You ok Craig?

Yes thanks..last few seasons have brought out pessimistic side.other 7 teams certainly much stronger than last year's middle 8s. Not sure we are and am certainly taking nothing for granted

The SL sides are stronger but I don't think the championship sides are Leigh play a different style to last season but they had played 3 SL sides last year in the cup this year they haven't had that intensity

Possible evidence that the new structure is working as planned? Helped by the slight raising of the Championship salary cap this season (well, clubs allowed to spend a max of 50% of revenue, vs 40% in 2015, up to a max of £1.85m).

In 2017 the same will be done for Championship 1, which if Eric Perez the Toronto owner follows through on his assertions of big crowds & sponsorship deals, should see Toronto in the Championship & probably the Middle 8's for 2018 as one of only a handful of full-time teams.

There's also a strong Toulouse side in C1, which [ishould[/i get promoted this year.

Why does all this matter? The Championship & Middle 8's will get more competitive year-on-year, so perennial middle 8 fodder like Rovers will find it harder and harder to stay up, and harder to come up if/when you go down.

I think you'll be fine this year though.

Perennial = twice.

I never knew that, thankfully RLfans has once again educated me.

Every year they've been in existence is pretty perennial

What you say is true. However, Leigh have assembled a much more experienced side this year and are playing a more structured, less naive style. So they may be able to match that intensity. Anyway, it will be interesting to find out. Unfortunately, the bottom four SL teams seem to be stronger this year, to me.

No it's not. Could be remedied with a qualifier about us looking like a perennial middle 8s club, if we're being generous.

However, it isn't the most glaring error in DGM's post. That comes in extrapolating more than 2 months into the future. The typically ephemeral nature of RL structures will likely rescue Rovers from the specific fate he anticipates.

well your bringing better support than most super league teams bring to hull well done if you do, Kr are bricking it so you will give them a good run for there money for a while

Expect the stewards to stamp that out-no fun allowed at KR. They confiscated the drum and trumpet we brought- but we managed to smuggle in a cowbell ...... Which they also tried to confiscate.


Was funny watching them trying to catch who had it though - who needs Pokemon!

Good. Why anyone would think it necessary to take a drum, trumpet or cow bell to a game of RL is beyond me.

Thank yourselves lucky you don't get those stupid hats confiscated too.

That's a rare event this season, seeing Meast with a smile on his face.

How the hell has got the nerve to talk down to people on here, when he leaves the house looking like that?

It clearly states you can't bring musical instruments in, I never have a problem with my 1980's Afghan USSR Stinger missile launcher as it says nothing on the signs about those.

Bloody hell Goose. That's a cute name for your todger. I bet you terrorised a few ladeeez in your time pulling that one, if you pardon the pun.

I am all about the Avian vibes, you're a different species, I understand your misunderstanding.

Just goes to show the stupidity of the Rovers stewards..........

not being able to retrieve the cow bell whilst being passed around the 15-20 of you.

Well exactly but TBH i rather wish we hadn't bothered. The cowbell clearly had some weird effect on the home stand as the only sound they made all game were demented cow sounds Booooooooooo, booooooooooooooooo, boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

In fact it seems to have had a lasting impression on many of them as according to some Leeds friends of mine they were doing it in their game too.
Not sure if it's a good idea to bring it across for our qualifiers game- some of em might take it a step further and start eating grass.....

Ps that's not meast.

Correct on both counts, about 500 and very vocal throughout. Respect.

No you ain't, based on the evidence presented in East Hull this year.

Plenty of effort though and certainly something to build on. Rovers took their foot off the gas a bit in the 2nd half which spared you another 20 points.

Job done. Quite entertaining at times, lost some focus 2nd half. Sio was near unstoppable, can't believe he didn't score. Could've done without the bonfire!

Credit to the Batley players today. The East stand applauded them prior to the match, and they reciprocated at the end. Nice touch. They also stuck to their task under some heavy traffic. Why the hell they kept that no5 on for so long I can't imagine, he could hardly walk. I think Sio felt sorry for him and didn't run at him once, when he was struggling.

Love the Batley fans. As a North Stand season ticket holder, they certainly made more noise pro rata than any visiting set of supporters this season, despite the sub par performance from their team.

They were enthusiastic, respectful and a credit to their team and the sport.

I hope they enjoyed the day and have something positive to cheer before the end of the middle 8s.

I guarantee I won't be doling out similar compliments to the Leigh fans following our next home game.

It works both ways. I was just saying on our forum that I was impressed with the whole setup today. From the respect shown by the East stand to our players before kick off, the clapping of your fans to ours when passing in front at the end, the numerous fans who took the time to speak to me and wish us well, the very helpful stewards, the ground itself, to the notices pinned up in the foyer thanking Batley fans for travelling 64 miles today. Great club and an enjoyable day. Good luck in the remaining fixtures.

Thanks for a really enjoyable matchday experience. Having not visited your stadium since 2006, I have to say the improvements you've made are great. Good to see a club with its own ground spend some money on making it a nice place - unlike others who wait for the council to give them handouts and are happy to charge fans top dollar for entry into a hovel.