Super League XVII

[jimbo]

Basically the draw for the challenge cup quarter finals was made on Tuesday morning, and Wigan V Saints came out of the hat. The games are next weekend, when Latics are at home on the Sunday. The BBC get first pick of matches for the Saturday afternoon slot, and naturally they want to show that one. Problem is Dave Whelan doesn't like rugby being played the day before football as it ruins the pitch for Roberto's boys. It was looking like the game was to be switched to a neutral venue, or to Langtree Park but Wigan didn't want that. After some negotiating they have today come to an agreement with Whelan to play on Saturday at the DW, however there is a private function on that day at the stadium, so the North Stand which is the away end will be closed. Saints fans will now have to sit in the Wigan ends if we want to go. It's all a complicated mess and highlights the hassle of ground sharing.

[Bruce Rioja]

I'd tell Whelan to get fecked and to either cancel the function, play it at LP, or concede the tie.. I really can't believe that he's allowed to dictate in this way, the horrible little c*nt.

[jimbo]

Yeah, funny as it is for Saints fans, it must be pretty depressing having the fat fecker dictate when you can play your games.

[Gail Platz]

Honestly right, I've been a Warriors fan all my life and when the football season has finished, the pitch at the DW is never in better condition. It's only when the Latics come on and carve it up is when the problem hits. Yes you could argue this is because two sports are playing on it but the pitch looks crap when the rugby season has finished and it's just football!

All that aside though, it's Dave Whelan's stadium and he can do whatever the hell he wants, whether you like it or not you have to accept it because it's his property.

I'd love nothing more than the Warriors to give a big 'feck you' to the DW and set up their own stadium, because they can afford it. Shame it won't happen though.

It's the RFL's fault for cocking up the fixtures. Wigan advised that they couldn't play that weekend because of Wigan Ath's last game, yet the BBC's money overrides all of that and they still put the match on, putting everyone else in a difficult position.

This wedding has pissed me off the most. A full fecking stand closed because two fat Wigan pricks are getting married in the north stand? I've just bought my tickets just so I'm not stuck in the corner near all the plastic scousers!

[jimbo]

It's the RFL's fault for cocking up the fixtures. Wigan advised that they couldn't play that weekend because of Wigan Ath's last game, yet the BBC's money overrides all of that and they still put the match on, putting everyone else in a difficult position.

But the RFL can't arrange the whole Challenge Cup calender around weekends when Wigan are available. There are other teams as well, which I think Wigan forget sometimes.

The BBC put a decent effort into the Challenge Cup, and like it or not it's the only rugby league that is broadcast live and free. They've stuck with the CC while Sky have referred to it openly as a 'distraction' in previous seasons. It's important that the BBC do get their say in things. Upsetting them and having them pull out would be to the great detriment to the game. Having a showcase like Saints V Wigan in a primetime slot on free television can only be good, however with Wigan fannying around all week it'll be half empty with people having less time to get tickets.

[Bruce Rioja]

All that aside though, it's Dave Whelan's stadium and he can do whatever the hell he wants, whether you like it or not you have to accept it because it's his property.

Sorrry, Chief, but I can't accept that. If he wants to stage top-level football and top level RL than it has to be available for one or the other at all times. This is absolutely typical of the obnoxious little nice person. Why on earth should any sporting body be dancing to his tune?

[jimbo]

Anyone watching the Wigan-HKR game tonight? Ref has gone off with a broken leg!

[Annoyed Grunt]

Anyone watching the Wigan-HKR game tonight? Ref has gone off with a broken leg!

Caught in a tackle?

Just seen it on SSN....ouch.

[Gail Platz]

It's the RFL's fault for cocking up the fixtures. Wigan advised that they couldn't play that weekend because of Wigan Ath's last game, yet the BBC's money overrides all of that and they still put the match on, putting everyone else in a difficult position.

But the RFL can't arrange the whole Challenge Cup calender around weekends when Wigan are available. There are other teams as well, which I think Wigan forget sometimes.

This is a snippet off the Wigan site:

"This is in spite of the fact that Wigan informed the RFL formally on 6 October 2011 in writing in Wigan's pre-season "dates-to-avoid" submission to the RFL 2012 Season Fixtures Planning Department that the DW would not be available on Saturday/Sunday 12/13 May because of Wigan Athletic's final Premiership home game on Sunday 13th May."

Hull and Huddersfield also do this procedure with the RFL, it's not only Wigan yet the RFL still schedule the fixtures for this weekend. It's clearly been done by the RFL in the hope that Wigan wouldn't end up at home on this weekend.

I agree with you that the BBC do a decent job on the challenge cup and I don't think I'm being biased when I say it's the RFL's fault and not Wigan's in this case.

