These Northerners are rather prone to a bout of homesickness... And they call us the Southern Softies.

Lol problem is when you move between wigan Leeds Hudds etc you don't have to up sticks and move house. To play in london it's not really commutable is it? Upping sticks and moving the family lock stock is financially a massive ask for a rl player or any of us whippet strokers to manage. Remember we lost Paul Sykes because of the same reason many years back, his family were still up north.
Re Toronto, anyone know how they run things? Has anyone said they will get the grouping of games like last season? Do the squad decamp to Toronto as a whole group for that 4 weeks? Where do they base themselves when in the uk
I know as the season went on the accommodation for the visiting teams dropped in standard, some clubs complained being in what was student accommodation at the end.

Now you have an understanding of how Toronto do business..

Im hearing Toronto are setting up a 'home' with academy etc in Manchester

Lots of people upsticks and move for work maybe they have more backbone and stick it out. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up. I hate liars and people thinking they can take you for a ride or that you are an idiot so whoever lied be it him or the club I hope you are proud of yourself. London fans are a great set of people and do not deserve to be treated this way by anyone

Depends what he was getting paid. If its just enough to survive whilst your family is 200 miles away would you do it.

Yes lots of folk upsticks and move 200 miles, usually most in a career move, not that many will do it when they are on the sort of contracts rugby league players are on.
Can't see what the big deal is, the bloke needed to be back up north, he got offered a job by a club that he will spend twice as much time there than at london, stop being so sensitive, it's like the bloke has killed your kitten or summat

He shared a house with 4 other players, so I assume they all paid or none of them did, but the others didn't find it so difficult they needed to leave.

Plummy, have you spent much time living like that? With 3 other blokes in a share of a house? Sometimes you just want to go home to yr family not 3 other blokes you work with.
Does it really matter where he has gone or why he wanted to go anyway?
Why is Willy Barthau not getting lambasted in the same way?
I would not be surprised if there was a get out in the contract anyhow

You miss my point. I left St Helens when I was 18 to go to Uni. I moved to High Wycombe when I was 21. I lived in shared digs for at least 10 years, and during that period I paid the same rent as my fellow sharers. 29 years later I still live down south, during which time I have hated my job, loved my job, etc, but at no point did I feel sufficiently 'home sick' to warrant walking out of a contract. I know we are all different but frankly its pretty weak.

There is a difference with RL. The game is played predominately in the north with 3 outposts i.e. London, Toronto, France. If you can get similar or more money up North and live with your family(and be part of what looks like a great club) why not go. I suspect if we had offered him more money he may have stayed.

I'm convinced DH is playing the long game here and setting up for a franchise bid. The emphasis on academy is unprecedented in my time following the Broncos. Im sure if SL is going to grow there will be big focus on all clubs(franchises) producing players through academies. We've got to accept Aussie/NZ top players wont be coming in droves due to the disparity between the leagues in funding.

There has probably no comments about Barthau because there has not been any news about which club he has signed for.
London Broncos has always sourced accommodation for their players on the basis of sharing a house or a flat Ackers would have known before he signed for the club that he would have to share a house or a flat.

Myler is leaving Catalan for Leeds, Barthau looks a perfect fit? if he does sign for them, good luck to him, he has been excellent for us - but you have to question why we didn't get some kind of compensation?

Barthau has signed for TO not Catalans

Seems Ackers was a lying ****. Quote Club statement: Andy Ackers London Broncos Rugby League would like to reiterate that Andy Ackers was granted an early release from his contract with the club due to his request of returning home for family reasons. Out of sympathy, the club reluctantly agreed to grant Ackers a release from the final year of his contract given the nature of his apparent homesickness, and his desire to be nearer to his family. To learn now of a deal with Toronto Wolfpack is hugely disappointing for the club. Based on the 2017 calendar, penning a deal with the Wolfpack could see Ackers away from home for up to three months while the home fixtures are fulfilled over the summer. This, in turn, results in not only an increase in time spent away from home, but also at a much greater distance from his family than if he were to remain living in London. Chairman, David Hughes, commented: “It is hugely disappointing for the club that we have done what we perceive to be the right and gracious thing – allowing a young homesick player to go home and live nearer to his family – to have it essentially thrown back in our faces. “The London Broncos coaching staff have spent a great deal of time and effort in developing Ackers into one of our stronger players, and he now leaves a better player than when he arrived. His departure is a big loss to our squad. “We will certainly not hold any player in London against his will, and can understand only too well that family comes first, but will not hide the fact that club is dissatisfied with the outcome of granting this early release.”'" https://londonbroncosrl.com/news/club-s ... dy-ackers/

