jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 19:01:33 GMT 10
Jim some interesting comments and observations there. I am with you though, despite Celtics losses I do have a good feeling about them and the fact that they are in there. Having A welsh team in there is bloddy fantastic and its led to a good increase of the sports coverage and particilation in Wales. Well it's good that we agree on that. I do disagree with one thing you have written though. Dont target ex RU players... seriously in Wales that will loose you more fans than gain them and will only create enemies withing the beitish media. The other issue is that in reality there is no high class Union player that would make the transition successfuly to League. If you have had a look at the 6N this year the skill and fitness level of Union players is appaling they would die after 5 mins of Canference level RL. Why not target RU players? I think it would bring alot of publicity to the Crusaders and I don't think taking one would majorly piss off WRU or it's fans. Imagine if a Welsh international signed with Celtic, I dare say they'd get a sell-out on the first game of the season just by having his name on the team sheet. Sure there may be some twisted RU fans but I think you would find most of them were anti-RL in the first place. Nobody really goes off their tree when the Wallabies signs players like Tahu, Rogers, Tiquiri etc. after about 2 weeks everybody is over it and the only people that still mention it are and always have been anti-RU. It's well worth a try IMO. A true RL star, well maybe, in reality what is a true RL star... someone the NRL and commentators shove down our throats? Look I think Celts really need to breed theior own heroes, in general the aussies just dont do that well in the UK. Well a big name player, pretty much what you said yes beleive it or not. A player that if they signed Celtic fans could hype the fact they have one of the best players in the World. Stacey Jones to Catalans is a perfect example. Never be shy to go and get some people straight on whats going on in the world of RL... Some aussies can be very ignorant and they need to be set straight! I didn't really want to just butt in on their conversation  , not a bad word was said about SL, infact both praised it a few times, so i was happy with that. |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 19:05:38 GMT 10
SHANE WILLIAMS!Are you that ignorant? The guy would be in the Great Britain squad instantly. I don't think any others could make the transition, maybe Colin Charvis, he'd kill it in the second row, lock or even front row in league. I'd much rather see him at lock. They'd have to throw a bit of money at them, I don't know how far under the cap they are either. But yeah, the elsh public would take notice definitely. I know for a fact Shane Williams would kill it, ask anyone who knows both the games. And Charvis is so big and powerful, he'd make an impact surely as well. I can imagine him being like a Sonny Bill, but better. Shane Williams is probably the only Welsh RU player name that is familiar to me. Heard he has alot of speed and being a winger he would have a decent boot on him, perfect Centre or Five-Eight with a bit of training. I'm with Druzik on the fact that alot of players wouldn't be a sucess in RL even if they're a big name in RU, same goes the other way I believe too. However I believe there would surely be players in each code that would absolutley kill it in the opposite code, Wales would surely have a few of them to target for the Crusaders. |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 19:11:57 GMT 10
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Post by Druzik on May 18, 2009 19:36:32 GMT 10
2001 Jim... why dragg that up. Briers never made the switch, neither did cunningham. Harris went only casue he wasnt wanted in leeds and then came back when Bradford wanted him. |
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Post by Ryan N on May 18, 2009 19:42:58 GMT 10
Trust me Shane Williams would have every Welsh kid switching to League. And he'd be the best player in SuperLeague. Mind you, he can play scrum-half as well. But put him in fullback i'd say.
