: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:52 pm  

Twaddle, Les Cats took a pasting in their first season too, no one would now say they have not enhanced the competition.

As for using NRL teams get real, what comparison is there to be made there.

Sure Crusaders will take some beatings but I bet they will suprise a few teams too. As for grounds .... lets throw Saints out then.

Only time will tell but if Crusaders can make inroads in the RU heartland of Wales then good on them.

: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:17 pm  

nnl01 wrote:

Twaddle, Les Cats took a pasting in their first season too, no one would now say they have not enhanced the competition.

As for using NRL teams get real, what comparison is there to be made there.

Sure Crusaders will take some beatings but I bet they will suprise a few teams too. As for grounds .... lets throw Saints out then.

Only time will tell but if Crusaders can make inroads in the RU heartland of Wales then good on them.

Les Cats took a pasting in front of 8000 fans a week and a developing fine stadium with a squad with a high percentage of locals in it.

: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:50 pm  

Crusaders are taking their beatings in front of larger crowds than Quins RL, thank god (or should that be judicous calculation) that was not the only criteria applied when handing out licences, their ground is under development as is their team.

Cats were overloaded with Aussies and Kiwis to start as well, their stadium is nothing to write home aboiut either, two stands very little facilaties once inside the ground, they just have the benefit of very nice weather.

If SL was down to crowd size, home grown talent and a decent stadium it would be down to a competion of one, As most clubs are deficient in some areas.

I for one am happy to give Crusaders a chance for three years, same as Cats were given when they were promoted into the competition.

: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:09 pm  

Glad I stood to one side of our crowd since I left my umbrella at home. Being gobbed on isn’t my idea of a fun day out.

If Celtic are on a mass recruitment drive for new fans, then some of the first timers are likely to be more used to watching Cardiff City, a team who, let’s be fair, have fans who have something of a reputation.

That said, I see no reason why, given time and people letting them know when the problems happen, the one or two idiots who spoil it for the rest won’t learn that’s not what RL is about.

I thought Celtic’s ground was OK, sure it ain’t the JJB or Huddersfield (I hate Huds ground by the way), but I didn’t come away thinking it was dreadful. I confess I tend to prefer my grounds to be a little rough around the edges.

I’ll certainly be going back again.

: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:25 pm  

I thought the ground was perfectly adequate and as for the gobbing incident most unpleasant but I noticed the stewards keeping an eye out once reported and seems steps are being taken to address the issue.

: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:07 pm  

Tre Cool wrote:

Les Cats took a pasting in front of 8000 fans a week and a developing fine stadium with a squad with a high percentage of locals in it.

That's not quite true. They did of course beat us at home in their first season. And Wigan, St Helens, Salford, Wakefield, Castleford.

6/13. Basically half their home games.

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:27 am  

Tre Cool wrote:

It is my opinion that the Crusaders are not ready for SL and should not have been admitted with a stadium like that and such little grass roots RL. Succesful new franchises (and i dont include us in that) come from areas like Perpignan, Auckland, Gold Coast where there is good grass roots RL, good financial backing, good stadia and a solid fanbase. Im not for the model of us (as was the London Broncos) or Celtic Crusaders being admitted into SL, it lowers the standard of the competition with the romantic hope of top down development. Not for me. But I hope it works and i support what you are trying to do.

This is the fourth throw of the dice for the Gold Coast(Giants,Chargers,Seagulls.now Titans)lets hope we have it right this time!!

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:47 am  

jbuzza wrote:

I thought the ground was perfectly adequate and as for the gobbing incident most unpleasant but I noticed the stewards keeping an eye out once reported and seems steps are being taken to address the issue.

yeah. I much prefer the older grounds to ours. Standing on a terrace with a pint ( or two ) in your hand really is the only way sport should be watched.

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:26 am  

Darthchris wrote:

yeah. I much prefer the older grounds to ours. Standing on a terrace with a pint ( or two ) in your hand really is the only way sport should be watched.

I actually like to sit down with a beer because it affords me the opportunity to stand at appropriate moments to express and emphasise my support for the brave boys.

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:28 pm  

bill wrote:

This is the fourth throw of the dice for the Gold Coast(Giants,Chargers,Seagulls.now Titans)lets hope we have it right this time!!

Bill to be fair, the only venture that failed was the Giants/Seagulls. Now seeing your location, you would know one of the great reasons that they failed was simply the location of Seagulls stadium.

Chargers were withdrawn while turning a profit (during the SL years, doubt anyone bar the broncos turned a profit during that time) as a pawn on the ARL side of the table.

You'd also know that the Titans are currently one of the most succesful clubs off the field from community up.

If only Quins RL was put together with the detail of the Titans. A fine example of how to create a new franchise. Quins could learn a lot from an exchange with the Titans.