WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.919 This weekend was all about the cup. Wigan and Hu 2 00:00:04.040 --> 00:00:06.960 k Are were the teams that got up. They'll make 3 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:09.080 the trip down Wembley Way in the hope that it 4 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:11.880 will be their special day. But this week coming gets 5 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:13.720 back to the league and the week to week that 6 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:17.679 is causing fatigue. Welcome to the twenty first episode of 7 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.320 Super League three sixty year podcast primarily about the top 8 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:26.480 tier of British rugby league some lower league. John's Wing's 9 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:30.559 about journalism, my poetry. My name is Lee Addison. What 10 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:34.240 are you drinking there, John Davidson, I just spat coax 11 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.640 here and my friend, be sure you're going to get 12 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.560 to sleep when you finish this recording at eleven o'clock. 13 00:00:40.200 --> 00:00:43.600 It's been very very long weekend by ithing. I'll sleep 14 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:44.359 like a baby. 15 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:46.759 There you go. I'm a coach in Australia, John a 16 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:51.600 journalist in the UK. Please read descriptions of podcasts and 17 00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:55.399 listen to all ones to make this introduction shorter, because 18 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:58.240 we have the longest one in rugby league history. This 19 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:01.759 podcasts aired on the Ashes, Rugby League Podcast, Rugby League 20 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:05.519 Coach podcast platforms, as well as a Rugby League Coach 21 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:09.079 YouTube channel and thank you to Rugby League dot Com 22 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:13.799 that are also that are also running this for us. 23 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.719 We don't need to go through the Super League ladder 24 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.799 this week because it's not changed its last week Rugby 25 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:24.359 League tweet of the week was worry Or who said 26 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.840 Casford signing Damian Cook is like when your ugly Maypole's 27 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:33.480 and old busty milf. I had to laugh at that 28 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:37.879 one because that's also my Lee's laugh. Damian Cook signing 29 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:42.519 for cass John he'll be thirty five in a month's time. 30 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:45.680 Yeah. 31 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:51.120 Look, I think if you're Cartleford and you look at 32 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.680 how bad they've been for a few years, how bad 33 00:01:53.719 --> 00:01:57.519 have been this season, obviously you want to do Jill. 34 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.760 It's about how fit he is and how much he's 35 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:00.239 got left. 36 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.920 I think from the Castward signing, I can't think of 37 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:07.920 a bigger profile cast signing in recent memory, maybe since 38 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:10.199 Sack Hardacre and I was obviously different because he. 39 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:15.840 Kind of I think he was sort. 40 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:17.120 Of the hour and leads and then he went on 41 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:19.680 loan to Penrith for a bit and then yeah, I 42 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:22.280 ended up a cast. But yeah, I mean in terms 43 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:27.719 of profiles Australian hook car I'm still playing regular in 44 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.960 the NRL. He is obviously getting on, but I think 45 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:32.680 he could be you know, he could be a captain, 46 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:34.360 they could make him captain. I think he could be 47 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:38.840 a really good leader and professional for casts. So yeah, 48 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:40.199 it's a it's a big signing. 49 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.360 The person who did that tweet about the MILF calls 50 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.319 himself a rugby league expert and content creator on x 51 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.759 and then in another tweet he said about the CORP, 52 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:56.919 no one's asked and I mean, my team are probably 53 00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.000 going to win it, and I'd still rather a random 54 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:02.680 round of Super League. I can only imagine how the 55 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:04.840 rest of league fans feel. And he said, f the 56 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:08.240 Cup and f traditions. What I mean, let's let's just 57 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:11.120 have a random question there. I mean, you've just you've 58 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:14.159 just witnessed the Rugby League Challenge Cup this weekend. I've 59 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:17.639 been where does it sit in your head? Where does 60 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.080 it sit in people around you? In the head of 61 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:24.599 people around you, Where does it sit in the rugby 62 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:27.000 league rugby league pantheon? 63 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.400 Yeah, I made that's a really really good question. 64 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:33.680 I think growing up, I obviously, growing up in Australia, 65 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.919 wasn't really aware of the traditions and the history and 66 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:38.919 I know there's a few people who said they, you know, 67 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:41.159 they used to watch the finals back in Australia. 