WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:05.519 Cass smashed Saints. What's going on? Huddersfield lost again? Are 2 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.960 they well and truly gone? Okay? Are beat Wiggans? Youth side? 3 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:13.359 Cartwright has turned the Catalans tied? All left see you 4 00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.600 in a world of pain to lose lost to waki 5 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:19.879 a close one again. Welcome to the twenty third episode 6 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.320 of Super League three sixty, a podcast primarily designed to 7 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:26.960 allow me to show off that I can do some 8 00:00:27.120 --> 00:00:28.960 rhymes at the start of every week. 9 00:00:29.480 --> 00:00:33.159 My name is Lee Addison and my name is John Davison. 10 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:35.359 I think the question is when is your next poetry 11 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:36.280 book coming out? 12 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:39.880 That's right, that's right, the poet Lee Addison, the new 13 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:45.600 poet laureate. I'm a coach in Australia. Johnna journo in 14 00:00:45.640 --> 00:00:48.320 the UK. He's got an Aussie accent. I've got an 15 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:54.039 English accent. Working out for yourselves. Take the table after 16 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:56.200 twelve rounds. There's a new team on top of the 17 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.520 Super League every week, isn't they, John Lee, Rhino's the 18 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.159 top now They've played twelve and there on eighteen points. 19 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:07.120 Warrington in second on eighteen and Saint Helen's in third 20 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:10.519 on eighteen. Yet Warrington have played one less game, so 21 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:14.319 to me, it just seems like those three are rotating 22 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:16.599 who's at top at the top of the table each week. 23 00:01:17.879 --> 00:01:20.599 Yeah, I mean I think there's the change apart from 24 00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:23.159 that would be you know, whole Care and Lea kind 25 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:24.480 of on the march, aren't they. And I think I 26 00:01:24.519 --> 00:01:28.079 think Wakefield are a bit too. But I think, as 27 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:30.359 we said last week, the top six apart from Lee, 28 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.640 I don't think the top six is going to change, 29 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:35.760 and it'll obviously change who's sitting where and you know 30 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:39.760 the League Leaders Shield or the minor premiership in your 31 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:45.480 coincident surroundings. Yeah, I think that that could change. But yeah, 32 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:48.120 it'll be interesting to see what the impact Wigan, I 33 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:50.560 don't want to say throwing the game against and that's 34 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:53.959 probably a bit hard fielding a team which meant they 35 00:01:54.159 --> 00:02:01.439 had no chance of winning, perhaps. 36 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:02.159 Even Leeds big win against Field this weekend has meant 37 00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:06.400 their points differential has jumped significantly higher than Warrington's, but 38 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:09.560 like I said, Warrington played one less game. Saint Helen's 39 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:12.560 points differential is only thirty eight, so they're well behind 40 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:16.680 the other two. Hull KR are in fourth on sixteen. 41 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:22.039 Wakefield Trinity in Wakefield Trinity are in fifth on sixteen. 42 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.120 They're doing really well. Wigan in sixth. 43 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:29.159 It's six playoff spots, that's right, yes, so Wigan are 44 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.319 in the playoff spots on fourteen. Lee Leopards are on 45 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:37.479 twelve in seventh. Catalans are also on twelve, but they're 46 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:42.879 in eighth. Cast Tigers on ten in ninth place, Hull 47 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.199 left c on eight in tenth place. Bradford Bulls are 48 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.280 with them on eight points but they're in eleventh. York 49 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.759 Night and Toulouse are on six points in twelfth and 50 00:02:53.840 --> 00:03:02.039 thirteenth respectively. And propping everybody up is Huddersfield Giants. Lee's 51 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:07.479 laugh this week? Have you noticed John on YouTube and 52 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:12.360 on some websites as well, how the word emotional is 53 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:17.439 overused so you'll click on you know, there'll be something 54 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:18.840 that they want you to click on. It will say 55 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:27.800 John Davidson's emotional in capital letters, tiraid about whatever it 56 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:30.120 may be. So I want everybody over the next seven 57 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:34.919 days to look out for the clickbait the word emotional. 58 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:37.120 So the reason this has come to my mind is 59 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:42.000 woken up this morning. Obviously I knew that city the 60 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:44.719 city played today, so I checked it was Pep Guardiola's 61 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:47.280 last game, and the first thing I saw on youtubeer 62 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:52.639 was Pep Guardiola's emotional in capital letters speech, and then 63 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:56.360 it was Most Salar's emotional speech as he's leaving Liverpool 64 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:59.400 and so on and so forth. So yeah, I think 65 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:02.240 I've seen it three times already. This morning Rugby League 66 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:10.520 tweet of the week Adam West, fresh from his Batman costume, said, 67 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.439 people in rugby league complain about a lack of exposure 68 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.759 in the media, then serve up this ship show in 69 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:19.879 what will be one of the marquee fixtures of the season. 