fevnut's blog: Fev v Rochdale

Match 22: Rochdale Hornets

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fevnut's musings

England v New Zealand in Denver

What a joy it was to sit down in front of the television to watch the much criticised game in Denver. It looked bad to begin with but who would have guessed that an injury to Jonny Lomax would have led to the re-shaping of the team and as a result England looked much better structured and played with a freedom not seen before from a Wayne Bennett coached squad. Don’t get us wrong. We have a lot of time for Lomax even though we doubt if he has the quality to be an effective force at international level. It seems to us that the transformation was almost entirely due to Jake Connor coming on. He was brilliant. What a start to an international career! Let’s hope that it is just the start. He has the potential to become the pivot around which the England team revolves for many years to come. Especially if he can somehow retain his guts and determination while curbing some of his less savoury antics. But it certainly wasn’t a one-man performance from England. Elliott Whitehead was outstanding as were all the pack. The three-quarters looked the real deal once Tommy Makinson came on and we were no longer playing with a second-rower at centre. Of course, we were up against a weakened New Zealand team but it nevertheless showed so much promise. Let’s hope that the lessons have been learnt. We are now looking forward so much to the Autumn test series and believe it will be a cracking affair if Wayne Bennett sticks with the team shape that played the second half in Denver. It will be great to see this England team playing against a New Zealand team who we hope will be bolstered by the inclusion of the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Shaun Johnson.

Some people have expressed disappointment that the crowd was only about 20,000. We think that was pretty good. We also believe that there is huge scope for the development of rugby league in North America. There has to be an opportunity to give a chance to those who have not quite made the grade in American Football to find a sport that is so much more enjoyable to play. That’s assuming that they are tough enough to play a hich impact sport without their suits of armour!

Growth of Rugby League Internationals

The international calendar for this year would have been inconceivable a few years ago. In officially sanctioned European competitions participants include the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine and Wales. The development in Europe has been phenomenal but sadly has received only tiny publicity. Now it should be over to the southern hemisphere to get their act together and afford the opportunities that the Pacific Islands states deserve. And we don’t mean just one off tests in Sydney as happened last weekend.

Football World Cup

Have you been watching it? We have tried several times and more often than not fallen asleep on the sofa through sheer boredom! We are writing this on Thursday. Tonight we have a choice between watching England against Belgium in the World Cup or Wigan against Fev Reserves (aka Leeds Rhinos) in Super League. Well, we will definitely choose the latter and then possibly catch the highlights of the soccer match on the news. Judging by the rest of the tournament there won’t be more than a couple of minutes of it that are worth putting into a highlights package.

Luke Briscoe

Sometimes it can be really frustrating being a Fev fan. Communication between the club and the fans leaves a lot to be desired. We are all totally confused as to what the situation is with Luke Briscoe. According to the official Fev statement he is ‘on-loan’ at Leeds and then back playing with us on dual registration. Can you really have a player on dual registration when he is your player anyway? And we thought the rules state that loans have to be for a minimum of a month. According to statements from Gary Hetherington Leeds have actually signed him for the rest of this season which would seem to qualify him to play for us on dual reg. Surely as loyal fans we deserve to have the position fully explained.

Fev and Rochdale: Comparative 2018 Match Stats

Fev and Rochdale: Comparative 2018 Match Stats

Championship Talk: Thornton leads Hunslet revival

fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.

Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.

Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.

Thornton leads Hunslet revival

IT seems to have gone under the radar somewhat, but League One Hunslet are developing into one of the success stories of the season.

The club - who ditched the Hawks moniker in August 2016 as part of a renewed focus on its rich history - hardly started the season as promotion contenders, losing four of their opening eight games.

         

But the last of those defeats - a stirring comeback against second-placed York that fell just short - proved to be the turning point for a climb up the table.

         

Six straight wins later - including a number where they have come from behind - has moved Gary Thornton’s men up to fourth, level on points with third-placed Oldham.

