Rugby League

[Amos]

My vote is Tottenham, it was a great day a couple of years ago and Wigan fans wanted to go back.. £24 for 4 cans of Stella is what fans were rinsed of yesterday at the 'home of football'

They were charging £32 for a hotdog at the baseball at Tottenham yesterday (though it was 2 foot long).

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

They were charging £32 for a hotdog at the baseball at Tottenham yesterday (though it was 2 foot long).

Correction: the baseball was at the London Stadium, home of West Ham United.

 

[Amos]

Correction: the baseball was at the London Stadium, home of West Ham United.

my mistake.

 

[1D54]

Take back everything i said about Wembley as they were only £8.50 but not 2 ft.

 

[Amos]

Take back everything i said about Wembley as they were only £8.50 but not 2 ft.

Mods are going to have to be careful with all this talk of 2 ft sausages

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Betfred Super League

Salford Red Devils 20 ... St Helens 18

Salford won the try-count 4 to 3 and this result was the first time that Salford had done the league double over St Helens since 1980.

 

[Amos]

Just announced that Wigan vs Warrington in March next year will be played in Las Vegas of all places.I can’t decide if this is brilliant or bonkers.

 

[1D54]

Wigan paid for the fans to travel to the Super League game at Millwall in 2015 against Catalans Somehow i can't see this being repeated for this one.

It's a gimmick and doubtless Wigan fans who purchase a season ticket for next term are being charged for a game that 99% of them cannot afford to attend.

 

[Amos]

Wigan paid for the fans to travel to the Super League game at Millwall in 2015 against Catalans Somehow i can't see this being repeated for this one.

It's a gimmick and doubtless Wigan fans who purchase a season ticket for next term are being charged for a game that 99% of them cannot afford to attend.

I did attend the Millwall game (wearing a Warrington shirt) and was given 2 tickets by a Wigan season ticket holder as his son could not attend.I suspect this wouldn’t happen with Liverpool and United fans.
I’m with you about it being a gimmick,and wish that the RFL would put more effort into attracting fans on this side of the Atlantic.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

I did attend the Millwall game (wearing a Warrington shirt) and was given 2 tickets by a Wigan season ticket holder as his son could not attend.I suspect this wouldn’t happen with Liverpool and United fans.
I’m with you about it being a gimmick,and wish that the RFL would put more effort into attracting fans on this side of the Atlantic.

Not the first time RFL has gone to the US. Wigan were also involved in a match staged in Milwaukee though I think that was an exhibition match. Pretty sure Warrington were the opponents then too.

 

[Amos]

Not the first time RFL has gone to the US. Wigan were also involved in a match staged in Milwaukee though I think that was an exhibition match. Pretty sure Warrington were the opponents then too.

Indeed,it was supposedly a friendly,but didn’t quite turn out that way. I believe the nrl also played there last year too.

 

[1D54]

And Wigan played Hull FC in Super League at Wollongong in 2018. Would have loved to have gone to that but managed to get to Nou Camp for Cats v Wigan the year after.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Betfred Super League

Salford Red Devils 30 ... Castleford Tigers 22

This match fluctuated a few times. Salford led 12-6 at half time, but then Castleford took the lead early in the second half. Salford eventually won the try count 5 to 4.

This result takes Salford into fourth place on level games played (19) over St Helens and a chance of making the play-offs.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Betfred Super League

Salford Red Devils 30 ... Casteford Tigers 22

This match fluctuated a few times. Salford led 12-6 at half time, but then Castleford took the lead early in the second half. Salford eventually won the try count 5 to 4.

Castleford's indiscipline with their two sin-binnings (one in each half) was key in letting Salford win the match today. Would have been a far closer game had they kept a full complement on the park for the entire 80 minutes.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Betfred Super League

Leigh Leopards 26 ... Salford Red Devils 0

This local derby was played on the Sunday of the Magic Weekend and saw the continued rise up the table of Leigh. Salford's indiscipline saw two being sent to the sin bin early in the match and Leigh were 12-0 up at half time and whilst matters improved slightly for Saford in the second half, it did not stop Leigh adding another 14 unanswered points. Leigh scored four tries in the match and whilst this result still left Salford in the sixth and final play-off place, Leigh have now moved up to seventh place.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

It appears that "the old boy" network at BBC Sport is alive and well, as if you access the main BBC sport webpage, Rugby Union is shown as a main heading, whereas Rugby League is not. I speak as a Rugby Union ex-player (fly-half) and current follower, but I do see the unfairness in the showings of the current main headings.

With regard to ground-sharing, Sale Sharks share the new ground near to Barton Airport with Salford City Reds RLFC.

Interestingly the BBC's information service now gives fixtures and results for the top 6 tiers of RL (370) in England but only the top 4 tiers in RU (368). In comparison, they give data for 6 tiers in football (302), 2 in cricket (340) and none at all in speedway, ice hockey or basketball. The RL section also gives fixtures and results for ladies, Australian and even wheelchair matches.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Aug 2024 ==

The rugby clubs playing at Kingston Park in Newcastle are going through a rather bad patch.

Newcastle Thunder are bottom of League 1 having lost all 19 games thus far this season. This extends their losing run in the league to 20.

