Millward back to lead Leigh’s Super League quest

He’s baaaack!

Yes the man who brought you the “He’s f**ked. They’re f**king all f**king, f***ked.” press conference is heading back to the UK.

Leigh today confirmed that former Leigh, St. Helens and Wigan coach, Ian Millward, will take the reins there as Chief Coach in 2010.

Announcing the three year contract a delighted Leigh Centurions Chairman Arthur Thomas said: “Ian took Leigh from a lowly placed club to the top four before being released to take over at Saints in the 2000 season, he created history at Saints winning 2 premierships, 2 Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge in a six year term.”

Thomas also thanked Paul Rowley for his services during the interim period and confirmed that “he will continue at the club as a coach working alongside Ian”

As for Millward, he too was delighted, saying (from Australia): “Leigh gave me a start back in 1999 and I will endeavor to repay the club and its supporters with success in the coming seasons.”

And Millward admitted a secondary reason behind his taking up the appointment: “… the opportunity if affords me to be closer to my three children who still live in England and to allow my wife Marion to live closer to her parents”.

Whatever your opinions about Ian Millward – and few will have none – you can be guaranteed that interesting times lie ahead for the Centurions.

At least this time their new coach won’t have to don the overalls and paint the dressing rooms. Although whether he can make Leigh and attractive option for Super League is a debating point that we’ll no doubt return to another time.

Let’s see … Leigh or Toulouse? Leigh or Gateshead? Leigh or Widnes? Leigh or back-of-beyond city that fancies rugby league oh, say, Exeter? See, I’m not convinced I’d pick Leigh over anyone of those. What is it they can offer Super League, except a decent stadium?

The area is already well served by easy access to three – and every other year or so – four super league clubs (Saints, Wigan, Warrington and yo-yo-Salford). So why put another Super League club there? The RFL would be barking mad to do it … although that’s not a foregone conclusion is it?

Jeux sans frontiers …

I had to stifle a scream during Tony Smith’s post match press-conference.

Not because of anything the elequent Smith said, just that a fellow press member asked a question about one of my pet hates.

“So, Tony. If ‘x’ changed his mind about playing for Ireland would you consider him for England?” opined one of Her Majesty’s finest.

‘Aaaaaaargh!’ went my bullshitometer.

Listen I get we need to be flexible with country qualification. Especially in stocking the home nations and the pacific nations with players.

But can we dump the musical chairs element of that? When you make a choice’ stick the hell with it can’t you?

Don’t be faux-irish then jump to England when your stock rises. It’s not only hypocritical, it’s downright disrespectful and it brings the sport into disrepute. Or at least it would if anyone was taking notice (yes, taxi for the national media).

So come on IRLB lets have some backbone and integrity in international selection rules.

Posted by Wordmobi

Listen! They’re singing our song …

Are Hull FC fans the scourge of the engage Super League?
I doubt it. Yet there was a time when Warrington and Hull could both justifiably have laid claim to having had the most intimidating set of yobs in the sport.

I was reminded of this Sunday, whilst strolling from the car park to my seat in the comfortable confines of Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium. Yet its almost impossible to believe. Certainly the Wolves’ current set-up is a very visible indication of the progress made by them and by the wider Super League, no matter how nostalgic one may be about their former home at Wilderspool.

‘Almost impossible’, I say. That’s because as I made that short walk – via Tesco’s – my ears were assailed by the dulcet tones of a coach load of recently disembarked Hull FC fans belting out that old Warrington anthem.

You know the one. We’ve all sung it … at least once … when we were like 14 maybe; It’s the alliterative one. Yes the, “Oh Hanky, Hanky. Hanky, Hanky Warrington.” one … only it’s not hanky, you understand. No hankies are involved … oh, or maybe they are.

As that song drifted across the car park and into the Tesco’s store – a store thronged with middle class shoppers, with middle class children and middle class aspirations – it seemed almost surreal. Like a scene from a time-shifting episode of Dr Who, where a rampaging gang of 1970’s soccer-hooligans are suddenly transported into the gentle surroundings of a Windsor croquet party.

The chants of the small band of vociferous if misguided Hull fans making their way from the coach to the shop were taken up by a smaller group inside the store for a moment. But the appearance of a large Tesco bouncer, the stern stares of middle-class moms, a few muttered ‘not in front of the kids’ and a good scolding from the Tesco customer service girl, soon quelled the uprising.

Although peace was quickly restored, for a little while I remained annoyed at those fools for their singing; initially for the shocking disrespect it showed, but increasingly because instead of wasting that hot air on foul-mouthed chants, they could instead have given us a rousing rendition of Hull FC’s own ‘Old Faithfull’ ballad.

