fevnut's musings #22: Chisholm, 1895 Cup and Heritage Numbers

fevnut's musings

Dane Chisholm

One of the things we love about rugby league is the variety of roles filled by players according to their position. In recent years people have been referring to the ‘spine’ of the team (fullback, stand-off, scrum-half and hooker) and that is a valid concept but we still believe that you will never get a team playing really well unless there is a good scrum-half leading the team.

Good scrum-halves need to be insightful, imaginative and they need to be respected by the rest of the team.

Earlier this season we wrote about the lack of leadership on the field which was holding us back. It is simply amazing the degree to which the signing of Dane Chisholm has turned that around.

In the six matches prior to him arriving we won three and lost three, which included both the dismal loss to Dewsbury and the team collapsing from a winning position in the cup at Odsal. We scored 144 points and conceded 107.

In the six matches with Dane at scrum-half we have won five and lost one, and the loss was a narrow one against Toronto who are clearly the strongest team in the Championship. In those matches we have scored 222 points and conceded just 71.

That tells you everything doesn’t it? No, it doesn’t.

Because we can’t single out Chisholm as the only factor. Tom Holmes is playing brilliantly too (and so was Jack Bussey at stand-off) and the Dane and Tom partnership is amazing when you consider that it usually takes a fair amount of time for a halfback partnership to develop. Then add in the way they are working with Cameron King and we have a tremendous ‘spine’ whether it’s Ashton Golding or the very promising youngster Jack Render at fullback.

Not only are we now winning matches convincingly but we are also playing really attractive rugby, the sort of rugby that spectators love and should bring back the crowds.

Spread the word and bring your friends along to watch this team of ours!

1895 Cup

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if 2019 saw Featherstone return to Wembley? With Toronto and Toulouse not taking part it is a golden opportunity. There is no team in the competition that we should fear.

We just hope the coach and team realise how much it would mean to the Fev fans if we could go to Wembley on August 24th. Maybe they should get the likes of Malcolm Dixon, Peter Smith and Keith Bell to talk to the team about what a Wembley trip means to this town.

The way we are playing and the way Widnes are playing we should be eminently capable of winning on Wednesday, but there is a potential motivational problem to overcome.

Although Widnes currently lie in a relegation position in the Championship table because of their twelve point deduction we can’t see them having any problem in finishing the season above the likes of Barrow, Dewsbury and Swinton. The top 5 play-offs though now seem to be very unlikely for them. So that leaves them with only the 1895 Cup as potential for success in 2019 which in turn means that they will probably be very keen indeed to win against Fev.

So, let’s not see the 1895 Cup as a relaxation between Championship matches but rather as a means to make the town of Featherstone a really proud and happy place again.

Heritage Numbers

Last week, on-loan local lad, Dale Ferguson earned Featherstone Rovers Heritage Number 1,100.

It’s been quite difficult keeping up with the Heritage Numbers because he is, amazingly, the nineteenth player to make their Fev début this year!

We are hoping that we now settle down and see a regular team out on the park. A team that grows into being Champions over the next few years.

The potential is there but it won’t be achieved by constant chopping and changing.

Championship Talk: Wembley awaits

CHAMPIONSHIP TALK

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.

Wembley awaits

THE RFL’s bold new 1895 Cup reaches the second round phase this weekend, with the 12 competing Championship clubs joining the four that have progressed from League One.

Five of the matches take place on Sunday and the remaining three on Wednesday, with Bradford and Halifax contesting Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final and Widnes playing Sheffield in a rearranged league game on Friday.

The competition, for those unaware, offers the clubs taking part the chance to reach Wembley and play on the same day as this year’s Challenge Cup final.

It’s a straight knock-out competition which means that you stand just three or four wins away from the national stadium, depending which round you enter in.

       

It was worked out that the 16 remaining clubs - which does not include Toronto and Toulouse - have over 1,000 years of waiting for a Wembley trip between them

       

That ranges from the most recent visitors - Sheffield in 1998 - to Dewsbury, who have not been since 1929.

       

Newcastle, Batley, Rochdale, Swinton, Oldham and Doncaster have never played on the country’s biggest sporting stage.

       

Given the second round draw, at least two of those will be only two wins away from breaking their duck after Sunday afternoon.

       

That should act as a major incentive to those involved, although it’s fair to say that issues around the 1895 Cup have been raised by some.

       

Playing it after the Challenge Cup final has been the main gripe, along with having to sell a significant amount of tickets for clubs to have any chance of making money out of it, plus the lack of a sponsor.

       

For some teams that are either battling against relegation or vying for promotion, it will doubtless also be seen as an unnecessary distraction.

       

But writing the competition off before it’s had a chance to make its mark would be folly, as those who were lambasting Magic Weekend in Liverpool before it took place found out last week.