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 19:47:38 GMT 10
2001 Jim... why dragg that up. Briers never made the switch, neither did cunningham. Harris went only casue he wasnt wanted in leeds and then came back when Bradford wanted him. i know, just saying at that point in time the WRU seemed to have a mentallty to target every Welsh RL International . |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 19:54:50 GMT 10
Trust me Shane Williams would have every Welsh kid switching to League. And he'd be the best player in SuperLeague. Mind you, he can play scrum-half as well. But put him in fullback i'd say. That's a big call, I don't think you could reasonably expect any RU player to walk to RL and be the best player or visa-versa. Maybe after a year or two adapting to the small things that make great RL players he would be up there. |
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Post by Ryan N on May 18, 2009 20:01:21 GMT 10
Trust me Shane Williams would have every Welsh kid switching to League. And he'd be the best player in SuperLeague. Mind you, he can play scrum-half as well. But put him in fullback i'd say. That's a big call, I don't think you could reasonably expect any RU player to walk to RL and be the best player or visa-versa. Maybe after a year or two adapting to the small things that make great RL players he would be up there. He would be don't worry. He's got the skills, there isn't much he'd need to adapt. Plus he has more room and freedom in League. Who would you say is the best back in SuperLeague now? |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 20:52:23 GMT 10
He would be don't worry. He's got the skills, there isn't much he'd need to adapt. Plus he has more room and freedom in League. Who would you say is the best back in SuperLeague now? He might be, although plenty of RU stars have crossed to League and been total flops. I tend to think after 1 year under his belt he could be anything in League, not too say he couldn't be outstanding in his first year. Best Back in SL? Lee Smith |
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Post by Ryan N on May 18, 2009 21:38:48 GMT 10
He would be don't worry. He's got the skills, there isn't much he'd need to adapt. Plus he has more room and freedom in League. Who would you say is the best back in SuperLeague now? He might be, although plenty of RU stars have crossed to League and been total flops. I tend to think after 1 year under his belt he could be anything in League, not too say he couldn't be outstanding in his first year. Best Back in SL? Lee Smith Backs can transfer from League to Union and vice versa with ease. I doubt Lee Smith or any SuperLeague back would be breaking the doors down in the Union world. Let's face it, I believe Williams would be a hit in the NRL, which, despite what some might think, is still a level above the SuperLeague. Tuqiri was a star in League, and a star in Union (debatable now...), but Williams is even better. I dunno, it's a hard thing to say, but I think it would/could work. Despite the fact we don't have the money. |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 18, 2009 22:11:40 GMT 10
He might be, although plenty of RU stars have crossed to League and been total flops. I tend to think after 1 year under his belt he could be anything in League, not too say he couldn't be outstanding in his first year. Best Back in SL? Lee Smith Backs can transfer from League to Union and vice versa with ease. I doubt Lee Smith or any SuperLeague back would be breaking the doors down in the Union world. Let's face it, I believe Williams would be a hit in the NRL, which, despite what some might think, is still a level above the SuperLeague. Tuqiri was a star in League, and a star in Union (debatable now...), but Williams is even better. I dunno, it's a hard thing to say, but I think it would/could work. Despite the fact we don't have the money. Fair points. I'm not entirely sure we don't have the money though. If you mean "we" as in the NRL then you're probably right, however I beleive SL clubs would be within the range. Especially considering WRU isn't the richest organisation in Rugby and Celtic have a millionaire backer and are well under the salary cap. |
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jim
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Post by jim on May 21, 2009 19:43:52 GMT 10
I see that 4 Welsh Under 18's have been selected in the GB Under 18 squad, one of them captain. I think it was 2 or 3 that only started playing very recently. Celtic's inclusion in SL is already paying off ;D
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Post by Marv on May 21, 2009 21:07:48 GMT 10
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jim
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Post by jim on May 21, 2009 22:42:49 GMT 10
I'm sure atleast one of the lads who made GB started playing when the crusader launcehed their u-18s. The others from memory havn't been playing long, like the bloke in the article. Do you think he'd be playing Rugby League for GB if it wasn't for the Crusaders? maybe but I'm doubtful. |
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Post by Druzik on May 23, 2009 3:55:44 GMT 10
So Saturday is a historic day for the Super league.
Its the first non English club game, with Celtic and Catalns playing each other.
Catalns will also be fielding 12 french players that will probably make the bulk of the french teams to play england in Paris on 13 june.
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, not a bad word was said about SL, infact both praised it a few times, so i was happy with that.
