Sport Today

by **Ryan O'Neil** » Fri, 12 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Exclusive from Cougar Park:

Just got the International Gladiator Champion; Wesley '2 scoups' Berry. Should be a
great winger...lands at 2.30pm tommorrow... press conference after that..

Screw on that Paul & Gary !

Come on Widnes & Salford, can't see any Gladiators there !!!!! (oh by the way, he's
American)
--
Yours cougarly

Ryan

N.B: these are my views and are neither influenced nor necessarily those of my father ! OK??!!

by **Unswor** » Fri, 12 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Ha!

Wait and see....... he who laughs last as they say....

Cheers,
Ged Unsworth
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Taking Rugby League to the WORLD

by **Gary Austi** » Sat, 13 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

> Just got the International Gladiator Champion; Wesley '2 scoups' Berry. Should be a
> great winger...lands at 2.30pm tommorrow... press conference after that..

>***on that Paul & Gary !

Actually, we've signed a much better commodity. We'll double our gate, our advertising
and the numbers of players in the bath after the game.

Yes... It's Ulrika Jonssen <- Apologies for spelling, Ryan, but I haven't a clue how
to spell her name.

Don't worry, Paul, I hear Reeves and Mortimer are heading for the Willows!

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by **Dr J.S. Marsla** » Sat, 13 Jan 1996 04:00:00

: >
: > Just got the International Gladiator Champion; Wesley '2 scoups' Berry.

I thought Blackpool had a team of Gladiators? Not that it did them much
good. What makes you think he'll be any good at rugby anyway?

Whatever next? Hanley playing American Football?

: Yes... It's Ulrika Jonssen <- Apologies for spelling, Ryan, but I
: haven't a clue how to spell her name.

That's easy!

Uuuullll-ri-ka-ka-ka-ka-kaaa

Bored. Sorry.
--
John
The Yorkshire motto updated: Hear all, see all, say nowt;
Eat all, sup all, pay nowt; Read all, lurk all, post nowt;
And if tha'ever do's owt for nowt allus do it for thi'sen.

by **Andrew Braithwait** » Sat, 13 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Hanley played American football for the London Monarchs in the first
season of World League, he played running back but I can't remember if
he was any good.

by **Paul McNall** » Sat, 13 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>Exclusive from Cougar Park:

>Just got the International Gladiator Champion; Wesley '2 scoups' Berry. Should
>be a
>great winger...lands at 2.30pm tommorrow... press conference after that..

>Screw on that Paul & Gary !

>Come on Widnes & Salford, can't see any Gladiators there !!!!! (oh by the way,
>he's
>American)

That's nothing. We've got a bid in for scouse female International
Gladiator Champion and Bond stun*** Eunice Huthart. She's in the final
of the Ashes on telly tommorow then she's flying back to have secret
talks with John Wilkinson. Don't tell anyone, my dad says it's top
secret.

Seriously. Jesus Christ. It really is all about publicity there isn't
it. How much are you paying for him. Are you getting a Keighley shirt
with "2 scoups" (tsk) on the back.

How ridiculous is it that a full-time supposedly professional outfit
signs a player who's never played the ***y game before just because
he's been on telly, and assumes he's a "great winger" simply because
he's black and played Duel and Sky Track! I guess he'll be a much needed
boost to flagging Cougar Mania for a couple of weeks/never plays a game.

Can you imagine Tuigamala getting hold of him although he skill for
jumping over cars might come in handy (yes I do watch Gladiators

What's the betting he doesn't get a work permit? There are full time RL
players from Aus. and NZ who struggled to get 'em because they weren't
regular Winfield Cup players.

One final point, remember when Martin Offiah was on Gladiators, he was
bollocks. I suppose it might just work the other way too!

Paul

ww
|\---/ >

\____/ --------------------------------------------

by **Gary Austi** » Tue, 16 Jan 1996 04:00:00

writes:

Quote:

> One final point, remember when Martin Offiah was on Gladiators, he was
> bollocks. I suppose it might just work the other way too!

D'you mean Offiah's bollocks on the rugby field too? Because I'd go along
with that one. Each time he's on TV I agree with it more and more...

You should never have left Naughton Park, Martin.

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by **Ryan O'Neil** » Wed, 17 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

> Seriously. Jesus Christ. It really is all about publicity there isn't
> it. How much are you paying for him. Are you getting a Keighley shirt
> with "2 scoups" (tsk) on the back.

