Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 9:56 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Even if the plan wasn’t a fully professional French league (but in an ideal world it should be), we at least need to get to the point where regular England vs France test matches are a viable proposition, both to provide a proper test for the England team, without relying on countries who get told what to do by the NRL and also commercially. They’ll go hand in hand if we get it right but Catalans (and down the track) need to play a huge part in that.

I look at it as a way of making up a shortfall in income from potential Cup Final and Grand Final appearances by the French clubs. I’m not one who sits and moans at the CC and GF crowds being 20k down when Catalans have been in them because it’s understandable but it wouldn’t hurt if we could pull a decent crowd in for a one off home test or test series against the French.

I know you aren't saying it's going to happen, but you should see the state of the French league. It's a good year if all the teams complete their season. I think there's a lot of people who assume it's on a par with the Championship. I don't think it's even as good as the NCL in reality.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 10:07 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

I know you aren't saying it's going to happen, but you should see the state of the French league. It's a good year if all the teams complete their season. I think there's a lot of people who assume it's on a par with the Championship. I don't think it's even as good as the NCL in reality.

I don’t know a great deal about it at all in fairness. I read the reports of some reasonable players going to play in it each year but I don’t follow it. I don’t think it is hugely realistic to hope for a fully professional French league within the next 20-30+ years in all honesty but I think we can hope for improvements in the National side.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:25 pm  

There's a few posts going round on social media that former player Stephen Holgate has passed away. Sad news. RIP

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:15 am  

Grimmy wrote:

I know you aren't saying it's going to happen, but you should see the state of the French league. It's a good year if all the teams complete their season. I think there's a lot of people who assume it's on a par with the Championship. I don't think it's even as good as the NCL in reality.

'
Come on, it must be better or on a par with our Division One which includes teams, one in particuar which are no better than some of the leading Amateur clubs in the NCL.

Kettle should not call the pan black!

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 8:47 am  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

'
Come on, it must be better or on a par with our Division One which includes teams, one in particuar which are no better than some of the leading Amateur clubs in the NCL.

Kettle should not call the pan black!

League 1 - 11 teams, no one ever drops out midway through the season, none of them are reserve teams.
Elite One - 7 teams plus Catalans reserves and Tolouse reserves. Teams dropping out is a common issue.
The fact a (former) Championship team's reserves can be competitive in it shows you the standard. If Fev had reserves then they would not be showing up well in League 1.

If Thatto Heath or Wath Brow played in Elite One, they would win it IMO.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:59 am  

Grimmy wrote:

League 1 - 11 teams, no one ever drops out midway through the season, none of them are reserve teams.
Elite One - 7 teams plus Catalans reserves and Tolouse reserves. Teams dropping out is a common issue.
The fact a (former) Championship team's reserves can be competitive in it shows you the standard. If Fev had reserves then they would not be showing up well in League 1.

If Thatto Heath or Wath Brow played in Elite One, they would win it IMO.

Really? I must admit I am surprised at that but then again I’d be a liar if I said I’ve given any sort of interest to Elite 1, ever. If you’d have asked me before your posts I’d have said the standard was probably somewhere between Championship and L1.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:22 pm  

Lam is a Leyther !

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:50 pm  

Kennedy wrote:

Lam is a Leyther !

All the best

Shuddered just seeing his picture.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 2:57 pm  

Kennedy wrote:

Lam is a Leyther !

My commiserations.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed Nov 17, 2021 4:28 pm  

Well after his time at Wigan he is probably an instant hit at Leigh