And Newcastle Falcons finished bottom of the RU Premiership in 2023/24 having lost all 18 games. This extends their losing run in the league to 21.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2024 ==

In marked contrast, the Sunday Times treats rugby union as the world's most important sport. There was no RU to speak of this weekend but today's ST devoted half of its front page to a story about England's defence coach quitting. Hull KR's had a spectacular 42-6 win at St Helens while Salford beat Huddersfield 60-10. The ST didn't even publish these results let alone provide match reports.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Betfred Super League

Salford Red Devils 27 ... Catalans Dragons 12

Salford led 12-6 at half time and kept up the pressure in the second half, winning the try count 4 to 2. This win sees them in fourth place in the league.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Sep 2024 ==

Betfred Super League

Hull FC 4 ... Salford Red Devils 58

I was able to watch the match as it was broadcast live and was a reflection of the current status of the two teams. Hull seemed to have a number of quite young players in their team. Not surprisingly the far more experienced Salford team were dominant in the first half and led 28-0 at half time. Even though Salford dropped down a gear in the last ten minutes when Hull scored their try, it was still a performance worth watching. Saford won the try count 10 to 1. This result sees Hull in bottom place in the league table and Salford qualifying for the play-offs with still the final league match of the season to play.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Betfred Super League.

Leigh Leopards 18 ... St Helens 12

Leigh continued their late season move up the league table with a win against a higher-placed side in the Friday game. Leigh had a 12-0 half time lead and held on in the second half. Leigh won the try count 3 to 2.

This result guarantees Leigh a place in the end of season play-offs. Leigh are now 5th in the league, with St Helens down to 6th place.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Betfred Super League.

Leigh Leopards 18 ... St Helens 12

Leigh continued their late season move up the league table with a win against a higher-placed side in the Friday game. Leigh had a 12-0 half time lead and held on in the second half. Leigh won the try count 3 to 2.

This result guarantees Leigh a place in the end of season play-offs. Leigh are now 5th in the league, with St Helens down to 6th place.

Also means that Salford, who rested their first team and instead put out a reserve side on Thursday night, and perhaps unsurprisingly got thumped 64-0 by Wigan, finish 4th and get to play at home in next week's opening play off fixture (vs Leigh).

 

[1D54]

Wigan game was moved for live tv at a week's notice and they should have known what Salford would do. These things are farcical and i doubt would be allowed to happen in the round ball version.

 

[Amos]

Wigan have beaten Hull K.R by 9 points to 2 in the grand final. They have now won all four trophies this season which is a remarkable achievement.Feels like we‘re going back in time to the mid eighties!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wigan have beaten Hull K.R by 9 points to 2 in the grand final. They have now won all four trophies this season which is a remarkable achievement.Feels like we‘re going back in time to the mid eighties!

Winning four trophies in twelve months (Super League Grand Final, League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge) doesn't happen all that often. Believe that only St. Helens, Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors have managed it before. Understand that 11 points was the lowest ever scoring Grand Final to date.

 

[Amos]

Winning four trophies in twelve months (Super League Grand Final, League Leaders' Shield, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge) doesn't happen all that often. Believe that only St. Helens, Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors have managed it before. Understand that 11 points was the lowest ever scoring Grand Final to date.

Personally I can’t really get too excited by the whole grand final concept.Teams who qualify for the playoffs seem to play not to lose rather than go out to win, and it makes for some rather cagey games.That said there were a couple of good games this year.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Personally I can’t really get too excited by the whole grand final concept.Teams who qualify for the playoffs seem to play not to lose rather than go out to win, and it makes for some rather cagey games.That said there were a couple of good games this year.

That sounds like damning with faint praise. As a neutral, thought that the Wigan vs Hull KR final at the weekend was particularly engaging. And the Warrington vs St. Helens eliminator play-off, which went to golden point extra time, was as good as any game I've seen this year.

 

[Cloud Strife]

And the Warrington vs St. Helens eliminator play-off, which went to golden point extra time, was as good as any game I've seen this year.

I'm not a fan of the golden point in this context. I would rather see that each team would start with 5 tackles each, with the ball turned over on the 5th tackle. If the first team to possess the ball scores, then the other team would have a chance to match what they've done. If the second team beats the first team with their possession, then the game is over, otherwise it goes to another set of five tackles. Let them start each possession with a kickoff from the try line, and if the ball goes out, the other team can start their tackles from the 20 as a punishment for the team kicking off.

You could expand the rules a bit by requiring the ball to bounce at least once in your own half when kicking off unless caught by the opposing team, meaning that it's almost certain for the 5 tackles to start from somewhere around the halfway line. It would place huge emphasis on the kicker's ability, and you could go further by making the points for a drop goal dependent on the tackle number. On your first tackle? Then 5 points for a drop goal, and so on.

For me, the Wire vs St Helens game was ruined by the golden point.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Pleased to see how Leigh have fared since returning to the top flight.

 

[JD2168]

With the grading system now implemented Wakefield Trinity are promoted back to Super League & gain tier A status.

London Broncos are relegated and are classed as tier B.

All teams In Super League have tier A status except Hull FC, Huddersfield Giants & Salford Red Devils which are grade B.

The championship clubs are all tier B of which Toulouse are the highest scorers.

Under the old system London Broncos would have been relegated anyway with Wakefield Trinity replacing them.

 

[JD2168]

The 2025 Magic Weekend has been announced as being at St. James Park In Newcastle on the first May bank holiday weekend.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

All teams In Super League have tier A status except Hull FC, Huddersfield Giants & Salford Red Devils which are grade B.

Why are Salford Red Devils classified as grade B?

 

[THC]

Wigan 0-1 Leigh. Not a football score, but the result of the opening match of Super League 2025. It finished 0-0 after 80 minutes - the first such outcome since 1993 - but then Gareth O'Brien's drop goal at the start of extra time gave Leigh the win and their first over Wigan in 42 years. Quite a match in front of a crowd of nearly 22,000.

THC