*** Official Rugby League SLXIX Thread ***

Never been so proud of the boys.
What an effort especially in defence !


From a neutrals point if view how was that a charge down?
 
Classy Cas roll on again. I really can't believe how well they are doing this season compared to last.

The charge down was a tricky one. I can understand both points of view but it was a tough call. One of many tough calls against Cas in the game. First instinct was that it was a knock on by Wigan and it should have been Castleford's ball.
 
The score flattered Wigan (like the game at Cas earlier in the season). Powell is doing something special there with basically the same players as last season. They were under the cosh for the first 20 minutes of the second half, but once Wigan missed the conversion, they never got near Cas' line again.

I hope they go on and win it. They will be genuine contenders in the play offs.
 
The die has been cast;

Widnes vs. Castleford
Warrington vs. Leeds

As a Widnes fan, I think we're boned against Castleford, they are absolutely on fire at the moment. Better than getting knocked out by the Wire-scum I suppose!
 
A kind draw for us, was expecting Leeds all day long.
But the game is 8/9 weeks away. We are on fire at the moment however we will have to go in to the game with the right mind set, I trust Powell to get this right. But widnes won't roll over, we will have to earn the win.
 
Blake Green off to Melbourne Storm. The word when they signed him was that it was to allow the younger players to get ready for the first team. Looks like Hampshire and Powell are his replacements then.

Rumours that Wigan are trying to step in and pinch Vea from London who we are told had agreed a deal with Saints but hasn't signed anything yet. Bit out of order if you ask me.

Depressing news of all the players leaving Wigan, but hearing that Warrington have signed Richard Agar to a 2 year coaching contract doesn't make me feel quite so bad :)
 
There is still a lot of speculation about Dobson returning to SL, but I can't see it happening next year, personally.


Bradford Bulls have their points deduction upheld. Fair enough in my view, they broke the rules and how many times can clubs be given dispensation on matters like this? You have to be consistent.

Interesting words again from Neil Hudgell, who had his appeal turned down for his comments about the disciplinary panel (no surprises there):

An interesting week again with the disciplinary machine and a good time to take stock, reflect on the season to date and to look at what changes might be considered to make the whole process increasingly "fit for purpose".

I lost my appeal on Monday, unsurprisingly, against a fine for speaking out against both the match review panel and disciplinary panel. I dislike the "catch all" operational rule D1.8 (c) which is basically an affront to being able to speak your mind.

Because I said the system was bust and not fit for purpose, I was deemed guilty of "conduct prejudicial to the game". This is despite the RFL producing zero evidence of prejudice be it concern from sponsors, commercial partners, other clubs or fans. The only complaints were from within and from sitting members. Is it right for the RFL to use that provision to protect the narrow self-interests of its own rather than in the genuine wider interests of the game? I think not.

I won't repeat what I said that brought me before the panel, but I won't withdraw my comments either. As a stakeholder in the game who has invested significant time and resource, I am entitled to hold a view and express it accordingly.

The current fiasco with the obstruction rule in part has its origins in the above approach. Rules overly protect match officials from scrutiny and accountability. Strictly speaking, the operational rules prevent any public comment (even positive!) on the standard of refereeing. Why is that right? Coaches and players are forced to face the music even after a car crash of a performance. Teams can miss out on a play-off spot, or cup progression, on the back of bad decisions. Why aren't officials (and their boss) more publicly accountable for their performance?

In the absence of that scrutiny, performances won’t consistently improve. Coaches therefore mistrust referees in exercising judgment, hence rules which take out that element of discretion. It ruins the spectacle and forces people away from the game.

On to Tuesday and our surprising success with Mick Weyman and turning over his two-match ban. I say surprising not because I felt the case was lacking In merit, but because of my recent (ish) experiences before the panel. Our experience this time I believe further validated those beliefs. I left the room feeling like we had been allowed to present our case properly, video footage was reviewed thoroughly (which helped vindicate the player) and the right questions were asked.

I have read a fair bit about the Jamie Peacock case and I don't think that's an inconsistent outcome. Jamie has played 500 games with no previous citations, an incredible record. There was it seems considerable provocation before the reaction. The rules allow the panel to step outside the guideline punishment in those circumstances. It can draw no comparison with the likes of say Justin Carney, who has several previous similar offences to his name, or indeed our own Justin Poore.

I think the Zak Hardaker case provides an illustration of inconsistency. Why didn't the match review panel refer him the same week as Mick Weyman with both being cases of dissent? The factual matrix was pretty simple even if the gravity of charge was more significant. The delay enabled him to play in a close cup tie, in which he scored a try. Had he been banned under normal processes he wouldn't have played. Might that have affected the outcome? Who knows.

