Super League XVII

[jimbo]

Kicks off tonight, and I'm excited. I also need a corner where I can talk to myself while everyone else talks about the 6 nations.

Plenty to be excited about this year - 2 new stadiums including Saints' fantastic Langtree Park, Widnes back in the top flight, another rebranding of the London franchise, and Catalans looking like they may upset a few people and break into the top 4. Also the contraversial Monday Night RL comes to Sky to fill the MNF slot from May which could bring in a new audience.

Promises to be a good season, and I can't wait!

[Gail Platz]

Surprised no-one has responded to this, no RL fans on the site?

I'm not sure I'd count a stadium as fantastic if the roof blows off and it's brand new!

What's this about Monday night RL? Sod that!

[Salford Trotter]

Salford are off to their usual dismal start P2 L2 but Widnes up next so there's hope still

[jimbo]

Basically Sky are looking for something to fill the slot left by Monday night football from May, so have moved the televised Saturday game to Monday. Not a bad idea in terms of getting new people interested, but won't help attendances and away followings at the games.

Thought Salford looked really good first half on Friday ST. Caused Saints no end of problems and could have scored more. Plenty to be encouraged by there.

As for Saints, solid start, if a little unspectacular. Liking the look of the squad this year. Decent depth across it, though still think we could be lacking an outside back.

[Salford Trotter]

Thought Salford looked really good first half on Friday ST. Caused Saints no end of problems and could have scored more. Plenty to be encouraged by there.

I thought so too but you can't miss your first choice scrum half and expect to get away with it for 80 mins. As my focus has and will be on the bottom half of the table I expect Widnes to struggle this season and my outside bet to do really well will be the Catalan Dragons.

[Gail Platz]

What's everyone's thoughts on the play offs?

I still think they're complete bollocks.... well, I like the concept, I just don't like the idea that the winner becomes champions at the end.

It really doesn't feel right that Leeds are champions when they finished 5th last season, they were awful all the way up until the challenge cup final and had a good run of about 10 games and that's it. For me, that isn't a championship winning side, they're going to get nailed by Manly this weekend.

I feel Warrington are the deserved champions, as much as it pains me to say it. They were the best side of last season and while I get pleasure seeing them trophyless (apart from the hub cap) for the season, it is very harsh on them.

[jimbo]

You can argue it both ways. Wigan and Warrington were the most consistent teams over the season, and no one can deny that. The reason Leeds and Saints weren't challenging them was due to pretty horrific runs of injuries, and both sides improved when players came back in August. With full strength sides from then they managed to beat Wigan and Warrington and got to the grand final on the back of their freshness. On the other hand I've seen Saints dominate for a whole season and then come up short (2005 and 2007 spring to mind particularly). Teams know how the system works so can't complain really.

For me the biggest joke is the Magic weekend. Doesn't seem fair to me that teams get to play one other 3 times, and the difficulties of those respective games. This year Saints have Wigan, whereas Wire have a pretty guaranteed 2 point banker against Widnes. Hardly fair in the scheme of things?

[Gail Platz]

For me the biggest joke is the Magic weekend. Doesn't seem fair to me that teams get to play one other 3 times, and the difficulties of those respective games. This year Saints have Wigan, whereas Wire have a pretty guaranteed 2 point banker against Widnes. Hardly fair in the scheme of things?

Agree all over. They exploit the shit out of Wigan and St Helens and field them against each other every season in order to get the £££ in.

The whole system is unfair but how they see the logic of putting Wire against Widnes as fair (say in comparison to Huddersfield who Wire played last season) I'll never know.

[Gail Platz]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

[Salford Trotter]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Not quite on the same scale but a BIG win for Salford over Hull and their maiden victory at the City of Salford Stadium. It was scary to read this week that in order to make the move to a new stadium financially viable Salford need a minimum of 8,000 fans attending each home game, only 5,000 at tonight's game sadly.

[Bruce Rioja]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Not quite on the same scale but a BIG win for Salford over Hull and their maiden victory at the City of Salford Stadium. It was scary to read this week that in order to make the move to a new stadium financially viable Salford need a minimum of 8,000 fans attending each home game, only 5,000 at tonight's game sadly.