         

Last Sunday they beat the Roughyeds in the latest of those comeback wins, with other victories in the run coming against fellow play-off contenders Doncaster and Whitehaven.

         

The popular Thornton - who has a wealth of experience coaching outside the top flight from his time at Batley, Doncaster and York - has built a talented side with steely resolve.

         

Halfbacks Joe Sanderson and Cain Southernwood are the men steering the team around the field alongside experienced hooker Jack Lee, meaning that the pre-season loss of George Flanagan to Bradford hasn’t been as damaging as it initially looked.

         

There is plenty of strike power out wide in the likes of David Foggin-Johnston, Nathan Chappell and Mufaro Mvududu, with club stalwart Jimmy Watson still producing the goods at fullback.

         

In the pack, prop Matt Nicholson has overcome his horror run of injuries to play his part, alongside the hard-working Brad Foster and Liam Mackay.

         

Thornton himself says the team’s work ethic is also key.

         

“We are physically and mentally fit, and that shows in how we are winning games late on,” he said after the Oldham match.

         

Hunslet and their group of loyal supporters are rightly proud of the considerable history referenced above, and never more so following the recent passing of club legend Geoff Gunney.

         

“Mr Hunslet”, as he was widely known, died aged 84 at the start of June, and would doubtless have been proud of Thornton’s side on Sunday on an afternoon that marked his memory.

         

The club website report noted: “On a day when people were celebrating the life of Hunslet’s greatest ever player, Geoff Gunney MBE, it was fitting that the team won against their very first Northern Union opponent at Geoff’s beloved Parkside.

         

“This season gets better with each game.”

         

The club has confirmed it is looking to rename their home stadium after Gunney, and that - alongside a successful promotion campaign - would be the perfect way to honour his legacy.

This Week's Birthdays: July 1st to 7th

This Week's Birthdays: July 1st to 7th

Each year we try to do something a bit unusual. This year we are celebrating the birthdays of current players in the Super League, Championship and League 1 and all the players who have ever played for Fev for whom we have dates of birth.

Sunday's referee: Fev v Hornets

This Week's Referee

There have been many occasions when fevnut has been asked questions like: Who's the referee today? Have we had him before? Where's he from?

So we thought we would answer those questions in our blog.

Below you will find his record for this year.

Jack Smith is a former Royal Marine who was seriously injured in Afghanistan. After his recuperation he took up refereeing, made rapid progress and very quickly he was appointed to the full time list and was refereeing Super League matches. But he decided that he wanted to spend more time with his family and developing a business so he went back to part-time. Now he mostly referees in the Championship with occasional Super League ties. More often than not, as you can see from the records below he is appointed to Championship matches involving the top clubs.

Sheffield v Fev: Teams and Scorers

Sheffield v Fev: Teams and Scorers
Championship Round 18 

fevnut's blog: Sheffield v Fev

Match 21: Sheffield Eagles 

(Away) Championship

fevnut's musings

Rugby League Chief Executive

It seems to us absolutely imperative that the appointment of the new Rugby League Chief Executive is made as soon as possible. The role of leadership for the whole of rugby league is desperately needed and we seem to be left in a very weak position with the Super League and some of its chairmen using the vacuum in power to make a grab to take all the power and control of the game unto themselves. Whoever is appointed will need to take some very decisive action very quickly indeed. Here are some of the issues that we believe need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The Super League War

This issue would appear to us to be comparatively straightforward Robert Elstone, Ian Lenagan and Eamonn McManus need to be told no, no, no. Super League must not be allowed to dictate decisions that affect the Championship and League One.

Advocacy

The profile of rugby league in this country is probably at its lowest since pre Eddie Waring days. Whoever is appointed needs to make sure that the RFL has a top quality marketing team that works very closely with all clubs.

