tag:,2008:/379 2008-06-29T21:59:08Z Latest thoughts on the Giants, and rugby as a whole Movable Type 3.31 tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.50623 2008-06-29T21:57:45Z 2008-06-29T21:59:08Z

ENGLAND were mighty impressive against France on Friday night and it’s difficult to point the finger at anyone who didn’t enhance their claims on a World Cup place. Peter Fox wouldn’t get a sniff if Gareth Raynor had been available...

The Mole ENGLAND were mighty impressive against France on Friday night and it’s difficult to point the finger at anyone who didn’t enhance their claims on a World Cup place. Peter Fox wouldn’t get a sniff if Gareth Raynor had been available and I’d have gone for Rikki Sheriffe on that wing if fit. But Fox took his chance well. Pity the likes of Joe Westerman and, you know, Richard Moore won’t get a chance at that level before the tournament. The logic of picking a team based on the best two sides in the competition also worked. All those Leeds and Saints combinations fired and coach Tony Smith quietly oozes confidence. I somehow have way more faith in him already than I’ve ever had in Brian Noble. And Martin Gleeson finally looked like he was awake on international duty. But for commentator Phil Clarke to say “when he’s on form he’s perhaps the best centre in the world” is rather silly – even for Sky and their hype. He wasn’t the best English centre on that pitch. That honour is still held by Keith Senior, 87. He isn’t the best centre in Super League. I’d put Adam Mogg, Matt Gidley and Shontayne Hape above him. Actually forget Hape. He’s scuttled off to play the Eton wall game or some other minority sport now so doesn’t count. And when you start looking at the riches on offer Down Under, Clarke’s claim becomes rather embarrassing. Is Gleeson really better that Greg Inglis, Matt Cooper, Mark Gasnier, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate and Jamie Lyon? Clarke’s TV pal Eddie Hemmings recently said Paul Wellens was the best full-back in the world. And I couldn’t agree with him more. No contest. Karmichael Hunt, Billy Slater? Nobodies. However I must stress that last paragraph was written with a rather large saucepan poised above my bonce. The unofficial secretary of his unofficial fan club was wielding it and sometimes in life it’s better to agree than disagree. Or maybe it..OUCH that hurts. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.50414 2008-06-25T18:06:25Z 2008-06-25T18:08:07Z

GIANTS must be licking their lips at the prospect of taking on form team Saints on Sunday. And Cas will be even more up for it than normal (if that’s at all possible) when they travel to Headingley on Saturday...

The Mole GIANTS must be licking their lips at the prospect of taking on form team Saints on Sunday. And Cas will be even more up for it than normal (if that’s at all possible) when they travel to Headingley on Saturday to face Rhinos. On the face of it they should be daunting trips to the homes of the best two teams in the competition. But there’s a certain farcical fixture on Friday night which levels the playing field somewhat. Saints and Leeds provide 13 of the 19 man squad for the England international against France in Toulouse with Saints edging it with seven representatives. With James Graham and Maurie Fa’asavalu certain to play that means with Nick Fozzard and Jason Cayless crocked all four first choice St Helens props will be unavailable against Giants. Saints also lose Super League’s leading try scorer in Ade Gardner plus Paul Wellens, James Roby, Leon Pryce and Jon Wilkin. Leeds are without both halfbacks in Rob Burrow and Danny Maguire, Keith Senior out wide and half their pack in Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis and Kevin Sinfield. Leeds, of course, also lose loan signing Eric Anselme to the French squad. In Australia players back up in the following 48 hours after the mid-season Friday game against the Kiwis And there have been noises over here about players doubling up but that is ludicrous. It is vital England play a mid-season game to warm up for the World Cup but it should stand alone on a weekend set aside. But that would be all too simple wouldn’t it? Instead clubs continue to play a random number of fixtures when they should just play each team twice. And then the RFL chuck this game into the mix. Can you imagine that charmer Alex Ferguson copping this nonsense for Man United if they lost half their side for a weekend? Me neither. But I can imagine Maurie Fa’asavalu running over the top of him when he’s sitting in one of those ludicrous armchairs in the Old Trafford dugout. But that’s another story. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.48567 2008-06-03T23:54:57Z 2008-06-04T00:03:46Z

INTERESTING letter from a gentleman in the latest edition of Classic Rock magazine.* It says "excellent review of the new Def Leppard album. I agree that the great track Love sounds like Queen. However the Queen track it has most...

