Superleague 2010 - The Banter Thread

WakeyTyke

Paul Cooke is now officially a Wildcat and may play against Salford on Sunday (though personally I would be surprised if he did).

Looking likely that the Brough deal wont go through before the weekend.

toomevara

WakeyTyke wrote: »

Paul Cooke is now officially a Wildcat and may play against Salford on Sunday (though personally I would be surprised if he did).

Just watching the Lunchtime news, Cooke's gone into the squad for Salford. Whether he plays or not.....

couerdelion

WakeyTyke wrote: »

Paul Cooke is now officially a Wildcat and may play against Salford on Sunday (though personally I would be surprised if he did).

Looking likely that the Brough deal wont go through before the weekend.

...and what's your opinion on the likelyhood of Cooke making a significant contribution to the Wildcats season?

I've a lot of time for Kear so I'll trust his judgement.

WakeyTyke

I honestly believe that John Kear will reignite the international level of performance that Paul Cooke showed he was capable off in his early Hull FC days.

JK can instill a self-belief and confidence in a player that takes them to the top of their game. There is a mutual trust and respect between JK and his players that ensures that they feel driven to perform at their best for him.

The proviso, of course, is that the player is prepared to commit themselves fully to the task of being a professional rugby player.

toomevara

WakeyTyke wrote: »

I honestly believe that John Kear will reignite the international level of performance that Paul Cooke showed he was capable off in his early Hull FC days.

If anyone can its got to be Kear. Cooke's a 'complex' character to say the least, but Kear seems to have the measure of him and brings the best out in him. This may be/probably is Cooke's SL swansong, and I'm sure one final good season at the top isn't beyond him

Stev_o

I always thought Cooke looks like a bouncer from a pub or something and definitely not a League player let alone a stand off!

WakeyTyke

When Cooke is on the top of his game there are few players who have his complete range of skills.

He is a wonderful distributor of the ball, either through pass or kick, plus he can also be very difficult to tackle with size and speed.

toomevara

couerdelion wrote: »

I think the team is just being found out. IMO they have not got the best players in any position in Super League (Barring perhaps Peacock) and rely on being a good all round team with no weak spots. Unfortunately these are surfacing this season and the injuries aren't helping either with Watkins confirmed as being out for a while today.

The scales have fallen from my eyes CDL, as abject a performance from a Leeds team in Headingley as I've seen in 5 years. Rudderless, clueless, error strewn. Some senior players look decidedly disinterested....Danny Maguire was anonymous, Senior was skinned on the wing twice, the only highlights were a superb display from Rob Burrow and an excellent showing from Webb at FB. Got to get Sinfield and Buderus back out there to get some direction and impetus. More unforced handling errors that I've ever seen a Rhinos out fit make in 80 mins. I know it was nothing like a full strength team but no excuse for such a woeful display.

I take nothing away from KR they played intelligent, percentage rugby league and were great value for the win, but I cant help thinking that we'd have beaten that team well last season. Looks like a struggle ahead further compounded by some bizarrely upbeat comments from Bluey in the aftermath....

couerdelion

toomevara wrote: »

The scales have fallen from my eyes CDL, as abject a performance from a Leeds team in Headingley as I've seen in 5 years. Rudderless, clueless, error strewn. Some senior players look decidedly disinterested....Danny Maguire was anonymous, Senior was skinned on the wing twice, the only highlights were a superb display from Rob Burrow and an excellent showing from Webb at FB. Got to get Sinfield and Buderus back out there to get some direction and impetus. More unforced handling errors that I've ever seen a Rhinos out fit make in 80 mins. I know it was nothing like a full strength team but no excuse for such a woeful display.

I take nothing away from KR they played intelligent, percentage rugby league and were great value for the win, but I cant help thinking that we'd have beaten that team well last season. Looks like a struggle ahead further compounded by some bizarrely upbeat comments from Bluey in the aftermath....

I know that other fans call us 'Whino's' as we never seem to be happy with how things are going, and on the back of three GF wins it does look like complaining for the sake of it but something just isn't right.

Perhaps Sinfield is that missing piece and without him we are at best average. Senior should be either playing in the pack or be sent back to Sheffield. His distinct lack of pace was noticable last season and it was expected he would be moving to second row so it's a little unbelievable he's still being picked.

