The worst run professional sport in my opinion.

Exactly , could we do any worse

Maybe a small issue with IMG but we haven’t exactly shone in the way the game has been portrayed with garbage like the Stobart deal Franchise, relegation, no relegation, Toronto, Celtic Crusaders etc.

Does anyone see a risk that they would use the Super League as a reserve grade type comp? Short term guest stints? Is this just another blocker for young British talent? Or do I see it glass half empty instead of glass half full?

It doesn't mean they own all the teams.

Whatever people think the addition of IMG has certainly focussed the minds of many in the game. I wonder how many clubs would be spending money on ground improvements without their input.
I am not against the new rules on tackle techniques which are clearly for the protection of players despite the grumbling coming from the clubs and some players. With the introduction of the video ref in all SL games it is harder to hide dangerous tackling techniques and yes the application of the variable mitigation can lead to confusion but the clubs have been told what to expect.

There reserve grade competition is better than our S L .Look on it as glass half full

No it’s not!

What a finish to this WCC.

Although I wouldn’t blame Penrith if they complained about English bias, Wardle was closer to Australia than he was the try line.

The wrestling from the Penrith players pushed Wardle closer to the line than he initially was when he got tackled and the ball swivelled in his arm, and ended up at a 45-degree angle close/ or on the line. In the end, it was hard to see exactly where it was, especially as the ref sent it up as a try.

All game Penrith were making on average 50 meters from their 5 carries, really dominating where they finished their sets and Wigan were around half that and struggled to put long kicks in that were easily picked up by the FB who then made a quick 20 meters on the 1st tackle.
To say they lost the meter game massively and also field position, the fact Wigan led all game and won was some task tbh.
I wouldn't be surprised if Penrith made nearly double the meters in the game. Wigan always seemed to have to kick from their own half and for most of the sets were on the back foot. I can't remember them kicking into their corners all match, or setting up a move in Penrith's 20 as we are so accustomed to them doing.

Also Wigan's defensive line didn't seem as quick as it usually is, they sat back letting the Penrith players come on to them usually at full speed, conversely, Penrith was all over Wigan as soon as they got the ball.

Wigan lacked some middle forwards who could make dents in Penrith's defensive line and get a few tackle breaks, tiring them out imo. Mago seemed to do well in his first stint, then disappeared as the game went on. At one point he got replaced and I can't even remember him taking a drive in, or for that matter seeing him on the pitch.

On the whole, Penrith had all the chances to win, probably by a couple of scores tbf, but they weren't clinical enough when it mattered, while the opposite can be said about Wigan.

People will go on about that last call, but looking at the game as a whole they should have won with the chances they had. Wigan scored off just about every chance they got, which was the key difference in the end.
Plus when Wigan needed to make key tackles they managed to pull them out of their hat. Field's try-saving tackle was superb and saved the game for them.

It's a pity French didn't hold his run for a meter or so, to put him onside because his speed got him to the ball well in front of the defence and would have been a class try and put them 22-12 in front if the kick had been converted, game over no controversy.

Just ok my way home from the game. The atmosphere was electric. Penrith were very sloppy at times which in the end cost them massively. Penrith do ooze quality with Yeo and zEdwards possibly the best players on the field. I thought Wigans resilience was outstanding. For a solid 15/20 minutes it was just an absolute grind and Wigan came up trumps.

Is Murphy still injured as he’s not been in the roosters pre season games which have had a lot of Flegg players in.

Yeah, I've been keeping my eyes on the Roosters team sheets to see if Lewis' name popped up, but as you say nothing so far. You'd have thought they'd have given him a run-out to see how he does in the pre-season, if he was gonna have a decent shot at it this season in the 1st team and not sent down to play in the Cup comp.

It's been a year since he did his ACL, so you'd think he'd be over that and back to full fitness but obviously with an injury like that sometimes everything runs smoothly in recovery, or conversely you can have problems that lead to other surgeries and it can lead to a bit of a nightmare. Lets hope he's all right and just hasn't been given a chance yet.

Being realistic Murphy isn't playing first team this year.
Roosters are loaded up with talent.

Did we retain his registration?

English outside backs really struggle in the NRL

Could it improve the refereeing standards

Could our new ownet maybe entice him back?

You’d have him back in a heart beat wouldn’t you. That would be nice. Can’t blame the lad for going out there and giving it a crack.

I don't think we should entice him back. He has a dream he needs to at least start.
By all means offer him a good deal when he's ready.

But equally, if we are getting TJ back he might not be needed for a while.

That is true, but I've just watched Monday's edition of NRL Tonight, and Steve "Blocker" Roach was talking about it, and his only view was on how it would enhance the NRL, not the Super League, and suggested that we would have to return to winter as our season clashed with theirs.

I know he's only a TV pundit, but a longstanding one, and perhaps indicative of Aussie views on it.

The NRL marketing would help us, but the view that we would be nothing more than a feeder league for the NRL may well be fairly widespread. What needs improving is our product over here. We shouldn't be used merely as a vehicle to improve their product over there.

I wouldn't take Roach as the general view but I get your point.
The two things that stand out to me are
1) why would they buy it when the litigation is still outstanding
2) their expertise is in an already sold market. They'll find it very hard to lift the profile over here like they have over there.

Personally I think we are better sticking with IMG for a couple of years and then looking at the value.

If they just want to invest money then that's fine.

I agree broadly. I would just be wary of them. They have no vested interest in improving super league. International rugby has never been a priority, and it wouldn’t help them to have something that would attract overseas stars away from the NRL. No, any ideas towards super league can only ever be designed to help them, not us.

Hhhmmmm, if & if the NRL, bought SL, would they not listen to IMG or, would they just say " Get Lost"
We know how to run Rugby League ????