterson, Paul White; Luke Branighan, Ben Black, Makali Aizue, Sean Penkywicz, Dominic Maloney, David Larder, Dave Wrench, Stanley Gene. Subs: Mark Gleeson, Anthony Bowman, Said Tamghart, Frank Watene.

Tries: Worrincy (23), White (29), Paterson (33), Royston (72), Penkywicz (76).
Goals: Paterson 3/4, Branighan 2/2.

Referee: Rob Hicks
Penalties: 10-10.
Attendance: 3,286.

RL Comment - Injuries bite hard but in Oz... attack is better and better

2010-03-17T15:53:00.001Z

The season may be just a few weeks old but already teams resources are being tested. Michael Lawrence at Huddersfield has been ruled out for between 4 and 6 weeks while Leeds have lost youngster Kallum Watkins.

As great as our sport is, there is always a chance of injury, that is a given and players are generally lucky if they can get through a full season without at least a niggle. This is one of the reasons I take great interest when it comes to ever-present players. The demands of the game are arguably higher than ever, although I don't think we have the best product, particularly over here at the moment where the wrestle in a tackle is commonplace.

I always admired the way the Canberra Raiders circa 1988-92 played, this was some superb quick attack and judging from the NRL I managed to catch on the internet over the weekend, it's gone back that way - the game between Wests Tigers and Manly was a cracker with lots of very good attacking rugby league and I take what people are saying about 2 referees.

It has certainly made the game seem even quicker and the intensity levels are great. It would be fair to say I was very impressed, also by the fact that Gareth Ellis appears to be flourishing and now Mark Flanaghan is sampling the delights of that competition.

Championships Results & Round Up from W/E 14/03/2010

2010-03-16T22:16:00.000Z

Thursday:
Championship:
Batley 24 HALIFAX 34

Friday:
Championship One:
BLACKPOOL 36 Rochdale 14
Hunslet 16 OLDHAM 29

Saturday:
Championship:
WHITEHAVEN 34 Toulouse 20

Sunday:
Championship:
Dewsbury 10 FEATHERSTONE 40
Keighley 12 LEIGH 34
Sheffield 30 WIDNES 44

Championship One:
Doncaster 8 SOUTH WALES 18
London Skolars 16 SWINTON 52
WORKINGTON 32 York 22

After a day or so of not posting anything and sorting out programme deadlines I'm back with my thoughts on the weekend's action. Some interesting results, with Batley doing well to fight back and claim a bonus point. Okay the game wasn't the best but in Jonny Campbell the Bulldogs have a man that just can't stop scoring at the moment.

A big pat on the back should also go to Oldham's Matt Ashe who defied blurred vision from a mild eye injury to lead Oldham to victory over Hunslet and ensure that after two games the embattled club sit top of the table. Ashe scored two tries and kicked four goals.

Mick Nanyn looks to be running into point scoring form again after a slightly subdued start to the season. Seven games in he has scored 6 tries and kicked 22 goals for 68 points, 18 of which came against Keighley.

On the same vein I must also credit Lee Waterman. This time last year he was playing amateur rugby for Skirlaugh Bulls but the York centre has taken to the pro game like a duck to water. So far he has scored 11 tries this season and kicked 27 goals for an excellent 98 points. Even this has been topped by Widnes Vikings Shane Grady who continues to go from strength to strength as a goal kicker. From a starting point of 2 from 6 against Gateshead, he has continued to build his percentages - kicking 8 from 12 a week ago against Wigan St Judes before landing 8 from 8 at Sheffield when the pressure was on. He has now kicked 38 goals to lead the goal kicking charts ahead of Halifax' Lee Paterson (34) and became the first player to reach 100 points in the game this season.

Result of the week came at Derwent Park Workington where Town roared to a brilliant 30-6 half-time lead before a revival in the second half earned York a bonus point. Key to victory for town were halfbacks Scott Kaighan and Liam Finch while veteran Neil Frazer got a good write-up in the RL trade press.

Blackpool only named nine ex Leigh players in their team against Rochdale and also paraded new dual contract signings Chris Tuson and Neil Holland (Wigan).

