As we expected , the RL have told Widnes to play Sheffield 2 weeks today the 27th , 4 days before the 1895 final.
Widnes should give Sheffield the match, we’re guaranteed 5th place , win or lose), and we don’t want to get any injuries just before the final.
Yeah forfeit the match and lose 48 -0 with our points difference guarantees 5th place. We just need to win against Fax and Workington.
What a shambles. I can see Halifax raising their performance for the coming game. Hopefully we will have enough in reserve to beat them.
It is all very well saying throw the game at Sheffield as long as we do not incur a huge fine. Hopefully the club will ask the RL what the the penalty would be before hand. In the circumstances should be no penalty but Sheffield would lose gate money & would likely contest our action. If we do play the game some first choice players will probably have to play 3 games in 8 days. It is a disgrace.
Absolute shambles - rfl have been looking at the date for months, but managed to allow London to play their game after end of regular season
the match will be a dead rubber anyway
we should borrow as many players as possible for the sheff fixture and no fans turn up
let’s stick it to them now
Playing (for the millionth time) Devil's Advocate, and I know I've mentioned it before, but are you paying the price for success?
London are top, so won't be involved in the first round of the play-offs, and for differing reasons, neither will we, so re-arranging the league game between us was far easier than for Sheff, and you, but.................
Even though you've gotta play midweek before a cup final, as I said previously, I'd gladly swap places with you!
See you at Wire!
Spelly.
you are missing the point - London game rearranged months ago out of regular season - fact
Widnes game date put back time after time until only one option left
turns out it will be more likely be a dead rubber - why not play that as a pre season game or on April the first, which is what it merits
burgess moaning about 3 games in 10 days for SL team - and they are full time !
all we ask is a level playing field - but that’s probably too much to ask with the jokers at the RFL
Reading the Club's statement, they thanked the RFL for their efforts in rearranging this game. I presume that all possible dates have been considered and this was the only date available.
It is a difficult position for the Club. They will want to field their strongest team in the final, but will probably be reluctant to forfeit the Sheffield game and could possibly face a fine from the RFL if they did. The squad isn't big enough to field a weakened team, with a number of players having to play a difficult game just four days before the final, with the impact on fitness and potential injury.
It is perhaps fortuitous that it is likely that the game will have no impact on where we finish in the league. I guess that we will field players not likely to figure in the final and some loanees, but can't avoid fielding players who will be playing in the final.
I guess that this is how rugby league is run these days,
What happened to not playing the game? Embarrassing
Is it fair? No it's not, but it's not the first time, and won't be the last, but......
You've not answered my question, and while I'm at it, I'll throw another at you if I may..............
If the roles were reversed, would you have any sympathy at all for Lockyer's Lads?
Spelly.
Obviously we wouldn’t be bothered if it was the other way around. But we’re not having a go at Sheffield, it’s the absolutely useless RL who have waited and waited to make a decision, until this was the only date they could play it.
This could easily been avoided, if they’d have let us play the match on the 31st May , the day after the Challenge Cup final , but we weren’t alllowed to, but 2 other matches were allowed to be played that day, including London.
Where’s the justice in that?
@Farnworth
As I said mate, it's not fair, but I'd still swap places with you in a heartbeat.
Another (unfair?) question!
If you send a weak / reserve / shadow team to Sheff, and a kid has an absolute blinder, would it be fair to drop him for the final?
I cannot think of a better incentive to win at Wire, than the scenario you've been saddled with, but..........
Whatever happens, I'll see you there!
Spelly
I think the statement the club put out is poorly worded and too ambiguous especially after the podcast.
The way we need to go is to rotate the squad (plus loanees) so that our players only have to play 2 games out of 3. That's a job for Allan Coleman to assess and execute. If it means we lose to Workington, Sheffield, then so be it. Like it's been said earlier in the thread, we are in the play-offs anyway. Let's worry about them in September. See y'all at 'Fax, Sheffield & Wire.
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts Very difficult with 23 fit players including 1 on loan from Leigh. If we could get 2 more on loan to replace Billington and Brogan who have gone back to their SL parent sides, that would give us 8 players who wont feature in the final. (As long as we dont get anymore injuries vs Fax and Worky)
Could we then throw 9 of the under 19 lads in vs Sheffield? You would be looking at Wilde plus 2 more loans then the likes of Connolly, Sergent, Lyons, Houghton and one other from the 1st team squad.
Realistically we can play whoever we want agsinst Workington at home and still win. I would go strong vs Fax and Worky, then rest the entire 17 vs Sheffield as above.
We don't have any U19 Lads, they are players from Community Clubs who have not been signed. The only train under the Widnes banner. They are basically the Town Team of old, with a sprinkling of Lads from the local area.@pauliewalnuts Very difficult with 23 fit players including 1 on loan from Leigh. If we could get 2 more on loan to replace Billington and Brogan who have gone back to their SL parent sides, that would give us 8 players who wont feature in the final. (As long as we dont get anymore injuries vs Fax and Worky)
Could we then throw 9 of the under 19 lads in vs Sheffield? You would be looking at Wilde plus 2 more loans then the likes of Connolly, Sergent, Lyons, Houghton and one other from the 1st team squad.
Realistically we can play whoever we want agsinst Workington at home and still win. I would go strong vs Fax and Worky, then rest the entire 17 vs Sheffield as above.
Paulie xx