I'm afraid to say Paul, Salford should take a leaf out of our book and start getting something
exceiting at the Willows apart from traditional RL.... That's why our crowds have been higher than
your all season !

Quote:

> How ridiculous is it that a full-time supposedly professional outfit
> signs a player who's never played the ***y game before just because
> he's been on telly, and assumes he's a "great winger" simply because
> he's black and played Duel and Sky Track! I guess he'll be a much needed
> boost to flagging Cougar Mania for a couple of weeks/never plays a game.

Do i detect a tad of jealousy here ?!

Quote:

> What's the betting he doesn't get a work permit? There are full time RL
> players from Aus. and NZ who struggled to get 'em because they weren't
> regular Winfield Cup players.

Did Tuigamala play Winfield Cup then Clever*** ?

Quote:

> One final point, remember when Martin Offiah was on Gladiators, he was
> bollocks. I suppose it might just work the other way too!

I suppose it might....but it's worth a damn good try !
--
Yours cougarly

Ryan

N.B: these are my views and are neither influenced nor necessarily those of my father ! OK??!!

by **Gary Austi** » Thu, 18 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

Dinsdale) writes:

> Salford?s highest league gate - 5194 for a midweek game v
> Cougars, next highest - 2886 for a weekend fixture. I was there and there
> was as much green as there was red in evidence.

Probably because of that large patch of grass in the centre of the stadium! ;)

Quote:

> about your wonder PA system - that's having your cake and eating it.

Speaking of PA systems. There was funny message on Widnes' speakers the other
week about Phil Larder and the kdask;sabbvcxbcxbihhufklroehfk ajsdjiqomfm,d fdjfjro
aj s dasnnm,sanmdsk;l fds dskldhfurir894nflsinvbdbhj
--
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by **Paul McNall** » Thu, 18 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>I'm afraid to say Paul, Salford should take a leaf out of our book and start
>getting something
>exceiting at the Willows apart from traditional RL.... That's why our crowds
>have been higher than
>your all season !

Good crowds don't necessarily stay with you if the team is proved
lacking. Hence Berry is brought in for publicity not for skill. Don't
you really need a tried and tested player. If you're not signing good RL
players then how can you hope to catch us next year?
The thing is if Keighley had come to the Willows in the last month then
they'd have seen a massive change since they came last. Remember, this
time last year we were entertaining Wigan and Leeds. It's very easy for
our crowd to drop off when watching the likes of Dewsbury and Batley
while yours picks up cos of big matches against Widnes and Salford.
I think you'll find a different Salford next time you come. I reckon we
now have the loudest away support in the league for reasons you'll have
to wait and see (I ain't spoiling it!) and our new tannoy system,
complete with 3D interactive sound which I helped design and now
implement every week is, without exaggeration the best PA gear in Rugby.
There's no phony yank accents bellowing out through tinny horns there
let me tell you.
The guys that fitted it have been truly awesome and any visiters to the
Willows from now on are in for a right shock, the likes of which other
teams WILL have to follow.
And before you start, it isn't a leaf out of the Cougars book. It's from
the Manchester Storm Ice Hockey team who really do do it correctly. And
besides it was hardly your book to begin with was it?

Quote:

>> How ridiculous is it that a full-time supposedly professional outfit
>> signs a player who's never played the ***y game before just because
>> he's been on telly, and assumes he's a "great winger" simply because
>> he's black and played Duel and Sky Track! I guess he'll be a much needed
>> boost to flagging Cougar Mania for a couple of weeks/never plays a game.

>Do i detect a tad of jealousy here ?!

A tad of sense more like. You have the England coach there, a guy who
gets to pick the cream of the country's crop suddenly signing some guy
who's played extremely low grade NFL. A couple of weeks ago he was in
for Richie Eyres. Who makes the signings there? Larder or the board? As
a publicity stunt, yeah nice one but he's hardly gonna play against us
next year is he. Nathan McAvoy, Fata Sini, Scot Martin and Scotty Naylor
will eat him alive. Larder isn't that naive.
To be honest, if he'd signed for Salford I'd be more embarrassed than
gleeful because I'd fear the rest of the RL world would see through it
for the cheap attraction for the kids that it is

Quote:

>> What's the betting he doesn't get a work permit? There are full time RL
>> players from Aus. and NZ who struggled to get 'em because they weren't
>> regular Winfield Cup players.

>Did Tuigamala play Winfield Cup then Clever*** ?

