I understand that you had to build up a squad last year. You retained Beswick, Smith, Gaskell, Dodd and added some decent players to them. I fully understand this and that Widnes are a decent team. However, I constantly read what a good team you were last season in the rugby press and on various forums. I remember reading in the trade press that you should be awarded a franchise ahead of the likes of Leigh, due to the quality of your squad. I am not saying that you thought this, but take it fom me, I had to hear and read how you were a very talented squad of players all season. It is simply my opinon, that you were not then and you are not now and I was puzzled by the hype that surrounded you based on your playing squad. You must understand me being puzzled by the comments in the rugby press when I kew that Leigh had beaten you three times last season. You may have recognised that you were not that great last season and credit to you for that, but many people didn't share your opinion.

I havent once said we were great last year, We have appeared in numerous grand finals over the past few years without winning any except the Northern rail cup. I suppose this is what the press pick up on, and they seemed to think we were hard done by for a franchise as did we the fans. If they stated we were great on the pitch then so be it

And I think you will. Like you say your stadium, crowds (at the mo) and off field structure should see you into super league next time.

However by the time the next round of applications come round there could be Fax, Widnes, Leigh, Donny, Fev and more all in the same position. Plus the RL well no doubt already their mind made up about one team and they are extremely unlikely to remove Celtic or quins no matter how poorly they are doing.

I admire Widnes for the crowds that they get and they have a nice little stadium, like some others in this league. I understand that every club in this league needs ambition and I think it stinks that the Super League have shut up shop. However, now it is clear that there is no chance for any team in this league to gain promotion,you really should IMO concentrate on promoting your own league and enjoy what is, in my opinion, a very good comp. I like the way you seem to do this on this forum. I honestly believe there will be no promotion in three years time either and that your clubs should break away instead of being at the beck and call of the fat cats at the RFL. Make your own league the envy of others. Every Super League team now contains on average about eight foreign players and that is why there is so much talent in this league. Years ago , many of your players would be plying their trade in the higher echelons of the game, but now their place is being taken by an overseas man. I love foreign players being part of our game over here, but the sheer volume of them, is ridiculous. This season, I admire Leigh, because in virtually all their games, they have taken to the field without any foreigners and have proved that you can be reasonably successful when doing this. Yes. They do not have a lot of cash to splash anyway, but they were on the verge of signing a good stand off from Canterbury Bulldogs, but it fell through and they have left it at that. It is IMO all wrong. A large chunk of the best British talent is playing in the lower divisions, when they should be playing at the highest level and thus would be more prepared to face the Aussies and Kiwis. I understand that it would be extremely difficult to break away and form a stronger league than Super League, obviously due to them having all the Sky TV money, but it is just a dream I have. The Super League want your clubs grovelling to them and want you to be totally at their mercy and this really frustrates me. Forget them, for now at least and enjoy this comp. Sorry that this has drifted off topic.

Got to give you a round of applause for this post.Would love people to wake up and make this League the best it can be.When you think the non-Super League clubs far outway thier SuperLeague counterparts but when our reps` leave the RFL meetings we seem to be left with the scraps all the time.The reason is because the RFL have us all chasing the Super League dream all the time.When they all voted for the non relegation bit why did not the non Super League clubs get together and demand our league had a great deal more money put in or another cup to play for.I am not saying I wouldn`t want to be in Super League I would but the ones in the lower leagues should not be looked upon as merely feeder clubs for Soooper Dooooper League.

Well, Mr Cullen's "self demolition job" at Widnes is happening faster than I thought! Cracks are starting to appear on the Widnes message board, small cracks but cracks nonetheless .... viewtopic.php?t=408374 Maybe, just maybe, one day the stinky fans will wake up and smell the coffee ... that they have employed a totally and utterly inept coach ... the "Alan Shearer" of Rugby League ... yes ..... "You should have stayed on the tellie .. stayed on the telllleeee ... you should have stayed on the telllllleeeeeeeeee ..." Widnes are getting visibly worse, their results are getting worse, and this "well, he's inherited a bad team" is total bow locks. Also interesting to see that the team Tony Smith indirectly inherited from Cullen is now significantly more competitive. Oh yes, soon we'll see Vikingman change his signature Am I right? I'M NOT WRONG!