The Mole INTERESTING letter from a gentleman in the latest edition of Classic Rock magazine.* It says "excellent review of the new Def Leppard album. I agree that the great track Love sounds like Queen. However the Queen track it has most in common with is not We Are the Champions but Jealousy from the 1978 Jazz album”. The letter is from Andy Gregory (Dream of Icarus). Nobody in the current Wigan team will be singing We Are The Champions in the near future but if anyone is entitled to it's Andy Gregory. Last time I'd heard, the legendary fridge-shaped scrum-half was in charge of Blackpool Panthers then he was savaged by a rottweiler. I'm not sure which of those is worse but I will hazard a guess who came off second best in the man/dog skirmish. At the time Greg said: "I had to fight the dog and punched it several times in the face to make it let go." I seem to recall him saying something similar when he's finished piling into Les Boyd and Kurt Sorenson. But Greg a closet Freddie Mercury lover? Surely not. And what's all that Dream of Icarus nonsense? It's clearly an imposter emerging briefly from his latest torn Terry Pratchett novel to make contact with the outside world. There's only one Andy Gregory in my world. And he's not a Queen fan. *It was in the dentist's waiting room/a friend lent me it/I'm sad - delete where applicable. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.48360 2008-05-31T22:16:35Z 2008-06-04T23:55:05Z

BOY I was excited today..at last the Sex and the City movie. After all those months of waiting, the gossip, the rumours, finally the chance I’d been waiting for. So when the girlfriend cleared off to watch it with her...

The Mole ]]> http://www.tshirtsville.com will send me a free one. There, did it, and I’m a medium.]]> tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.47318 2008-05-20T10:31:12Z 2008-05-20T10:42:06Z

POOR Jon Sharp. Sacked by Hull after a shoddy start to the season. I know they're trotting out the old 'leaving by mutual consent' line but I don't believe it. The departure came a few hours after Graham Murray quit...

The Mole ]]> I’m still convinced Murray will eventually replace Paul Cullen at Warrington but don’t rule him out at Hull. I don't know what FC fans make of it but where did the club's chief exec James Rule seriously expect the club to be after all their injuries? Has there ever been a club in Super League with so many knocks to so many key players? Richard Whiting bust his leg on Sunday joining an ever expanding list of crocks. If anyone's position at the club should be put into question I would say it is that of Rule's. Last week Hull were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the Challenge Cup. Prop Jamie Thackray played two games despite being signed after the competition deadline closed. They should have been chucked out of the competition yet all the RFL did was give Hull a slap and wrist and say 'don't do it again'. Rule said he would take the rap, adding: "So as far as people need someone to blame they can put the blame at my door." Well that's that then. I blame him and it's time he left 'by mutual consent' too. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.47315 2008-05-20T10:26:00Z 2008-05-20T10:30:12Z

MICHAEL Lawrence looked mighty impressive from the clips I've seen of Giants thumping win over Hull KR. But I'm afraid he can forget about any thoughts of a glittering international future. Why? Because Stevo has tipped him for the top....