Just out of interest here are the top try, goal and point scorers outside of Super League:

CO-OPERATIVE CHAMPIONSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP ONE CLUBS

(All matches, including Carnegie Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup)

Tries
Johnny Campbell (Batley) 11
Lee Waterman (York) 11
Shad Royston (Halifax) 8
Dave Alstead (Leigh) 7
Jesse-Joe Parker (Featherstone) 7
Craig Cook (Sheffield) 7
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 7
Lucas Onyango (Oldham) 7

Goals
Shane Grady (Widnes) 38
Lee Patterson (Halifax) 34
Gareth Moore (Batley) 33
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 29
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 29
Lee Waterman (York) 27
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 23
Gavin Dodd (Swinton) 23
Tom Hemingway (Blackpool) 23
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 22
Scott Kaighan (Workington) 22

( ) Drop goals included in total

Points
Shane Grady (Widnes) 100
Lee Waterman (York) 98
Gareth Moore (Batley) 78
Wayne McHugh (Hunslet) 74
Matt Ashe (Oldham) 74
Lee Patterson (Halifax) 72
Jamie Rooney (Barrow) 70
Mick Nanyn (Leigh) 68
Gavin Dodd (Swinton) 66
Scott Kaighan (Workington) 60

Robbie Paul to step into unknown

2010-03-14T09:30:00.000Z

Centurions skipper Robbie Paul is waiting in anticipation, having not had the opportunity to play at Cougar Park during his illustrious career.

"It sounds crazy but I've never played there before." He said. "I can't help but think I'm not going to be too well received there either because of their local connections with Bradford and me being known for my time with Bradford Bulls for so long."

"Keighley were quite successful last year and have gone from strength to strength on the field in the recent past."

Paul continued, "It's a nice little challenge for us because we know how to play at home. We've spent a lot of time in our stadium and we are very familiar with those surroundings. One of the big problems that we had last year was consistencey away from home. We did a good job at Dewsbury last week and that is what we want to grow from. These are new challenges, playing away from home, playing in different environments where supporters can ride the referees a little bit more. It can be taxing and you've got to approach it the right way."

"Keighley is a town in the heartlands of rugby league. It has also produced some great Super League players in the past as well, Richard Moore is a perfect example, he's had a bit of success with the Bulls and Wakefield Trinity."

John Duffy returns to the side after missing last weekend's cup win over Cumbrian amateurs Wath Brow Hornets while Ricky Bibey continues his comeback trail.

Dave Parkinson chats ..... To David Armitstead

2010-03-14T09:13:00.000Z

Q: Well David, through to the next round of the Challenge Cup what were your thoughts on the Wath Brow game?

A: I suppose it was a little bit scrappy from us. We wanted to use it as a springboard to keep moving forward because we are on a bit of a roll at the moment. It was a little scrappy but a win is a win I suppose. We are in the next round now.

Q: I suppose any time you come up against amateur opposition there's a chance of the game dropping to their level isn't there?

A: Yeah there is. Definitely. We wanted to generate our line speed. We've been really happy with our defence the last few games from Featherstone onwards. That was our main intention, set the speed through that way, but full credit to them, they didn't go away did Wath Brow. You've got to give them a bit of a wrap too.

Q: I thought the line speed in defence demoralised them as the game went on?

A: That's what we are very proud of at the moment, especially the core boys, we are trying to stick together and not let them go around us. The one try was a bit disappointing but to keep it to nil in the second half is I suppose a positive.

Q: I've got to ask about yourself, you've moved around the forwards a bit this term, you've been up front with the big boys? What's that been like?

A: It's good. I suppose at the moment everyone is doing pretty well so it's just nice to be in the seventeen. Obviously you've got your favourite positions and that but while we have been hit with injury, I'm just glad that I can fill the gaps, which is nice, but everyone is playing well so just to be in the seventeen is a bonus. It's good to see Ricky (Bibey) back and yeah just be a regular in the team. You want to start every week but these days, your bench is just as important as your start; especially in the forwards.

Q: Is that good for yourself as well? I know you played a bit of front row last year?

A: To be honest I like it in the middle more than on an edge. My favourite position would be loose forward but Jimmy (Taylor) is killing it there at the moment so you are wherever Basil put's you basically and you've just got to do your best and not let anyone down. Hopefully I'm doing that.

Q: Finally, you've moved away from nil tries for Leigh, it took you a season. It took you a while to get off the mark at Barrow too didn't it?

A: Yeah it did. I don't know what it is, I tend to go a season where I don't score a try. I didn't in my first year at Barrow, then my next year I scored about eight. Hopefully this year I can pick up a few more. That would be nice, but I'm still calling that Dewsbury try the match-winner because it was the last try of the game!