[jimbo]

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WIGAN! Wigan did inform the RFL nice and early about when they couldn't play, but when scheduling a cup quarter final there are a whole load more things to consider than when is convenient for Wigan. Other weekends may not have suited Hull or Huddersfield for example. Also, the BBC will be throwing a shed load of resources at covering international football and the Olympics over the next couple of months, so maybe they requested that the Challenge cup early rounds be bunched together at the start of the season as they have been? I'm sure the 'dates to avoid' document is only and advisory thing anyway. It's up to the RFL to weigh everything up and this date probably suited all parties best. It will not have been done to deliberately shaft Wigan as the club seem to think.

[Prufrock]

Suppose football is where they make their money, and they had a pre existing contract for this wedding. You want them to cancel the wedding? Annoyed at them for having double booked is one thing, expecting them to cancel their contract so a certain bit of the ground can be opened is another. Don't Wigan home games always take place on a friday night? If so, play it on the friday and let the BBC show a game that isn't Wigan-Saints. Happen those people they are 'spreading the game to' will realise it involves more than two teams. Just a view.

[jimbo]

Saints were proper shite then.

[Gail Platz]

Saints were proper shite then.

Just a bit!

The highlight for me was Lomax taking an eternity to kick for the conversion then putting it a mile wide when he was almost bang in front! Then again, Charnley's was almost as bad!

[Gail Platz]

Kevin Brown to Widnes? What the eff is that all about?

I would have him back at Wigan, in fact I don't think Wigan should have ever let him go, top player and very surprising that he's signed for Widnes.

[jimbo]

Loads of rumours doing the rounds regarding potential Wigan half back signings for next yr with Leuleui definitely off and Finch more than likely. Jamie Soward is mentioned often and he's a top player who I saw at first hand in Aus a few times when I was over there. He'll be a real asset but it's money that'll be the issue there. Another mentioned was Matty Smith, someone with hindsight I'd wish Saints had kept hold of. He's just a proper, solid 7.

As an aside, how shit are Widnes!? Kevin Brown must be wondering what the hell he's got himself into

[jimbo]

This is revenge for the 75-0, for the times we blew Wigan away in previous magic weekends, and for the 2006 side. We can't live with Wigan at the moment. They well and truly have our number, know how to stop us, and know how to exploit our weaknesses. The sooner this game ends, the better.

[jimbo]

Second half was no better. We look completely inept in attack at the moment and horribly one dimensional. We have a gameplan that can beat most teams, but will get found out by the best, as has happened the last couple of weeks. Even against 11 yesterday we were trundling it up the middle when some expansive rugby could have got us back into the game. Nice to see Gareth Hock is still as unreliable as ever as well. Proper thug that chap, and a complete shit.

[Gail Platz]

Nice to see Gareth Hock is still as unreliable as ever as well. Proper thug that chap, and a complete shit.

Scraps happen all the time in RL, and it was a bit of provocation between both him and that cockney bellend McCarthy Scarsbrook. I can't stand him, he's a sly shithouse, at least Hock is up front and honest with it.

To be honest, I'll take the bans, he's by far the best forward in the competition and his link up play with Tomkins is one of the main reasons we're destroying teams at the moment.... along with Brett Finch finally playing his part.

Best thing is, when Pat Richards is back we're going to be unstoppable. I'm not even worried about Warrington anymore!

[jimbo]

Nice to see Gareth Hock is still as unreliable as ever as well. Proper thug that chap, and a complete shit.

Scraps happen all the time in RL, and it was a bit of provocation between both him and that cockney bellend McCarthy Scarsbrook. I can't stand him, he's a sly shithouse, at least Hock is up front and honest with it.

To be honest, I'll take the bans, he's by far the best forward in the competition and his link up play with Tomkins is one of the main reasons we're destroying teams at the moment.... along with Brett Finch finally playing his part.

Best thing is, when Pat Richards is back we're going to be unstoppable. I'm not even worried about Warrington anymore!

Don't think LMS did much really, hence the lack of disciplinary against him. Thought he was the only shining light for Saints at weekend - he stood up really well after that in scoring his try (tries) and making the one for Wellens. It was Hock who kicked everything off, then the brainless Magennis going off on his own little spell of violence. He'll be looking at 4 games I reckon, with 2 for Hock, and maybe 1 each for Tuson and Mossop. Thing with Hock is there was no need to get involved in anything. Absolutely cruising in the match (which had hardly any niggle in it up til then), half an hour to go, and some big games coming up and he goes and does that. Unreliable.

[jimbo]

Fair bans for the lot of them, not far off what I suspected. Hock, Mossop, Tuson and Hansen will be big misses against Leeds on Friday.