70 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:23.680 We don't help ourselves as a sports sometimes. Johnny's tweet 71 00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:27.000 of the week first grade against the undred nineteen side 72 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:29.759 Johnny's jab please. 73 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:33.680 Yeah, we're obviously talking about the whole how we can 74 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:37.040 go on Thursday night. I'm glad we didn't do an 75 00:04:37.079 --> 00:04:40.360 after the hoodo because that was it was a farce. 76 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:44.600 It was embarrassing. Now there are a few elements to it. 77 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:50.800 I think it's fair for every coach to pick, you know, 78 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:54.199 what team I want to pick, and the fact that 79 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:59.360 Wembley is what five six days away now, you know, 80 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:01.600 I think I think Wigan were burnt two years ago 81 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.920 when they lost Kieran and Tyler dupri to disciplinary points 82 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.399 miss Wembley and who. 83 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.800 Knows didn't heal k I get some injuries as well 84 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:13.000 from yeah. 85 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.079 They've got some knocks. I don't know how serious they 86 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.199 are as we record, but yeah, but I think they were. 87 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:20.040 There's also who knows what players are playing with injury 88 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:23.319 because we know pretty much nearly every game they'll be 89 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:25.079 players who are playing with injuries. They're rarely ever one 90 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:27.160 hundred percent fit, are they? Lee? You know that as 91 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:33.279 a coach. But the thing is, when this this ficture 92 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.600 was scheduled, it could have been scheduled at round one, 93 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.120 round two, round three, round twenty seven. Why schedule it 94 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:43.279 a week before the Challenge Cup? Fine? And when it 95 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:47.639 was I was told this the other day when it 96 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.720 was scheduled, both clubs, Whole Can Wiggan flagged with the 97 00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.079 raphon So so why you know this isn't great scheduling but 98 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:58.959 they never changed it. So yeah, it's just it's an 99 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:04.319 own goal. Got It's absolutely stupid. And the thing is 100 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:06.199 a lot of people are hating on Wigant and I 101 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.920 get that because Salford it wasn't the same situation, but 102 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.279 last year they fielded an under eight inside as a 103 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:17.360 bit of a two fingers to the RFL and they 104 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:19.199 got flogged by Sen Helens. I think it was only 105 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:22.759 two nil and they got a massive fine. So you 106 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:25.120 know why, why is there not a similaration? 107 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:30.920 Why kangaroo kangaroo court? So yeah, so there's there's two 108 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:33.439 elements to this. Number One, the Rugby Football League don't 109 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.439 have enough checks and balances to make sure that teams 110 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.759 put in in theory they're their best players. Now why 111 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:45.279 why is this important? It's important because people have season tickets. 112 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:53.639 It's important because there's broadcasters, it's important sponsors, it's important 113 00:06:53.680 --> 00:07:01.199 because of the betting markets, and it's it's not rocket 114 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.319 science to ask every squad to name their top twenty 115 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:09.759 and they're the starred players, and you've got to play 116 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:13.319 as many of these starred players as possible in every fixture. 117 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:15.480 That's one way of going about it, right. So if 118 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:17.879 you don't have that check and balance in place, and 119 00:07:17.959 --> 00:07:21.079 that means coaches can pick whatever side they want and 120 00:07:21.160 --> 00:07:25.279 therefore I assume those checks and balances aren't in place. 121 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:30.040 That's why Salford we were hit with a fine last 122 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:35.279 year and therefore everyone can legitimately ask, well, why we're 123 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.000 going to hit with a fine Well, that makes it 124 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.680 sound to me like they're just making it up as 125 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.959 they go along. So Wigan are perfectly entitled, as far 126 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:44.680 as I know, to pick the side that they want. 127 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:51.600 The absolute blame completely goes on the doorstep of the 128 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:54.720 Rugby Football League here. So Wigan and hu k Are 129 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.399 have competed in the last two Super League Grand finals. 130 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:02.879 Juk Are were in the last Challenge Cup final, Wigan 131 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:05.439 were in the Challenge Cup final the final before and 132 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:06.959 guess who's playing each other. 