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP - SATURDAY NIGHT

2010-03-14T00:34:00.002Z

WHITEHAVEN 34 TOULOUSE 20

Whitehaven put their recent Challenge Cup struggles behind them to claim a six try win over Toulouse on Saturday night.

An early try from Rory Bromley, converted by Nathan Wynn gave the visitors an early advantage before Dylan Skee replied for Haven and Carl Rudd hit the first of five goals.

Quickfire tries from Antoni Maria and Bruno Ormerno tipped the half back in Toulouse's favour before Rudd himself touched down. A fourth try from Sebastien Planas, converted by Wynn gave the visitors a 20-10 half-time lead, it proved to be the last point the French team scored.

Whitehaven made a great start to the new half with the elusive Carl Sice grabbing two tries in three minutes before Vincent Duport was shown a red card after 52 minutes.

It was 22-20 to Haven until the last eight minutes when the hosts pulled away with two tries. The first was scored by substitute Reece Fox before debutant loan signing Ian Mort went over for his first points for the Recre boys and Rudd landed the conversions to deny the French side a bonus point.

SKY SL MATCH - WARRINGTON V BRADFORD - MINI SUMMARY

2010-03-14T00:15:00.000Z

WARRINGTON 33
BRADFORD 8

A brilliant 25 minutes of second half play blasted the Bulls aside at Halliwell Jones Stadium tonight.

Warrington trailed 8-6 at half-time to tries from Andy Lynch and Paul Sykes. Lynch gave the visitors the advantage after 24 minutes following a missed penalty goal attempt by Matt Orford, before the Wolves took the lead with a converted try after Adrian Morley provided a quick play-the-ball, Mickey Higham scooted and Richie Myler supported to go under the posts for Chris Bridge to goal.

Sykes put the Bulls in front three minutes before the break after a disguised pass Matt Orford.

There was little between the teams at the start of the second half with Bradford shading the opening exchanges after a break from Brett Kearney and three sets of possession on the Warrington line.

A similar period occured in the first half with the Wolves in possession but they couldn't push through. Neither could Bradford and their frustration led to mistakes with experienced Steve Menzies being guilty of a couple of wild offloads.

It was the Bulls defence that eventually cracked when Ryan Atkins touched down after 52 minutes for Warrington after David Solomona's cut out ball and unselfish work from Matt King. Right until the last quarter this was a contest before 4 tries and 23 unanswered points secured a second successive win for the Wolves.

King touched down following great work by Louis Anderson and a long ball from Simon Grix and from the restart, King broke again before slowing for the supporting Atkins to take the ball at pace and blaze to the try line in spectacular fashion to complete an 80 metre raid. Bridge again goaled to make it 20-8 and the game was effectively over when an elusive run at dummy half by Michael Monaghan took him past some tired, targeted defenders to the try line. The boot of Bridge upped the score to 26-8 and Monaghan then potted a drop goal eight minutes from time before a high kick near the end led to King claiming his second try and Bridge added his fourth goal to confirm a 33-8 victory.

Warrington Tries: Myler (33), Atkins (53, 64), King (62, 78), Monaghan (68).
Goals: Bridge 4/6. Monaghan DG (72).

Bradford Tries: Lynch (24), Sykes (37).
Goals: Orford 0/2, Sykes 0/1.

SUPER LEAGUE XV SKY TV MATCH REPORT

2010-03-12T22:47:00.000Z

Hull Kingston Rovers 18
Wakefield 31Th
By Dave Parkinson

Once again a televised Super League game was turned on its head after half-time. Last weekend Bradford hit back from a 20-0 deficit to beat Wigan 22-20, this week it was the turn of the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

Six days ago, Wakefield were humbled 52-0 by Huddersfield on their own pitch and a similar result looked on the cards as Rovers impressively built an 18-6 half-time lead.

The Robins grabbed the first try of the game after three minutes when Michael Dobson cleverly worked the left for Kris Welham to split the defence and send Liam Colbon over for his 4th try in two games. Dobson converted before Shane Tronc and Danny Brough drew Trinity level. The big prop crossed from close range off the distribution of Sam Obst while Brough goaled.