The Mole ]]> Not one for understatement when he can SHOUT about EVERYTHING and HYPE it UP, Stevo was asked how far he thinks Lawrence can go? Stevo said he could be an all-time great. So there you have it..a couple of tries and a big game against a Hull KR side that, according to their coach, simply didn't turn up and Lawrence is the next Garry Schofield. I genuinely hope Lawrence does scale those heights. Her certainly has potential and the build although his teammates' nickname Bruno displays a lack or originality on a Stevo scale. Great Britain, sorry England, are lacking any strength in depth in the centres. Keith Senior is still ploughing a lone furrow but Martin Gleeson doesn't threaten enough when it really matters. The Leeds production line looks to have unearthed a gem in Kalum Watkins but it's too early for him to shine in this World Cup. Then again he could score a try against Bradford on Thursday and Stevo will have him captaining Tony Smith's boys against Papua New Guinea in the opener before the opener. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.46097 2008-05-07T10:25:16Z 2008-05-07T10:32:19Z

GIANTS fans must be gutted after St Helens decided to rename Knowsley Road. Saints' battered old cesspit will now be known as the GWP Recruitment Stadium. Really trips off the tongue that. And in doing so the wise old heads...

The Mole GIANTS fans must be gutted after St Helens decided to rename Knowsley Road. Saints' battered old cesspit will now be known as the GWP Recruitment Stadium. Really trips off the tongue that. And in doing so the wise old heads at Saints who raked in some cash have knocked off Huddersfield from their perch as the worst stadium name. Featherstone's Chris Moyles Stadium runs them close. Awful name, awful human being. But the Galpharm (self-harm would be more appropriate at the moment) is now officially consigned to send place. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.46094 2008-05-07T10:20:31Z 2008-05-07T10:24:37Z

SOME slippery thoughts on the second Millennium Magic weekend.. First up what a try-tastic, try-errific feast of rugby. In the home of the best rah-rah side in Europe, ahem, there were 62 tries scored in six games - that's 12...

The Mole SOME slippery thoughts on the second Millennium Magic weekend.. First up what a try-tastic, try-errific feast of rugby. In the home of the best rah-rah side in Europe, ahem, there were 62 tries scored in six games - that's 12 more than the entire 15-game Six Nations. Wigan fool-back Richie Mathers will never want to see one of them again after being swatted off rather pathetically by Jon Wilkin in the final encounter. And there were at least two other tries scored in that game that I blame entirely on the awful playing surface. Sean O'Loughlin lost his footing in the build-up to Sean Long's second try and Paul Wellens slipped when Thomas Leuluai burrowed over at the beginning of the second half. Mathers went down like a dying Drogba every time he fielded a kick return. The Quins v Cataland game was littered with similar incidents. And yet no-one can explain why the roof is shut, causing the pitch to sweat and fabulous athletes to resemble Norman Wisdom on It's A Knockout. It's no good trying to salvage any common sense from the bickering tedium of Eddie, Stevo, Barrie and Terry. And when Sky wheeled out RFL chief exec Nigel Wood - and they'd need a big set of wheels - he said it was to "protect against the weather". What weather? I didn't go to Cardiff this year but 12 months ago it was a glorious hot, sunny day while we sat inside. This year it wasn't raining. Yet the roof was shut as it was for the Challenge Cup finals played there. Grand finals are meant to be played under floodlights – not Cup finals. So it’s time to move on from Cardiff. Crowds were not up significantly enough to suggest the great Welsh public has embraced the event. Sure, Sky and RFL will tell us the people of Wales love it. But they would, wouldn’t they? Let’s go to Edinburgh or Dublin. First up there are more hotels in two cities better suited to coping with hordes of drunken invaders. Ah yes. There are more pubs too and considerably better ones than Cardiff. I’m not too sure the Scots would give a toss about RL but maybe the Irish would. And I’m certainly not suggesting it as some kind of expansionist route into Ireland but, marketed correctly, I think they’d bite. But that’s half the problem..’marketed correctly’ and rugby league never go in the same sentence. Nice gesture by Cas after their weekend whupping at the hands of Wakefield and that legendary Scotsman Danny McBrough. They’ve offered fans discount on tickets and merchandise if they produce their Magic ticket. Wigan should do the same after their lackluster effort against Saints. And if Giants continue their run – six games without a win and one victory in nine – when will they start dishing out gree goodies to the disgruntled? Jon Sharp linked with the Catalans job too. Uneasy times at the Galpharm. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.45687 2008-05-01T10:57:19Z 2008-05-01T11:18:58Z

FUNNIEST incident of the week that didn’t involve Dwain Chambers? That Richard Moore interview after his monstering performance for Wakefield against Harlequins. Apart from the fact there was something weird stuck to the side of his head, the big fella...