       

The fact is that the 1895 Cup potentially provides players and coaches with a huge stage to perform on, and that much should be welcomed.

       

There will doubtless be areas of improvement to look at moving forward - the timing of the final and a headline sponsor should be top of that list.

       

But players at this level rarely disappoint in terms of the action on the field, and hopefully the competition will gather some impetus as it unfolds.

1895 Cup second round draw: Leigh Centurions v Workington Town, York City Knights v Newcastle Thunder, Barrow Raiders v Bradford Bulls, Batley Bulldogs v Rochdale Hornets, Widnes Vikings v Featherstone Rovers, Dewsbury Rams v Swinton Lions, Halifax v Sheffield Eagles, Oldham v Doncaster

Fev v Bradford: Teams and Scorers

Fev v Bradford:
Teams and Scorers
Championship
Round 15

Fev v Bradford: 19 man squads

Fev v Bradford: 
19 Man Squads

19 Man Squads

Fev and Bradford have now both announced their  squads for our match on Sunday. In Bradford's case they have only named 18 players. We have placed players into positions with guess work largely based on the line-ups for the teams in their last matches. 

fevnut's musings #21: Blackpool, Barcelona and Bradford

fevnut's musings

Blackpool

The hoodoo is banished! Never again can anyone say that Fev have always lost at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool. fevnut (tongue in cheek) claims some credit for our wonderful win against York. As we have said many times, we loathe Blackpool both as a place and as a location for several years of misery.

Wiped out is the vision of throwing away the Northern Rail Cup final in 2012. Gone is the vision of being nilled by Halifax at Summer Bash in 2016. And gone too are the visions of our losses in 2015, 2017 and 2018. And they are all replaced by our new memory of a wonderful team performance to take apart a team that were lying above us in the table.

We watched it on television. We simply couldn’t bear to risk more misery in that place. And then, whilst deciding not to go we thought that as Fev always lose when we go maybe we can bring them some luck by not going!

Maybe in years to come we will simply remember that we won 42-10. I wonder if we will all recall that York were well on top for most of the opening 20 minutes and it was only the quality of our goal-line defence that kept them at bay. So it was a bit of a surprise when we took the lead. And it seemed almost inevitable that it was going to be from a long range interception try. 

We loved Chizzie’s celebration even though we were mistaken as to what it symbolized. Some have suggested that it was being disrespectful to York but that thought never occurred to us. We guessed that it was an on-the-spot enactment of exhaustion after his 90 metre run but it turned out to be a reference to his baby child.

So, now it’s on to our home game against Bradford and fevnut will definitely be there! We are really excited about it.

Barcelona

The other factor in deciding not to go to Blackpool was that we very much wanted to see the game at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Had we been able to afford it we would have been there in person but we settled for watching it on television at home.

What an occasion it turned out to be for rugby league. Who are these people who make out that Catalans Dragons bring nothing to our competition?! We hope they are eating huge slabs of humble pie.

The old Super League record was the 25,004 that attended a match between Wigan and Saint Helens in 2005. The 31,555 that were there at Camp Nou increased that figure by about 25%. That’s an unbelievable increase in a record.

At the Mexico Olympics in 1968 Bob Beaman famously smashed the long jump world record but even that was only by a margin of 5%.

Super League chief executive, Robert Elstone, has been reported as saying that following Barcelona he is very keen to take other SL matches to major European cities. We need to add a word of caution. The factors that were in play last week cannot possibly be repeated elsewhere. Both Barcelona and Perpignan were part of the ancient principality of Catalonia. In both cities the Catalan language is widely spoken. There is a big desire within Spanish Catalonia for independence from Spain. So the very name of ‘Catalans Dragons’ has very large resonance in Barcelona. Whatever the teams playing, you could never repeat that effect in a match staged in say Rome, Berlin, Amsterdam or even Paris.

Bradford

So, now it’s on to our home game against Bradford and fevnut will definitely be there! We are really excited about it. They have beaten us twice already this year, both at their Odsal stadium and each time by a single point margin. In the first game of the season their win was down to a Chisholm drop goal. In the second it was a golden point drop goal after the teams finished level at the hooter.

And now Dane Chisholm is a Fev player and has dramatically improved the whole of the Fev team. So we think that we could well see a Fev victory on Sunday, not what we would have predicted a few weeks ago.

We generally don’t go in for predictions but surely it is not too far-fetched to surmise that Toronto will beat Sheffield, Toulouse will beat Leigh and Widnes will bet York. And if all that happens Fev will be sitting in 3rd place in the table on Sunday night by virtue of our far superior points difference.

That would make the next Championship game, away at Sheffield, immense. If we were to go there and win that would nullify the advantage they currently hold by virtue of having a game in hand and even if they win that game away at Widnes next week we could put ourselves well in place for finishing third.