68 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:43.639 I could admit I never did. I wasn't really aware 69 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:43.840 of it. 70 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.599 It wasn't like the FA Cup Final, which you know 71 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:51.319 people in Australia watched for decades and decades. But I've 72 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:54.199 obviously learned a lot about it since been living in 73 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:57.599 the UK and I've been to I don't know how 74 00:03:57.599 --> 00:04:01.319 many finals now, probably twelve or thirty. And I think 75 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:05.120 it's a great competition here. There's fantastic history. I think 76 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:09.000 part of the issue now is it used to be 77 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:10.680 the big event. It used to be the Grand Final, 78 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:13.560 isn't it? And since what ninety nine we have another 79 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:19.600 Grand Final? Yeah, yet we have another Grand Final, so 80 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:23.480 that's a competitor. We also have Magic Weekend, which you 81 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:25.560 know has been a really big success, so big that 82 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:27.879 the NRL's adopted a run with it. 83 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:30.959 And we have a lot more other events. 84 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:33.959 We have, you know, Vegas, we have Dublin next year, 85 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:37.240 We've got Paris in a few weeks. Clubs go to 86 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:40.240 Catalans and that's and now to lose as well. So 87 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.000 that's a fun away trip, isn't it, particularly if you're 88 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:44.560 in the north of England and you want to see 89 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:48.399 some sunshine. So I think all those things have impacted it. 90 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:51.439 And I think the other thing is there's not really 91 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:54.920 a separate budget or a marketing campaign for the Cup. 92 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:56.279 It's just kind of lumped together. 93 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.279 And you know, the TV the audiences I think from 94 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:05.360 Yester Today will be really good on BBC Air but 95 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:07.279 I think they did a really good job broadcasting it. 96 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.800 But both the stadiums work full and at Warrington I 97 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:15.360 think was about thurning something thousand in a fifteen thousand 98 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.639 and sixteen, but the atmosphere was fantastic, The game was 99 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:21.480 you know, had had everything. It was a bit of controversy, 100 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.959 bit of drama, big hits. So I think they're still 101 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:27.720 value in the Cup. But I think it definitely needs 102 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.639 it needs work. We need to, you know, come up 103 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:34.879 with a strategy to enhance it and to I think 104 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:36.120 give it more love. 105 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:39.439 You could say, my plan for it would be to 106 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:41.839 be have it like a big Bash, so have it 107 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:45.199 breaking the season, have it as a big Bash, and 108 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:50.279 then obviously the teams that the amateur teams, et cetera. 109 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.920 They can still do the rounds when they do the rounds, 110 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:56.240 championship teams, et cetera. But then if you get to 111 00:05:56.279 --> 00:06:02.480 say the final sixteen, that's a big bash period, so 112 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:08.560 four weeks, and therefore you would need to give everybody 113 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:14.759 in those sixteen teams an incentive two financially to buy 114 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.480 a ticket for the final, so that that sells out 115 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:22.000 or gets close to Again that's another question visa v. Wembley. 116 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:25.000 But you do it as a big bash in the 117 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:29.920 middle of the year, and then that means of the 118 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.800 Super League clubs, you would imagine, depending on the draw, 119 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:38.480 that at least eight of them are still going to 120 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:40.319 be in the Cup. I mean, you could even see 121 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:42.639 it even more so that they all get there just 122 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:48.000 to help the player welfare. But then that also impacts 123 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:52.319 the smaller clubs getting the big gate fees. I understand 124 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:55.680 that too. So you have it as a big bash, 125 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:59.480 and then for everybody else that isn't there in that 126 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:02.839 four weeks, they've got two things they can do. You 127 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:07.480 can't tell me that super League clubs wouldn't really need 128 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.519 a rest for a few weeks right now to get 129 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:14.240 some injured bodies back on the field. But you could 130 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.759 also do a nine circuit and whatnot, and you can 131 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:24.720 also play plate competitions or bowl competitions. So I just 132 00:07:24.759 --> 00:07:28.120 think we need to reimagine it a little bit in 133 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:35.319 that midyear period. I do understand that clubs will be 134 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:38.839 