Seems Ackers was a lying ****. Quote Club statement: Andy Ackers London Broncos Rugby League would like to reiterate that Andy Ackers was granted an early release from his contract with the club due to his request of returning home for family reasons. Out of sympathy, the club reluctantly agreed to grant Ackers a release from the final year of his contract given the nature of his apparent homesickness, and his desire to be nearer to his family. To learn now of a deal with Toronto Wolfpack is hugely disappointing for the club. Based on the 2017 calendar, penning a deal with the Wolfpack could see Ackers away from home for up to three months while the home fixtures are fulfilled over the summer. This, in turn, results in not only an increase in time spent away from home, but also at a much greater distance from his family than if he were to remain living in London. Chairman, David Hughes, commented: “It is hugely disappointing for the club that we have done what we perceive to be the right and gracious thing – allowing a young homesick player to go home and live nearer to his family – to have it essentially thrown back in our faces. “The London Broncos coaching staff have spent a great deal of time and effort in developing Ackers into one of our stronger players, and he now leaves a better player than when he arrived. His departure is a big loss to our squad. “We will certainly not hold any player in London against his will, and can understand only too well that family comes first, but will not hide the fact that club is dissatisfied with the outcome of granting this early release.”'" https://londonbroncosrl.com/news/club-s ... dy-ackers/

We all know what to do when he arrives with the Wolfpack next season

To make matters worse Toronto have just paid (allegedly) £130,000 to Wire for Westerman, doubt we would have got that, but something............................

Same happened to Leigh with Jake Emmitt as with Ackers.Mr no morals Rowley and his side kick Noble strike again.RL will do sweet fa about it as they want them in SL asap

Northernbloke wrote
Can't see what the big deal is, the bloke needed to be back up north, he got offered a job by a club that he will spend twice as much time there than at london, stop being so sensitive, it's like the bloke has killed your kitten or summat

He has lied to a club who doesn't deserve to be lied to. As is for Willy B he was in a club not in his native country where little of his home language is spoken and his wife and family probably felt very lonely if their English wasn't good. He went a french club therefore he is more believable and honourable and I dont have a problem with his going apart from we will miss his talent. I would not have a problem with any player leaving to better themselves their career is a short one. I do have a problem with a player lying to the club who paid him good money to play sport and has let his team mates down by lying .

Your not the first club to have a player say he is homesick, and in our case a player who wanted to go and play in Aus. Only for them to sign for Toronto.

Mr Rowleys morals and ethics way is shining through.

Good that the club has clarified that it is Ackers serving up bull. Good stuff, DH.

Hands up I obviously read it wrong!!!

Sorry.......WHAT? GENUINELY.......WHAT T F ????????


Scenario: Contracted player wants to leave?
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS Club: OK.....Why?
Player:Because I am Homesick.........I miss my family.
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS Club: OK.....Off you toddle....but if you sign for a club further away from "homesick central", we will come after YOU for compensation......but enjoy your time with your family.

That would be how a business minded club would have done it.......Bitching about it afterwards because you were duped is how a child reacts!!

As for the RFL........If they had an ounce of backbone they would step on shindigs like this NOW....

agree totally, we should have got an agreement that he would be signing for a club near his "home"....................

you are right but also trust between player and club comes into it. LB in their ignorance trusted and Ackers was dishonourable. I would like to think we would learn from these things but we dont