Who would have thought that a few weeks ago?!!!

Championship Talk: More Important than Magic?

CHAMPIONSHIP TALK

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.

More important than Magic?

IT’S that time of year when the great Magic Weekend debate airs.

​But this is also the time of the Championship’s Summer Bash, and a chance to reflect on what that brings to the table each year.

Last ​Saturday was the first time this writer has attended the event - despite a passionate interest in the sport outside the top flight, work has always prevented me attending before.

​But this season presented a first opportunity to join the seaside fun, with my four year old son and his cousin in tow for their Summer Bash debuts as well.

​In short, we loved it.

​From pulling up in the car park and seeing fans from a host of clubs eating their packed lunches and throwing balls around, to seeing those same shirts wandering around the pier fairgrounds rides with their children, it felt every inch a rugby league festival type of event.

​The location of the stadium - which a hot topic when talking about Magic weekend venues - adds to that.

​A short walk from Bloomfield Road and you can be on the seafront, with plenty to do for kids, and pubs housing large groups of fans mingling happily together.

​Wary of the attention span of aforementioned four year olds, we arrived shortly before our chosen game of Rochdale versus Swinton, and were pleasantly surprised to see the number of neutrals inside the ground, who had just enjoyed the opening Toronto-Toulouse clash.

​There was significant debate over whether or not to take the Bash back to Bloomfield Road this year, but alongside its close proximity to outside activities, the stadium lends itself to a good atmosphere even with a relative fraction of its capacity inside, with the corners all enclosed.

​Blackpool is also definitively a weekend away venue, where fans can have a night or two on the coast that they wouldn’t normally enjoy while watching rugby league.

​That appeals to many - and with all due respect to the alternative venues discussed such as Bradford and Doncaster, they simply wouldn’t provide that.

​This is the Championship’s big weekend out, and as such needs to be different from the norm to make it attractive.

​And its importance to the players and coaches involved shouldn’t be underestimated either.

​This is a weekend on a bigger stage for them - Sky Sports’ screening of all seven matches is crucial in that, offering a shop window they are rarely afforded otherwise.

​Players and coaches at this level - the majority of them part-time - speak passionately about being able to play in bigger events like the Summer Bash.

​In that respect, it’s arguably more important to those involved to keep it going in future years than Magic Weekend is.

​And for this writer, it should be here to stay. 

Sunday's Referee: Fev v Bradford

Sunday's Referee

Fev players better be on their best behaviour because this is a ref who has used above average yellow cards this season and well above average with the red variety. The average red cards used by all refs is one every twenty matches but for Hewer it is one every 5 matches!

Gareth Hewer hails from Whitehaven but he must know the route pretty well by now. It will be his 27th occasion refereeing a Fev home match and we make it that means he has driven over 8,000 miles between his home and Post Office Road and back!

T’Other Side: Bradford Bulls

T’Other Side: Bradford Bulls

2019 MATCHES

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

LAST TIME OUT

Head Coach: John Kear

John Kear is probably the most experienced head coach in this country. His career began at Bramley in 1992 and since then he has held the position at Paris Saint Germain (1995-96), Sheffield Eagles (1997-99), Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants (2000), Hull FC (2005-06), Wakefield Trinity (2006-11), Batley Bulldogs (2011-16) and Bradford Bulls from 2018. And on the international scene he has also been head coach to France, England, Great Britain and Wales (where he has led them to qualification for the 2021 World Cup).

Two matches in his coaching career really stand out in the memory. The first, of course, has to be the shock Challenge Cup win for Sheffield over Wigan at Wembley in 1998. The most dramatic came in 2006. He took over at Wakefield who looked completely doomed to relegation but he led them to four wins in their last 6 matches ending with a shock win over Castleford in the last match resulting in escape from relegation at the expense of Castleford.

That was somewhat ironical because John Kear’s entire playing career was at Castleford, mainly as a winger, from 1978 to 1988.

And, this year, he was at it again when his Bradford team knocked Leeds out of the Challenge Cup.

Captain: Steve Crossley

Steve Crossley has been appointed as Bradford captain for 2019. His first grade career began with hometown club Bradford Bulls in 2010 with 7 off the bench appearances. During the following year he played for Dewsbury Rams on dual reg as well as making further appearances for the Bulls. In 2012 he signed for Dewsbury and moved onto Fev for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In 2015 he signed for Castleford but in April transferred back to Bradford. He spent the 2017 season with Toronto and then for 2018 yet again (for the 4th time!) came back to the Bulls. He is an out and out prop forward, every one of his 121 career appearances in the starting line-up having been at prop. Including sub appearances he has played 195 games so will probably make it to 200 this year.