fearful of the bottom line and there's three Super League 135 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.519 fixtures or four super League fixtures they'll miss out on. 136 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.399 Same with the Championship. Again, you maybe do something with 137 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:49.040 the figures and you put the onus on every club 138 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:53.279 to market this four week event which you then sell 139 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:57.720 to suit, to broadcasters and whatnot, because the reality is 140 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:03.680 right now. I mean, using Warrior's sentiments in his tweet, 141 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:10.399 he used the words as nobody is asked. That's quite 142 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.240 a good way of putting it, because some people don't 143 00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:14.879 care as much. 144 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:16.279 I wouldn't. 145 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:19.759 Yeah, I wouldn't say nobody like I think that's that's wrong. 146 00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:23.399 You know, after there's sixty eight thousand people at Wembley 147 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:27.040 for the final and you know half a million watch it. 148 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:28.879 I don't think that's with But I do agree with 149 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:32.840 you that it needs to be reimagined. It can be enhanced, 150 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:34.960 and I kind of like your idea. I don't know 151 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:38.960 whether the other side, whether as a preseason tournament you know, 152 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.440 because preseason, look is, the preseason games to me. 153 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:43.480 Are always a bit of a joke. 154 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:47.200 But do we make it as a preseason tournament and 155 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:49.480 then kind of you know, start the season off that 156 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:50.120 way in the bag? 157 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.679 I don't know. I think there's things that we can 158 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.039 look at. 159 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:56.279 Whether you have you know, all the quarterfinals in one 160 00:08:56.360 --> 00:08:58.399 venue venue see you have another menu you can I 161 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:01.240 think there's things we can do that we look at. 162 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:04.080 But I don't think something with a great history and 163 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:07.279 tradition and the heritage that a Challenge Cup has. And 164 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:11.080 again I think even you know, grand finals at Old Trafford, 165 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:13.720 I think we need a final in London every. 166 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:16.919 Year for the national point of view. I don't think 167 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.799 we give that up. Now. 168 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:20.759 You can have an argument about whether you stay at 169 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:23.039 Wembley because of the cost and the struggle to fill it, 170 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:26.320 or you go to somewhere like Tottenham or and the Emirates. 171 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.840 But I think we still need a show piece of 172 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.159 end in London every year. 173 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:33.679 Agreed, Johnny Tweet of the week. Understand, Nigel Wood and 174 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:36.200 Roger Jones will be flying out to Brisbane to Magic 175 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:40.559 Round to continue talks about the MRL potentially investing in 176 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.080 Super League. The RL Commission is meeting in Brisbane next week. 177 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:48.759 What can you tell us about that story, John, Yeah. 178 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:54.879 Pretty much exactly that that's my understanding that the Jones 179 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:57.799 and Wood will be going out of Brisbane next week. 180 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:02.600 Obviously it's Magic Round at some horp. I think there's 181 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:04.759 a women's start of Roger on the Thursday night and 182 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.519 the Magic Round starts Friday, just down the road from 183 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:10.000 u Lee and there will be. 184 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:13.759 Some meetings with the arl C and all the clubs, the. 185 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.080 NRL clubs Friday. I might see them. 186 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.200 Yeah, yeah, Well, I think there'll be some very high 187 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:22.000 powered meetings about lots of things. And I think this 188 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:25.440 is the chance now for the RFL, for super Leak 189 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.799 to go to the NR and say look, because it's 190 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:30.240 been you've seen all the kind of the stuff and 191 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:32.879 the press and a lot of the comments that different 192 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.200 people have made. There's a lot of crap and a 193 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:38.519 lot of kind of political speak. You know, we've got 194 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:41.159 all these offers and the NRL is only one of 195 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.639 you know, the many offers we've got. I mean, that's 196 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:48.240 that's nonsense. The reality is they need the NRL. Super 197 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:50.799 League needs the NRL, They need the money and they 198 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.759 need the expertise. 199 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:55.440 I sent them an offer. I just wanted my name 200 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:56.519 on the side of trucks. 