The Wildcats forced a drop out thanks to a towering kick from Brough and Rovers managed to get Peter Fox sprinting upfield only for Aaron Murphy to chase back and tackle. As Rovers attacked Shaun Briscoe created an opportunity with a chip and chase but Brough put the ball dead. Two minutes after that, Rovers scored their second try when good passing down the line eventually saw Briscoe put Jake Webster in at the corner. Dobson couldn't convert but the hosts extended their advantage five minutes later when Scott Murrell saw his kick charged down by Obst and a fortunate riccochet saw Webster break and then hand inside for Murrell to finish.

At this point Rovers were looking good with Ben Fisher a threat from dummy half and Liam Watts looking to continue his development.

Wakefield opted for youth and brought Ben Gledhill and James Davey into action. This perked the visitors up and Murphy went on a long break from a scrum before he was chased down. A couple of minutes later Davey was prevented from scoring and Dale Ferguson was also held.

In the last inute of the first half Brough threw an intercept to Welham who sped away only to be chased down forty metres from the line. Referee James Child deemed a professional foul against Brough and sinbinned him which allowed Dobson the opportunity to add a penalty goal and send Rovers in at half-time with a comfortable 18-6 lead.

Whatever John Kear said to his charges at half-time, he could bottle it and make a fortune. The Wildcats were a different proposition in the second half and immediately set about dominating Rovers with only 12 men. Often in tht situation, teams look for inspiration and former Whitehaven halfback Obst provided it. First he kicked low after 43 minutes for Colbon to knock on, then a couple of minutes later his never-say-die attitude saw him beat seven men in an individual run to the line. He converted then turned creator again fter 47 minutes when a grubber kick seemed to confuse Briscoe and Matt Blaymire ran through to touch down ahead of the England fullback. Another Obst goal wiped out Rovers advantage while Brough returned with the scores locked at 18-18.

Despite a couple of errors, Wakefield were playing the better rugby and illustrated the fact after 61 minutes when a high kick from Brough saw former Canterbury Bulldogs centre Daryl Millard leap higher than Briscoe for him to ground. A Brough goal and Blaymire drop-goal made things difficult for Rovers although a big 40-20 from Dobson gave the hosts a big chance. Sadly for them, they blew it, with centre Webster being penalised for dissent.

The decisive try came eight minutes of the end via video referee Ben Thaler when despite numerous replays appearing to show Briscoe get underneath Shane Tronc, he was awarded a second try for Brough to convert again and make it 31-18.

Although further chances presented themselves neither side was able to take them and the Wildcats held out for their 4th win of the season.

Championship Report - Batley v Halifax

2010-03-11T22:05:00.000Z

BATLEY BULLDOGS 24
HALIFAX 34

This game often produces lots of points and tonight was no exception as Halifax ran up a big lead before a thrilling comeback from Batley won the Bulldogs what could prove to be a valuable bonus point.

The Bulldogs made the better start and opened scoring after four minutes when a deft kick from Scotland international halfback Gareth Moore found Ian Preece and he showed good strength to wrestle past James Haley and Shad Royston for the try. Moore converted to put Batley 6-0 up.

An unlucky call against Bulldogs winger Lee Greenwood resulted in possession for Fax from a scrum and after having little luck in stretching the defence, the visitors played it tight with Sean Penkywicz putting a short pass onto Dominic Maloney for the 23 year old prop to score. Paterson kicked the first of five goals and it was all level - 6-6.

Jon Goddard saw a try disallowed while Makali Aizue was held up. At this stage Halifax took a stranglehold on possession, aided by a 4-0 penalty count from the whistle of referee Ron Laughton. Four consecutive sets followed before another short ball from Penkywicz saw Maloney through for number two.

Batley only won their first penalty after 18 minutes but the Bulldogs couldn't take advantage when a dipping pass from Chris Buttery was knocked on by support.

Five minutes later, the visitors grabbed their second try when Ben Black passed left and a late change of direction from David Wrench took him past a couple of tacklers and over the try line.

The Bulldogs poured forward after half an our but James Martin couldn't hold onto the ball and the opportunity was lost. After defending their line, Batley won a penalty but Gareth Moore didn't find touch and within a minute former Gateshead halfback Luke Branighan dummied and forced his way over the line.

Minutes later, Batley again received a penalty in their own half and Paul Handforth missed touch. Halifax moved downfield and scored their fifth try when Royston evaded Danny Maun's tackle to cross. On the stroke of half-time Paterson struck a penalty from distance and Halifax looked out of sight at 30-6.