Reserves

Last week Fev faced a Barrow team that were only able to bring 15 players. That is not the only time this season a ‘professional’ team has been unable to name a full 17 man team. With a quick glance through this season’s line-ups we have found three other teams that have been in that predicament and there may be more we haven’t spotted. This is happening because teams are running on minimal squads and a few injuries, therefore, makes for big trouble. It never used to happen because teams always had their ‘A’ team players to call upon. That used to be quite exciting because there were many occasions when a player stepped up from the ‘A’ team and then established themselves as a regular first team player. We believe that the return of compulsory reserve grade teams is essential. The Super League teams say that it can’t be afforded. That is rubbish. If Halifax and Keighley can do it then they certainly can. And maybe one way to find the money is to stop bringing in expensive Australians of dubious quality. That change would be of huge benefit to the game and the development of a much higher standard of play in this country.

Championship Salary Cap

The current salary cap for the Championship is the same as that for Super League. That is patently crazy, the change being made to accommodate a spending spree by Leigh Centurions to enable them to make a bid for Super League in 2016. The vast majority of Championship clubs cannot afford even 10% of the allowable cap of £1.8 million. What it means is that one club with a multi-millionaire owner can in effect buy themselves victory in the league as is so clearly the case with Toronto this year. We also believe that the finances of the Championship is also de-stabilised by the granting of parachute payments to relegated Super League clubs. We believe that super league contracts include a clause that terminates the contract when a club is relegated. Those that are good enough can be signed by other super league clubs and those that are not good enough should not be protected by being able to continue as full time clubs in the Championship. That’s harsh but we want to see the Championship as a fair competition.

Visas

Last year we ran into problems with the renewal of Misi Taulapapa’s visa which meant that he missed the first nine years of the season. This year Sheffield had a similar problem with Menzie Yere and he missed 13 games. Funny how this problem doesn’t seem to afflict soccer clubs or the cricket counties! And we haven’t forgotten when South African runner Zola Budd was granted immediate UK citizenship because she wanted to run for GB in the 1984 Olympics. She couldn’t run for South Africa because they were banned as a result of their anti-apartheid regime. We believe that the leadership of the Rugby League should meet with the Home Office and sort this problem out with a clear, centralised policy.

And there is another very big visa issue that needs fixing. At least two teams have had to take weakened teams to Toronto because some of their players didn’t receive the required paperwork in time. This is completely unacceptable. The RFL should make Toronto Wolfpack responsible for negotiating with the Canadian government to ensure that week long visas are automatically granted to all players and bona fide officials of clubs who are going to Canada to play them. Their continued participation in our competitions should be dependent on a satisfactory conclusion of this issue. We are not against the inclusion of Toronto and we are very much looking forward to our trip there next month (we have our visas!). But it is intolerable that a team comes in from abroad and benefits in competition terms from the weakening of opposition because of visa issues. The day might come (because of Brexit) when the same problems occur with playing in Perpignan or Toulouse.

Championship Talk: Standing Their Ground

fevnut's blog is absolutely delighted to have received permission to bring you a regular column from Gareth Walker.

Gareth is a top rugby league journalist who has one very exceptional distinction. He chooses to write about matters pertaining to the Championship and League One.

Although this blog is devoted to Featherstone Rovers it is always good to read opinions about matters relevant to us, but not specifically about us. We hope you enjoy reading Gareth's column each week.

Standing their ground

Last week was undoubtedly one of the most volatile in recent rugby league history.

The fall-out from the unveiling of Robert Elstone as the new Super League chief executive went well beyond his appointment, when those present chose to state that this season was set to be the last of current structure.

It quickly emerged that was not a decision the Super League clubs alone can take, and was a bold move that angered both Leeds and many of those outside the top flight, who queued up to condemn it through statements of their own.

         

So where do we go from here?

         

The good news for supporters of Championship and League 1 clubs is that their representatives appear galvanised by what has unfolded, and appear as united and well organised as in memory.

         

Those clubs have their own advisory group, who issued a detailed release last weekend outlining their stance on the situation.

         

The statement read: “The position of the ‘Advisory Group’ has consistently been one whereby the best interests of rugby league must rank ahead of the needs of a few wealthy club owners.

