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England/France - Super League Round 8

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Round 8
St.Helens 32 bt Wigan 14 Crowd: 24,038
Huddersfield 56 bt Wakefield 12 Crowd: 6,757
Leeds 18 bt Bradford 14 Crowd: 17,706
Les Catalans 34 bt Hull KR 20 Crowd: 6,701
London Harlequins 30 bt Hull FC 28 Crowd: 3,545
Warrington 34 bt Salford 32 Crowd: 3,177

Round 9
Hull FC v Hull KR SOLD-OUT
St Helens v Salford City Reds
Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Bradford Bulls
Les Catalans Dragons v Harlequins
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors
 
magpie_man said:
Is that Huddersfield v Wakefield score fair dinkum? :eek:
Click to expand...
Yep, it was only time before Huddersfield won a game. I'll make a bold prediction and say they will be right up there for a semi finals spot at the end of the year. They are a good team, like the Wests Tigers in the NRL. Close and just waiting for a run of wins.
 

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4019712a1823.html

Orcas in shock plan to join Super League

By STEVE KILGALLON - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 8 April 2007

It's the most audacious bid for a sporting franchise in history. The Sunday Star-Times has revealed a Wellington rugby league team are to apply for a place in the English-based Super League competition.
ORCAS TO TARGET ALL BLACKS
VENTURE GETS NRL, WARRIORS BLESSING

The backers of the Southern Orcas - who two years ago failed in a bid to join the NRL - have been engaged in secret negotiations for more than a year with senior officials of the English Rugby Football League to join their elite 12-team league, if as expected, it expands to 14 sides in 2009.

The Star-Times has a copy of a "positioning document" sent by the Orcas to the English, which lists All Blacks Daniel Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Jerry Collins and Piri Weepu and Kiwi league internationals Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall as key targets for the franchise should they be accepted.

The positioning document admits it is "an idea from left-field. An idea that's just crazy enough to make the fans go wild. This could be the next step in creating a series to foot it with union's Super 14."

Never before has a single club side in any sport played its regular-season fixtures in an entirely different hemisphere.

The Super League has 10 sides from northern England, one in London, and one in southern France. If they were successful, the Orcas would turn the Super League into the first genuinely world-wide club competition in sport, and fly 24 hours straight to play their away games.

The Orcas' frontman, the New Zealand Rugby League acting chairman Andrew Chalmers, says the bid is serious, and he believes it stands a strong chance of being successful because it would create a huge increase in TV and sponsorship revenues for Super League.

The Orcas have an agreement to base themselves and play eight home matches at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, and would take others to the South Island and around Australia. They are also prepared to bring league to Asia and the Middle East for the first time, with a key target being Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Chalmers says he expects to file a formal business plan within months. He says the NZRL are merely facilitating the application, and the team would be privately-owned, with the majority backer being the same Belgian-based, English-born billionaire investor who was lined up to support their NRL bid.

The backer wants to retain his anonymity, but is genuine in his intentions, says Chalmers. The NRL bid was expected to cost around $10 million in start-up capital, and while Chalmers said the Super League franchise would need launch funds of between $15m and $20m, he said raising that sum would not be an issue for the billionaire. "If you start thinking in pounds, it is not a lot of pounds in the scheme of things," he said.

Chalmers said English officials were "open-minded" on the prospect and he is convinced that he can sell the Orcas as a money-generating prospect, opening new markets worldwide and boosting TV income for Super League in the southern hemisphere.

"It's fair to say they are looking to make sure the cost of bringing in a new side is exceeded in terms of tangible dollars generated," he said. "This type of expansion would increase the value of sponsorship and TV rights and actually grow the market."

Chalmers said the move would benefit the Warriors. "Can you imagine: the most popular game of the year would probably be the pre-season game," he said.

"The Warriors vs the Orcas: how big would that be?"

He admitted many people would laugh at the idea, but Chalmers said research had been done and there was no element of fantasy to the proposal.

"It is a commercial decision for all the parties - a commercial decision for Super League, a commercial decision for the people backing the Orcas. This has to come down to a very strong business case to be able to withstand a robust due diligence process."

The Orcas' own pitch concludes: "It's an audacious move. Any way you look at it, this is a move ahead for the game."
Click to expand...
 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,4019713a1823,00.html

Orcas to target All Blacks

By STEVE KILGALLON - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 8 April 2007

The Southern Orcas would aggressively target key All Blacks to give their new franchise a huge boost in playing strength, publicity and support if they were to win a place in the English-based Super League competition.

The Orcas' positioning document lists Daniel Carter, Jerry Collins, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu among six key targets they would pursue as marquee signings if they were accepted into the competition.