201 00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.480 Are you misster STOWBA. 202 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.720 Also also I was going to send some green shield stamps. 203 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.200 You want not remember what they are? 204 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:11.320 No uns unless that's Clint Gren green shield stamps. But no, no, Look, 205 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.759 I think I think this is the chance to go 206 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:15.240 and say, Okay, yeah, we want you know, we want 207 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:17.480 to do business with you. We're serious, and I think 208 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.159 it's a showing intent. Now what happens next, you know, 209 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:25.399 remains to be seen. There is I think the NRL's 210 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.480 learned in the last few weeks, the last month or 211 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:31.960 whatever about how difficult and how many organizations. You know, 212 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:34.159 you've got Sport England, you've got the RFL Council, You've 213 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:37.240 got RL Commercial, you've got Super League, you've got the RFL. 214 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:40.120 You've got all these bodies that they've got to deal with. 215 00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:45.120 It's not straightforward, but you know there is. You know, 216 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.320 we can say about the game yesterday, the game today. 217 00:11:49.399 --> 00:11:51.879 You know there's going to be fifty sixty thousand people 218 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:55.639 at Everton for Magic, the people that are in Vegas. 219 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:59.039 You know, there's there's potential in England in rugby league. 220 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:02.840 You know what I mean, there's growth, there's there's foundations. 221 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.919 They just need to be nourished and they need to 222 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:05.240 be fed. 223 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:05.399 You know. 224 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:07.480 You look at some of the talent that was saying 225 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:14.039 this weekend like Jack Farremond, Noah Hodkinson. You know there's 226 00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:17.759 there's great young players coming through in in England. But 227 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.600 we just need to make you know, the game bigger 228 00:12:20.639 --> 00:12:23.519 and stronger. And I think to do that, you you 229 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:25.759 join forces with me and our own you make you know, 230 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.120 you unify rugby league. 231 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:31.559 Johnny's job is this week called Johnny's jabs because there's 232 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:37.440 four of them KR fans troll stadiums with bad white 233 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.440 people who don't understand journalism. J You're a winder go on. 234 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.480 You're the one asking me about it to have pop shots. No, 235 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:50.159 I mean, yeah, the whole cow one. Obviously, I had 236 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:55.720 a story Thursday about some allegations of bullying or a 237 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:59.600 toxic environment in their in their college academy team. Now 238 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:03.639 that or that story, So I'll give a quick rundown. 239 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:07.960 Obviously I can't explain everything who I spoke to, and 240 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.840 people seem to understand don't understand that you you know 241 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.279 you should reveal every source that you speak to, and 242 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:17.720 that's not how jealousm works. But there was a there 243 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:20.559 was a Facebook post where I think some parents made 244 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:21.720 some claims. 245 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.120 Now I didn't see that Facebook post. 246 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.720 I had someone contacted me and alert me to it, 247 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:29.480 and then I spoke to the club. I spoke to 248 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:32.519 the CEO, I spoke to a couple of other people 249 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:36.120 with knowledge of the situation, close to the situation. 250 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.240 And then I wrote a story. 251 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:40.480 Now, a lot of well quite a few whole fans, 252 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.519 and I'll say, I've got, you know, some friends who 253 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:44.679 were who are whole Kar fans, and number of them, 254 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:48.200 and I think, you know, the club's done tremendously well 255 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:52.360 as it today has done for several years. But there 256 00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:54.320 were some who just sort of think that I put 257 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:56.559 that story out because I'd seen something on Facebook and 258 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.960 just reproduced it, which is. 259 00:13:57.919 --> 00:13:58.440 Not the case. 260 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.799 And others saying that some sort of conspiracy to damage 261 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:03.519 the club, you know, a couple of days before a 262 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:07.519 big game, which is just absolutely pathetic and laughable. 263 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:14.000 Right, Yeah, does this is this the trolls as well 264 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:15.000 that you mentioned in your. 265 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:17.080 Jazz Yeah, yeah, I mean, I mean, I think I 266 00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:21.000 think it's all just just on that that story. I mean, 267 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.679 since I published that story, I've actually had several people 268 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:27.480 contact me with more information about that situation. 