         

“And that importantly a competition structure and format, with associated funding is in place until the end of 2021, and that any changes prior to 2021 would require the agreement of the Championship and League 1 clubs, in consultation with the RFL and its broadcast partners.

         

“Otherwise no changes could be contemplated or sanctioned to the competition or funding structure prior to the expiry of the existing agreements which run until the end of 2021.

         

It continued: “Championship and League 1 Clubs will continue to engage in respectful and appropriate discussion about the future of our sport, in accordance with the RFL constitution, which all UK clubs are bound by.

         

“Decisions about the leagues competition structure, which have profound implications for all clubs and all divisions are whole of game issues and require dialogue and consultation, with, if necessary, votes at the games supreme chamber, the RFL Council when all RFL members can express their view.

         

“It is not for a private company or a newly appointed executive who has not sought the views of the sport to simply state what the future structure and funding arrangements of the sport will be.

         

“Championship and League 1 clubs regret very much the current tactics and behaviour of some fellow RFL members which we believe is immensely damaging and undermining to all stakeholders, and puts at risk valuable assets and broadcast contracts both now and in the future.”

         

This much is clear - the sport now needs strong leaders and mediators to bring the two parties back together, for the better of rugby league as a whole.

Saturday's referee: Sheffield v Fev

This Week's Referee

There have been many occasions when fevnut has been asked questions like: Who's the referee today? Have we had him before? Where's he from?

So we thought we would answer those questions in our blog.

Below you will find his record for this year.

Sheffield and Fev: Comparative 2018 Match Stats

Sheffield and Fev: Comparative 2018 Match Stats

This Week's Birthdays: June 23rd to 30th

This Week's Birthdays: June 23rd to 30th

Each year we try to do something a bit unusual. This year we are celebrating the birthdays of current players in the Super League, Championship and League 1 and all the players who have ever played for Fev for whom we have dates of birth.

T’Other Side: Sheffield Eagles

T’Other Side: Sheffield Eagles

Sheffield 2018 Shirts

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: Mark Aston

Amazingly, this is Mark Aston’s 18th season as head coach of Sheffield Eagles! He started the re-born club in 2000 and is still the coach, although he stood down and was only Chief Executive in 2006 but then took over the coaching again in 2007. When you add in his playing career he has been at Sheffield ever since 1985 with just one break for a little over a year when he was at Featherstone. A dynamic scrumhalf as a player he won the Lance Todd Trophy in 1998 when he led Eagles to that amazing win over Wigan at Wembley. He also played five times for Great Britain. Mark Aston is the head coach of the Ireland international team.

Captain: Matt James

Matt James is now in his second year as the Sheffield Eagles captain. He can play at second row or prop. Matt is a Welsh international although back in 2005 he played in the England U18 side. His club career started with Bradford Bulls and included spells with Barrow Raiders, Halifax and Harlequins RL before joining Featherstone in 2013. After 3 years at Rovers he moved to Sheffield.

At the back

Ben Blackmore usually plays but also occasionally at centre. His career began with just a single appearance for Castleford in 2012. He moved on to Huddersfield in 2013 and that year also played on dual reg with Batley and on loan with Doncaster. In 2014 he again played for Batley on dual reg and then was signed by Fev in June. In 2016 he joined Sheffield. He played one game for Scotland back in 2011. Matty Costello has this year played for Sheffield at fullback, centre and scrumhalf while on dual reg from Saint Helens for whom he made his début against Huddersfield in April. In 2016 he played for the England Academy. Ryan Millar, who usually plays at fullback but is equally at home on the wing, has a somewhat unusual profile for a rugby league professional. He was born in Germany, brought up in Birmingham and is training to be an architect. He is a product of the Eagles academy and scored two tries in his senior debut away to London Broncos in June 2015. He then scored a hat trick against Hull KR in his first home match. Menzie Yere missed the early part of this year because of visa problems. He is their record holder for tries in a season after scoring 46 in 37 matches in 2013. On May 26th he scored his 200th career try.