I'm still mystified by some of Mclennans comments and we don't seem to have the talent coming through as before (perhaps you can let me know how the academy is looking?).

WakeyTyke

The current plight of Leeds is both unexpected and surprising.

Ok so the injury list is bad at the moment, but Leeds have been through these situations before, as have all clubs, and I don't think, in Leeds case, it can explain the slump in form.

What I would be concerned about if I was a Leeds fan is that this is the first time that McLennan has been under this type of pressure since he took over. He inherited a great, winning team and kept them winning, but, like all teams change has to, needs to, happen and perhaps the writing was on the wall at the end of last season but he didn't act on it. The squad needed fresh blood but didn't get it.

How Bluey now responds to this mini crisis will be the real test of just how good a coach he is, otherwise Leeds could well replicate what happened to both Hull and Bradford.

toomevara

couerdelion wrote: »

I'm still mystified by some of Mclennans comments and we don't seem to have the talent coming through as before (perhaps you can let me know how the academy is looking?).

Really don't know enough about the academy side to make an informed comment, but on Friday night we had Chris Clarkson, a teenage second row forward on one wing and Michael Coady a centre from Bristol who's never player SL level rugby on the other, and both were hopelessly out classed. The latest news is that we've approached Wasps to try and get Lee Smith back for a while and Hetherington is looking to recruit another player on a short term deal 'before Easter', who this is no one seems to know. The good news is that Hall, Buderus and Bailey will be back for the Wigan game, but I reckon it could be an ugly evening for us....

Edit: Some good news at last: peacock's injury's not as bad as first thought, only out for a few weeks.

couerdelion

I'll probably sky+ the Wigan v Leeds match as I won't have a chance to watch it. The injuries are definitely a bit of a worry and I agree with Wakey in regards to Mclennans inaction and the first time he's been under pressure.

I aren't sure we'll go the same route as Hull and Bradford (and even Wigan before that) as we do have the players and money to get us through this difficult period. Saying that, I still remember the first season of super league and how we nearly got relegated. I pray to God that it never gets that bad again.

WakeyTyke

Danny Brough is now officially a Giant.

Whilst I wish Broughy well I have a strong suspicion that things may not work out all hunky dory down at the Galpharm:pac:

Broughy is a feisty character that ruffles feathers and Nathan Brown may well not have the same calming influence and respect that Kear had.

How Robinson, Brown, Lunt and Drew react to his arrival will be very interesting:p

toomevara

WakeyTyke wrote: »

How Robinson, Brown, Lunt and Drew react to his arrival will be very interesting:p

Now there's an interesting point, you'd have to say Huddersfield are purring as is, but if it works I think it may take Huddersfield up to the top level of SL...

Know its early,early days but who'd bet against a Wigan/Giants GF?

Dozen Wicked Words

Harlequins RL facebook page has a competition to win the 2009-2010 Gillette Rugby League Yearbook.

You just have to reply to one of the messages (after you become a fan of Quins RL!!!!).

Possibly too long winded to bother but thought I would mention it.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/quinsrl?ref=nf

couerdelion

Interesting Article on Leeds:

RugbyLeagueCoachingManuals.com wrote:

Having lost four of their opening seven games in Super League XV, should Leeds be worried about their chances of getting to the Grand Final again. Some fans are saying that Leeds always start slowly, and come good at the 'business end' of the season, but for the last two seasons Leeds have made it to the Grand Final - and won it - having only lost six games all year. If Leeds are going to emulate that achievement this year, they can only lose another two games in their remaining 20.
To contest the final, the average amount of games lost (in the regular season) by eventual Grand Finalists (winners and runners-up) is a miserly 5.3, although that has risen to 6.0 since 2005.
The most games a team has ever lost in a season, and still won the Grand Final is nine - a feat managed only by Bradford, when they went on to beat Leeds in 2005. Other than that, Leeds themselves won the competition in 2007, after losing eight regular season games. Even to match that revised target this season, would mean Leeds winning - or at least not losing - 16 out of the last 20 matches.
19 wins out of 27 weekly rounds could be a good enough record to get them to the final, but it is rarely the record of champions. In fact, only on those two occasions mentioned has a team won the competition after losing more than seven games prior to the play-offs.

