Alex2201

My mate is a Castleford fan and is convinced that Phil Bentham hates them.

As a Warrington fan I love Ben Thaler

I dont think that you should have 2 refs on the field. I would like SL to follow the NRL with the bunker but as you stated lack of funds is a problem for SL.

Gordon Barlow

It would surely confuse things if international games had two refs on the field. It seems clear to me that English refs are very hard on fumbles (whether they're knocked forward or not) and easy on forward passes, while Australian refs take the opposite line on both incidents. Have you noticed that, or is it just me?

(I've no idea whether it's a hemisphere-thing or not; I expect NZ refs would be the same as Oz, and France the same as England.)

Alex2201

I think that is a fair assessment of the current refs. There are plenty of time that I am watching the NRL and thinking that they are getting away with it as such particularly on the forward passes. I do think that there are a couple of Super League refs who are too picky with knock ons. Ben Thaler springs to mind.

Gordon Barlow

I've just watched a replay of Lebanon's defeat of France in the World Cup. It was probably only France's Seconds team, but still... And Lebanon has more local support than France, but still...! One of France's tries was from an obvious forward-pass, too.

Gordon Barlow

Is anybody else watching the RL World Cup? I caught the tail-end of Lebanon's defeat of France. That will teach France to field its seconds in a tournament! Lebanon, though, eh? Many of them spoke with Aussie accents, which showed where they play their footie; but I did hear the ref speak to one of them in French, telling him the tackle-number! Unfortunately, most of the games have been walkovers, which haven't been any fun to watch: USA, Scotland...

Gordon Barlow

James. I just happened to catch a glimpse of a table on Sky Sports yesterday that showed TORONTO at the top! I didn't even know Sky followed any club games outside England and Australia, but there it was! So I have to ask you: was that Canada's First division, or something less?

Turtle

No, Gordon, that's is the Championship tier in the English league! One level below Superleague. The Toronto Wolfpack are the first professional transatlantic sports team, i.e. based in North America but playing in an English league. With a bit of luck and some hard work they'll be playing the likes of Wigan & St Helens in the next couple of years.

JamesM

Yup! What Turtle said!

I've just taken another season ticket for the Wolfpack and despite having only played one home game they look on course to be in the Super League next year.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to ticket prices at that point as they were given a chastening defeat by Warrington in the Challenge Cup last weekend so will need to really upgrade the squad to keep winning.

Gordon Barlow

Well, gosh! I couldn't be more delighted to know that a Canadian club is playing in the English League. Excuse my ignorance! Sky-USA is very lax in scheduling RL matches, from England and Australia, and they only do the Premier Division of each; so I catch the matches only when I'm lucky.

I have to say I prefer to watch the NRL games - a noticeably higher standard, I think; and the players are fitter and faster. But the worst RL game is better than the best RU game, so I shouldn't grumble!

Gordon Barlow

I've just now been watching Toronto playing Leigh, on Sky Sports. A dreadfully scrappy game, I have to say; TO's defending has been poor - certainly not up to the standard I would expect from the Championship leaders!

Alex2201

I am a Warrington fan. I watched the Challenge Cup game. I thought that Toronto conducted themselves disgracefully tbh and was wholly disappointed with the game. It was such a shame given how Toronto started the match. It looked like it could be a genuine contest until they fell apart discipline wise. It became a farce and perhaps the pasting will do them some good.

How is the atmosphere at the games? I am trying to move from NB to ON and plan on attending once there. How was the game v Warrington perceived by the TO fans?

I am actually off home this week and will be going to Warrington v Wigan Challenge Cup Quarter final on Saturday .....COYW!!!!

Alex2201

That was scrappy and quite the arm wrestle between two very even teams. I think that Toronto will be top of the championship but are short of defensive quality. They will need to be much better organised when facing Super League teams. What was interesting was how Toronto were roundly booed at the end of the game by the Summer Bash crowd. I wonder if their reputation has been tarnished by their conduct in the Cup v Warrington?

Did you catch any of the other Summer Bash games? Toulouse v London was certainly entertaining

Gordon Barlow

Wow! I've just been watching the State of Origin game from Melbourne on one of the ESPNs - fast and furious, and a very high standard, especially in defence. Anybody else catch it? I have to say the Australian games are of a higher standard than the English games, generally speaking - although of course England has no equivalent of the Origin games.

JamesM

Unfortunately it's on at a ridiculous time when you are in Canada so I didn't see the State of Origin.

I do regard the State of Origin as the best Rugby League in the world though. In essence you get the highest standard Australian players going at it and both states would beat the other international Rugby League teams. It's a great contest.

I went to the WolfPack home opener yesterday where they avenged their early season loss to the London Broncos. A lot more Brits in the crowd which made for great banter. It's a shame though that beer has gone up there this season. The Wolfpack look on course for the Super League next year and it'll be interesting to see what happens to prices then.

Gordon Barlow

I just caught the second half of Origin 2. What a cracking standard it was! Anybody's game, really.