Official Super League 2006 Thread

[Rassie]

But more important is what do Wigan supporters think about this start? I`ve seen they went to the first game vs Catalans in large numbers, over 2500 supporters...also very impressive crowds for home games! What`s their position now that Wigan is second place at the bottom table .....and St Helen first with 100% winning percentage.. that must hurt ...

 

[wigan_rlfc]

We need some players who actually put effort into their game rather than taking their place for granted.

 

[Rassie]

Are you a season ticket holder for Wigan like St_Helen is for 15 years for his club?

Wigan: "We need some players who actually put effort into their game rather than taking their place for granted" - can`t your presidency work somehow to motivate them ! I.E: Lose another couple of games and 10-20% off grom your salaries!

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Originally posted by wigan_rlfc+Mar 21 2006, 03:30 PM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-St Helens RLFC

@Mar 20 2006, 01:02 PM
Oh it's payback time alright. I cried by eyes out at Wembley in 1989 when I was 4 and they beat us 29-0. Now it's our turn. They won't get relegated unfortunately, but they are providing some great entertainment!

If Wigan get relegated it would have detremental effects on St.Helens. [/b]

I'd happily lose 12,000 fans a season to see your shower in the NFP.

 

[Rassie]

Ouch

Anyway, as you`ve put it in a previous post and let me quote you: "They won't get relegated unfortunately, but they are providing some great entertainment! "

I`m surprised because i`ve seen in that article (about bookmakers odds) that Wigan was credited with 9 / 1 only St Helen 7/4, Leeds and Bradford 2/1 were better positioned.

Yet, it`s still a way long to go until the play offs!

St Helen, have you ever been to Wigan stadium to support your team? It`s a question for the Wigan supporter too!

 

[St Helens RLFC]

I haven't missed a game at Wigan since I was about 9... long time ago.

 

[Rassie]

You, St Helen supporters, go there as an organized group and have your own seats or you go as simple supporters and mix in the crowd ?

 

[wigan_rlfc]

Originally posted by St Helens RLFC+Mar 22 2006, 01:27 PM-->

Originally posted by wigan_rlfc@Mar 21 2006, 03:30 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-St Helens RLFC

@Mar 20 2006, 01:02 PM
Oh it's payback time alright. I cried by eyes out at Wembley in 1989 when I was 4 and they beat us 29-0. Now it's our turn. They won't get relegated unfortunately, but they are providing some great entertainment!

If Wigan get relegated it would have detremental effects on St.Helens.

I'd happily lose 12,000 fans a season to see your shower in the NFP. [/b]

Aren't you bothered about the Derbies?

 

[Rassie]

Well Wigan, aren`t you ashamed losing 75-0 in Challenge Cup last year ?

 

[sanzar]

I gotta ask Rassie: Why do you watch the ESL, but not the NRL or State of Origin? I don't get it... especially State of Origin, which is real hard as nails footy, something I would have thought appealed to SA boys.

 

[Rassie]

Hey, i`m watchin NRL too. (that`s an indicator of my boredom, if i`m starting to watch even league, that shows how bored i am )For instance, it`s bloody amazing how a team positioned last manage to win the comp next season (Penriths if i`m not mistaken). Or, from the play off teams only one manage to reach the play off stages next season and so on.

Why am i speaking about pommie League much than yours? Due to thier passion. Imagine their supporters don`t give a **** about England (i mean England team )! They follow their team everywhere no matter what and so on.

I`ve seen a video clip about a game St Helen vs Bradford. 11 - 10 for Bradford, Bradford possesion n ear St Helen posts, 79 minute. Somehow they, St Helen, steal and after very skilfull combinations they scored the winning try in the dieing moments of the game.

Anyway, i`m following league because i`m bored, don`t get upset you guys but for me League is a girlie game or an incomplete rugby!

 

[sanzar]

Originally posted by Rassie@Mar 23 2006, 06:07 PM


Anyway, i`m following league because i`m bored, don`t get upset you guys but for me League is a girlie game or an incomplete rugby!

Yes... obviously. I mean the fact that the hit you several times harder than in union obviosuly doesn't take away from that , remember, it is both LEGAL and ENCOURAGED to shoulder charge in League... But in union the ****** private school boy administrators won't allow it!

 

[Rassie]

LOL, if we start with the `Great Debate`, let me just tell you that from the beginning (since 1895) , Union was for the upper class while League...even now you`ll see much more coloureds playing League (not so many rules, much easier to understand, not so much brain involvement) than Union. Huh, come to think about it League can prove to be smth we must encourage in SA so coloureds should focus on League rather than Union

 

[sanzar]

Originally posted by Rassie@Mar 23 2006, 06:16 PM
LOL, if we start with the `Great Debate`, let me just tell you that from the beginning (since 1895) , Union was for the upper class while League...even now you`ll see much more coloureds playing League (not so many rules, much easier to understand, not so much brain involvement) than Union.