At the back

This year Bradford signed David Foggin-Johnston (wing) from Hunslet and he has already made a big impact. His career began with York in 2017 where he scored 16 tries in 19 matches and he moved to Hunslet for 2018.

Brandon Pickersgill (full back and occasional stand-off) has been a Bradford player since making his professional début in 2017, although he did have a loan spell with London Skolars in his first year.

Ethan Ryan (wing) is widely expected to be signed up by a Super League club next year. He has been with Bradford since his career began in 2016. Last year he scored 36 tries in 30 appearances and this year he has scored 11 tries in 17 games. He is an Irish international.

Jake Webster (centre) was Bradford’s most high profile signing for 2019, joining from Castleford. A New Zealander, he played for Melbourne Storm (2003-2006) and Gold Coast Titans (2007) in the NRL before joining Hull KR in 2008. He was there for 5 years and then signed for Castleford in 2013. He played one game for York on dual reg in 2014. He has played internationally for both New Zealand and Malta.

In the halves

Joe Keyes was a regular halfback for the Bulls last year but has not played so far in 2019 because of a back injury. His career began at London Broncos in 2014 and in 2016 he had a loan spell with London Skolars. He signed for Bradford in 2017. Art representative level he has played for the England Academy and for Ireland.

Jordan Lilley is at Bradford on loan from Leeds and looks as if he will be staying there all year. He made his début for Leeds in 2015 and has played for Hunslet (2015 - Dual Reg), Featherstone (2016 and 2018 - Dual Reg), Bradford (2017 and 2018 - loan) and Leigh (2018 - loan).

Rowan Milnes has been the Bulls regular stand-off recently after playing just 2 games for them in 2018.

At hooker

George Flanagan is a dangerous player particularly from dummy-half near the try line. His career started at Batley in 2009. He moved to Dewsbury in 2012 and returned to Batley in 2013. He spent 2014 at Fev and then signed for Hunslet in 2015. He joined Bradford shortly after the start of the 2018 season. In 2015 he played a couple of games on loan with Hemel Stags.

Sam Hallas is a product of the Leeds Rhinos Academy and made his début for Leeds in 2016. In 2017 he had a loan spell with Bradford which turned into a full signing. He is the cousin of former professional player Graeme Hallas and as an amateur he played for Stanningley alongside Jordan Lilley and Ashton Golding.

Matty Wildie (who also plays at half-back) began his career with Wakefield in 2010. Whilst at Wakefield he had loan spells with Batley (2012) and Doncaster (2013 and 2014). In 2016 he signed for Fev but because of injury he missed the whole of his first year. He joined Bradford for this season.

In the pack

Connor Farrell (second row) is another who was at Fev last year. He began with hometown club Wigan in 2010 where he remained until 2017. He had very few first team opportunities and played on loan for South Wales, Workington, Widnes, Swinton and Fev before signing for Fev. He is the younger brother of Wigan’s Liam Farrell.

Liam Kirk (prop) has become a regular starter. He made his début for Bradford (his only club) in 2016.

Elliott Minchella (second row or loose forward) is Bradford’s principal goal-kicker. He is very much a utility player having also played this year at stand-off and centre. He is another product of the Leeds Rhinos academy and made his professional début there in 2013. In 2015 he went on loan to London Broncos and then moved from Leeds to Sheffield Eagles in 2016. He is in his first season at Bradford.

Mikey Wood (loose forward) made his début with Halifax in 2015 (on loan from Huddersfield). He only played in the first team at Huddersfield twice but he was loaned out to Newcastle (2016), Oldham (2017) and Bradford (2018). He is now a Bradford contracted player.

Dual Registration and Loans

The Bulls do not have a dual registration agreement. Olsi Krasniqi was on loan from Toronto earlier in the season and Jordan Lilley (see above) is on loan from Leeds.

The Fev Connection

Transfers between Bradford and Featherstone have been fairly frequent in the past but currently Dane Chisholm is the only player in the Fev squad who has ever played for Bradford, although Cameron Smith who has played for Fev this year on dual reg played for Bradford on loan in 2017.

STOP PRESS: And now there is also Dale Ferguson who played for Bradford from 2014 to 2016!

But there are 8 members of the current Bradford squad who have worn the Featherstone shirt. Connor Farrell and Matty Wildie were regular members of the Rovers team last year. Steve Crossley was a stand-out player who made 51 appearances for Fev in 2013 and 2014. George Flanagan was also a Rovers player in 2014. It was Fev who brought Jy Hitchcox over from Australia in 2015. Despite scoring two hat tricks he never got the chance to establish himself as a first team regular and he moved on to Castleford in 2016. James Green made 3 appearances in 2013 during a loan spell from Hull Kingston Rovers and Jordan Lilley played for Fev on dual reg in 2016 and 2018. Last month Bradford signed Colton Roche from Huddersfield. He was at Fev in 2016.