I remember when Ken Thornett first arrived,at that time as kids we used to go watch them train,we used to walk with him back to the dressing room's,Arthur Clues at that time used to help out with the coaching,we had never heard Aussie accents before.We thought it was great.
Yes thanks for that about Fred Pickup I remember him going. I thought he spent all his spell at Parramatta.If he had stayed he would have figured in the Roy Francis era and probably got GB honour's but he did come back towards the end of his career and got a couple of medals

Ken Thornett was a terrific attacking FB with a lethal handoff. He used to figure a lot in the famous Lewis Jones "hanging pass" move with the object of putting a man into space.

From the base of a scrum Evans (SH) would pass to Jones (SO) who made to pass to his centres. But in the final execution of the pass would flip the ball up with wrists and soft hands to make the ball "hang" in the air as if by magic. This gave options for either Evans to run around Jones and collect the ball or for Thornett to take it at great speed and slice through with an angled run in the other direction.

This move produced many tries or yardage (as it was in those days). As opposition grew accustomed to the move Jones would vary it by following through with the pass to the centre with Evans and Thornett on dummy runs at different angles.

Talking of Derek Hallas I can still remember the try he scored in the 5-5 1st round cup game with Wigan ,in 1961 Evans passed to Jones from the scrum Jones kicked from about centre field halfway for Hallas and Rosenberg to chase
the ball just bounced nice for Hallas who ran about 15 yards to score 5-10yards in from the south stand old score board end.
Wigan equalised when geoff bootle stepped into touch on his way to score.
We got thrashed in the replay 32-7 ,but we got the holy grail the championship at the end of the season

I seem to remember getting soaked that day in a big 30k+ crowd. Big Jack Fairbank shoulder charged Billy Boston into the paddock and you could hear the contact all around the ground. Should have won on the day. I went to the replay at Central Park and we were outplayed by Ashton and their pack in front a huge crowd (mid week I think?)

yes youve got the game I was still at school so missed my first of many trips to Central park for the replay.I remember we were having games at school and the score came through.
Big Jack got sent off with Eric Ashton,but I still maintain,If Geoff Bootle had stepped into touch on his way to scoring ,but maybe it was a blessing in disguise it left us to concentrate on winning the holy grail

The Headingley game was (naturally enough) on the Saturday, the replay at Central Park the following Wednesday.



Before my time but presumably the Headingley game represented Leeds' best chance particularly after Sayer (Wigan's hooker) had received his marching orders for tripping in the second half. The equalising penalty for Wigan off the sideline must have been a sickener.

What all this has to do with aeroplanes is beyond me though.

Actually aeroplanes were a tangent. It was all to do with right & left wingers!

What are your thoughts now that the MRA4 has actually been scrapped?

Typhoon/Eurofighter pilots still not happy to be only getting 6 hours flying per month because of technical faults.

MY thoughts are much the same as before the deed was done in that the aerial surveillance/defence of this island nation is based on a wing (or not in this case) and a prayer.

If the decision had been made 10 years ago we could have had a replacement in place now. I was not surprised to learn of the 100+ faults in the latest version but it is amazing to learn that they had not corrected the safety fault that caused the tragic crash of a few years ago.

If ever there was a case of throwing good money after bad it is this one. This highlights the need for a complete overhaul of our defence procurement chiefs who like many of their purchases are not fit for purpose.

Well they should be chuffed to bits now.

Prime Minister 'Call me Dave' has committed Typhoon into theatre and done so (quite incredibly) despite your heartfelt concerns/reservations of the type.

Why would he do such a thing when it's (according to some) unsuitable and unservicable. Unless of course such comments were unfounded.

I thought you would be pleased that finally the Typhoon yesterday made it's long awaited debut in a combat situation - now that its safe to do so!

It's inability to be used for ground attack and the lack of need for this type of aircraft in the modern world other than as a trafic police role at a huge cost still highlights the waste of money. They still have problems with cracks in the fusalage so can't use its full spec. But will be ok for airshows for some time to come!

Quote: Juan Cornetto "I thought you would be pleased that finally the Typhoon yesterday made it's long awaited debut in a combat situation - now that its safe to do so!'" Combat? As previously discussed www.raf.mod.uk/rafconingsby/news ... 62D70F1FBA Tooled up Typhoon at Farnbourough 2010: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z5610IS5cU And from crowd centre: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uacWFtvUp9M Patience. The Typhoon will be with us for decades. Unfortunately as aircraft numbers (and RAF personel) are reduced by the politicians, without also reducing what they demand of them, the type in question (and it would apply to any type) will be stretched ever more thinly. The earlier than planned for retirement of Jaguar, Tornado F3 and now Harrier plus reduced numbers of airframes all inevitably having a detrimental effect on the introduction of Typhoon in the multi and swing-roles. Like operating with a smaller playing squad in Super League.

Quote: Juan Cornetto "I thought you would be pleased that finally the Typhoon yesterday made it's long awaited debut in a combat situation - now that its safe to do so!'" Combat? As previously discussed www.raf.mod.uk/rafconingsby/news ... 62D70F1FBA Tooled up Typhoon at Farnbourough 2010: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z5610IS5cU And from crowd centre: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uacWFtvUp9M Patience. The Typhoon will be with us for decades. Unfortunately as aircraft numbers (and RAF personel) are reduced by the politicians, without also reducing what they demand of them, the type in question (and it would apply to any type) will be stretched ever more thinly. The earlier than planned for retirement of Jaguar, Tornado F3 and now Harrier plus reduced numbers of airframes all inevitably having a detrimental effect on the introduction of Typhoon in the multi and swing-roles. Like operating with a smaller playing squad in Super League.