The Mole Apart from the fact there was something weird stuck to the side of his head, the big fella managed to use the phrase ‘you know’ 22 times in two sentences.]]> It makes a change from the usual ‘like I say’ – as favoured by Paul Sculthorpe and David Beckham (is that some subconscious advertising thing from Gillette?). But the more he, you know, said it the funnier, you know, it got. So for those of you who missed it and for those of you who didn’t but, you know, just want to marvel at it again here’s the first sentence with, you know, a mere 14 of them. Question is posed by Overtobillonthesidelines Arthur.. Richard Moore: “John didn’t have to say much YU KNOW I think the boys knew what we’d done wrong YU KNOW we can’t afford to give silly penalties away on the last tackle YU KNOW us go forward YU KNOW us push YU KNOW first half YU KNOW there were more of it there it just showed in the second half YU KNOW if the push and people going forward these half backs can play on the back of it YU KNOW Danny Brough YU KNOW Jamie Rooney YU KNOW quality players YU KNOW but they need us big players to take em forward YU KNOW me and Ricky said to each other at half time YU KNOW we need to go forward and we did it in the second half (pause) YU KNOW.” So there you have it. I was laughing too much to write down the second sentence but, YU KNOW, there were seven more. Thing is, while I’m smirking at him – from a suitably safe distance – I’d love to see him in an England shirt at the World Cup. Big, daft and YU KNOW up for it. Perfect. YU KNOW… tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.45237 2008-04-26T09:49:59Z 2008-04-28T00:49:22Z

AT the risk of sounding a bit like Stevo here..have we just witnessed the game of the year? I’m talking about last night’s thrill-a-minute contest between Warrington and Saints. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game where both teams...

The Mole AT the risk of sounding a bit like Stevo here..have we just witnessed the game of the year? I’m talking about last night’s thrill-a-minute contest between Warrington and Saints. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game where both teams looked capable of scoring every time they got their paws on the ball. ]]> tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.44628 2008-04-19T20:54:27Z 2008-04-19T20:55:22Z

‘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...

The Mole ‘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. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.44103 2008-04-13T22:42:27Z 2008-04-13T22:50:15Z

CONGRATULATIONS to the sloths at the RFL on the appointment of a new Customer Service Centre Manager (whatever that is). They’ve decided to bring some youth and vigour to the role and as you can see below the new man...

The Mole ]]> The move comes on the back of one of those dunderheaded incidents that occur all too often in our beloved game. On Tuesday after lunch the postie delivered a glossy brochure and letter from the RFL (remember when there were two deliveries a day and the first one was before you went to school/work?). The letter is from a Kevan Williams, the former Customer blah blah, and the first line is this.. “As a valued supporter of Rugby League we wanted you to be one of the first to know about the action-packed season coming up”. That would be fine if I wasn’t writing this after round eleven has finished. The RFL also kindly included a fixture list for me to plan my games. Giants’ opener against Leeds Rhinos at the Galpharm Stadium looks tasty. Well it would do if it hadn’t already taken place over two months ago. At least the lovely brochure gives details of the Millennium Magic weekend which, magically, didn’t happen a fortnight ago. Last year I also received a brochure from the RFL giving a detailed stadium plan and ticket deals so I duly called them to book several weekend tickets in the best seats. “Already sold out of those,” said the pleasant chap in Leeds. Brilliant. Still, now the RFL have appointed someone with an obvious love for the game coupled with boundless enthusiasm, surely this won’t happen again next year. Surely the RFL will learn from its mistakes? Nah. You know there’s about as much chance of that as Sean Long keeping the same daft hairstyle until the end of the season. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.43393 2008-04-07T11:49:36Z 2008-04-07T11:50:18Z

APOLOGIES to Henry Paul. Pre-season I said he was past it. Well as Warrington and now Hull KR will testify he’s far from it. Missing Mark McLinden and Scott Hill for both games and Danny Orr for the Wire slog,...