133 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.800 In the next one now? 134 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:18.000 And even that, Yeah, even somebody with a surface knowledge 135 00:08:18.040 --> 00:08:20.399 of rugby league who's been watching the game for maybe 136 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.879 the last year and a bit would be able to 137 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.639 put that together and they'd look at the ficture list, 138 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:30.879 and especially when the two clubs are going, hang on 139 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:34.919 a minute, this is a problem. It's just ridiculous. It's 140 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:39.240 absolutely ridiculous and and shame on, shame on the RFL. 141 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.200 I'm sorry, I'm sorry. 142 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.679 Another issue, another issue lead is that we're going to 143 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:51.039 go to Paris a week after Wembley, so there's going 144 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.120 to be an effected and I think they've already sold 145 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.759 five thousand odd tickets for Paris whatever, So there's going 146 00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:58.759 to be an impact on the Wembley attendance as well 147 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:02.279 because you particularly well off, you can't afford down to 148 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:04.120 go down to London for a game or for a 149 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:06.600 weekend and then the next week fly over to Paris. 150 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:08.399 Like I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago. 151 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:11.120 It's not a cheap place to go. How did the 152 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:13.519 Paris one come about? Was that organized by the club? 153 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.559 In the RFL? That the Paris was organized by Wigan 154 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:20.039 and Catlands because it celebrates twenty years since cal and 155 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:23.240 Dragons were founded and also thirty years since the first 156 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.559 game in Super League, which was Paris v Sheffield, But 157 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.679 it was determined before the Wembley date was set. Now 158 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:35.600 the thing is, look, if we're can win, if Mani 159 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:38.039 Peter can go, well, I was justified resting on those players. 160 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.759 If they don't win, he's probably going to cop a 161 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:44.120 bit more. But it's just as you said, we didn't 162 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.039 have to have this game a week before Wembley. We 163 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:49.960 could have had Wigan v Bradford, York v Whole KR, 164 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.120 Saint Helen's v Toulouse. Do you know what I mean, 165 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:57.360 any you know understandable likely fixtures of teams that may 166 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:59.679 have been playing at Wembley and it's not that hard 167 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:01.879 to work. Yeah, who was likely to be at Wembleyne 168 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:02.879 who wasn't? Well? 169 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:05.759 I mean the chances of Bradford or York being there 170 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:12.519 are very remote. So yeah, Dick, interesting question, he said, 171 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:14.480 what do you andly think about throwing a bunch of 172 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:17.240 kids in against grown men? Wigan lads did well against 173 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:21.639 KR but will that damage them? I'm genuinely interesting how 174 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:24.360 that damages them or makes them better? So I suppose 175 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.000 that leans towards me as a as a from a 176 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:33.759 coaching perspective. The look, Gareth, it won't do them any 177 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.039 harm because it was gang mentality. Nobody was on their own. 178 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:40.279 It wasn't one kid, one kid just being thrown in 179 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:43.679 on their own to be exposed in the middle or 180 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.600 on a wing or something like that. So it was 181 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:51.840 gang mentality. They're all being put in together. Also, it 182 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.200 depends very much on the individual, so it's a case 183 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:58.559 by case basis. Some players take to first grade rugby 184 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:02.639 league like ducks to water. Remember watching Philip Sammy graduate 185 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:07.159 from my academy and make his NRL debut and in 186 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.320 his first game, you know he plays for the Titans. Now, 187 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:13.360 in his first game he looked like he played one 188 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:18.000 hundred NRL games, just because that's his mentality. He doesn't 189 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:19.080 overanalyze things. 190 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:19.519 Whatnot. 191 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:25.759 Ronaldo Mullatalo, who's arguably a far better footballer, when he 192 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:29.440 played his first game, he was error strewn because he's 193 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:34.440 all action and would overthink it, et cetera, et cetera. 194 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:39.159 So every player is different. So quite frankly, I think 195 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:44.039 the Wigan lads would have got together and really pulled 196 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:47.200 together and thought, we've got nothing to lose here, let's 197 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:49.799 go out and make a name for ourselves. And then 198 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:54.840 we were also asked how important Wiggans Academy is to 199 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.879 rugby league in the UK, considering the players it produces 200 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:01.320 for Wigans, Super League, the Championship, then Reland occasionally will 201 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:03.799 be Union. I'll throw that to you, John, I think 202 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:04.759 that was Gareth as well. 203 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:09.159 I think yeah, I mean it's it's a very important 204 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.879 Kada because they are, you know, huge producers of talent. 