Rugby League in 2025

Anybody heading down for the Cup Final?

I reckon HKR by 20. Willie Peters is getting every last drop out of his team. They are currently the best team in the league, and I think that last year's disappointment in the GF will have them ready for this one. I read that McIlorum might be available. If he is - pick him. He is a real leader.

Since Wigan kicked off about not winning a penalty count all season - they have won the last 3. What's all that about?
 
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Strange times at Catalans. Discipline, stamina, teamwork, all completely out to lunch. We've lost six on the bounce, shipped nearly 200 points against, and I just don't see where a result is going to come from right now :(
 
Situation normal in Rugby League this weekend. Bizarre refereeing decisions gifting Leigh the lead at Catalans, who are 50/50 at the moment for throwing away chances all by themselves at getting over the try line and getting absolutely screwed by spurious penalty calls.

At least it's another match where we're not getting nil'd, because Pangai Jr scored a try that the ref and the video wonk couldn't possibly find a way to chalk off.

***edit***

A moment there that basically sums up our year right now. 5th tackle complete, we're heading for the try line, pass goes wayward but we still have it. Now, we're in range for a drop. We have people in place who could make it, easily. Instead we put a kick through that doesn't actually go through, and Leigh gather it back up.

Just. Not. Smart.
 
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Bevan French is out for a few weeks. Looks like Wigan's mid-season slump will continue. HKR would need a similar slump to lose the LLS

Good chance to see what Jack Farrimond can do. I'd have been more excited with a Farrimond/French combination than Smith/Farrimond, but let's see what happens.
 
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George Williams back to the NRL?

You may remember George as the player who couldn't cope with being away from the Uk and joined Warrington instead of Wigan to win trophies.

Good luck there fellah
 
So. SL going to 14 teams then.

The 12 existing Betfred Super League clubs have today voted to extend the competition to 14 teams for the 2026 season, subject to conditions.

This would be done by combining the Club Grading System introduced to determine Super League membership as part of the sport’s long-term strategic partnership with IMG in 2022, with an independent panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine, who was recently elected as a member of the Rugby Football League Board, and the Strategic Review Sub-Committee.

The top 12 clubs under grading at the conclusion of the 2025 domestic season will therefore be joined by two clubs recommended by that panel – provided the panel judges there are two applications of sufficient merit against the set criteria.

Further details of the composition of the panel and the timing of the process will be confirmed in due course.

The Super League clubs have the right to determine the number of the clubs in the competition. The possibility of immediate expansion to 14 clubs was one of a number of options put to a meeting of the existing 12 clubs at AMT Headingley on Monday afternoon.
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I expect the 'subject to conditions' bit is how Nigel Wood is going to get Bradford in ;)
 
I despair at the antics of the Pie and Peas Mafia - I get the feeling that Beaumont is pulling the strings here. There are just so many reasons why this is a bad idea. I was a bit worried about the NRL taking over, but I'm now seeing it as the only realistic route for the game to progress. I can see a breakaway league forming tbh.

On the playing side, Wigan have been terrible for the past few weeks. There's a feeling that they will come good when it matters, but they can't just keep falling back onto that. I worry about the long-term contracts the club has been chucking about, and that they are taking some of the hunger/desperation that recent success has been built on. I'm not buying the overreliance on French, because he hasn't been playing consistently well from before his injury. The last real performance they put in was the first 50 minutes in Vegas.

The next game is HKR at home. It will take a real turnaround to come out on top in that one.
 
We ended our losing run against Castleford. Cas were woeful, couldn't find touch with a map and a compass.

Haven't watched the highlights yet to see what the hell happened with KR losing to Leeds.
 
Welp.

Salford Red Devils owners accused of using fraudulent bank documents

Super League team Salford Red Devils’ owners have been accused of trying to buy their £14m stadium using fraudulent bank documents.

The club, who share the Salford Community Stadium with Prem Rugby club Sale Sharks, have been embroiled in financial chaos for much of the season.

Isiosaia Kailahi and Curtiz Brown took charge of the club earlier this year but the outfit has been forced to fight off HMRC winding-up orders.

And reports in the Sun now suggest that the pair “tried to convince the city’s council they had the money by using contested documents”.
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Catalans went to Leeds last night and put in probably the best performance overall of our entire season to beat them 16-8. Here's hoping the rebuild for next season bears fruit because this year has sucked :cry:
 
Who would have thought that having your best player (Connor) missing from the spine of your team would impact on performance?

I thought Catalan were great btw. If Tomkins can keep that level of aggression and desperation in them, they will be fine next year.

Just watched the Storm v Bulldogs play-off game. Wow!
 
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And one last win to wrap up what was a fairly miserable season for us, beating Hull FC 22-26. Lots of hopeful notes for the future though :)

Meanwhile in less hopeful news...Salford are buggered. Bridging loan not secured, HMRC lurking in the background.
 
They shouldn't have let Salford into the competition in hindsight. I hope they can survive as a club, but they have some tough times ahead. I think they will go under tbh.

Congratulations to HKR on the LLS. They have been the best team all season. Wigan are looking in good nick going into the play-offs, but anything can happen from here on in.
 
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TonyM19 said:
I hope they call his bluff.
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Absolutely. Going to be an interesting day or two, seeing if he climbs down.

***edit***

LOL, just seen this :D





Meanwhile, Steve McNamara maintaining a firm grip on the obvious.

STEVE MCNAMARA believes some Super League clubs want Catalans Dragons to fail, as the former head coach reveals that the sale of Arthur Mourgue to Hull KR was done out of financial necessity earlier this year.

The timing of that transfer surprised many, and Mourgue went on to play a key role in Rovers’ ascent to the top of the Super League ladder.

The additional travel costs placed upon the Dragons in 2025 – with the French side having to pay for other teams’ travel to Perpignan as well as their own travel to the UK – forced the club’s hand in selling Mourgue.
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It's a ridiculous state of affairs, and I hope those teams will be happy when Guasch finally gives up the unequal struggle and pulls Catalans out of the competition. Then they can have their nice little league all cosy and snug up there along the M62 and never have to venture out too far from home...
 
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I have an awful feeling that they won't let Toulouse into a 14 team comp next year, whatever their IMG score. York are nailed on. Nige's Bulls are a certainty, as are London with their new backers (despite finishing right down the table). Be interesting to see how they spin this.

I think 'Then they can have their nice little league all cosy and snug up there along the M62 and never have to venture out too far from home...' is exactly what the Pie and Peas Mafia actually want.
 
Let's see how they can justify not letting Toulouse into SL. It's going to be tricky, but I have every faith in them being able to justify whatever weasel decision they come to. We didn't give Big Nige a 6-figure payoff and then rehire him for him not to be able to sort this (from his cruise ship)
 
Good to see that JWH will get to play in the GF. I think he's earned the right to go out in a big game. I thought he was unlucky with the initial ban (Benison's head was 6 inches from the floor), but to turn a Grade C round completely raises a few questions
 
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