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Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

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    Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

    Sorry for a sketchy OP but I thought we needed to kick this one off.

    Saints have agreed to sell naming rights for Langtree Park to an e-cigarette company, and it becomes Totally Wicked Stadium for the five seasons 2017-2021.

    A quick look through the Super League transfers seems to show Catalans making some strong moves. (NB that page still includes HKR, and no Leigh - though you can see which SL players Leigh have signed from other teams.) Wonder if it could be enough to get them into the playoffs this time? The top four were some way clear in 2016.

    Here's one highlights package for 2016 you probably won't have seen. Chorley Panthers youth setup. Enjoy.

    So... this time next year we'll see the Kangaroos lift the World Cup, then! Though Bennett does seem to be keen to make players put country before club.

    #2
    Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

    The big talking point of the close season appears to be player exodus.

    From Super League to NRL and even players walking out to play other codes.

    Comment


      #3
      Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

      The minimum NFL salary is $465,000. It's not hard to see why anybody would take a shot at that.

      But outside of kick-returners or punter, they'd have to learn some new skills to be very useful. To be a tailback, they'd have to learn how to block and to be a receiver, no matter how fast, they'd have to grasp the nuances of running routes. To be a linebacker or safety, they'd have to learn a whole lot about reads, and shedding blocks, and pass coverage. All of that is possible, but there chances of success would be a lot higher if they made the switch in high school rather than mid-career.

      Comment


        #4
        Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

        So... this time next year we'll see the Kangaroos lift the World Cup, then! Though Bennett does seem to be keen to make players put country before club.
        Why go all the way to Dubai???

        It does sound pretty dumb to take players away from their clubs to just training.

        Comment


          #5
          Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

          There's some logic to it - a recurring problem for the England RL squad (indeed all international squads) is lack of time together, and running a camp before the start of the domestic season buys them a bit more time. Unfortunately this means it's at a time when you have to go far to train in anything other than cold and wet conditions. Leeds have been to Florida for pre-season before, Wigan based a pre-season around their World Club Challenge trip in an Australia summer. England themselves have trained in South Africa.

          Saints have in recent years had a Totally Wicked Stand, but that is taking it to new levels of embarrassment. I expect it'll be referred to as Langtree for years to come.

          The most interesting story of the year is the entry of Toronto Wolfpack, and I hope to get an early look at them as one of their early games is in Cumbria, which will be a culture shock for any locally recruited players (Fuifui Moimoi has had the pleasure previously).

          Comment


            #6
            Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

            I don't know the ins and outs of how they are filling the roster but this says that 18 North Americans have been shortlisted for the final five places in their squad.

            But yeah, this is going to be fascinating. The first proper transatlantic team in a major professional sport. And Premier have managed to wangle something out of Sky in order to show all Toronto's games on their service in the UK.

            Comment


              #7
              Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

              In fact, let's cram them into the thread title too.

              Comment


                #8
                Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                There's some logic to it - a recurring problem for the England RL squad (indeed all international squads) is lack of time together, and running a camp before the start of the domestic season buys them a bit more time. Unfortunately this means it's at a time when you have to go far to train in anything other than cold and wet conditions. Leeds have been to Florida for pre-season before, Wigan based a pre-season around their World Club Challenge trip in an Australia summer. England themselves have trained in South Africa.
                I see. Somehow I thought the season began in December. It would make more sense to do the camp right now than shortly before the season, but maybe everyone is just too knackered. The RL season, including all the playoffs, drags on a long time.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                  Leeds Rhinos hooker James Segeyaro's decision to renege on the final two years of his contract to stay in Australia has resulted in the Rhinos' decision to place a valuation of £250,000 on Segeyaro and to consider legal proceedings against him for breach of contract.

                  The Rhinos have engaged legal advisors and are currently considering all legal options available to the Club in relation to this matter.

                  Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive, Gary Hetherington, said: "We take this matter very seriously. James' decision has created a big problem for us and created uncertainty throughout our organisation.

                  "We are aware of the interest in him from a number of NRL clubs but we have our interests to protect as well and need to consider all avenues in this matter."

                  The club have also made the decision to offer fans who had Segeyaro's name an number 9 printed on their 2017 shirt the chance to exchange it for a new shirt, name and number.


                  www.rugby-league.com/superleague/article/39037/rhinos-respond-to-segeyaro-decision#sthash.Yf7Zxit9.dpuf

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                    Meanwhile, Toronto have set themselves the target of winning all of their League 1 fixtures in their debut season.

                    It's not that far-fetched, of course. There are only 14 matches to be played in the initial part of the season, and in their debut last year Toulouse managed 13 wins and one draw, and 20 wins and a draw when including the League 1 super 8s. Toronto are also going straight in as a full-time professional team.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                      Speaking of Toulouse, something about this fixture feels like it will be significant.



                      The Championship could be fascinating in 2017.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                        Hadn't realised that Olympique had moved to Blagnac (the suburb hosting the airport, Airbus, etc). They used to play at Minimes near the centre.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                          Sale Sharks have put Denny Solomona in their Champions Cup squad. The RFU have responded to the RFL, saying that they don't have the authority to take any action since they have no stake in Solomona's contract with Castleford. Legal action almost certain to follow, then.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                            Castleford Tigers note with disappointment the official announcement today of Denny Solomona signing a three-year contract with Sale Sharks.

                            Steve Gill, Castleford Tigers Chief Executive Officer said: "We have lost a quality player who scored 42 tries last season and broke the Super League try scoring record in season 2016.

                            "As a Club we always try our best to look after our players. We have strong values of honesty and integrity and that's what we endeavour to instil into all of our players and staff.

