Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:45 pm  

Armavinit wrote:

Pretty sure last season’s under 23’s had no backing from the RFL. It was all down to a handful of Super League and a couple of lower league teams that actually set it up and ran it. The likes of Wigan and Leeds refused to take part. Don’t see why the RFL should mourn its loss, when they chose not to invest in its conception.

Wigan played in the reserves league last season!!

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:48 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

We were playing the lebanon though and they held us to a try apiece in that 2nd half.

And heightington isn't English

It's like watching Wigan. O'Loughlin goes off and the attack falls to pieces.
Two games, O'Loughlin on five tries scored, O'Loughlin off one try scored.

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 4:57 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Wigan played in the reserves league last season!!

Pity both games against us were postponed then.

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 5:11 pm  

ccs wrote:

Pity both games against us were postponed then.

IIRC Wigan called one off and Hull the other. Rumours are Hull will not field a reserve team next season. Some of the t.v. money should be withheld for teams not fielding academy and reserve sides. That may stop teams fielding six or seven overseas players.

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:08 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

IIRC Wigan called one off and Hull the other. Rumours are Hull will not field a reserve team next season. Some of the t.v. money should be withheld for teams not fielding academy and reserve sides. That may stop teams fielding six or seven overseas players.

Would that make a difference, Wigan have both andcare successful with their academy, but it doesn't stop them having 6/7 overseas and signing reserve NRL players like the recent one.

Agree the RFL should create a proper reserve league, the fist year it worked ok, last year it was pointless for us and we had any games, so can hardly blame the club for not wasting money and running a reserve team next season

[Mild Rover]

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:16 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

We were playing the lebanon though and they held us to a try apiece in that 2nd half.

And heightington isn't English

Tbf they turned over France, and England won today reasonably comfortably. I won't pretend that England were anything more than okay more most of the game though.

I quickly checked GB/England fixtures vs Australia in the 21st century on Wikipedia - won 3 (most recently in 2006), lost 22, was my count. Realistically, Australia are a fair way ahead. England and New Zealand have an outside chance of beating them on any given day, but equally they can be caught out themselves by the supposed minnows - England's defeat to Italy before the last World Cup and the Kiwi's draw with Scotland in the 4 nations, for example.

There's nobody left at home or in the stands who would make a very meaningful difference, IMO. The issue isn't one of selection, so much as expectation relative to available quality.

I wasn't paying close attention, but if Heightington did anything of note it must have been when I was in the kitchen making my breakfast.

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:35 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

Tbf they turned over France, and England won today reasonably comfortably. I won't pretend that England were anything more than okay more most of the game though.

I quickly checked GB/England fixtures vs Australia in the 21st century on Wikipedia - won 3 (most recently in 2006), lost 22, was my count. Realistically, Australia are a fair way ahead. England and New Zealand have an outside chance of beating them on any given day, but equally they can be caught out themselves by the supposed minnows - England's defeat to Italy before the last World Cup and the Kiwi's draw with Scotland in the 4 nations, for example.

There's nobody left at home or in the stands who would make a very meaningful difference, IMO. The issue isn't one of selection, so much as expectation relative to available quality.

I wasn't paying close attention, but if Heightington did anything of note it must have been when I was in the kitchen making my breakfast.

Completely agree. We can argue about Bateman in the centres, or whether Watts might shade Hill, or Shaul v Ratchford, but it's in the roundings IMO. Across any 17 we can put together we haven't the collective physicality, skill and/or resilience to match the best.

[Mild Rover]

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:37 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

the RFL should create a proper reserve league

A few genuine questions.

Why? What is the current unmet need, what would be its objectives, and who would benefit?

How? Given the lack of enthusiasm from member clubs. With no new money, this is an additional cost to clubs without particularly significant benefits. Increasing the chance of benefits would mean increasing the costs - certainly relative to the recently abandoned model. It's a tough sell to owners and the RFL doesn't have the power to impose it.

What, ideally, would it look like? Full-time or part-time players or a mix? How many fixtures over the season? Punishments for not fulfilling fixtures?

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:40 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Would that make a difference, Wigan have both andcare successful with their academy, but it doesn't stop them having 6/7 overseas and signing reserve NRL players like the recent one.

Agree the RFL should create a proper reserve league, the fist year it worked ok, last year it was pointless for us and we had any games, so can hardly blame the club for not wasting money and running a reserve team next season

I don't want Wigan or any other team to have six or seven overseas players, I'd like it reduced to three (max) and force teams to invest in their youth and academy systems and also run a reserve team. If they are not willing, cut their funding.
I'm not suggesting it be done in one foul swoop as contracts must be adhered to, but it could be phased in over around a three year period.

Re: World Cup : Sat Nov 04, 2017 6:50 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

Tbf they turned over France, and England won today reasonably comfortably. I won't pretend that England were anything more than okay more most of the game though.

I quickly checked GB/England fixtures vs Australia in the 21st century on Wikipedia - won 3 (most recently in 2006), lost 22, was my count. Realistically, Australia are a fair way ahead. England and New Zealand have an outside chance of beating them on any given day, but equally they can be caught out themselves by the supposed minnows - England's defeat to Italy before the last World Cup and the Kiwi's draw with Scotland in the 4 nations, for example.

There's nobody left at home or in the stands who would make a very meaningful difference, IMO. The issue isn't one of selection, so much as expectation relative to available quality.

I wasn't paying close attention, but if Heightington did anything of note it must have been when I was in the kitchen making my breakfast.

Then the issue is one of selection where this player is concerned