I know that Rassie... which is actually why I didn't used to like Union as a kid. Where I grew up it was considered "a gay private school boys game for the kids who weren't tough enough for league" . League is definately less multifaceted than union though... League is all about clever attack and brutal defence, with not many in detweens, and while it limits the way games are played in comparison with union, it has given rise to an incredible array of attacking maneuvors, which is obvious in the way that Rugby League halves have a significantly more developed attacking kicking game. Union though is more about territory control and how well you can create a platform from the set peices... only then does back play start to work. But I actually like the differences in the 2 games. I watch league for the big hits, clever attacking plays and the speed, and I watch union for the set peice skill, tactical kicking, broken play and non stop ruck play...

Just a note though, league actually has MORE rules than union... it's just that union seems more complex because several area's of the game are still very vague.

 

[Rassie]

For what i`ve seen i appreciate League for:

- supporters: much more passionate supporters in League than in Union (it goes only for England and Australia because you`ll never see more passionate rugby supporters than in Oranje & Transvaal)
- keeping almost untouched the rugby rules, those who were in the past (heck, even the numbers - players position are the same as it was a century ago)
- dynamic of the game
- much more simple, easy to undestand

Anyway, from my point of view Union is `the rugby game` (League is smth `unfinished` , perhaps this is not the best word to describe it but i mean League is `incomplete`).

You told me and i quote: "Where I grew up it was considered "a gay private school boys game for the kids who weren't tough enough for league" - i`m not arguieng that but i`m asking you: Isn`t also smth that has to do with the fact that Union was crap in Australia it your boyhood time? Why am i asking that? Simple, i`ve seen how much Union recuperate/retrieve in the past years, becoming at least as much popular as League (considering whole Australia but even in QLD and NSW Union could claim it`s share) !

 

[sanzar]

Originally posted by Rassie@Mar 23 2006, 06:41 PM

You told me and i quote: "Where I grew up it was considered "a gay private school boys game for the kids who weren't tough enough for league" - i`m not arguieng that but i`m asking you: Isn`t also smth that has to do with the fact that Union was crap in Australia it your boyhood time? Why am i asking that? Simple, i`ve seen how much Union recuperate/retrieve in the past years, becoming at least as much popular as League (considering whole Australia but even in QLD and NSW Union could claim it`s share) !

well not really... I grew up in the 80's, which was the great researgance of Australian rugby, but by-and-large it's amature status meant that it didn't get a great deal of respect from anyone, because the perseption was that league players were professionals and were "harder men". Still though, while union has certainly gained ground since professionalism, Rugby League is still MUCH bigger here... and that is reflected in the deapth we have in league. In union, if the wallabies lose a few key players, we're in deep ****, but in league there are probably 3 or 4 teams that could represent Australia and play with a similar level of skill.

 

[Rassie]

Yeah, i know League is much bigger. I`m asking myself how come there is no Union championship in Australia. Come to think about it, besides S14 and of course, international games, Union does not exist but even so League officials are afraid and i`m saying that from what i`ve read. A very good example is Perth, the fourth S14 franchise. I`ve said it before, the fourth franchise should have been in Melbourne.

Also League was struggling a couple of seasons ago. Officials were worried about the decreasing interest - less supporters, less tv coverage which means in a long term less money, less financial power. Only last season they calm somehow when the statistics showed an increase - the average no of supporters grew from 13.000 to 15,000 (it was an article i`ve read a cuople of months ago in this forum ) but now it` s another worry - footie and Australia part of 2006 Germany World Cup. Very intersting.

 

[sanzar]

Originally posted by Rassie@Mar 23 2006, 07:00 PM
Yeah, i know League is much bigger. I`m asking myself how come there is no Union championship in Australia. Come to think about it, besides S14 and of course, international games, Union does not exist but even so League officials are afraid and i`m saying that from what i`ve read. A very good example is Perth, the fourth S14 franchise. I`ve said it before, the fourth franchise should have been in Melbourne.

That's a BIG call... Victorian's are very paraochial with their AFL, and if they think that a sport could dent it then they'll basically boycott it! There's something funny in the water down there.

Also League was struggling a couple of seasons ago. Officials were worried about the decreasing interest - less supporters, less tv coverage which means in a long term less money, less financial power. Only last season they calm somehow when the statistics showed an increase - the average no of supporters grew from 13.000 to 15,000 (it was an article i`ve read a cuople of months ago in this forum ) but now it` s another worry - footie and Australia part of 2006 Germany World Cup. Very intersting.[/b]

Meh, wogball's (soccer) popularity will nose dive again when the socceroo's get their arse handed to them in the WC... then the greesed hair brigade will go back to their fruit shops and it will all be forgotten .

 

[Rassie]

LOL, but what if socceroo`s get thru the pool....

Anyway, you know what i`ve seen / remarked. In Union it`s the federation that controls the clubs, they have the power even if now, the clubs try to reclaim their importance. In League it`s the clubs that counts.

Of course, it`s Tri Nation also in League (NZ , Aus and Poms) but it`s a second competition. All that counts is NRL, State of Origin (Aus), Super League and Challenge Cup (England).

In Union - international games makes the big bucks!

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Originally posted by Rassie@Mar 22 2006, 02:08 PM
You, St Helen supporters, go there as an organized group and have your own seats or you go as simple supporters and mix in the crowd ?

When we go to Wigan we're put in our own stand but we do sometimes have to mix and there is never any trouble.

Wigan Rob - I wouldn't care if we never played Wigan again, I would just love to see Wigan Rugby implode.