205 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.960 I think they're the most prolific in the country. By 206 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:17.919 aw I mean you look just look away from where 207 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:19.960 you look at the other clubs and you go, okay, Lee, 208 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:25.840 they've got your minor Hanley, They've got Josh Charley, They've 209 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.600 got Jack Hughes. You know. At Warrengon the've got Sam 210 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:32.519 Powell and I think there's some other o Liam Byrne. 211 00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:35.759 You know. Leeds have got James McDonald, whole k Are 212 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:38.600 have got three, they've got Oliver Gildert, they've got Joe 213 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:42.639 Burgess and they've got there's another one of Tom Davies, 214 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:45.799 you know. So it is yeah, but the thing is 215 00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:49.200 in just jumping back to what your previous comment, I 216 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:53.679 don't think it's usual normal to blood ten youngsters in 217 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:56.039 a seventeen like I think there was eight in the 218 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:58.399 first team and then another two on the bench, and 219 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:00.679 the fact lead that they were so young that two 220 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.840 of them could not actually have the sponsor the Toad, 221 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:07.360 which is a bedding company on their shirts because they 222 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:10.399 weren't legally old enough to allow to have. I mean, 223 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:14.919 I can't remember when that's happened before. I mean, that's yeah, 224 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:17.759 it's just it's a really embarrassing look for the sport. 225 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:21.000 Everyone knows it, and it pisces me off when you 226 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.200 have Wigan fans who are trying to defend it because 227 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:25.799 it's all about your club and whatever. It's not to 228 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:28.360 do with an anti Wigan or pro Wigan thing. It's 229 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.360 it was just a bad look for the sport. It 230 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:33.519 doesn't matter if it was you know, Leads and Saint 231 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:36.519 Helen's doing it, it doesn't matter who. It's just it was. 232 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.679 Really it's a massive angal. I just I can't believe 233 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:43.279 that that game wasn't rescheduled or moved to a different 234 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:46.240 time when you know we could have done that. 235 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.759 You did mention after the hooter before that will be 236 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:52.279 back closer towards the end of the season, I'd say, 237 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:54.159 because a lot of these games the gig you can 238 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.679 tell the players are just clearly just trying to get 239 00:13:56.679 --> 00:13:59.240 through them. And that goes to me next question just 240 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:02.720 before I get there, last question about the about the 241 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:07.080 Wigan Academy was from just d on on x Simon 242 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:09.679 Paul said, can we discuss if this is the poorest 243 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:13.240 Super League season ever? Vast majority of games are dreadful, 244 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.039 standard is low and lots of teams are awful. The 245 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:19.399 damage this season is doing too Potential TV rights could 246 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:23.279 cost us millions. Geez, the worm has turned in a 247 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.000 few weeks, hasn't it. There's most people were telling us 248 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.960 how great it was a few weeks back. 249 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:32.840 Well heard. I heard some cheerleaders the other day saying 250 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:35.320 we all knew that the playpool wasn't big enough what 251 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.679 I was on I don't remember them saying that last 252 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.320 year when I wrote that, you know not to say 253 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:44.639 the old I told you so. But look, I don't 254 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:47.080 know if it's the worst super League ever or I've 255 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.399 not seen every season of super League. I've only been 256 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.240 found it closely since twenty thirty and twenty four I 257 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:55.759 know in twenty fourteen there were sporting teams and obviously 258 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:58.039 it was cut after that and Bradford London that you 259 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:04.000 were terrible particularly. But the thing is all the games 260 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:06.440 are televised now. We haven't had that before, have we, 261 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:11.480 So we haven't seen every game historically. But things are very, 262 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:13.879 very stretch. I mean it has been in the last 263 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:17.120 couple of weeks alone, it's been some absolutely dreadful games 264 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:21.519 like Huddersfield's and Helen's Hull of C Bradford. There's just 265 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:24.440 some really really I mean that Leeds Huddersfield game and 266 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:27.039 we're going to talk about it later on. I wasn't 267 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:28.759 out of the game, but I spoke to a couple 268 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:31.000 of people who were in the stands and I've seen 269 