We have had some glaring inconsistencies this year, as have other clubs. What can be more prejudicial to the interests of the game than a club who has a player or players suspended when another has players free to play despite being guilty of the same sort of action?

The easy part of all this is to complain and moan so here's my recommendations for change. Not all of these are novel, several are lifted from the NRL.

1/ Super League TV to screen all disciplinary hearings (would it help people understand why JP was given no suspension if they saw the panel at work?)

2/ Match review panel to be headed by a recently retired coach (to improve technical competence)

3/ Disciplinary panel to be able to take into account similar incidents (to ensure some consistency and uniformity)

4/ Legally qualified chairman of panel to remain but function limited to guidance on process and penalty with three side members being ex-professionals to determine guilt or otherwise. This would mean the recruitment of an additional side member.

5/ Membership of either panel be for a maximum of 3 years so that talent is regularly refreshed.

Clearly things need to change, and there is an obvious momentum building now for that to happen. Supporters are increasing becoming disillusioned with the game because of a perceived feeling of injustice and voting with their feet. We need to take steps to turn the tide and not put the telescope to our blind eye and think everything in the garden is rosy. Fingers crossed a new rule D1.8(c) charge doesn't hit my doormat next week!
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Well what a turbulent week to be a Rovers fan. Beating Saints in the terrific manner they did today helped ease the pain though. Rovers were excellent, with quite a few team changes and inexperienced lads like Caro, Green and Ollet all on the pitch. Nobody expected that result, not least the Saints players and fans. Rovers had a stormer today. Credit to the saints fans though, cheered to the end and massive credit to the big lad Masoe who got no end of stick from the Rovers fans with reference to his size! Was good banter as he gave it back and joked with the Rovers fans. Even clapped us at the end!

What is going on behind closed doors though? Sandercock forced from the club after contract talks clearly reached an impasse. Chris Chester in charge and what a first game! Ulugia sacked for gross misconduct, heard numerous stories and rumours about his behaviour. Not aure as to how much is true but good riddance imo. Jonathan Walker follows him in a seemingly unconnected incident. Not sure what has gone on there, but he wasn't as good as his brother Adam so I won't lose much sleep over that one. Hall leaving for Wakey and some players angry that Welham was dropped and sent to Gateshead when perhaps other players were at fault. Most fans would agree that he has been poor this season though.

Sounds like Burns will be staying with the potential for being a player coach which would be good news. Possible that we might bring Jacob Miller over from FC given that have signed Sneyd and Pryce. Could be a good move, especially if Travis takes him under his wing.
 
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The Widnes v Cas game was simply annoying. Our defence were dropping off all over the place and giving away easy tries. Cas deserved to win just to punish the players for not turning up to the game for the first 15 mins. However, I think between 15 mins and 55 mins we were the better team.

The turning point was when Ah Van's try was disallowed. I realise technically it was offside, but he was 0.5m off side when the ball was played. It then went through about 4 sets of hands before he intercepted. I really don't understand why the linesman took until the ref went to the screen before he said offside. Considering the complete lack of offside regulation throughout the game, for the ref to turn around and do that was a bit of a joke.

To prove the point of the poor level of referring in that game, he went to the screen for our last try of a beaten game around 5 mins before FT. The video ref seemed really confused as to what the ref questioned and gave the quickest try decision I've ever seen. Games like that really knock supporter's confidence in the standard of referring. There were definitely a large number of questionable decisions, none of which went Widnes' way. Did they have an impact on the result of the game? Difficult to say.
 
Ben Thaler (from Walefield) is the referee for the a Widnes v Wakefield game. The 4th time in 6 games. How does that work? Looking forward to watchin "The Thaler Show" on Thursday.
 
Don't know if anyone met her or have heard the name but Widnes' fan of pride Pat Price passed away on Friday at the age of 77. She had been a Widnes fan since a little girl and has followed the games throughout our ups and downs. Volunteered for the club and went to every home and away game, quite a feat for a lady in her 70's! The fans even had a song for her because she was so well known. When I was at the London away game a few weeks ago they asked for a song so she shushed them and got them started haha.

There's a petition for the renaming of the North Stand and I expect there will be some kind of event before the Warrington game. The club has asked fans to turn up to the Semi Final in black and white.

Pat Price said:
The best thing about Rugby League is that you make a lot of friends. Every game at home, the crowd will chant when I come to my seat "Pat Price is a legend!". But also at an away game, I am always lucky enough to see someone else I know from opposition clubs. I've made many friends during my time, and that's what is so special about Rugby League.
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Pat Price - 1937-2014 RIP
 
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