I used to chat to Mike Stephenson the former HKR (238 appearances) and FC (21 apps) larker, now and again in the gym..He old me about playing for FC towards the back end of his career. He played at full back in a John Player cup game at Headingley vs Widnes. Five minutes in and big Jim Mills breaks out of a tackle and comes flying towards him...Mike isn't the biggest guy you'll see. He told me he nearly $hit himself at the sight. But I bet you he still put in a tackle and tried to bring him down. Brave bloke. Mills was a giant 6 feet five and 25 stone of muscle and beef....
I don't understand it meself Wessie, i'm like you, you put the hard season in to finish top as Champions. It's what came over from Aussie as per usual. If the Aussies started to halt the game so that they all could fart, Superleague would follow, they're just sheep to the Aussies.
You've got to be a hard man to play RL, if you're not then you've no business being on the pitch at all. I was buggered as far as Rugby and Football was concerned, I didn't have the size for rugby and no skill for football. The only thing I had when playing rugby at school was big bollocks because i'd never back down and got a fair few lumps for it.
You’re not wrong, although the Aussie’s just stole it straight from the US! It’s like getting promoted via the play-offs, there’s no better feeling than winning that one off game. But if you don’t win and a team that finished 10 points behind does, it leaves a bitter taste. Personally I like the play-offs and grand final, but then again I get to watch as a neutral because Hull FC seem intent on boycotting them for the foreseeable future!
Your lot need to get their act together so we can have the old Derby's back. Hate it when one team is dominant, like it when either one of us can win it, even though we're on top for now.
Didn't the top NRL Aussie clubs go to the US to study the training methods employed by the top American football franchises? ie the clubs...Diet, eating, training, coaching, relaxation etc..etc..The full monty. This gave them the edge over the Brits and its stuck in the same gear for the next 40 years.. The British obsession with old dinosaur coaches, big fat forwards and ten pints before the game, did them no good, whatsoever.
I was taking a good look around the Gold Coast Titans HQ/Training Facility a few years back. Amazing place, everything top drawer - and they had an altitude room!
I went to a couple of games when I was in Sydney (1999)....Bulldogs vs Raiders, and another game, I can't recall the teams in the 2nd game....Decent crowds of about 20k at both.. Players made our top larkers at the time look like a bunch of beer swilling Sunday leaguers.
This thread's been going four years now. Have they just been getting smashed week after week this whole time? Seems like it. And apparently they play a really boring style too, all backwards and sideways.
Yup indeed, I spent a day with the squad at a charity event, all highly tuned athletes, no tubby lards to be seen.
There was a big difference in the 1980s and 1990s. It's much closer now, but with 30-40,000 kids playing in school programs in Australia, who feed the clubs, and none(?) in the UK, British teams will always be at a disadvantage, where the onus is on club training. Sadly similar happening in union, with many normal schools not having the facilities, staff or time to do it anymore.
Then, after 5 times passing it backwards hoofing it forward where most times they give away possession.
Well Rerver Salford this weekend is a tricky one. Get over the line with that one and the shield is as good as in the trophy cabinet. You must have been a slip of a young lad the last time Rervers won some silverware.
