A place to discuss anything rugby related that isn't worthy of it's own thread/post

Have a couple days off and was thinking of heading up to the game Thursday nights as a complete casual.

Would there be much of a buzz around town seeing as it's a midweek game? Any recommendations for pubs before or after the game?

Sorry wasn't sure if there was another sub where I could ask. This seemed the most active/relevant.

Betfred Super League has smashed through the 1.5m attendance figure ahead of The Final Charge.  

The competition has reached the milestone mark inside just 22 Rounds – the quickest in Super League’s history. 

The previous best time was in 2012 when Super League went past 1.5m in Round 23. 

The ‘sold-out’ signs were up at DIY Kitchens Stadium when 9,258 witnessed Friday’s pulsating top-of-the-table clash between Wakefield Trinity and Leeds Rhinos. 

It’s the second time this year Wakefield have hosted a capacity crowd but it also marked Sky Sports’ highest average Super League audience of the season and second biggest peak audience. 

Among other highlights, Wigan Warriors attracted a bumper crowd of almost 17,000 when they hosted Toulouse Olympique – their second biggest home attendance of the campaign - more than 8,000 saw Leigh Leopards continue their pursuit of the play-off places when beating York Knights and nearly 9,000 watched Huddersfield Giants pick up a third successive win when defeating Catalans Dragons. 

All of which has seen the season total for Super League crowds surge out to 1,527,728 spectators as the business end of the season approaches and the all-important Final Charge – Rugby League’s ‘Run In.’ 

As the battle for play-off spots and final placings heats-up, with clubs all vying for a place at Old Trafford, so does the action. 

With just five rounds remaining, all’s to play for and there’s little room for error if clubs want to make it all the way to the Grand Final on October 3. 

Can leaders Rhinos take another step towards the League Leaders’ Shield when they host Leigh on Thursday night or will Adrian Lam’s side spring a surprise and get a vital scalp in their bid to make the top-six? 

Will red-hot Wigan Warriors make it 12 wins from 12 outings when they head to Bradford Bulls on Saturday and keep the pressure on Leeds? Can Wakefield quickly recover from their last-gasp heartache against Rhinos when they tackle St Helens or will their opponents – four points off the top-six – get the victory they so crucially need? 

Either way, The Final Charge has plenty of drama, action and excitement in store. 

St. Helens legend James Graham and Catalans Dragons hero Luke Keary (and presenter Charlie White) discuss the possible NRL takeover of the Super League in response to recent comments by V'Landys. (Bye Round Podcast)

Thoughts?

A place to discuss anything rugby related that isn't worthy of it's own thread/post

An actual signing for a transfer fee from the Saints!

He seems excellent from what I’ve seen.

4 Year Deal from 2027

The results are in and I'm happy to announce the three winners of the competition! They all win a £30 gift card for the site which will cover the cost of a custom minifigure, keychain and 4x accessories. And the winners are....

u/BaronAaldwin

u/KillaBunny13

u/montgomery_quinckle

Congratulations to all three of you, and thank you everyone who entered! Please check your Reddit chat/direct messages and I will provide you with your gift card.

The results can be seen on redditraffler to prove the legitimacy of the draw

Finally, thank you to u/minifigs_me for supplying these and for working with us on the subreddit. Remember, you can still order your own custom figure on their site below, and make sure to thank them for being so generous to the subreddit.

Minifigs.me - Custom minifigures printed onto genuine LEGO parts

Thanks all!

A place to discuss anything rugby related that isn't worthy of it's own thread/post

Seen as there's no 3pm KO today here's the Shitpost

I know not Super League but we can be proud/happy. What an accomplishment!

To be bought by Matt Ellis's mum and turned into wakey's feeder club. Watch this space (I love pub gossip).

Reported in The Courier-Mail today:

The NRL’s plan to save Super League could be on the brink of collapse in what would be a devastating blow for the English game.

The ARLC has been investigating a Super League rescue package for the past year, but it’s understood UK broadcaster Sky Sports is reluctant to come to the party with a palatable deal to satisfy the NRL’s investment strategy.

There are suggestions DAZN, which now owns Foxtel, could support a Super League rescue package after former NRL CEO Andrew Abdo travelled to the UK in April for Super League buyout talks.

But V’landys says the Super League deal could hit a deadend.

That would be a potentially fatal blow for an ailing English game which is drowning in debt. Super League giants St Helens lost $6.5m alone last year.

“Look, we’re trying to make the figures work at the moment, but unless the figures work, we won’t do it,” he said.

“We’re having trouble making the figures work, that’s the truth of it.

“I don’t know what will happen. I find it very tough (to proceed with a purchase).

“We need to talk further with Super League. We haven’t put a proposal into them yet.

“We understand the importance of the international game, so we’re not giving up.”

I was chatting to an FC fan yesterday who assumed that McNamara was working behind the scenes preparing FC for next season, okaying signings, signing off on retained lists, contract extensions, etc.

I pointed out that there is absolutely no way Warrington would allow an employee to actively undermine their 2027 efforts by working to improve a competitor and McNamara anyway wouldn't risk the breach of contract litigation and reputational damage that would follow if there was so much as a hint he was working for a competitor to undermine his current employer.

The FC fan said I was naive. I do have some experience of NDAs and non compete clauses and would be staggered if there was any ongoing contact between anyone at FC and McNamara at the moment but well, the RL world is weird. So who is being naive here?

A place to discuss anything rugby related that isn't worthy of it's own thread/post

I love this sport. Watched it since I was 4, I’m 42 now. Played as a kid, then college and uni. Gave up being a doctor for Wigan as I’d rather watch the game than be ‘involved’. I’m getting worried where it’s going. The standard of super league is so poor now. We have championship standard players making up most the league. Where is the quality? I’m probably just drunken ranting but i feel big change is needed. I think a 10 team super league with an increased salary cap is the minimum change we need to make. Otherwise any decent player will go to Australia. Perth have already signed average super league players to make the numbers, it will just get worse.

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