And because the salary cap would be in English pounds, not Australian or New Zealand dollars, the Orcas are confident they would be able to offer salaries that would be significantly large enough to persuade some union stars to switch.

Although Carter and Collins may be unlikely to change codes, the Orcas believe Wellingtonians Nonu and Weepu have a background and interest in league that would help convince them to sign. The Orcas' pitch says: "We've designed the style of package that means they'll be excited to come on board."

The English salary cap stands at 1.8 million, roughly $A4.36m: a million dollars more than the NRL salary cap of $A3.366m. That would allow the Orcas to also offer increased wages to key NRL stars, such as Wests Tigers' Kiwi international standoff Benji Marshall.

"To have a quality, first-class team to be able to enter the competition is absolutely essential and it would come off the back of a rugby union world cup," said Orcas front man Andrew Chalmers, the acting chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League.

"The way the market is, there is a real opportunity to pick up some quality players and of course, provide pathways for the enormous number of junior high-performance athletes coming through."

Former Warriors and Kiwis coach Daniel Anderson comes off contract at English club St Helens at the end of 2008, and is likely to be targeted as coach - especially as Anderson was lined up to head up the Orcas' NRL bid. Chalmers would not be drawn on that issue.

Chalmers was involved in a 1991 proposal for a team from the Hutt Valley, the Dolphins, to secure a place in the old Australian Winfield Cup competition (effectively now the NRL) and led the Orcas' bid in 2004-2005 for a place in the NRL when it was expanded to 16 teams. Neither was successful.

He said the NZRL had begun talking about Super League as soon as the NRL handed down a decision in May 27, 2005, that the Gold Coast had beaten the Orcas for the extra NRL place.

"From an NZRL point of view, we have wanted a second franchise playing in a professional competition for some time and I think it is fair to say at the point that the NRL chose to expand into Queensland ... we started giving thought to what an alternative might mean," he said.

Chalmers said they had concluded the NRL would not consider further expansion until the expiry of their existing television contract, in six years time, and more likely not until after the next contract, in 10 to 12 years: "We don't believe the NRL view (expansion) as a priority."

He said it became clear the Super League was seriously contemplating adding two teams to the competition in 2009, and the NZRL moved quickly to be among the first to register their interest.

Chalmers said not much would have to be adapted from the basics of the Orcas bid and a full business plan and proposal could be ready almost instantly, once Super League signalled how the franchising process would operate.

Chalmers pointed to Sanzar's discussions over the prospect of adding a Japan-based team to the Super 14, which already straddles New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, of evidence in a trend in world sport to international club competition.

"It's all about how you grow the game globally and increase its value," he said. "From the NZRL's perspective, we believe this is in the interests of rugby league and our high-performance programme, it would increase pathways (for young players) and strengthen the Kiwis."

One potentially money-generating aspect would be taking games to other markets.

Chalmers noted that several Australian state governments outside traditional rugby league areas were now offering significant financial packages to attract NRL games and was confident the Orcas could be a drawcard in venues such as Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. And those venues and others, such as Dubai, could serve as stopping points for the Orcas to travel to England.

Chalmers could suggest copying the Super 14 example and playing games in blocks to ease the issue of travel, with the Orcas potentially playing a game in Wellington, then one en route to England, then three away fixtures, one more on the way home, and their next back at Westpac Stadium.

The team - which would wear a white shirt with black and green trim -would base its staff and players at a new Wellington Rugby League base in the Hutt Valley, with strong links to the NZRL Academy programme at Petone.
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,4019714a1823,00.html

Venture gets blessing of NRL and Warriors

By STEVE KILGALLON - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 8 April 2007

NRL chief executive David Gallop says he wouldn't oppose the Southern Orcas' plans to chase a place in Super League - and the Warriors have also given their blessing to the proposal.

An amazed Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah, when told of the plans, said: "Good luck to them if it is something they think could work. It is hard to contemplate the logistics, it would be a massive challenge, but whatever is good for rugby league is positive."

Scurrah was comfortable with the Orcas using Wellington's playing resources, given many players already went offshore to Australian NRL clubs, and said he'd welcome an annual fixture between the teams.

Gallop said he wasn't aware of the project, but noted: "It's hard to see where we would have a basis to object to it. We will watch further developments with interest."

However, long-time Wellington league stalwart Ken Laban, who organised the original 1991 bid for a Hutt Valley team to join the then Winfield Cup, was scathing.

"My initial reaction is I think it is ridiculous," Laban declared. "Why would you bring Huddersfield, Wakefield and Warrington to Westpac Stadium when you can get Brisbane, Newcastle and the Melbourne Storm?"