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.879 the headlights. Like Huddersfield, it's like they couldn't tackle, let 270 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:38.159 alone catch the ball. Like it was just it was 271 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:44.000 like Leeds were beating up, you know. Yeah, And it's 272 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.919 not good for anyone, you know what I mean. It's 273 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:47.600 not good for Leeds, it's not good for Hddersfield, it's 274 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:50.759 not good for the sport. So yeah, I don't know. 275 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.600 Do you think it's the worst. I don't. Yeah, I'm 276 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.840 not trying to be I hate to tell. 277 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.440 I'd hate to say to everyone we told you, soul, 278 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:02.360 but myself and Johnny the intrepid journalist out there on 279 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:10.000 the mean streets of sixty two England, we predicted this. 280 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.840 We predicted this. That the fact there was fourteen teams, 281 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:16.559 you're just spreading the talent based too thin. And it's 282 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:19.080 not just purely a Super League thing. It's about the 283 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:23.519 rugby league playerpool full stop. Because Australia have also expanded 284 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:28.320 their competition and they're expanding it again and what we're 285 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:32.360 seeing is more and more players going to the top 286 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:36.080 echelon of the sport that possibly shouldn't be there. So 287 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.759 we're robbing Peter to pay Paul. So we are taking 288 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:43.960 players from our state based competitions in Australia to play 289 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:47.360 in the Super League, and some of them are playing 290 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:50.039 in the NRL too. Let's you know, let's not forget 291 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.159 the Saint George LAWAA Dragons haven't won a game in 292 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:57.879 fifteen matches and they're at the bottom of the NRL. Also, 293 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.159 the best English players seem to be playing in the 294 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:05.519 NRL too, So what you actually have in Super League 295 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:10.799 is the best English players minus maybe the top ten, 296 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:14.640 and then a load of state league players and some 297 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:19.359 NRL x NRL players who are very much at the 298 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:22.440 end of their careers. I mean, we're going to celebrate 299 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:30.160 another signing this week who's ancient and this is just 300 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.920 turning into a very easy competition quite frankly, for some 301 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:36.160 players to make a quick quid. 302 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.759 I think it's also important notly that next year, in 303 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:42.359 a year after, it's going to be even worse because 304 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:45.480 who's in the UK at the moment. The CEO of 305 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.480 the Perth Bears and the general manager of P and 306 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:53.000 G Chiefs, Michael Chamis and his recruitment manager, and they're 307 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:57.640 not only signing English players who've already gone to Perth, 308 00:17:57.720 --> 00:18:00.440 but they're also signing P and G players are either 309 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:03.519 at London or across Super League. And they're also signing 310 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:08.119 Australian keyways players like Toby sext and whatever. So there's, 311 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:11.799 as you said, like Australia's expanding, and naturally players are 312 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:15.240 going to go where there's better opportunity, better money, so 313 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:17.799 that's going to be another drag. So to expand at 314 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:22.039 the same time without actually having more players is lunacy. 315 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:31.400 Game day five two three on X said Huddersfield Giants 316 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.640 surely their time is up and we had this as 317 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.960 a news item too, So obviously, if we're looking at 318 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:39.599 the future of the game with all this in mind, 319 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:43.799 there's a couple of things we need to consider. London 320 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.640 are going well in the division below and are clearly 321 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.559 preparing and talking like a future Super League franchise, except 322 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:53.200 now the noises are they've never had any assurances so 323 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:56.720 on and so forth. But they're doing everything right from 324 00:18:56.759 --> 00:19:00.119 what we can see. Huddersfield from what we can and 325 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.240 are probably doing everything wrong or not doing much right, 326 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:10.160 and there's unleashed, yes, unleashed on the bottom of the ladder. 327 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:13.920 And also there's some other teams slipping down that we'll 328 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:17.519 talk about. So but the first one, the obvious one, 329 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:20.519 is hard to field giants. So they're even below the 330 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:21.799 newly promoted side. 331 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:25.680 Yeah, I mean, and they've been at least since what 332 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:29.039 twenty twenty two, they've been struggling for kual Ho and 333 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:32.440 before that, you know, after the Pool innocent era, they've 334 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:37.039 been struggling. And to me they look like a championship 335 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.279 team in disguise. The stadium. You know, they're not going 336 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:43.640 to have a stadium soon. The crowds have gone absolutely nowhere. 