Incidentally, the least number of games lost by a team going on to win the Grand Final, is two. That feat was achieved by Wigan, in winning the first ever Grand Final 1998, and again by Leeds in 2004. Wigan however, did it in a season of only 23 games, whereas Leeds played 28 weekly rounds.

Dozen Wicked Words

Bit of good news for Leeds, Lee Smith has quit the dark side to return to Leeds, probably to start back up with the Rhinos.

BBC Link

Rugby league convert Lee Smith has been released from his contract at Wasps after just two senior appearances for the Guinness Premiership club.

The 22-year-old centre asked to leave for personal reasons and intends to return to his hometown of Leeds.

Smith switched codes in December but was approached by his former club Leeds Rhinos last week about a loan return.

"I thank Wasps for the opportunity to play rugby union. Unfortunately things haven't worked out for me," he said.

"I have made some good friends at Wasps and I would like to wish the players and coaching staff all the best for the remainder of the season."

Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks added: "We support Lee's desire to return home to his family and we thank him for his efforts - making two senior appearances against Newcastle and Scarlets, as well as two run outs with the A League.

"Everyone at Wasps wishes him the very best in the next stage of his career."

Smith crossed codes after playing for England in the Four Nations tournament and following a Grand Final win with Rhinos over St Helens in October.

Super League strugglers Leeds are keen to bring their former star back following a spate of injuries at Headingley that has blighted their campaign so far.

"We will look to speak to him and see what his plans are," said a Rhinos spokesman.


Harlequins are getting their main man back so maybe they might turn the corner this week. Rob Purdham is back for the game against the Crusaders.

Link

toomevara

dooferoaks wrote: »

Bit of good news for Leeds, Lee Smith has quit the dark side to return to Leeds, probably to start back up with the Rhinos.

Thank the Gods of RL, great news, apparently A few other RL clubs including Warrington were V. interested.

Harlequins are getting their main man back so maybe they might turn the corner this week. Rob Purdham is back for the game against the Crusaders.

.
Massive for Quins. Hope to God this is the start of the fightback. Can't be a single lover of the game who's not rooting for Quins at the moment.

Dozen Wicked Words

There is apparently growing discontent amongst the ever dwindling home crowd at Harlequins, few signs at the last game with "Sack Mac".

Don't know whether a change is going to do us any favours but 2 wins out of the last 21 games played or 4 points in 9 months is not a record any coach can be proud of.

Can't really see where the next win is coming from, I think David Hughes might have to start thinking of a change soon.

McDermott certainly isn't thinking about resigning anyway. Linky

toomevara

Bugger, bugger, bugger....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/8665180.stm

Dozen Wicked Words

Kevin Penny has signed for further months loan, he has been a success since moving down and popular with the fans. The only downer is he cant play in the Challenge Cup and can be recalled at any time by his parent club.

Link

toomevara

Walters' abandoning ship at the dragons after this season;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/catalan/8707559.stm

amacachi

toomevara wrote: »

Bugger, bugger, bugger....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/leeds/8665180.stm

Can't believe I missed that, I noticed him out the last coupla weeks but didn't really think about it. Should be back for the play-offs though, sure that's the only time yous need him. :pac:

Would love to head over to Knowsley Road for a match this season, getting tickets a good bit in advance seems to be pretty hard alas.

toomevara

Latest strong rumour is that Kear is heading to Catalans next season....

toomevara

The Tigers have been fined 40 grand by the RFL for homophobic chanting directed at Gareth Thomas when he made the switch to RL.

WakeyTyke

toomevara wrote: »

The Tigers have been fined 40 grand by the RFL for homophobic chanting directed at Gareth Thomas when he made the switch to RL.

That will really hurt Cas. It's the last thing they need when they are trying to find funds for their proposed stadium.

toomevara

Eastwood abandoning ship at Leeds, heading home to Oz. Never settled here, personally I blame last bleedin' winter, gave alot of these Aussie Jessies the willies TBH, never really lived up to the hype....apart from the odd good showing.

toomevara

Looks like Gareth Thomas is about to become a dual code international;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8875028.stm