269 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:30.759 So so, in other words, that's smoke and they could 270 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.279 be a fire. 271 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:34.320 Yeah, yeah, Look, I think I don't know exactly what's 272 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:36.120 going on, but I think the club needs to investigate. 273 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.759 I think that's quite clear. 274 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:42.519 You know, there's there's a lot of people unhappy and 275 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:44.600 it does seem you know, there's a lot of staff 276 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:47.720 that have left the club, the academy set up in 277 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:51.480 the last six months, so something is there's definitely something 278 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:53.679 going on there that needs looking at. What that is exactly, 279 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:57.879 I don't know, but the idea that I understand people 280 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.399 are people are tribal, you know, they love the club 281 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:04.200 and you know, not everything is an attack on your club, 282 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.759 Like some things are just news. 283 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:06.559 And who do you. 284 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:09.240 Hate the most? John ok are Hole or Bradford Bulls. 285 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:13.080 Which team is it? Come on? Reveal Reveal it now 286 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.200 on Super League three. 287 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:22.279 Sixthly Toronto's and Helen Yeah, yeah, apparently I was at 288 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:26.080 obviously I was at Warrington yesterday watching the Wigans Helen's 289 00:15:26.120 --> 00:15:29.440 game and you know Wigan, Wigan was sensational that game, 290 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:31.879 and I was giving a lot of their players praise 291 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:35.120 on on Twitter and one Leads fan was saying, oh, 292 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:36.559 you must be a Wigan fan. I was like, no, 293 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.320 just just yeah, just giving my opinion. 294 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:45.320 You know I'm not. I'm not a Wigan Johnny. 295 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.519 I'm going to say the same thing to you. And 296 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:51.159 you've You've given me this advice too when it comes 297 00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.200 to trolls. 298 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:52.840 No. 299 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.919 Yeah, so it's always easier when it's not you. But 300 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.799 I say the same time, Dad, when he's looking at 301 00:15:57.799 --> 00:16:03.200 the comments on the Telegraph website because it's all non 302 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:06.519 Man city fans and right wing people. Oh yeah yeah, 303 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:09.159 so an he responds and gets all and say, Dad, 304 00:16:09.480 --> 00:16:10.360 if you lie down with. 305 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.200 Dogs, you get fleas. 306 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:15.360 So yes, and I'll give you another quote to Babe 307 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:19.200 Ruth said, the loudest booze come from the cheapest seats. 308 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.519 That's a good one. 309 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:28.399 That one from stadiums with bad Wi Fi. Poor Come on, John, 310 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:31.000 I mean, how about this for a first world problem? 311 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.840 Eh? 312 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:33.480 It is a first world problem, mate. 313 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.320 But if you want if you want coverage, if you 314 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:39.320 want content about your games and your players, then you've 315 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.759 got to give the basic of tools for people to 316 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:44.799 get that out there and in the digital world it's 317 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.639 fairly important. 318 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:50.559 Yeah, the Cup semi finals, let's talk about them. Saint 319 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:53.960 Helen's and Dug Egg Wigan thirty two. They scored twenty 320 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:57.639 two of them by halftime. Faraman got to Ecchersley, got 321 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:02.000 to Wardle and Keir and scored tries. Kieran also kicked 322 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:06.480 two goals. Smith kicked two goals. Great defensive effort by Wigan, 323 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:10.599 clinical and attack. That's the third Challenge Cup final in 324 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:14.119 five years from them. I was looking at Saint Helen's 325 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:19.279 in patches and as you know, I'm I'm one of 326 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:23.839 those that think Paul Rowling needs to learn how to 327 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:28.519 coach defense a bit better. But the big, the big 328 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:31.119 overriding thing I saw there was it looked like the 329 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:33.559 player's feet were in cement when they were defending, so 330 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:36.000 they couldn't move side to side very easily. So that's 331 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:38.119 what That's one thing I picked up when I briefly 332 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:40.519 looked at them. You said there was a few talking 333 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:41.759 points from the semi two. 334 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:47.039 Yeah, I mean, look, best best despirre Wigan all season. 