Completely different set of circumstances. Anyway, he'd played
international RU for the All Blacks which I'd say makes him a little
more qualified for the job that some bloke who's barely scraped his 15
minutes of fame.
Here's a more specific example. Our new signing Ali Davyes (captain of
the Cook Islands team in the emerging nations WC) had massive problems
getting a permit. He's even played in the Winfield Cup, just not
regularly enough for the UK immigration board to pass him immediately.
The same happened to two guys Leigh were trying to sign, don't know the
outcome.
ww
|\---/ >

\____/ --------------------------------------------

by **Paul Dinsda** » Thu, 18 Jan 1996 04:00:00

I don1t understand why you seem to feel so threatened by the Cougars,
Paul. As far as I know, no one is suggesting that Salford are a bad team,
and they1ve clearly proved themselves the best in the division this
season. It1s not surprising that they1ve got the loudest support if
they1re winning more matches at the moment than anyone else. However, you
can1t argue with the figures on the extent of the Cougar following - home
and away, e.g. Salford1s highest league gate - 5194 for a midweek game v
Cougars, next highest - 2886 for a weekend fixture. I was there and there
was as much green as there was red in evidence.

On the Gladiator question, surely it1s up to Mr Berry to prove himself as
a player. Why rubbish the experiment before it1s started? If it creates
interest and boosts short-term attendances it can1t be bad. Don1t forget
that Nigel Walker turned himself from a hurdler into a Welsh international
RU player pdq - so changing sports can be done. And there's no point in
moaning about doing things for publicity purposes, and then banging on
about your wonder PA system - that's having your cake and eating it.

--
Paul Dinsdale

by **Paul McNall** » Sat, 20 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>I don1t understand why you seem to feel so threatened by the Cougars,
>Paul. As far as I know, no one is suggesting that Salford are a bad team,
>and they1ve clearly proved themselves the best in the division this
>season. It1s not surprising that they1ve got the loudest support if
>they1re winning more matches at the moment than anyone else. However, you
>can1t argue with the figures on the extent of the Cougar following - home
>and away, e.g. Salford1s highest league gate - 5194 for a midweek game v
>Cougars, next highest - 2886 for a weekend fixture. I was there and there
>was as much green as there was red in evidence.

Hardly threatened. Irritated would be a better word. there's seems to be
an opinion that they have a divine right to a SL position which
irritates more than just me.
As regards to the "cougar following". As I stated in another post our
crowds are bound to be down if one season we're playing Wigan and the
next we're playing Dewsbury where as yours will be up because you're
playing Salford and Widnes as opposed to Highfield etc.

Quote:

>On the Gladiator question, surely it1s up to Mr Berry to prove himself as
>a player. Why rubbish the experiment before it1s started? If it creates
>interest and boosts short-term attendances it can1t be bad. Don1t forget
>that Nigel Walker turned himself from a hurdler into a Welsh international
>RU player pdq - so changing sports can be done. And there's no point in
>moaning about doing things for publicity purposes, and then banging on
>about your wonder PA system - that's having your cake and eating it.

Isn't there enough young talent in the game that would be better
exploited by a coach of larder's standing?

Our "wonder PA" isn't designed for publicity purposes Paul. It's
designed to make the event more enjoyable, improve the stadia and create
a more family atmosphere whereas the psuedo-signing of a minor celebrity
on a trial basis (it hasn't been in any papers or teletext that I've
seen) is an out and out publicity scam implemented to keep the kids
coming through the gates. On a marketing note, it's a great idea but
Super League is designed to "improve" the game, not help turn it into a
circus.

Just one question, if Phil Larder goes to Warrington or Saints, who's
lined up as coach? Noel Edmonds? Frank Bruno? Jack Duckworth?
ww
|\---/ >

\____/ --------------------------------------------

by **Paul Dinsda** » Sat, 20 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

> Hardly threatened. Irritated would be a better word...

You1re off again, Paul. I for one would never say they have a divine right
to an SL spot, any more than Salford, Widnes, Hull, etc. All those teams
and Keighley have more of a ?divine1 right than London or Paris (or
Newcastle for that matter). The anger at Keighley was due to the fact that
twice in three seasons Cougars have finished top of their division and
both times were well and truly shafted by the authorities who changed the
rules while the season was in progress.

On the issue of crowds, surely the situation is the same for any team in a
given division. The away support is pretty much beyond the scope of the
home team. Despite not playing Wigan, Leeds, etc., the Cougars crowds are
still way ahead of the rest of Div. 1 (except possibly Hull), mainly
because of what the club management have achieved. Some people (like you
perhaps) say it1s all hype, but I think not, and neither do a lot of
people in the Keighley area, who tend to be quite a sceptical lot.

