Rugby League Thread

[Newbridge Wolf]

Thought it might be worth separating out the rugby codes. I love both codes of rugby but league is where my heart is. It's always been a niche sport but I was brought up on it so to me it's the greatest game ever.

Anyway I digress, I doubt it will interest too many but I've decided to start a thread on my observations of the week in RL.

Leeds 10 v Warrington 12 - good win for the wire, Leeds had a fantastic season last year but with the talisman Sinfield giving Union his last year they look like they're missing a quality kicker. Hardaker for all his attributes seems to lack a kickers attitude. The wire had a poor season last but seem to have found some shape.

Wigan 12 Cat 6 - job done, not a great advert for the game and I doubt the football team will be pleased with the state of the pitch. McIllorum won the game with his quick thinking to snatch two tries early on, he is a nobbly git who I'd hate to have had to face.


Saints 30 Hud Giants 16 - close first half before saints ran away with it

Hull FC 40 Salford 20 - will Salford every repay the hype? Good win for Hull

Looking forward to the drier months when the game turns into the greatest sport I've ever seen, bit too much rain this weekend

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I much much prefer Union. I always will. HOWEVER, you will be hard pushed anywhere in the world to find a better sporting spectacle than a State of Origin League game.
Go - Marooons.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

My hearts in Wigan, my dad's from there and my grandad moved there from Llanelli to play for them. Last year though Castleford produced some unbelievable rugby, Luke Gail especially.

An average game of League triumphs over Union in my opinion. The key aspects of the game are central, with the ball in play a ridiculous amount of time. Can't be done with 10 players rolling round on the floor with the ball no where to be seen

 

[Tredman]

An average game of League triumphs over Union in my opinion.

I definitely agree there, most league games I watch keep me entertained, a good few of union games can be awful boring affairs (often due to substandard refereeing).

That said a top class fast game of union beats league for me - union at its best, now, can be a really fast moving passing game and beautiful to watch.

 

[leedswolf]

Watched both televised games over here in Oz. As a Hunslet supporter I was pleased to see the Whinos get beat. The pitch and the weather didn't help to make for a great game between Wigan and Catalan, although I was impressed with the Dragons after the first 20 minutes.

I have been watching some of the NRL 9s.

 

[leedswolf]

I much much prefer Union. I always will. HOWEVER, you will be hard pushed anywhere in the world to find a better sporting spectacle than a State of Origin League game.
Go - Marooons.

Fuck off mango!

 

[ROVERT47]

St Helens having a mare!

 

[leedswolf]

Or Salford playing really well?

 

[ROVERT47]

Well yes, it could be the equivalent of the Leicester City scenario.

 

[leedswolf]

Well the Roosters certainly thrashed St Helens this morning/evening. Luke Walsh was dreadful.

 

[ROVERT47]

Wigan have had a good go but the Bronco's are starting to take control.

Tony Clubb trying to be too tough for his own good unfortunately.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Brisbane truly smashing Wigan up. NRL is just a different and better game.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

No excuse but it doesn't really help the game having so many different sets of rules.

NRL will always be the top league, all the big clubs have struggled in the start to the season, Wigan have won two but have looked poor if truth be told.

 

[ROVERT47]

Rugby League is the winter game in Australia, football is the winter game in this Country.

League at its best in this Country is confined to a small area, it's hardly surprising it struggles to compete with the NRL.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

NRL plays at the same time and competes with Aussie Rules in most of the parts of Australia where rugby league is played. There are plenty of Aussie Rules teams competing with rugby league in Melbourne, plus there are three AFL franchises in Queensland and at least one in Sydney.

 

[ROVERT47]

Yeah but Aussie rules is just nonsense created for the violent nature within the convicts as most sensible Aussies will agree.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

But it tends to sell out the MCG on plenty of occasions so is a popular sport that NRL competes with. I have to admit I can barely fathom what the fuck is going on in a game and it seems actually impossible to get sent off this side of a thermonuclear strike, but it has some popularity.

The one that really suffers against NRL and AFL is actually the Australian Union game. Certainly in terms of attendances. And yet their national side is still pretty shit hot (if not as dominant as the Kangaroos are in League)

I have to admit I love watching the NRL if I am over there. And State of Origin is a fantastic spectacle, and some of the best sport it is possible to watch. By comparision I find our Super League to be somewhat slower and less skillful and exciting. That doesn't mean it is a bad product - it certainly isn't - but NRL is just absolute light-years ahead, and I think it will be very difficult to close the gap. Super League teams used to always win these games as the NRL champions would be turning up out of season and it was viewed as not the most important game to win for the Australians. That mindset seems to have completely changed and I think they will stay dominant against Super League sides for a long time to come.

 

[leedswolf]

The slower Rhinos putting in a good stint against the 'vastly superior' Cowboys.

 

[leedswolf]

But it tends to sell out the MCG on plenty of occasions so is a popular sport that NRL competes with. I have to admit I can barely fathom what the fuck is going on in a game and it seems actually impossible to get sent off this side of a thermonuclear strike, but it has some popularity.

The one that really suffers against NRL and AFL is actually the Australian Union game. Certainly in terms of attendances. And yet their national side is still pretty shit hot (if not as dominant as the Kangaroos are in League)

I have to admit I love watching the NRL if I am over there. And State of Origin is a fantastic spectacle, and some of the best sport it is possible to watch. By comparision I find our Super League to be somewhat slower and less skillful and exciting. That doesn't mean it is a bad product - it certainly isn't - but NRL is just absolute light-years ahead, and I think it will be very difficult to close the gap. Super League teams used to always win these games as the NRL champions would be turning up out of season and it was viewed as not the most important game to win for the Australians. That mindset seems to have completely changed and I think they will stay dominant against Super League sides for a long time to come.

NRL isn't light years ahead any more though. Granted that in Britain we shall be playing catch up, there are no real differences in skills, fitness, tempo and so on. See the Burgesses, Tomkins Eden, Graham, Ellis et al for evidence. Super League has made big strides in the last few years and in the Autumn the English won a Test series against the current World number 1. A critical factor that hinders our game is a lack of strength in depth. We can put out one squad of players who can make an excellent fist of it. Australia on the other hand can put out 3 or even 4.

The Aussies would always be dismissive of the World Club matches when they lost and find any excuse to mask defeat. They are taking it seriously at the moment, JT missed the All Stars pre-season to concentrate on this one.

I am somewhat baffled by Wayne Bennett's selection as our national head coach though.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Bit unlucky Leeds, score didn't reflect the game and a silly red card just showed the frustration levels.

Sad to see a comprehensive 3-0 loss again, non of our teams even looked close this time round, although all 3 of them have had a poor start to the league.

Leeds have got a tough season with some big names leaving at the end of last so it's not such a suprise they've started slow.