335 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.200 I think I'd lost what four of the last six, 336 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:53.480 but they were they were on. They were pumped up. 337 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:58.039 Everything you know in attack and the defense that was sensational. 338 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:03.799 Everything the center on straatting them, they absorbed, counterpunched, and 339 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:06.759 Saint Alan's had so much good ball, so much real position, 340 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.680 they just could break them. And I think what was 341 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:13.160 most pleasing from the Wigan side was that those young 342 00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:15.559 players like Hode, Concern and Pharamond they really stood up, 343 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.000 They really delivered ecklessly. 344 00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:20.799 It was a fantastic performance. 345 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:24.200 But I think the the interesting bit for me, apart 346 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:28.400 from the there was obviously saying Incember smashed Warmsley and 347 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.279 then Warmsley later smashed Incember, and when you first saw it, 348 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:34.680 you saw Incember's head go back like a whiplash and 349 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:37.359 you thought all that looked nasty, as in, you know, 350 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:39.640 is that a hardh shot? But you watch it wasn't 351 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.640 actually a hard shot at all. It's just a tremendously 352 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:44.960 good shot. But there was some real venom, you know, 353 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:46.960 as you expect with the Derby game, there's some real 354 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:50.680 venom and passion in there, and that bowled off in 355 00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:54.079 the build up, sorry, in the in the post match, 356 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:58.720 not only with I think it was Brad O'Neill with 357 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:01.880 a with a sleigh John David Klemo, which he didn't 358 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:05.079 take calmly to as they shook hands. And then what 359 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:09.440 many Pete said about Helone's losing their way with their 360 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:10.119 loan player. 361 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:14.519 So yeah, I mean that's I didn't like. I didn't 362 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:14.839 like that. 363 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.160 I didn't like that. I mean, Matt, Matt Pete says 364 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.759 some great things, but this week he's got that one wrong. 365 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:24.519 I think when when you look when you lose, say nothing, 366 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:27.559 when you win, say even less. And on all he's 367 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:30.200 done there is given Saint Helen something to focus on 368 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.480 for the next time they play Wigan, and it was 369 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:37.039 it was a bit silly and also as well, Matty Pete, 370 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:40.640 your team hasn't won many games in the last six weeks. 371 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:45.640 You know, you you you You've had a win, just 372 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:47.559 just you just didn't need to say it. You just 373 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.359 didn't need to say it. 374 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.119 Well, I'm going to I'm going to carry there because 375 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:53.519 I know where you're coming from. But I'm going to 376 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:55.720 carry you from not only from the journalistic point of view, 377 00:19:55.720 --> 00:20:00.720 but from also I've been watching the Vince mcmart documentary 378 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:04.119 on Netflix, which I'm not a wrestling fan, but and 379 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:07.200 probably a despicable human vincemic marn but Jeezy could sell 380 00:20:07.240 --> 00:20:11.880 and promote a market, particularly storylines. And that's the thing, 381 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:15.240 like there's there was a motion in that win and 382 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:18.880 that performance. They were really hurt from East Wigan. It 383 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:22.200 really got under their skin and I think this is great, 384 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:24.480 Like this just fuels up. I can't wait till the 385 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.960 next time Wigans and Helen's play now because there'll be fireworks, 386 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:31.240 Like there's real dislike and he's had a shot at 387 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:34.400 Saint Helens, so you know the next time the play 388 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.759 is going to be box office. We need, I think 389 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:40.240 rugby league, particularly in England at times everyone's just a 390 00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:42.440 bit too humble and that doesn't want to say anything, 391 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:45.799 doesn't want to upset anyone. You know, we're all we're 392 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:49.319 all working class, you know, northern you know, don't get 393 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.559 too big of a head. Like we actually need a 394 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.960 bit of We need a bit of Vince McMahon, a 395 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:58.200 bit of Eddie Hearn, a bit of Dana White. You know, 396 00:20:58.240 --> 00:21:01.519 we need some color and some controver and some emotion 397 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.079 like it show us how much I feel it means 398 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.000 to you. And I think that that really that is 399 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:10.319 to respond, like because I think it was, apart from 400 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:12.480 them throwing away that game in the last twelve minutes, 401 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:18.279