Surely that would have served them better. It raises the hairs on the backs of necks and sends pulses racing, rousing fans and players to greater efforts. More than that it reflects credit on the Hull club, the city and even the sport.

So come on rugby league fans, it’s time to ditch that 1970’s epic in the same place you stuffed those tank tops, bell bottoms and parkas. move on … after all this is 2009, this is Super League and these, these are the “Wolfy, Wolfy Warrington Wolves”.

it’s alive, it’s alive!

Good morning.

It’s a bright sunny June morning in Warrington today and if you’re reading this live then you’re present at an historic moment; the rebirth of sfCodeXIII.

Yes, that’s right after a period of dormancy and mooching I’ve decided to resurrect the old blog.

Hope you like it. Spread the word if you do.

SLXIV/18: Wolves-Hull FC (24-6)

SLXIV Round 18: June 28th, 2009
Ian Bridge at Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Warrington 24 [6]
Hull FC 12 [6]
Summary
29        Jodie Broughton try        0-4
        Danny Tickle goal 1/1        0-6
39        Chris Riley        4-6
        Chris Hicks goal 1/1        6-6
        HALF TIME
45        Paul Wood try        10-6
        Chris Hicks goal 2/2        12-6
50        Matt King try        16-6
        Chris Hicks goal 3/3        18-6
52        Ben Harrison try        22-6
        Chris Hicks goal 4/4        24-6
60        Kirk Yeakman try        24-10
        Danny Tickle goal 2/2        24-12
        FULL TIME
REPORT
A searing break by fullback, Richie Mathers, was enough to steady the rocking Wolves and ignite a 15 minute second half blitz as they rallied from 6-0 down to win 24-6. Although in truth the highlight of this game was Wolfies’ dead-dog act after Hull FC’s interception try; pure comedy.

Two stunning long-range tries and two buffer-busting tackles punctuated an uneventful opening half. But the Wolves looked to have seized the momentum at the half courtesy of Mathers’ searing 70m dash and an over-the-head pass that ended with Chris Riley sliding in at the left corner. Chris Hicks’ touchline conversion tied the score as the hooter sounded.

Hull were left to rue squandering the best chance of a tight opening quarter; quick hands crafted an overlap inside the Wolves’ 20, only for Graeme Horne’s sloppy pass to bobble into touch, leaving Gareth Raynor with no chance to collect it.

That and a stunning Matt King tackle on Motu Tony were all that troubled the memory banks until the 30th minute, and Hull’s opening score. In striving yet again to engineer an overlap on the Warrington right, Michael Monaghan flung a long and telegraphed pass that was plucked out of the air by Jodie Broughton and returned 75 metres the opposite way for a try, leaving an easy conversion for Danny Tickle.

Only a real train-stopper of a hit by Hull’s Jamie Thackray illuminated the rest of the half though, until that mesmerising break by Mathers.

The Wolves sealed the game with three second-half tries in a sizzling 15 minute spell before settling back into mundanity. And although Hull nabbed a late consolation try from Kirk Yeaman, they never threatened more.

First of the second half tries came for prop Paul Wood, with Monaghan evenening-up his account, making a telling break and a neat offload to send him barrelling over. Hicks converted.

Two touchdowns in two dizzy minutes then killed off the visitors’ dwindling hopes. King’s bewildering dummy was enough to stand-up Horne and enable the big Aussie to skip in at the left corner.

Then Vinnie Anderson put the icing on the cake, linking with Monaghan, then breaking clear from halfway and sending Ben Harrison careering over at the same corner. It was game-up for the visitors as Hicks added his fourth conversion.
TEAMS:
Wolves
30 Mathers, 23 Hicks, 25 Bridge, 4 King, 19 Riley, 20 Grix, 7 Monaghan, 8 Morley, 9 Clarke, 16 Carvell, 11 L Anderson, 12 Westwood, 24 Harrison
Subs (all used): 15 Wood, 18 Cooper, 13 V Anderson, 2 Johnson

Tries:         Riley (39), Wood (45), King (50), Harrison (52)
Goals:        Hicks 4/4
Hull FC
1 Tony, 29 Broughton, 17 G Horne, 4 Yeaman, 5 Raynor, 6 R Horne, 23 Lee, 8 Dowes, 9 Berrigan, 11 Radford, 22 Burnett, 16 Manu, 12 Tickle
Subs (all used): 20 Houghton, 14 Whiting, 19 King, 18 Thackray

Tries:        Broughton (29), Yeaman (60)
Goals:        Tickle 2/2
Men of the match
Wolves:        Michael Monaghan
MATCH FACTS
Half-time:        6-6
Full-time:        24-12
Referee:        S Ganson
Attendance:        9,170