337 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:47.400 The coaching situation, Jim Lenna in his first game, they 338 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:50.200 get beaten by fifty two points. So if you're him 339 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:53.160 and he was the second choice Daniel holds, is he 340 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:57.720 over already? Is it? Yes? That was his right last week. 341 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:02.319 If you hear him, you're headingly on Friday night, like 342 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.440 Jesus Christ, can I get the next flight back to 343 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:06.119 the Gold Coast? 344 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.359 Well gets where he's going to try and recruit players 345 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:13.160 from well, exactly they need they need, they need to 346 00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.720 recruit plase. 347 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.559 But look, the whole thing with London and look, London 348 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:20.480 quietly for a while have been petitioning the other Super 349 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:23.680 League clubs about a vote to have fifteen teams in 350 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:29.559 Super League. Now I think most well some of us, 351 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.000 I think you're probably the same. I'll speak for you here. 352 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:35.000 I think some of us would say that's a bad idea. Now. 353 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:37.880 I like what London had been doing this year. I 354 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:41.039 like their plans. They're putting a lot of money in 355 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.720 and I think they should come up in the Super League. 356 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:47.039 But I think it should be the IMG criteria. Now, 357 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:50.519 whether Huddersfield will be dropping an IMG points, you would 358 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.279 think because the crowds are terrible, the performances are terrible. 359 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:58.480 I don't think their social numbers are particularly good. But 360 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.480 you can't guarante with the CIS and we have. You 361 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:03.000 can't guarantee who's going down, can you. And I think 362 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:05.680 it would be unfair for to lose York and it 363 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:08.319 won't be Bradford, but Bradford as well, because they've just 364 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:11.160 literally come out, particularly unfair on to loose and York 365 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:15.920 because they've only got half the money. So I think 366 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.920 going to fifteen would be would be a big, big, 367 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:22.759 big mistake. But I do think with London what they're doing, like, 368 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.240 how long are they supposed to you know, spend two 369 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:30.160 million a year on players when they know the ceiling 370 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.559 is already you know they're at the ceiling now, aren't 371 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:41.359 they in the Championship? Yeah, I just I think moving 372 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.279 to fifteen would be a mistake. But I think London 373 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.480 deserved to go up, and I think it. Look Huddersfield, 374 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:47.400 I think they've had a long crack at it many 375 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:50.680 many years. We're not seeing any progress, any change, and 376 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.880 I think it is time for them to drop out 377 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.599 of the top of the vision. 378 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:57.559 I've got a real ingenious way of deciding who goes 379 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:01.799 down and who goes up. The team that finishes bottom 380 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.880 of the Super League go down, and whoever wins the 381 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:10.200 Championship goes up. You don't need to pay anythink tanks 382 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:14.200 for that, by your rationale. So the drag this Georgia 383 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:18.119 Laura Dragons will go down? Who who comes up with 384 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:21.880 the burly Bears? Or we're talking about the English? We 385 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:25.759 were talking about the English, but well, the thing is 386 00:22:25.799 --> 00:22:29.119 the difference in Australia is is actually some very financial 387 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:32.920 teams underneath the NRL, and some of them are in 388 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:36.640 better financial some of them are in better financial nick 389 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.559 than some of the lower NRL the teams it seems so. 390 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.319 New Town Jets. 391 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:45.519 There's a few, I mean Cabra Matta for example, and 392 00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:49.240 some of the other league's clubs in Sydney, some of 393 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:52.039 the clubs in Wollongong. There's plenty of clubs up here 394 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:55.400 in Brisbane and to one mother are quite cash rich. 395 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:59.839 So I mean, I'm not suggesting it should happen, but 396 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:06.359 it won't happen now. But as we were talking about Britain, Yeah, 397 00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:08.880 just why doesn't the bottom team just go down and 398 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:12.240 the team that wins the championship go up? No need 399 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:17.960 to pay anybody anything for that, just and then there's 400 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:21.000 another team sliding down to hahle f C. What's going 401 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:25.599