General ESL 2020

[matiunz]

Another loss for Toronto.

I know it’s a little unfair but they almost need an exemption from relegation for the good of the game. There needs to be the likes of Toronto and a French team in that comp- even London to an extent otherwise it’s just a northern English comp. It was a shame when the Crusaders and the original PSG folded too

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Another loss for Toronto.

Castleford v Wakefield was last nights TV game and I haven’t seen the highlights yet, but reading the match report suggests Toronto were much improved. Their season will hinge on remaining results against teams in the lower half.

Buying a former superstar for his profile whilst losing every week shows the mistake they’ve made though

 

[pbrown01123]

half-time in Leeds v Warrington - Wolves with Austin ( might as well have been Austen ) and Widdop in the halves and Ben Murdoch-Masila are getting beaten 14 - 0 and lucky to get away with that. The only thing Widdop has done is throw a forward pass.
I'm not going to argue that the NRL is a higher standard than the ESL, but this is a really entertaining game and sometimes ( always? ) it's the entertainment that counts.
In one area the ESL wins ( I think ), is the commentary from Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor. Knowledgeable, unbiased, informative, likeable, no scores to settle and as dry as my glass. eg; Leeds' last play kick from Luke Gale left Konrad in a jumping contest with the Wolves athletic young centre, which Konrad obviously lost..... 'not much hang time there, Barrie'

that being said, because it's the ESL, it's not over yet!

 

[pbrown01123]

half-time in Leeds v Warrington - Wolves with Austin ( might as well have been Austen ) and Widdop in the halves and Ben Murdoch-Masila are getting beaten 14 - 0 and lucky to get away with that. The only thing Widdop has done is throw a forward pass.
I'm not going to argue that the NRL is a higher standard than the ESL, but this is a really entertaining game and sometimes ( always? ) it's the entertainment that counts.
In one area the ESL wins ( I think ), is the commentary from Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor. Knowledgeable, unbiased, informative, likeable, no scores to settle and as dry as my glass. eg; Leeds' last play kick from Luke Gale left Konrad in a jumping contest with the Wolves athletic young centre, which Konrad obviously lost..... 'not much hang time there, Barrie'

that being said, because it's the ESL, it's not over yet!

57 mins.... 28 - 0 .... it is now

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Widdop’s post match comments about Warrington attitude were interesting. Doesn’t sound like a happy ship
Newman looks a good prospect for Leeds

 

[matiunz]

half-time in Leeds v Warrington - Wolves with Austin ( might as well have been Austen ) and Widdop in the halves and Ben Murdoch-Masila are getting beaten 14 - 0 and lucky to get away with that. The only thing Widdop has done is throw a forward pass.
I'm not going to argue that the NRL is a higher standard than the ESL, but this is a really entertaining game and sometimes ( always? ) it's the entertainment that counts.
In one area the ESL wins ( I think ), is the commentary from Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor. Knowledgeable, unbiased, informative, likeable, no scores to settle and as dry as my glass. eg; Leeds' last play kick from Luke Gale left Konrad in a jumping contest with the Wolves athletic young centre, which Konrad obviously lost..... 'not much hang time there, Barrie'

that being said, because it's the ESL, it's not over yet!

Do Enjoy ESL, interested to see how the Wolfpack went and have a soft spot for Catalans and Leeds- the bias in commentary certainly changes when they commentate international games though...

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Barrie McDermott is a real character. He was the first person in Britain to be arrested following the police use of CS gas, the use of this had just been brought in. He doesn’t like Ricky Stuart one bit, apparently Stuart mentioned something about ‘getting the one eyed b*****d’ during a test match, then proceeded to stand about 10 yards behind the Aussie defence (McDermott lost an eye as a young kid, someone shot him with an air rifle).

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

St Helens 32 - 0 Toronto

 

[matiunz]

St Helens 32 - 0 Toronto

It’s a shame, I play footy with a couple of Canadians and they reckon League has taken off since the Wolfpack started- need them to stay in the top flight

 

[snake77]

Saw a snipped of an interview with Brian McDermott on Sky Sport last night. Looked like it was after Toronto's win to be promoted to Super League.

He had some good points about including Toronto and other bigger cities into Super League. When they go to negotiate broadcasting deals and sponsorship's its an easier sell instead of a competition based around towns in the north of England.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

It’s a shame, I play footy with a couple of Canadians and they reckon League has taken off since the Wolfpack started- need them to stay in the top flight

I’d love them to do well. Unfortunately they are a team of Nomads playing their games away from home with a small squad. They’ve also made the mistake numerous RL chairmen made in days gone by, paying over the odds for someone who was playing rah rah but is way past his best in the mistaken belief it gives them some profile, to,quote my Grandad “it’s a young mans game”

They desperately need a win to give them some confidence

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Toronto royally battered by Leeds last night, conceding 11 tries

They look knackered when they are defending, half the team are blowing bubbles by the second tackle

 

[enterthewarrior]

Another hiding for Toronto. I don't know if they will win a game this season. SBW is turning out to be a dud buy.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Hull have just been hammered by Warrington. Instead of the usual post match interviews with the coaches the Hull chairman turned up and announced he’d sacked the coach Lee Radford. Even the players didn’t know, they were being told in the dressing room during the interview

He could have at least left it until the morning and let the bloke go outside the glare of publicity. Poor management imho

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Salford best Wigan 18-14 after being 2-14 down
Tremendous game, feels like Salford have got last seasons spirit back

 

[playdaball]

Hull have just been hammered by Warrington. Instead of the usual post match interviews with the coaches the Hull chairman turned up and announced he’d sacked the coach Lee Radford. Even the players didn’t know, they were being told in the dressing room during the interview

He could have at least left it until the morning and let the bloke go outside the glare of publicity. Poor management imho

I saw an article and ex Hull FC forward, Steve Kearney, mentioned as a possible replacement coach for Radford.

Yes, please ...

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

I saw an article and ex Hull FC forward, Steve Kearney, mentioned as a possible replacement coach for Radford.

Yes, please ...

If Hull isn’t taking him he could always go to Hell or Halifax instead

 

[wallacenz]

Salford remind me of the Warriors, not great at either end of the field

When I see Loloheia playing in Salford it tells me how important a huge pack is in league, he can look like a superstar with Tonga where you have probably the best pack in league currently but with this average pack he looks mediocre

Nice comeback after a poor start on the back of a bad penalty count from Salford, not very Warriorlike

 

[Wigan Warrior]

Not sure how Wigan lost that game but we have been pretty poor so far. George Burgess looks nothing like an NRL player.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Not sure how Wigan lost that game but we have been pretty poor so far. George Burgess looks nothing like an NRL player.

He must be either injured or plain disinterested. As you say, looks nowhere near NRL class atm