Challenge Cup Final
Seems like Hull KR are resting the whole first team for the Wigan game and signing players on loan for that game. Wonder if they will get fined by the RFL, not holding my breath. No uproar against Hull KR doing this on the Wigan board. Short memories.
Loyal and true, not a glory hunter.
There was only Bradford fans who got the hump about it really. That was the kind of people they were. They were a 'new wave' fan base that never really understood sport. They were just fad supporters that buggered off as quickly as they'd jumped onto the bandwagon.
I don't really recall anyone having an issue with it when we did the same at Catalans in 2007, and going back further, I don't recall any grumbles from opposition when we did it at Wigan in 1987.
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I have no issues with this.
I get why the RFL will put rules in place to avoid it to protect the integrity of the league, but for one game its completely justified especially given the new concussion rules which would effectively rule out players who cannot pass a head test (when they are difficult when you haven't been smashed in the head)
I don't see any issue either. It's Hull KR's biggest game in years and unlike the 2015 CC final, they actually have a decent chance of winning this one. Give the risk of HIA injuries nowadays, it's a no brainer to rest the whole 17. If Saints were there I'd be saying the same thing for us this Sunday.
It's a bummer for us, as Wigan are guaranteed 2 points and that puts pressure on our game, but it is what it is.
Originally Posted by Despondent Dave
The successful clubs can choose to do whatever they like with their squads. We've got to get used to things like this now we're in the post Holbrook/Woolf era.
2002 was quite funny when we sent a weakened side to Valley Parade. Brian Noble called us disrespectful. So a few months later we sent a full strength team and pasted them. They probably wished we sent another team of kids that night.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
Was that the game he came out with the 'expecting George Foreman and got George Formby' quote?
The real controversy there was a couple of our players betting on the outcome!
Last edited by KentishBarry; 2nd August 2023 at 12:01.
Oh was that the long/gleeson game..
I remember that.. millward actually had 12 players on at one point.
Gleeson spoke about it on the out of your league podcast.
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I actually agree with teams doing it, and most do. My memory must be playing tricks because I thought it was more than just Bradford fans. I thought we got the fine rescinded because we showed we hadn't actually broken any rule, I thought other club's fans joined in at this stage. I also thought we got some stick from fans about sick notes from the club doctor on a more recent final.
Loyal and true, not a glory hunter.
I think the gambling thing was 2004, mate. 2002 was the game at Bradfords football ground.
screaming in the family corner, scaring the kiddies
Probably.
I forget what day it is sometimes!
It was a bit of a Rockstar era of Saints that.
Apparently they all partied hard including Millward.
I will always remember how good Cunningham was when he ran at defences, then the Brilliance of Long and Scully.
We played some brilliant attacking rugby in those days.
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I remember Daniel Anderson doing the same at Catalans and there was an uproar. We were threatened with or people on sky were suggesting we should be fined or points deducted. DA game out with a pearler on answer and said something along the lines of, "so you're saying the team I am picking, you don't think is good enough for Super League?" We only lost by 1 point but it shut the rest up
I’d absolutely hope we’d have done the same thing a week before the cup final, had we got there. Imagine Roby missing out on a final in his last year because he picked up an unnecessary HIA a week out from the game?
Not sure it’s ever actually been a big thing when it’s happened before but people make a mountain out of the molehill that it is.
St Helens Rugby League Football Club
You're spot on.
Us and Bratfud had emerged by this time as the two biggest teams in SL. They always seemed to have an inferiority complex about us and their CEO Chris Caisley was a bit of a tit. He built up - and marketed - our visit to them that year as some sort of "we'll see who's the best" thing. They were on form and we were expected to lose.
We announced in advance that we'd be playing a very weakened team. Caisley went ape, demanding we were fined.
A lot of fans of other teams had tantrums, too. I think this was down to the expectation that Bratfud were going to take the two points in a tough, bruising encounter and we were effectively saying "here, just have them... we'll keep our players fresh instead"
If we'd have been playing a team near the bottom that we'd been expected to beat but then lost due to fielding a weakened team, the same fans would have been laughing and cheering.
We were fined £25k, mostly on the back of Caisley stamping his feet and spitting his dummy, but the RFL rescinded it when we threatened legal action.
It all backfired anyway, obviously, at Murrayfield.
We still finished top of SL (ahead of Bratfud on points difference) and beat them in the GF. That was the Joynt 'voluntary tackle' one. Jeez, they weren't half bad losers, Bratfud, who loved a tantrum.
He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.
It was a big enough thing for the RFL to change the rules after Millward did.
Squad for a match now has to be named in advance which is why HKR are letting everyone know now and Wigan are 1/100 to win on Paddy Power
what a shame. Asiata was injured today and may miss the final . Hopefully he does.
Concussion from head contact with someone's knee perchance?
Thought it looked like he had a problem with his shoulder.
Loyal and true, not a glory hunter.
He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.
Should be a good game, they are both easy on the eye. I slightly favour KR from what I've seen of both teams recently but don't think there will be much in it.
Bookies are going for Leigh,
Betfred have them at 8/15
Paddypower are showing it as Locked. I don't know if they are waiting to see the teamsheets or just not taking any more bets on it
I,m supporting Leigh for the day but that might change if Asiati injures any Hull KR players. Don't really want Yorkshire teams to win anything, just hope its an exciting game.
And of course our ladies are in the Challlenge Cup Final, really looking forward to that one, going to be a great experience for both set of girls.
Squad news should be midday although Leigh aren't the greatest at getting it out on time.
I want HKR to win, as I've gone right off Leigh. And Hardaker plays for them.
But I'm not that arsed about the game at all and won't be watching it.
I'll watch the women's final then go do something else.
He's not the Messiah, he's a naughty boy.
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