Quote:

> Isn't there enough young talent in the game that would be better
> exploited by a coach of larder's standing?

Larder is developing young talent from within the game. One American
import is hardly likely to impact on that situation. When I was at Salford
this season they played three former Welsh RU players, plus they had just
signed Sini and that other Polynesian bloke - a bit like the pot calling
the kettle black there Paul!

Quote:

> Our "wonder PA" isn't designed for publicity purposes...

I look forward to visiting the Willows when your new PA is in operation. I
really hope it does something for the club. You say you think it will help
to engender a good family atmosphere. Great. But I assure you that1s
exactly what the Cougars are trying to do at the moment. If all clubs
tackled this in the same way it would all be pretty boring. Incidentally
there were over 2,000 (including a lot of families) at the last Cougar A
team game when Berry made his debut - that was a chilly Thursday night in
January. Compare that with some of the crowds at your first team matches
this season. I1m not knocking Salford, and I would like to see all clubs
get better gates. Certainly they all have a hill to climb, but I think
Keighley1s progress is currently better than most.

Quote:

> Just one question, if Phil Larder goes...

If Phil Larder goes to Warrington, they could go after Andy Peters, or
even Andy Pandy or Andy Gregory.

--
Paul Dinsdale

by **Paul McNall** » Tue, 23 Jan 1996 04:00:00

Quote:

>You1re off again, Paul. I for one would never say they have a divine right
>to an SL spot, any more than Salford, Widnes, Hull, etc. All those teams
>and Keighley have more of a ?divine1 right than London or Paris (or
>Newcastle for that matter). The anger at Keighley was due to the fact that
>twice in three seasons Cougars have finished top of their division and
>both times were well and truly shafted by the authorities who changed the
>rules while the season was in progress.

Fair enough. As long as you can see there are others in the same if not
worse plight.

Quote:

>On the issue of crowds, surely the situation is the same for any team in a
>given division. The away support is pretty much beyond the scope of the
>home team. Despite not playing Wigan, Leeds, etc., the Cougars crowds are
>still way ahead of the rest of Div. 1 (except possibly Hull), mainly
>because of what the club management have achieved. Some people (like you
>perhaps) say it1s all hype, but I think not, and neither do a lot of
>people in the Keighley area, who tend to be quite a sceptical lot.

I disagree slightly. Cougar crowds have to be up because they are
playing a better standard of opposition and better supported teams too.
I'm not doubting that the management have achieved a great deal in
promoting the game in Keighley, just that you can't possibly be
expecting Salford and Widnes to get satisfactory gates when the
attractiveness of the games is far less than they are used to.

Quote:

>Larder is developing young talent from within the game. One American
>import is hardly likely to impact on that situation. When I was at Salford
>this season they played three former Welsh RU players, plus they had just
>signed Sini and that other Polynesian bloke - a bit like the pot calling
>the kettle black there Paul!

Oh come on. These guys are professional rugby players, regardless of
code and as such are out in the local schools week in week out promoting
the sport and passing on their skills and talents to the kids. Talent
breeds talent and their can be no further question marks over Young,
Webster, Sini and Savelio.

Quote:

>I look forward to visiting the Willows when your new PA is in operation. I
>really hope it does something for the club. You say you think it will help
>to engender a good family atmosphere. Great. But I assure you that1s
>exactly what the Cougars are trying to do at the moment. If all clubs
>tackled this in the same way it would all be pretty boring.

It's in operation now and the complaints from the people living near the
ground are flooding in :)
Maurice Lyndsey was treated to the full monty on Sunday and was
apparently well impressed.
It would only be as boring as it is at the moment.

Quote:

>Incidentally
>there were over 2,000 (including a lot of families) at the last Cougar A
>team game when Berry made his debut - that was a chilly Thursday night in
>January. Compare that with some of the crowds at your first team matches
>this season.

Of course there were. Wasn't that the idea behind getting him over? To
get people through the gates and largely not worry about Berry's
performance. They came to see the guy off the telly not to see
Keighley's new winger. They wouldn't have got 2000 for Critchley's first
A-team appearance. It was an unusual circumstance. Wonderful marketing
but he's hadrly the final piece in the team jigsaw for next year is he?
If I was Eyres (Andy is it?) or Jay Critchley I'd be immensely pissed if
I lost my first team place to him to satisfy the crowd.

Paul

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