As with others told of the plan, Laban questioned the travel, costs and time-zone issues which would be difficult to resolve and said while Wellingtonians were well aware of NRL stars' identities, they would struggle to name any player in the lower-ranked Super League teams. "They would be regarded as a novelty factor, and you would go if they were successful ... but if they weren't, it would be a hard sell," he said. Laban said he felt the last NRL bid had "credibility issues" given the anonymity of their backer - who is once again protecting his identity.

One of Wellington's most prominent NRL exports, former Canberra and Cowboys prop Johnny Lomax - now coaching the city's under-16 rep side -said halting the decline of the local game was more important.

"We need to concentrate on our backyard here ... it would be pretty tough to get through to people here otherwise," he said. "Spending money on this would be a bit ridiculous, and would it be wasted: how long would it last for?"

Elsewhere in the league community, the response was amazement, followed by cautious support.

Former Warriors chief executive Mick Watson said the Orcas might struggle to take a Super League place from English applicants.

"I applaud Andrew Chalmers for taking the initiative. However, I think second division Super League clubs will oppose it," Watson said.

"If (RFL executive chairman) Richard Lewis can address the relegation issue and if there is enough depth in the playing ranks to maintain the quality of the game then it could happen. I imagine the NRL would oppose it, but is refreshing to see someone thinking outside the square."

Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, who coached in Super League with Wigan and Widnes, agreed with Watson. "They (the RFL) are more obligated or committed to looking after a second French side before a team in the southern hemisphere," he said. "Clubs such as Castleford or Widnes (former Super League clubs relegated to second division) might have something to say too.

"From a New Zealand perspective, it would be a very exciting concept."

The former acting chair of the Wellington league, Rodney Moore of the Te Aroha club, was enthusiastic: "The game in New Zealand has lived in the shadow of Auckland for 100 years now ... something is needed to give the game outside Auckland a shot in the arm."

Moore said big crowds for Bulldogs v Warriors games at Westpac Stadium showed the potential. "Wellington is the Melbourne of New Zealand, really: Wellingtonians will support quality events - I think that has been proven."
Click to expand...
 
That is crazy but it sounds good to me. So in the Super League in 2009, we will have teams from England, New Zealand, Wales and France if the Wellington bid is successful. That is a big financial outlay!

As an end of year derby they could have Wellington Orcas vs Auckland Warriors. Sounds good but it also sounds unbelievable.

Thanks Parra!
 
Tutaki said:
That is crazy but it sounds good to me. So in the Super League in 2009, we will have teams from England, New Zealand, Wales and France if the Wellington bid is successful. That is a big financial outlay!

As an end of year derby they could have Wellington Orcas vs Auckland Warriors. Sounds good but it also sounds unbelievable.

Thanks Parra!
Click to expand...
Well I heard sometime ago that that wellington sides owner was a billionair, and he wanted that team to be included in the NRL, But as you know the people who run our game, are a funny mob.:D It can only be better for the game ,but why would they want a billionair running a club in the NRL.:D
 

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Tutaki said:
Round 8
St.Helens 32 bt Wigan 14 Crowd: 24,038
Huddersfield 56 bt Wakefield 12 Crowd: 6,757
Leeds 18 bt Bradford 14 Crowd: 17,706
Les Catalans 34 bt Hull KR 20 Crowd: 6,701
London Harlequins 30 bt Hull FC 28 Crowd: 3,545
Warrington 34 bt Salford 32 Crowd: 3,177
Click to expand...

Round 9
Hull FC v Hull KR SOLD-OUT Crowd: 23,002 (Ground Record)
St Helens v Salford City Reds Crowd: 9,409
Warrington Wolves v Huddersfield Giants Crowd: 9,483
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Bradford Bulls Crowd: 9,106
Les Catalans Dragons v Harlequins Crowd: 9,200 (France)
Leeds Rhinos v Wigan Warriors Crowd: 16,465

Average from the last two weeks: 11,551
Total from last two weeks: 138,609
 
It was also a overall crowd record for the Super league.

Round total: 76,665 (record)
Round average: 12,778 (record)

I've been accused of being a right miserable so and so in previous columns this year, so here are some reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three and four.

Reason one: Put a smile on your face, because rugby league is a boom sport, and it's official.

The 76,000-plus aggregate attendance for round nine was a record and of course everyone is pointing to the marvellous crowd and occasion at the Humberside derby.

But for me the crowd that most took the breath away was the 9,000 at Catalans v Harlequins.

M62 sport, my backside. That was one up for the expansionists.

