The state of rugby league in Cumbria. Both teams are just full of DR and loans, where is the supposed depth of players in Cumbria?

I think its been a cracking game all the same

It was fairly entertaining, but the quality, particularly in the first half, was just cringeworthy

No SL presence up there so no interest from the RFL. That doesn't excuse the clubs from going down the DR route though. It's a sad state of affairs and won't benefit the Cumberland clubs long term. Victorian, Vocation Pride & Joy 5.5 % Mmm!

Totally agree it was.

To be honest when watching a game I take a simplistic approach, I don't think who is dual reg, loanee, I just see two teams, so for me today I have seen three superb games.
18 nil down at half time seamingly dead and buried what a fight back by Worky, once again just like last week, Heppi got away with quite a lot as did our old friend 30.
A very good game.
Bronco's were they the same side as we should have beaten earlier this season, Sheffield were they the same side that we lost to after weeks ago?
Broncos were superb, Sheffeeeeld Seagulls were dire.
Despite the score line it was still a very entertaining game.
The mighty Fax v the Dingy Bulls So proud of the lads, let's not forget, the Bulls, full time, every morning they can meet for a training session, nice well balanced lunch, a bit of weight work and then a massage, home to relax.
Fax and all the other clubs apart from four, work at 8.00 am, finish at 5.00 pm if lucky, into the car M60, an hours training a bit of weights and back into the car.
The full time professional clubs have such an advantage, but 18. 4 ?
We really did ourselves proud.
Three great games, don't worry whether it's dual reg or loanees, enjoy the game.
It's the greatest sport in the world.

They've got to get who they can get, and there's no SL presence in the area, all the best talent go to Yorks/Lancs.

A bi

I don't know to much about local economics in Cumbria either but those lads that don't make the cut at SL clubs may stay down because of employment prospects.

As for the juniors, everybody and their sons has pillaged Halifax outstanding juniors, First us and lately Giants seem to get their pick of local lads from the Halifax district.

Yes, I think it was either 6 or 7 Fax lads playing in Thursday's Cas v Giants match.

The first thing to realise is the geography situation of West Cumbria, where the nearest clubs to us, other than Barrow in the south of the county, is Wigan at about 125 miles distance. It's not like west Yorkshire or Lancashire where players can move around the M62 clubs as when it befits them and the clubs. It is always difficult to get quality players from Yorkshire or Lancashire to sign for us because they don't want to move here and they don't want to travel 2 or 3 times a week for training and playing.

The two semi-pro teams have a different outlook on how to recruit their players. Workington have concentrated on building up a mainly local squad of players and have 19 Cumbrians in their 23 man squad and 3 of the others are Australians who live here. The only people who ttravel ar the coach and Jack Murphy. Four of our squad were just signed from Cumbria Amateur RL last pre-season and one or two have had some games but in general they are still adjusting to the semi-pro game.

The other team Whitehaven have tried recruiting local players but for one reason or another they seem to be able to only get maybe half a dozen. They have 2 PNG players who live up here and the rest of the squad are either signed players or loanees from the Lancashire area and I understand these players train in the Lancashire area as well as one evening here.

Workington make up their squad numbers when they have injuries with DR players from Wigan and there have been several games this season when we haven't had any. On Saturday we had Oliver Gildart and Jake Shorrocks from Wigan's Under 19's plus Lewis Tierney on DR and we have had a young Cumbrian player who is with Wigans Academy, Jamie Doran, on loan for the past 2 months. Whitehaven had 3 on loan, one on DR from Widnes and 2 players "on trial" from Catalans UTC to make up their numbers.

People tend to forget about where we are situated and we hear comments about London being out on a limb but believe me when we are talking about recruiting players we are equally as disadvantaged.

Thanks for the info, and hope you get more local players going forward.