In the halves

Cory Aston is back playing for Sheffield, currently on loan from Castleford. He was signed by Castleford this year but is yet to make his début there. His career began with Sheffield in 2013. He was signed by Leeds in 2017 but he never played in the 1st team there, but played 12 games on loan with Fev and 10 with Bradford, also on loan. He is the son of Mark Aston. Simon Brown started his career with Doncaster in 2010 but he moved to Sheffield in July. In 2013 he played for York and then in 2014 for both Batley and Halifax. He spent 2015 and 2016 at Hunslet and then returned to Sheffield last year. In both 2011 and 2012 he kicked more than 100 goals but is now only the third choice kicker after Cory Aston and Oscar Thomas. Oscar Thomas is playing at scrum-half although he played mainly at fullback for Bradford. He joined Sheffield this year. From 2013 to 2015 he was a London Broncos player and also played for London Skolars on dual reg. In 2016 he joined Bradford and again played for London Skolars (this time on loan). He is a Scotland international and played in the 2017 World Cup.

At Hooker

Greg Burns has been at Sheffield for his entire career. He made his début in 2015. Matty Fozard is usually the starting hooker in the Sheffield side but he has also played at loose forward and stand-off this year. His career began with a single appearance with Saint Helens in 2014. During 2015 he played with Batley on loan and Rochdale on dual reg and then in 2016 he signed for Sheffield.

In the pack

Jack Ashworth is a Saint Helens player who has been at Sheffield on dual reg. He usually plays in the second row and occasionally at loose forward. He made his début for Saints in 2015 and that year also played for Rochdale on dual reg. In 2016 he was the man of the match for Saint Helens in a match against Hull FC. Oliver Davies (second row) signed for Sheffield this year from Swinton. He is another who started with Saint Helens making a small handful of appearances for them in 2015 and 2016. He played for England Academy in 2014. Maltese born Joe Magrin is a prop forward who has played for both Malta and Jamaica. He joined Sheffield this year from Bradford Bulls. He started his career with London Broncos and also played for London Skolars that year on dual reg. Prop Forward, Mark Offerdahl, was born in Queensland but his father is American. He played for the USA in the 2013 World Cup and was their captain in the 2017 World Cup. At club level he has played in France for Carcassonne in France, in Wales for North Wales Crusaders, in Australia for Illawarra Cutters, in the USA for Connecticut Wildcats and in England for London Broncos.

Dual Registration and Loan Players

Sheffield Eagles have a dual registration agreement with Saint Helens. So far this year seven Saints players have appeared for Sheffield: Jack Ashworth, James Bentley, Matty Costello, Matty Lees, Ben Morris, Jake Spedding and Adam Swift. They also have former player Cory Aston on loan from Castleford.

The Fev connection

Both the Sheffield coach and captain are former Fev players. Mark Aston played for Rovers in the 1994/95 season and 6 games at the beginning of the following year before returning to the Eagles. Matt James signed for Fev from Wakefield in 2013 and was at Rovers for three seasons before joining Sheffield. Cory Aston (son of Mark Aston and currently on loan from Castleford) played 12 matches for Fev last year while he was a registered Leeds Rhinos player. There are also 3 more players in the Sheffield Squad who are former Fev players. Ben Blackmore joined Fev from Huddersfield in June 2014 and moved to Sheffield at the end of 2015. Shaun Pick began his career with Fev in 2014. He was banned for 2 years for a drugs offence and then played for Toronto Wolfpack last year. Daniel Igbinedion, who played 3 games for Fev last year, started the season at Sheffield but then moved to Dewsbury.

Four members of the current Fev squad have played for Sheffield. Keal Carlile was there in 2015 and 2016 before coming to Rovers last year. John Davies also moved from Sheffield to Featherstone. He spent one season, 2015, with the Eagles. Misi Taulapapa came to England to play for Sheffield in 2010 and spent 6 seasons there before joining Fev. Scott Wheeldon was at Eagles in 2016 and 2017.