                            "If the shoe was on the other foot and Solomona had suffered a career ending injury in the last match of the season there would have been an absolute obligation on us to honour our contractual obligations. We look after our players and fully expect our players to respect their contractual commitments. Sadly and with regret Solomona has done the polar opposite and effectively and unilaterally walked away from the remaining 2 years on his contract.

                            "In August this year we made it very clear to Solomona & Sale Sharks that there was an unbreakable contract in place until the end of season 2018 with no basis whatsoever for either ourselves or Solomona to depart from each other's mutual obligations. The idea of losing the player was not welcomed by us and we have repeatedly told Sale Sharks that it would be impermissible for them to talk to Solomona let alone sign him. Clear unequivocal warnings have clearly been disregarded.

                            "Unfortunately we are not privy to what has happened over the last 3 months between Solomona and his agent but on the back of losing the player in the circumstances described and now announced by Sale we confirm that today we have issued Proceedings out of the High Court in Leeds for damages against Denny Solomona for breach of contract ( dated 20 November 2015 ) and for damages including exemplary damages against Sale Sharks Ltd & Andrew Clarke (Solomona's agent) for inducing breach of the said contract."

                            Steve Gill went on to say: "The proceedings have been issued as a last resort having failed over the last couple of weeks to try and resolve matters without the formality of court proceedings. We have confidence that the legal system will bring out all of the facts and the truth. We are fighting this not just for Castleford Tigers but also for the integrity of all sports including of course Rugby Union clubs. Our belief is that all contracts are sacrosanct in professional & amateur sports."


                            http://www.rugby-league.com/superleague/article/39078/castleford-tigers-statement-denny-solomona?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referr al#sthash.abCxhA8k.dpuf

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                              Sale's twitter announcement, and replies:
                              twitter.com/SaleSharksRugby/status/808598229155717121?ref_src="twsrc%5Etfw

                              Comment


                                #16
                                Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                If anybody is in the vicinity of Brighouse this weekend, Toronto Wolfpack will be playing a friendly/trial fixture against Rangers (1.30pm at Brighouse Sports Club).

                                One for BB&F perhaps.

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                  The Law changes and amendments were approved by the game at a meeting of the Rugby League Council held on Thursday December 15.
                                  Details of the changes are as follows:
                                  Scrums
                                  All defensive players outside the scrum, other than the scrum halves must retire ten metres or more behind the mark where the scrum is formed and shall remain until the ball has emerged correctly from the scrum. This previously stated that defensive players outside the scrum had to retire five metres or more from the scrum.
                                  Goal Line drop out
                                  The previous rule of a player being able to straddle the dead ball line or touch in-goal line and be awarded a 20m restart has now changed.
                                  Where the ball is stationary in the in-goal area comes into contact with a player in touch, in goal or over the dead ball line, the ball is deemed to have been made dead by that player. The ball must have bounced on the ground either on or over the dead ball line/touch in goal line for a 20m restart to be awarded.
                                  20 metre restarts
                                  An additional rule is now included in the 20 metre restart law that the initial tackle affected on the team taking the 20-metre optional restart shall be a zero tackle.
                                  40/20 kick
                                  The changes regarding the 40/20 law now clarify where and when the tap kick will be taken. It specifies that the tap kick will be taken 20 metres in from the touchline where the ball first crossed the touchline but no closer than 10 metres from the goal line.
                                  Markers
                                  Provides clarification on the position of markers once a tackle is complete.

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                    The coroner has ruled that the death of Ronan Costello, the 17 year old who died three days after suffering a head injury back in June was accidental. By all accounts he slipped or stumbled before the tackle causing his head or chin to come into contact first when he was tackled.

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                      Bradford Bulls liquidated. Can't link easily but it's on the BBC.

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                        Flippin'eck.
                                        http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/38418199

                                        Comment


                                          #21
                                          Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                          [url=http://www.totalrl.com/rfl-issue-statement-bradford-bulls/]

                                          RFL statement

                                          To clarify the next steps for all concerned, the independent RFL Board has met to determine how the future of professional Rugby League in Bradford can move forward in 2017. While a number of alternatives were considered the Board were most mindful of the planning already undertaken by all other clubs in the competition structure, the season tickets already purchased and the players and staff who will now be seeking employment in and around the sport in 2017. Accordingly the Board has agreed that the wider interests of the sport is best satisfied if it offers a place in the Kingstone Press Championship to any new club in Bradford and that such a club start the 2017 season on minus twelve points.

                                          Comment


                                            #22
                                            Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                            There must be a mountain of paperwork in getting Bradford Phoenix ready in four and a half weeks. But let's hope.

                                            Might change the thread title - the Totally Wicked thing is grating on me now.

                                            Suggestions? To ronto and beyond? Bulls up? Bulls shit?

                                            Comment


                                              #23
                                              Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                              What the hell happened? A good, or at least concise, report on their plight would be much appreciated.

                                              From best I could tell they were in debt, transferred their leasehold of Odsal to the RFL to keep the creditors away from it, the bank then closed their overdraft, this created a tax liability and I have no idea what is going on.

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                                                #24
                                                Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                                I don't suppose there's any chance that the regenerated club could re-adopt the 'Northern' suffix?

                                                Comment


                                                  #25
                                                  Bully's Special Prize: Rugby League 2017

                                                  Ray de Galles wrote: I don't suppose there's any chance that the regenerated club could re-adopt the 'Northern' suffix?
                                                  This is possibly controversial, but has no one in Bradford considered approaching Dietrich Mateschitz to see if the Bradford Red Bulls might have any wings?

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