Are Swinton playing there as well, ST? There was some talk of ground sharing once, but then there was also talk of Swinton getting their own place down at Agecroft.

[Worthy4England]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Not quite on the same scale but a BIG win for Salford over Hull and their maiden victory at the City of Salford Stadium. It was scary to read this week that in order to make the move to a new stadium financially viable Salford need a minimum of 8,000 fans attending each home game, only 5,000 at tonight's game sadly.

Are Swinton playing there as well, ST? There was some talk of ground sharing once, but then there was also talk of Swinton getting their own place down at Agecroft.

No, Swinton ain't.

There's still talk of moving to Agecroft - the plan was to start work on the site Jan this year. Currently they're at Leigh Sports Village.

Edit: This site seems to be suggesting 20th April this year for the first game at Agecroft.

http://geomium.com/event/swinton-lions- ... m-1419487/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I stopped going when they moved out of Swinton, used to go home and away, might make a return when they move back.

[Worthy4England]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Good match, that last minute try was on the cards, but the way they came back second half was excellent (to the neutral), spect Jimbo might see it a bit differently.

[Bruce Rioja]

I stopped going when they moved out of Swinton, used to go home and away, might make a return when they move back.

Give us a shout if you fancy an afternoon out, Chief. I'm up for that. Went to see them play once at Sedgley Park - my soul died.

[Bruce Rioja]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Good match, that last minute try was on the cards, but the way they came back second half was excellent (to the neutral), spect Jimbo might see it a bit differently.

Didn't see it myself but my mate reckons that it was the most exciting end to a game of RL that he's ever seen. Is that plausible?

[Worthy4England]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

Good match, that last minute try was on the cards, but the way they came back second half was excellent (to the neutral), spect Jimbo might see it a bit differently.

Didn't see it myself but my mate reckons that it was the most exciting end to a game of RL that he's ever seen. Is that plausible?

Yes, it was very, very good. I'm struggling to think of better, Catalan kept the ball alive very well for the last try which was on the hooter. I didn't go out to watch the game particularly - just happened to be on so only had one eye on the box for the first half, but you just couldn't help yourself but watch the second half. (mind you, you're talking to someone who found the second half of England v Wales enthralling yesterday)

[Worthy4England]

I stopped going when they moved out of Swinton, used to go home and away, might make a return when they move back.

Give us a shout if you fancy an afternoon out, Chief. I'm up for that. Went to see them play once at Sedgley Park - my soul died.

Sounds like a plan work permitting - darn Sarf a lot at the mo and quite often make the trip on a Sunday.

I went to the first game at Gigg Lane and never attended since.

[Gail Platz]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

It was scary to read this week that in order to make the move to a new stadium financially viable Salford need a minimum of 8,000 fans attending each home game, only 5,000 at tonight's game sadly.

That's worrying. I think the potential fan base is there, if they can figure out a way of tapping into the Manchester market I think they should be ok. As a fan of rugby league I'm always happy to see clubs developing and it's great they've got a new stadium, I just hope they can improve the side a bit as I think the potential is there to do a Warrington.

[Salford Trotter]

WOW what a game tonight Stains v Catalans! They get a taste of their own medicine.

It was scary to read this week that in order to make the move to a new stadium financially viable Salford need a minimum of 8,000 fans attending each home game, only 5,000 at tonight's game sadly.

That's worrying. I think the potential fan base is there, if they can figure out a way of tapping into the Manchester market I think they should be ok. As a fan of rugby league I'm always happy to see clubs developing and it's great they've got a new stadium, I just hope they can improve the side a bit as I think the potential is there to do a Warrington.

Man U reserves and potentially Sale Sharks moving to the share the stadium can only help reduce the overheads but for me the fact that its only just off the M60 and is so much more visible is the key factor to ongoing sucess. The south Manchester market starts to open up and those other curious bystanders before might just, over time, start to re-appraise RL again. Well, here's hoping anyway but @ £22 for a standard adult ticket the team will have to show a bit more consistency for the masses to return

[Bruce Rioja]

Have they opened a new 'Willows Variety Club' type o' thang at the new place, ST? That must've been a serious source of income at The Willows.