That is never going to happen while the match is played here in winter with a only home support. A warm-up doesn't make a difference to the Aussies opinion of this event.

Or Bradford to pick up four points and move eight clear at the top

I'm guessing Bradford would have been consulted re starting their season a week early. If they agreed to this, they get little sympathy from me. No good complaining about fixture congestion now; had their game not been called off they'd've had a less congested season than many of their rivals.

very true but we know ourselves that these excuses will go on forever as long as the competition is 'unfair' on the aussies. nothing we can do about it, but it would appear Manly are taking the competition more seriously than most so lets see what happens.

Good point well put!

As much as it pains me to agree, the Bulls have a strong case. I wonder if the Quins share similar feelings? Rather than having a fixture pile up, a re-arranged game with the Bulls would sort the problem out, but they would have to forfeit the Manley game. The RFL will ideally like Manley to have a run-out trial game against SL opposition, as it acts a useful tool to show that NRL are taking the WCC seriously. But if Quins do dodge the game, what about the leftovers from last week? Wigan or Wakie, as they should have a free week. They may fancy taking them on, I mean when would they get another opportunity? Manley may see Wigan as worthy opposition and Wakefield would fit logistically.

It could be argued that the Bulls seem to have had their plans disrupted as Quinze need a leg up in promoting their club. If Bradford find themselves playing two games in a week in a few months, there could be a detrimental effect on their season. It will be interesting to see how it pans out, but I wouldn't object to Hood sticking to his guns.

No we were'nt hense the article in the T&A with Peter Hood going mad as we lost out on a match against Hull KR.

Also Peter Hood hasn't complained about this friendly he actually said in the T&A and I qoute:

“We’ll talk to Red Hall and see what comments they have got on the situation,” he said.

“If that Manly friendly wasn’t going ahead, maybe something could be sorted, but as far as I know I’m sure it still will.

“Just because this game has been called off because of the weather, it doesn’t change the rationale for setting up that Manly game in the first place.”

[urlhttp://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbulls/sportbullsheadlines/4110666.Bulls_must_find_new_Quins_date/[/url

I would suggest that stating that the rationale for setting up the friendly isn't changed just because of the game at the weekend was called off isn't exactly an attempt to undermine anything.

Slightly different slant in the [url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/Bird-and-Bulls-face-anxious.4962980.jpYP[/url. Hood seems to be asking the RFL to change the fixture. I'll give him this, he's being a lot more circumspect and canny as opposed to his past approach of foot stamping and dummy spitting.

??????????? Bulls

Uvavu. The Wigan v Wakey game was rearranged from Round 17, so they would not have a free week at an appropriate time. Moving their game in Round 2 (week 3) would just mean another club having Bradford's fixture congestion instead.

Eranu!!

I'm easily confused!! So what about Wakie?? Do they have a free week now? They may fancy taking them on.

Wakey will have a fixture when Manly are in the country. They will be free in Week 18 (Round 17) but that isn't much help for the purposes of this friendly!

Now everythings crystal clear!!!



Back to the sauce me thinks.

Any chance you could follow his lead?

Where would the fun be in that?

Why cant we play quins on the wed or thrus of that week, why should we have to have a fixture congestion just so quins can play a friendly, if anyone should be put out its them.
If we play kr on the sunday, then quins on the wed/thur it means they play sunday, wed/thurs, sunday..if its only a friendly doesnt have to be their best 17.

if quins/rfl want (new)fans to turn up, then yes it does.

i'm guessing that the whole point in them playing quins is to try attract some of the aussies living in london, and generally increasing rugby league awareness in the capital.

Why not just make it really interesting and have all 3 teams playing in a tournament with 'winner stays on?'

That would suit everybody!

Emma, That's brilliant!

I think Quins were originally going to play Manly on the thursday. I'm led to believe it was switched to the weekend by the RFL, as a way of promoting the game in London. Had the weather not been bad last week the Bradford game would have gone a head. Quins have been promoting the game and tickets have been on sale for a while.

If you read the thread on the Quins board, you'd get the impression that it's already cost Bradford the grand final!

Looks like Bradford making excuses for a possible poor season already to me. Although i agree that a friendly isnt as important as a league game i dont think theyd be making as big a song and dance about this if the weather hadnt affected last weeks game

whooooooooooooooooooosh

smokescreen

Quins ready to roll against Manly: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13041 Looks like its on and looks like the Bulls are to lose out again. Shame.

Quins ready to roll against Manly: www.superleague.co.uk/article.php?id=13041 Looks like its on and looks like the Bulls are to lose out again. Shame.