Three minutes into the new half, Fax surged upfield again for Branighan to make the line a second time. Paterson missed the conversion but at 34-6 it looked like game over. That is what Halifax seemed to think too.

Grabbing inspiration and spirit from somewhere, and aided by a turnaround in penalties, Batley began to offer a challenge. First big Sean Hesketh made inroads then former Salford and Leeds forward Jason Walton was prevented from scoring before alert play from dummy half led to Ash Lindsay pinching a try.

As penalties continued to be blown, Fax lost Wrench to the sinbin on 59 minutes and Batley snapped into action despite losing Handforth to injury.

Kyle Wood dinked a kick to his left and Preece was close to kicking on before Rob Worrincy tracked back to concede a drop out in the 66th minute. A minute later Kris Lythe's run set the position and Johnny Campbell grounded at the second time of asking despite best efforts of Goddard. Moore goaled quickly and was then on target 65 seconds later when Lindsay and Lythe went down the middle before Lindsay took the ball right and Campbell dashed in for his 11th try of the season. Moore added his 4th goal and despite some more attack from both teams there was no further scoring.

Halifax were able to breathe a sigh of relief at the end while Batley wondered what could have been but for a loose and mistake ridden opening.

BATLEY: Tries: Preece (4), Lindsay (50), Campbell 2 (67, 69). Goals: Moore 4/4.

HALIFAX: Tries: Maloney 2 (9, 15), Wrench (23), Branighan 2 (32, 43), Royston (38). Goals: Paterson 5/7.

Referee: Ron Laughton .
Penalties: Batley 17 Halifax 9.
Attendance: 837.

RL Comment - Interesting stuff at Galpharm this weekend

2010-03-10T22:01:00.000Z

I normally take a glance at the referee appointments for the forthcoming weekend and I see that Richard Silverwood has been selected to ref the Rhinos game with Huddersfield at the Galpharm Stadium. For those of you wondering what I am referring to, Mr Silverwood was the referee for the Rhinos recent World Club Challenge loss and was heavily criticised post match by Keith Senior who has since been asked to appear before the Rugby League.

Now I am unsure of when the charge against Senior will be heard but I do wonder if this week will be Senior v Silverwood 2 or whether he'll be able to keep his mouth shut this time. It was Senior's indiscipline that cost 2 points in that final when he backchatted the referee.

I see tonight Senior has been fined £1000 for criticising match officials. I reckon if this had happened in an amateur game Mr Senior would be looking at an 8 match ban. I think he's a lucky boy. Well done to the RFL for hitting him in the pocket. Maybe the centre will think and engage brain before speaking next time.

NORTHERN RAIL CUP ROUND-UP

2010-03-10T21:55:00.001Z

Two games took place tonight in the Northern Rail Cup.

First Keighley took an early evening trip to Barrow and were caned 62-18 with Jamie Rooney scoring 22 personal points.

Barrow ran into a half-time 40-6 lead with a whirlwind start. Liam Harrison got the Raiders moving after four minutes and further tries soon followed from Michael Knowles, Rob Roberts and Andy Ballard before Harrison went over again. Chris Larkin continued the rout with two tries either side of the half hour mark while Rooney kicked six goals. Jon Presley scored the Cougars only try of the first half and that was goaled by Danny Jones.

Rooney scored a try he converted before Nathan Mossop slipped through the defence and Harrison completed his hat-trick after 53 minutes. Jones pulled a try back for Keighley and George Rayner also touched down for the Cougars nd Jones added his third goal but the Raiders had the final say when Brett McDermott touched down and Rooney kicked his 9th goal.

London Skolars reportedly took the train to York but like a fortnight earlier it was a familiar story as they lost 34-12 despite a spirited show.

Jonathan Schofield opened the scoring for York after eleven minutes and Skolars frustrated their opponents with some good defence restricting the City Knights to just two further tries. Australian Casey Bromilow scored the first after 26 minutes before Mark Applegarth went over three minutes before the break. With former BARLA man Lee Waterman continuing his impressive point scoring with three conversions, York led 18-0 at the break.

Matty Duckworth got York's first try of the second half after 43 minutes to establish a match-winning advantage but Rob Montgomery scored for the Skolars just before the hour mark.

Bromilow claimed his second after 62 minutes before the prolific Waterman added a customary try to his five goals. There was still enough time for London to score a second try through Stephen Ball and Jamie Boston kicked two goals for Skolars but it wasn't enough to give the Southerners victory.