Although we know that yesterday's game wasnt the best, this bilious hate filled article in a national newspaper is breathtaking garbage. Every cliche under the sun is trotted out, including 'fans in XXXL shirts'. A strongly worded complaint has been sent to the Independents editor, but please add to the comments on the article. www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 83750.html

Although we know that yesterday's game wasnt the best, this bilious hate filled article in a national newspaper is breathtaking garbage. Every cliche under the sun is trotted out, including 'fans in XXXL shirts'. A strongly worded complaint has been sent to the Independents editor, but please add to the comments on the article. www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 83750.html

Your link doesn't work.

Try thishttp://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/rugby-league/the-calvin-report-a-prisoner-of-geography-fluffs-its-chance-to-shine-8783750.htmlrl

www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 83750.html

www.independent.co.uk/sport/gene ... 83750.html

How dare they, I'm only 2XL

Wigan, saints, Leeds, wire, hull, hull Kr, Hudds, London, Cas,Wakey,Cats, widnes, Bratfut and Salford as fans we need to react to this utter crap.

Lets complain about this rag about this utter garbage.

I have replied to the article but Paul Thexton's post is spot on.

I almost bust out laughing when he said Leigh was an outpost of RL. We might kid the lobbies it is, but honestly that really just shows ignorance.

It's been written to upset a bunch of Northerners and that's exactly what it has done. He's probably laughing his head off reading all the comments and 'outrage' on twitter.

He might be but he has a platform which is a National newspaper and using it to "upset a bunch of Northerners" isn't exactly what I'd expect his editor to endorse.

As to the outrage, well it wouldn't be the first time an article for a newspaper resulted in that. Are you suggesting they are all basically trolls and don't have a reputation as a reporter to consider?

Lol, 'Sam Tompkins'. Definate troll, I bet he reads these boards!

His editor will endorse whatever sells more papers. How many RL fans would've read it had there been half a page match report, the same as you can find on the BBC/Sporting Life/wherever else?

And I didn't suggest they are all anything, I said he wrote it to provoke a reaction. He'll no doubt get a couple of radio phone-in appearances out of it and that'll be that.

The ironic thing is that he's a Millwall FC and Cricket fan so probably doesn't even know the definition of excitement.

Billious and hate filled ?

Aside from a few cliches and stereotypes (and what newspaper report would not be complete without them) the report is pretty much correct in its assertion that the final failed to sell the game to the uninitiated and neutrals as well as failing to sell the corporate ring and indeed to its own supporters for whom a bank holiday weekend in London has become an expensive un-necessary addition to the family budget and an easy option to cross off in favour of watching on TV instead.

And the reporter is not all criticism either, or did you miss the bit where he mentions...

I'm afraid you've all been outraged by the truth, our game is failing to expand, will surely withdraw from London shortly and could not sell itself to the nation on one of its self-proclaimed flagship events - this is not a criticism of either club who took part in the final so remove your ancient and loyal goggles and re-read the article and see if you can see the underlying truth in it.

To be fair to him, where I was sat was chocker block with massive blokes with big bellies.

Us fatboys are allowed to attend/watch/enjoy RL too you know

typically nasty article damning with faint praise.

I would bet the intent of this diatribe was thought of well before the actual day itself. This is just another example of the dark side at work; the southern based old school ties network at the BBC also had a go on the day by giving the director’s job to a zombie, the same one who tells Robbie (Hunter) Paul to keep up the good work in promoting his beloved sport. The guy who wrote this load of sh*te will probably wax lyrical about the dark sides six nations come the autumn. I’m only surprised that they didn’t include a few pics of an old ex-miner rigged out in his beer stained vest, pit belt and flat cap dragging a whippet on a lead while chuffing on a Woodbine as he makes his annual pilgrimage up the Wembley way. It’s just a load of biased stereo typical southern upper class old school, know your place sh*te!