Agree, and I can see how, commercially, it's attractive for them, I just think it's milking the supporters a little and shows a little "small club" mentality from both, can a barometer of the pre-season and readiness for the league campaign ahead be 11 v 9 and playing Doncaster?

If we have another game, I hope it's against someone who finished top 4 in SL.

I agree with the Derby match just don't want it at all but can also see whay the clubs need a cash injection.

Would rather go and watch Fc play "anbody" else really, will be giving it a miss for the first time I think.

I think a derby would ready both teams for the intensity of SL far more than any other fixture, maybe that's the reason they persist?

it's nothing to do with readiness, it's down to ££££'s, any sane person knows that.

Really? Maybe you could give us a cost/profit breakdown for us (obviously) 'insane' people?

ask Ears

Radford? I reckon he knows about as much as you do about it.

Forgive me for questioning your 'expert' knowledge, but if it's all about the ££££'s and only 8/9,000 fans bother to attend - wouldn't it make more sense to have it at CP where there wouldn't be any cost of hiring the stadium?

I don't understand the argument/conclusion drawn from Craig Murdoch's HDM article on pre season. Last year Radders set too much store on results? What , against Bradford and Fev? He's suggesting that the extra games and effort had an adverse affect on the squad later in the year? Only a few of the senior players turned out for full games and often it was the "naughty step" players that we're left on the field with the kids. He's suggesting that he's reflecting Radford's views and quotes him in some places , it just seems a total contradiction. Last year's preseason was a debacle but to me the problems were not about excessive effort or over playing our main squad players , quite the opposite.

I know for a fact that I haven't made the same man management mistakes Radford has. That alone tells me all I need to know. his inability to address the problem during the season and his treatment of certain players just adds to what I know about him as a person and his lack of abilities in pretty much every dept.
I've been trained to manage, I have a proper qualification not one found in the bottom of a pint pot or fag packet, I have real life, real world experience of managing individuals and larger numbers in a cut throat industry & suceeding..Radford hasn't.

I say what I said on what can be seen, you on the other hand and others just want to ignore the obvious and yet make guesses as to whom gave whom what contract and at what amount. All of which our owner was quite happy to sign off yet now he's loading all the blame on the previous encumbant..what a load of b.ollocks. If you want to beleive the two liars at the helm of our club that up to you..I on the other hand are not so blinded by (misplaced) club loyalties to back them at ALL costs.

Having been in the army and worked in private industry I KNOW what works to motivate differing people at all levels, what is required to get them to perform, to give them the tools to help themselves whilst you guide them. I don't need to be particularly great at rugby knowledge, I don't have the inherrant skills or knowledge regarding specifically rugby league, I was a foot soldier when i played and happy to keep it that way. However man mangement, problem solving skills & experience of such translates across ALL industries.

Taking people on an expensive jolly abroad as a 'treat' before they've even proven that they are performing is just a lack of understanding, wasteful financially AND disruptive. You can achieve more and still give a pat on the back without going to such lengths that have no basis whatsoever (within Rugby League players) in enhancing performance or motivation, in some instances it can have quite the opposite effect.

I don't give a flying one what they, you or anyone else thinks, I say it how I see it, I want the club to be professional in what they do, not to spin bullshat and backstabbing two-faced excuses, to look at every single avenue possible, get specialists in for specialist areas because it IS very clear we are not doing the utmost to propel our club to the heights we want.

But the likes of you won't be able to undertsand about professionalism and what it takes to succeed eh, you're a Radford of this world for sure..

Using your logic, I know for a fact I've never lost a SL game as coach so that surely makes me better then Radford?

Unless you're a member of the squad or management team at the club, you don't even know [ifor a fact[/i what man management [idecisions[/i have been made, let alone whether they were a mistake or not. All you can do is form an [iopinion[/i based on stories in the press and performances on the pitch. Just like everyone else.


Your realise that other teams in all sports use warm weather training, right? Some of them quite successful in their sports? Are they all doing it wrong?

Surely the change in preseason games this year is the club ( and coach) admitting that they got it wrong last year which is the first step on the road to improvement and has to be applauded. I was very critical of the selection of Radford last year but will be happy to be proved wrong in a spectacular manner.

Agreed. Its better to acknowledge your mistakes and change things rather than press on regardless insisting you're right.

I think Radford has found out the job is harder than he thought it would be and its good that he recognises that he too needs to learn, change and adapt, not just the players.

I'm hoping he'll be a much better coach next season than last. He'll certainly be better for the experience.