Not really on approaching the bloke like that when he is shopping, but there you go. As I have already said, to suggest he has it in for Warrington is puerile, to suggest he hates Briers [for Britain] is laughable.

It is no secret that he isn't on Smith's Christmas card list, it goes back to his GB days, Sky announced he had the job before he had spoken to the players at Leeds or something like that. In interviews Smith is at times painfully difficult with him, but he manages to deal with it better than most would.

As others have said, he and Stevo are genuine blokes doing their job, leave them to it and if you don't like it you know where the volume button is. I cannot abide the BBC commentary team so I stick music on instead, get over it.

I think TS probably has a grudging toleration of SKY and the media, like post professional team sport managers and coaches do - there wouldn't be a sport without the media but having you and your team scrutinised by so-called experts, with the benefit of hindsight, researchers, multitude of camera angles etc. and still not getting their facts right must be galling or downright infuriating depending on who is asking the questions.

I don't actually think Eddie and the merry gang down at SkY hate us, but if they do, great, stock up on blood pressure tablets chaps because we're going to be kicking down the doors on your party for a few years yet .

Excellent idea regarding putting music on over the bbc commentary garbage.
I am just mulling over what would be the best music to suit rugby league, something dramatic , Wagner or heavy rock led zeppelin would probably do the trick. Anything apart from bloody Vivaldi .

Only on a RL forum could we so quickly go from that OP to someone bemoaning the virtues or otherwise of Vivaldi...

You're not Bradford and Wakeys accountant are you?

PMSL

About 18 months ago I was on a flight from Heathrow to Manchseter and Eddie and Brian Carney had the 'pleasure' of being sat to me. I had a few liveners on my previous flight so gave them my forthright views on the game.

Both were real gents, I was suprised by Eddies knowledge of the game. Yes he is from Widnes and he lives in Warrington. He is big mates with Frank Myler. Hardly a crime?

He is not biased

I haven't met any of these people.

However i just can't see why people are so incensed by this. Eddie might have come across annoyed but it seemed to me he was making more of a point about refs not being consistent and not applying the laws as they are should do, and he is right as far as most of us agree on here.

Briers should have had a card of some colour, and as the laws are now it probably should have been red.

Would that have seemed harsh compared with being red carded for an 'real' punch that actually hurt ?

Probably, but thats the rule, and that is what Eddie was putting across.

As far as any subsequent ban is concerned, then the punishment definitely fits the offence, as it was something and nothing really.

He has most certainly never displayed anything but admiration for Briers in the past.

I was in Manchester airport last year waiting to get a flight to London and I saw Hemmings and Cullen in Costa. Presumably about to get the same flight to film Boots and All (twas a Wednesday).

That is all.

Sorry My eariler comment about Eddie Having it in for Briers was a little tongue in cheek..

What I should have said was why the hell did he keep going on about it ?

I am amazed that anyone should take the opportunity whilst out shopping to give anyone grief. Completely out of order. I have no doubts that Eddie is a nice bloke who loves rugby league and really likes Briers and Warrington. He is also pretty slick at holding a programme together.
I do find him very annoying when he goes on and on and on ... especially about referee decisions. He loves to stir things up and he loves a bit of controversy as it gives him something to harp on about.
It doesn't surprise me that Tony Smith finds Eddie & Stevo complete pains. He hates hype and bull. I'd love to know what he thinks about Rod Studd ... who is a complete buffoon and in the wrong job.

I find Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture the best music for a good game of rugby league

As good as that piece is I'd only have it in a French derby.

Handel Sarabande try to mix that into Rob Dougans clubbed to death old into new.

Remix, can I get a rewind.

Rugby League should only be listened to with some METAL playing!