‘RUGBY League is a punta’s graveyard’. That’s what the text from my mate said a couple of weeks ago.
I’m assuming punta was textspeak for punter and not some misspelling of an Italian two-door motor.
I’ve just deposited a little bit more into the ever-swollen funds of the Stan James betting organisation after Harlequins’ remarkable comeback against Cas in the Challenge Cup.
It’s the sixth bet on the bounce I’ve lost on the handicap and I’m not the only one scratching their heads and lobbing the form book out of the window and kicking the dog.
While it’s miserable on the pocket it goes to show just how unpredictable the game at its highest level has become.
William Hill still haven’t cottoned on to the fact backing Scott Donald as an anytime try scorer is a fairly safe number even at evens odds.
But that apart it’s a nightmare..just like Ray French’s commentary this afternoon.
I’ll give the BBC the benefit of the doubt as it’s their first outing of the season and even lovely Claire Balding was a bit rusty.
Jonathan Davies still refers to bombs as up-and-unders. Er, the Six Nations tedium is over.
But it’s poor old Ray that’s really off the pace.
Michael Worrincy touches down..cue embarrassing silence as Ray works out who’s scored.
Chris Melling kicks through and could – some one and a half hours’ later – still be kicking through for all the chances of Ray recognising him.
Heaps of pauses until players turn their backs enough to see a name.
And the feeble cut to Dwain Chambers in the stand chatting to ‘another Castleford player’.
Unless I’m mistaken that other Cas player was Joe Westerman – just about the hottest talent in the game at the moment.
So some grinning amateur gets a mention but not Joe. Poor.
There’s been considerable revisionist thinking about Eddie Waring recently on the back of a book on his life.
We’re not that desperate but there has to be someone out there who can front the Beeb’s output.
Come back John Champion..all is forgiven.