The Mole APOLOGIES to Henry Paul. Pre-season I said he was past it. Well as Warrington and now Hull KR will testify he’s far from it. Missing Mark McLinden and Scott Hill for both games and Danny Orr for the Wire slog, Paul has been asked to step up and he’s done it. I watched him pulling the strings on Saturday and while there are better players in the Quins side – Rob Purdham was superb – our Henry was never far from the thick of it. Ok, he still passes the ball like Dwain Chambers but that’s what spells on the dark side do for you. I also implied at the start of the season that Warrington coach Paul Cullen talked nonsense. I’m sticking with that. After one try in their last two games how much longer will the Wolves stick with him? It’s not football and they are still fourth in the table so there’ll be no mid-season madness sacking. But unless they win something I fear there’ll be a new face at the Tesco car park next season. Graham Murray is my bet. He’s been released by North Queensland Cowboys for next season and has experience of Super League with Leeds. More importantly he can coach and a Warrington side with someone who can do that at the helm will be an entirely different prospect to the current mob. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.43307 2008-04-06T11:41:50Z 2008-04-06T11:43:13Z

INTERESTING to see the latest Rugby Leaguer looking down its nose at the Daily Mirror. In the Upfront editorial about Dwain Chambers’ hilarious attempts to make it in RL there’s a sneering reference to a Mirror headline and ‘that particular...

The Mole INTERESTING to see the latest Rugby Leaguer looking down its nose at the Daily Mirror. In the Upfront editorial about Dwain Chambers’ hilarious attempts to make it in RL there’s a sneering reference to a Mirror headline and ‘that particular tabloid’. Well, the Cockney cowboys on Mirror sport certainly have many faults. Many many faults. But one thing even they wouldn’t stoop to is the level of schoolboy tomfoolery the Rugby Leaguer exhibits on a caption for a Pennine League game. When your name’s Keith Muff, it’s surely every journalist’s dream to receive a photograph of you in the act of, er, leaping over the line for a try. So on page 31 we have Mr Muff (stop tittering at the back) doing just that. The caption states ‘Sharlston’s Keith Muff dives over the line against Clayton’. Well done chaps. Good job Kevin Dick isn’t still playing. tag:huddersfield-giants.examiner.co.uk,2008://379.42801 2008-03-31T14:39:32Z 2008-03-31T14:45:29Z

THANKS a lot Castleford. Thanks for making rugby league a laughing stock. Inviting Dwain Chambers into the fold is the most shameful act of the season. Our game doesn’t need a posturing ex-drug cheat and by the sounds of things...

The Mole ]]> Matterson was quick to distance himself from it after Cas were thumped by the Bulls on Sunday. Chambers had already appeared in the News of the World – where else? - that morning in a Tigers top. The Daily Mirror wasted no time pinning their colours to the mast on the Saturday morning with the headline ‘Drugby League’. And while their coverage of the game is clueless, their attitude sums up what the outsider must think. There’s been a suggestion this will help Cas in their submission for a super league franchise. Surely they were already guaranteed one. I’d go the other way and chuck them out of the reckoning. Tough on the fans, yes, and tough on Matterson. But would they have tried this if there were still promotion and relegation? I doubt it very much as the last thing you need when you’re propping up the table is some bloke who's 30 on Saturday who’s never played the game before and by all accounts failed at Gridiron because he couldn’t catch the ball. Killing their franchise hopes would send out a clear message. Leave cheap publicity stunts to football. And leave Chambers out in the cold where he belongs.