Well, Mr Cullen's "self demolition job" at Widnes is happening faster than I thought! Cracks are starting to appear on the Widnes message board, small cracks but cracks nonetheless .... viewtopic.php?t=408374 Maybe, just maybe, one day the stinky fans will wake up and smell the coffee ... that they have employed a totally and utterly inept coach ... the "Alan Shearer" of Rugby League ... yes ..... "You should have stayed on the tellie .. stayed on the telllleeee ... you should have stayed on the telllllleeeeeeeeee ..." Widnes are getting visibly worse, their results are getting worse, and this "well, he's inherited a bad team" is total bow locks. Also interesting to see that the team Tony Smith indirectly inherited from Cullen is now significantly more competitive. Oh yes, soon we'll see Vikingman change his signature Am I right? I'M NOT WRONG!

Quote ="Tony Fax"Well, Mr Cullen's "self demolition job" at Widnes is happening faster than I thought! Cracks are starting to appear on the Widnes message board, small cracks but cracks nonetheless .... viewtopic.php?t=408374 Maybe, just maybe, one day the stinky fans will wake up and smell the coffee ... that they have employed a totally and utterly inept coach ... the "Alan Shearer" of Rugby League ... yes ..... "You should have stayed on the tellie .. stayed on the telllleeee ... you should have stayed on the telllllleeeeeeeeee ..." Widnes are getting visibly worse, their results are getting worse, and this "well, he's inherited a bad team" is total bow locks. Also interesting to see that the team Tony Smith indirectly inherited from Cullen is now significantly more competitive. Oh yes, soon we'll see Vikingman change his signature Am I right? I'M NOT WRONG!'" You speak total bull and should not be let loose with a keyboard and mouse.

Quote ="Tony Fax"Well, Mr Cullen's "self demolition job" at Widnes is happening faster than I thought! Cracks are starting to appear on the Widnes message board, small cracks but cracks nonetheless .... viewtopic.php?t=408374 Maybe, just maybe, one day the stinky fans will wake up and smell the coffee ... that they have employed a totally and utterly inept coach ... the "Alan Shearer" of Rugby League ... yes ..... "You should have stayed on the tellie .. stayed on the telllleeee ... you should have stayed on the telllllleeeeeeeeee ..." Widnes are getting visibly worse, their results are getting worse, and this "well, he's inherited a bad team" is total bow locks. Also interesting to see that the team Tony Smith indirectly inherited from Cullen is now significantly more competitive. Oh yes, soon we'll see Vikingman change his signature Am I right? I'M NOT WRONG!'" You speak total bull and should not be let loose with a keyboard and mouse.

And I thought Tony was only interested in trolling fellow Fax fans these days ...



Welcome back, fellow!

Well I don't know .... some of you guys are so jealous of my constant correct calls you even manipulate my comments to try and discredit me! Nice try, Mr Bug, but very very transparent

I was very interested observing "Super League" Cullen's facial expressions during his team's defeat against Leigh ...... as though he was thinking "Christ, what HAVE I done to this team? What can I do now?". Fear, dejection, and resignation was written all over his face. It's also interesting to see how league now have a breakaway 7 at the top, and with only 6 qualifying for the play offs and Widnes having lost most out of the elite 7, it could very much laugh out loud stuff come the end of the season. Their next 2 home games are against free attacking Gateshead (the best attacking team I have seen us play this season) and tricky Fev. A real test of character and nerves for our stinky friends. Yep, I still predict Mr Cullen will NOT be occupying a certain bench at Widnes come September. Am I right? I'm not wrong!

At the Stevo lunch on Friday at the “New Shay” he was asked about if it was right for Terry O'C to comment on Wides on TV. He said that he felt they just took the Sky money but added along the lines of -I don’t really think it is appropriate for a coach to have to come on to Boots and All to comment on the likes of Wigans attacking ability when his own team can’t even get over the game line it puts them in to an invidious position (he actually used the word invidious!!)

Wonder who he meant?

using that word can only mean one thing or team.

Losing at Batley really is the pits. "You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear", Rhino might have made SOME difference but for gods sake Widnes 1 to 17 are better than Bats. Cullen is a [icrap[/i coach, I've said it all along .... would his coaching have led to a Wire win at KR yesterday? Don't make me laff ... Am I right? I'M NOT WRONG!

vikingman is the pits!

Cullen makes me laugh on boots n all. He picks out "great plays" during games, great plays that usually lead to nothing though.

After about 2 mins of him droning on i usually put the mute on.

Paul Cullen? Paul clueless more like! Great appointment widnes

BBC showed him sat in the press box at Hull KR commentating for a Radio Station, made me glad I have a telly

Your not right!