Re: Phil Clarkes Speech

jinkin jimmy · Post by **jinkin jimmy** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:35 am

I would agree. If I had to choose between Wigan/Saints and GB/Aus I would also choose Wigan. However, if I had to choose between Sale/Leicester and Wallabies/All Blacks......

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:35 am

When people say they would choose Wigan v Saints over GB v Aus I can only say what a short sighted view that is.

Sorry if that offends anyone but such attitudes are playing into the hands of the Chris Caisley's of this world and holdng the game back.

Sports that do not have a strong international side to them ultimately become minority sports and weaker. The opposite is also true. Look at the effect on cricket of the Ashes triumph last year.

It kept football of the back pages and go a bit further back to the RU world cup and look at all the coverage that sport got when England won it!

If you don't think international success matters you would be mistaken. For example as consiquence of Englands success Chester RUFC mini's section were my son plays were over run with kids wanting to try out the sport. Many of them are still there playing the game. They aren't playing Rugby League that is for sure. Kids are attracted to sucessful sports and that means international success.

So are players. Why do you think jason Robinson and Andy Farrell left? It wasn't just money. JR is now far more famous for scoring Englands try in the world cup final than FOR winning a challenge cup medal for Wigan.

I was at the GB v Aus game when Shaun Edwards was sent off and Jonathan Davies inspired a 12 man GB to a famous victory at Wembley. There were something like 60,000 on that day if memory serve me right and the atmosphere was electric.

The atmosphere at the JJB when GB v Austrial is on is as good as any Wigan v Saints match.

Getting one over on the Aussies ought to be ultimate goal of Rugby League in this country. If we give up and throw in the towel the standard of the game will continue drop. And it has dropped over the years IMO as although players my be fitter that does not automatically mean they are better.

The fact that Clarke has felt strongly enough to resign is a serious indictment of the RFL in my opinion.

Dave

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:37 am

jinkin jimmy posted:
A big factor when considering this is that our club product is good, RU and cricket is rank.

Look at the crowds club RU is now getting. It is not far off RL in their equivalent of SL. The view that club RU is seen as rank is in my opinion outdated. We may see it as such but there are planety of |RU fans who don't.

Dave

jinkin jimmy · Post by **jinkin jimmy** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:19 am

Here we go again.....

When people say they would choose Wigan v Saints over GB v Aus I can only say what a short sighted view that is.

Not short sighted. Just a personal preference that happens to differ from your own.

Sorry if that offends anyone
I don't think so!!
Sports that do not have a strong international side to them ultimately become minority sports and weaker. The opposite is also true. Look at the effect on cricket of the Ashes triumph last year.

We always have been a minority sport and that's actually how I like it. I would never go to a game again if it became as big as football. I prefer the fact that the players are real people and approacheable and that I don't have to travel great distances to watch the games.
BTW I didn't exactly see curling take the country by storm after that Olympic win.
If you don't think international success matters you would be mistaken.

I didn't say it didn't matter, I said I'd rather watch Wigan. Are you putting words into people's mouths again?
So are players. Why do you think jason Robinson and Andy Farrell left? It wasn't just money. JR is now far more famous for scoring Englands try in the world cup final than FOR winning a challenge cup medal for Wigan.

So what. We will NEVER struggle to attract players in our heartland as a result of anything Yawnion does.

was at the GB v Aus game when Shaun Edwards was sent off and Jonathan Davies inspired a 12 man GB to a famous victory at Wembley. There were something like 60,000 on that day if memory serve me right and the atmosphere was electric.

So was I and you are quite right.

The atmosphere at the JJB when GB v Austrial is on is as good as any Wigan v Saints match.

But all internationals are not played at the JJB so what is you point?

Getting one over on the Aussies ought to be ultimate goal of Rugby League in this country. If we give up and throw in the towel the standard of the game will continue drop. And it has dropped over the years IMO as although players my be fitter that does not automatically mean they are better.

Well firstly, this may come as a surprise but I'm actually more worried about tonight than the bloody Aussies. Second, we have not given up as far as I can tell. Third, If standards are dropping as you believe despite us playing more internationals now than ever before it would appear to prove that the more we play, the worse we get.

pandasdad · Post by **pandasdad** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:22 am

The club v country issue is a real one and highlighted by some of the statements made on this thread. The difference between RL and many other sports such as RU, cricket and football is that the others play fairly frequently throughout the year and therefore build up a following, whereas in RL we tend only to play a few games after our domestic season has ended - one short period per year when the players are not necessarily at their best and usually ill-prepared for the task.

Incidentally, while I wouldn't go to the end of our street to watch a cricket match (at any level!) I am an armchair RU follower. The attendances at their Premiership matches are similar to those for RL, partly because fitness levels, rule changes and RL influence have made RU a far more entertaining game than it has ever been before.

Therein lies a danger for RL in that talented youngsters may see RU as a more lucrative way forward with the prospect for the top few to be seen on a large international stage - something that RL can't currently offer.

standishcat · Post by **standishcat** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:35 am

So basically you would rather see Wigan relegated as long as GB beat the Aussies? :eh:

jinkin jimmy · Post by **jinkin jimmy** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:36 am

standishcat posted:
So basically you would rather see Wigan relegated as long as GB beat the Aussies? :eh:

:eusa2:

pandasdad · Post by **pandasdad** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:43 am

standishcat posted:
So basically you would rather see Wigan relegated as long as GB beat the Aussies? :eh:

I fail to see how you've drawn that conclusion from what I've written.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:04 am

Not a huge Phil Clarke. I think both he and Andy Clarke are not very loyal and certainly not in anything for the long haul. Motivated by self interest and what they can get out of something. Hence, they usually move on after a short spell at anything.

DaveO · Post by **DaveO** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 11:39 am

standishcat posted:
So basically you would rather see Wigan relegated as long as GB beat the Aussies? :eh:

The fact you see the two issues as linked illustratres the problem nicely.

What has one got to do with the other? Nothing.

If Wigan are relegation fodder they won't be being pestered for GB players will they!

Dave