We should be shouting from the roof-tops about how popular rugby league is. It's the hottest ticket in a lot of towns and cities.

Five years ago you could not even have dreamed about a club called Harlequins playing in Perpignan against a side called Catalans. And yet on Easter Monday the fixture drew a bumper attendance.

Just shows what can be done with a little bit of vision and hard work.

Reason two: Super League is still a consistently surprising competition.

Huddersfield have been beaten in seven games out of nine and yet have a positive points difference.

Only league leaders St Helens have conceded fewer points than the bottom club Giants.

That can never have happened before in the history of rugby league, nine matches into the season.

It is testament to how evenly matched the league is right now. Some sides will have dips in form at some stages in the year, but on any given day, anyone can beat anyone.

Reason three: The success Steve McNamara is having at Bradford Bulls.

McNamara is undoubtedly a very astute and talented coach who will go on to coach Great Britain at some stage. But he took over at Odsal in daunting circumstances.

It was a big club with huge expectations, and was probably on the slide having lost Brian Noble and then several key players.

Given the fickle nature of Super League, there was a danger of McNamara falling victim to the pressures that were not of his making and he could have been lost to the sport for a long while.

Young coaches tend not to be given second chances in the modern game but he lifted Bradford last year and this season has made a very positive start.

The best way of judging a coach is by how well he recruits and how well his players respond to him. Morrison, Solomona and Platt have all been outstanding acquisitions and the Bulls have been impressive and entertaining for the most part so far this term.

Reason four: Wakefield.

Not just because of how they have performed on the field, but most importantly, the excellent job they are doing off it.

Once upon a time going to Belle Vue was a chore. It was a broken down ground with little atmosphere and seemed to be a breeding ground for Aussie journeymen. Now the match-day experience is altogether different.

The stadium is usually buzzing a good hour and a half before kick-off with loads of kids games and mini training sessions. They've done their best to spruce the place up and crowds are rising too.

Not only that, but they have got some good young British talent coming through the ranks as well.

Full marks to chief executive Steve Ferres and his team for turning the place around.

So keep smiling, the game is in good shape.

And after a bumper Easter we can all start looking forward to the Millennium Magic weekend in May when the sport will be given another national showcase to prove how vibrant it is at the moment.
Click to expand...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21629171
 
Great Stuff!!!!!!:thumbsu:

Good to see the game picking up over in the UK (still got a long way to go).
 
LebaneseForces said:
Great Stuff!!!!!!:thumbsu:

Good to see the game picking up over in the UK (still got a long way to go).
Click to expand...
The Poms are doing great over there. When the national team becomes England instead of Great Britain you will start to see even more pride and interest in rugby league.

It seems the South of England is catching the rugby league bug too. Its contagious.
 

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Tutaki said:
The Poms are doing great over there. When the national team becomes England instead of Great Britain you will start to see even more pride and interest in rugby league.

It seems the South of England is catching the rugby league bug too. Its contagious.
Click to expand...

T'stoop wasn't too packed yesterday... 10/12 teams come from somewhere along the M62, The nearest Rugbeh League club to me is about 50 Miles away, still a lot to do
 
Mr P@H said:
T'stoop wasn't too packed yesterday... 10/12 teams come from somewhere along the M62, The nearest Rugbeh League club to me is about 50 Miles away, still a lot to do
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Compare the position of rugby league in England today to rugby league in England 10 years ago. More work to do, yes but the game is moving forward in leaps and bounds over there. In 2009, the (English) Super Lejague could have teams from Wales, France, England and New Zealand. :eek:
 
Mr P@H said:
Not sure about this NZ idea, In England it is still a predominantly working class sport so i can't see Joe Bloggs from Rochdale travelling round the world to see hos team play.
Click to expand...

Joe Bloggs from Rochdale won't have to worry about travelling to Warrington let alone Wellington any time soon :p
 
Ancient and Loyal said:
Joe Bloggs from Rochdale won't have to worry about travelling to Warrington let alone Wellington any time soon :p
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Well that's true, ok Joe Bloggs from Poor, Working class, don't have a pot to piss in Wigan... those kind of people. All that wasted fumes too, and also there is the seasonal issue, going from Summer here to Winter there could affect some people
 
Tutaki said:
Yep, it was only time before Huddersfield won a game. I'll make a bold prediction and say they will be right up there for a semi finals spot at the end of the year. They are a good team, like the Wests Tigers in the NRL. Close and just waiting for a run of wins.
Click to expand...
Could this be the quote/prediction of the year?

Huddersfield 41 bt Wigan 18. It is Huddersfield's third win in a row. Tutaki knows his footy. :D
 

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