Co-Operative Championship.

[Druzik]

So who do people think will take it out this year?

My money is on Widnes. But I would not be surprised if Toulouse and Barrow also are up there battleing for top spot.

[Druzik]

FFS... its just one match and it was a tigh afair against Oldham.... so much for my prediction if they will be having knee-jerk reactions like this all year round.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/feb/16/widnes-mccormack-rugby-league

Widnes sack McCormack after Northern Rail Cup defeat
Andy Wilson guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 February 2009 14.25 GMT

Widnes today sacked their coach Steve McCormack, and may have broken a rugby league record in doing so after the first match of the season. The Vikings, who are the wealthiest club in the game outside the Super League after missing out on promotion last season, suffered a shock 22-20 defeat by Oldham in their opening Northern Rail Cup qualifying match last Friday night.

"This morning's decision was reached amicably," said the Widnes chief executive, Alex Bonney, in a club statement that praised McCormack's work over the last two seasons, without offering any explanation of his dismissal. "It's a disappointing day but I have really enjoyed my time at Widnes," said McCormack, who joined Widnes after a successful spell at Whitehaven and previously worked in the Super League with Salford.

The Rugby Football League, meanwhile, has suspended Richard Silverwood, one of the six full-time referees employed by the governing body, because of an alleged breach of his colleagues' confidentiality.

Silverwood was conspicuous by his absence from the season's first full round of Super League fixtures at the weekend and an RFL spokesman confirmed today that he has been suspended indefinitely for "an alleged breach of IT policy". This is understood to involve supplying the personal details of fellow referees to a trade union without first receiving their permission. He declined to comment today.

It leaves Stuart Cummings, the RFL's controller of referees, with another headache shortly after the shock departure of the British game's leading official, Ashley Klein, for Australia.

Silverwood, 32, became the youngest ever referee for a leading fixture when he made his Super League debut in 2001 and was named Referee of the Year in 2006. His suspension left Cummings with only five full-time referees to cover the seven Super League matches at the weekend – one of them Thierry Alibert, the Frenchman who has been appointed to replace Klein on the full-time panel.

Two part-time referees, Jamie Leahy and Gareth Hewer, were promoted to control the other games, with Leahy now expected to join the full-time panel because Hewer does not want to leave his job at Sellafield.

There was some much better news for the RFL with the seven games attracting an aggregate attendance of 77,924, a new record for the opening round and the second highest for a full round in the Super League's 13-year history.

Leigh today confirmed the signing of Jamie Durbin, a former Warrington and Widnes scrum-half who recently completed a two-year suspension following a positive drug test. Durbin scored a hat-trick in Leigh's 74–6 victory over London Skolars in the Northern Rail Cup on Sunday.

Dale Laughton, the former Sheffield Eagles prop who was a Challenge Cup winner against Wigan at Wembley in 1998 and won three Great Britain caps later that year, has admitted to a £1,000-a-week cocaine habit after appearing in court on charges of possessing the drug with intent to supply.

Laughton, now 38, was the last ex-miner to represent his country, having previously worked down a pit near his Barnsley home. But he told Sheffield Crown Court that since his career ended when he was released by Warrington five years ago, he had lost his wife, his home, the care of his three children and most of the money he had earned, claiming that he spent £53,000 on cocaine last year alone.

"It is just like somebody cut my legs off," he told the court, according to today's Yorkshire Post. "I started drinking at first – I didn't take drugs. It was as if part of my life had gone. I set up a building company renovating houses with my own money but it just never replaced rugby. The way I was going I would have killed myself. It was boredom more than anything. I had finished rugby after a 15-year career and didn't have much to do."

He was cleared by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, but was convicted of possession and is facing possible jail, the case having been adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

[Druzik]

WARRINGTON Wolves' Halliwell Jones Stadium will host the 2009 Co-operative Championship finals day on October 4.

The new look Co-operative Championships were officially launched today at one of the league’s newest venues, Leigh Sporting Village, with record prize money, an international dimension to the competition and a renewed long term commitment from the competition’s current sponsors.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/sport/...ost_finals_day/

At least some silverware will be on show in Warrington in 2009, good choice of venue I think.

[Druzik]

Toulouse get a warm up.

Of types any way. They played a Tarn Selection Saturday night (Albi, Lescure and Realmont) winning in a canter as you would expect 86-4. At least they had a run out before Sheffield in the Cup. With Widnes five days later in the Championship opener TO needed some game time. They will be well behind the other sides at the off but in time hopefully will be able to pick up the pace. May be next year they will be able to take part in the Lord Derby Coupe which would have helped a bit.

[Druzik]

Marv I hear the three Fijiand you guys signed have reneged on their contracts.

A very, very dissapointing development breaking signed contract like that.

Any idea on what their excuses are?

[Druzik]

Farrrrken Union again.

www.nwemail.co.uk/raiders/news/barrow_raiders_accept_defeat_in_suka_wrangle_1_519073?referrerPath=raiders

[Marv]

from what i gather only Waisle Suka has reneged on the contract, the others will arrive with Ned Catic and Zeb Luisi, WPermits pending.............

[Druzik]

Widnes 70 - 00 Toulouse

Prison poundin and a half.

crowd: 5071

[Druzik]

Sounds like the Halifax v Widnes games was a real doozy.... bit of an upset I suppose.

Halifax 24 - 12 Widnes

[Druzik]

Goooooo Barrra.

OK for people that are interested the Cumbrian games ar on BBC cumbria, been listening...

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_cumbria/

Freking great games.

Barra 16-08 Halifax
Toulouse 26-18 Whitehaven
Widnes 08-24 Sheffield

Some real upsets there!

[Druzik]

I was at the Touolouse Olympique vs. Leigh Centurions game the day before the Lord Derby. Got to meet a few of the players too. I met Eric Ansleme and James Taylor and had a good chat with Leigh coach Neil Kelly.

A few photos at www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com/News/photos.html and below:

[Ryan N]

How are Toulouse doing this year anyway?

[Druzik]

They had a slow start with a big loss to Widness but they have been improving steadily with the last two rounds having very good wins, and against leigh they smashed them putting 40 points past them

Below is the table. Its quite surprising in some respects as Barrow, a promotion team are leading, but am sure any cumbrian will tell you they are not surprised ba that. The 'big' clubs arent really firing, Widnes, Leigh.

Team P W D L PF PA Diff Pts
Barrow 6 5 0 1 191 82 109 16
Halifax 5 5 0 0 190 68 122 15
Featherstone 6 5 0 1 177 106 71 15
Widnes 6 4 0 2 184 90 94 14
Whitehaven 6 3 0 3 178 156 22 11
Leigh 7 3 0 4 127 183 -56 11
Sheffield 6 1 0 5 130 147 -17 8
Toulouse 5 2 0 3 144 160 -16 7
Gateshead 5 1 1 3 95 157 -62 5
Doncaster 5 1 0 4 85 148 -63 5
Batley 7 1 1 5 102 306 -204 5

[Marv]

Great to see Toulouse getting a few wins under their belts.

Big game at the top on Friday night though Widnes V Barrow

[Druzik]

Apr 28, 2009 17:51:40 GMT 10 Marv said:

Great to see Toulouse getting a few wins under their belts.

Big game at the top on Friday night though Widnes V Barrow

Barrow should win that... I'll have the lucky jersey on.