Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 7:06 am  

Anybody noticed how the fixtures over Easter have conspired against us?

We played Friday, Monday, Saturday (today).

Cas played Thursday, Monday Saturday so an extra days rest.

Everybody else played Friday Monday & Sunday so an extra days rest except Wakey who played Thursday, Monday & Sunday so 2 extra days rest.

I’d say it’s time to go to one fixture over Easter weekend as the modern game to too fast and too physical for 3 games in 8 days.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:25 am  

I'm not sure how much difference the one extra day will make as there are other variables such as how much the squad has been rotated during the Easter period. It's tough for all teams to play 3 games in 8 days.

I agree that it's time to go for one fixture for each team over Easter. The Easter double header is just one of those relics of a different time that persists 'cause tradition'. Maybe you'll get an exciting Easter Monday game if you're lucky, but quite often you've just got two very tired teams who can't play to their full potential. Why would anyone want to watch two tired teams? There's no reason why 'tradition' should trump common sense. It's crazy to expect athletes these days to back up and play so many matches in what is basically a little over 1 week.

Inevitably there'll be people piping up about 'the old days' and people who worked 'down pit' then played 5 games in 2 days, while walking 25 miles each day for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk. Sport has come a long way and there's literally no good reason to put players through the physical battering of 3 games in 8 days. There has been a horrendous injury list for Super League clubs already. Player welfare needs to be taken seriously and hopefully this will be the last year of the double header.

It also means that by spreading out the fixtures you can maximise TV audiences. Televise one game on Thursday night, one on Friday, one on Saturday and one on Easter Monday.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:32 am  

Just one game.... The game is much too high impact now for two games over the Easter period.....

Cue people saying "But our pack has no impact!!"

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:49 am  

There is a disparity in the quality of fixtures, the local derbies are usually more intense and take a lot more out of players. Some teams never have that problem due to a lack of a local team of suitable quality to face them. You get the Magic fixtures and invariably Wigan have one of the toughest games whether its a derby or not.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 12:29 pm  

Bigredwarrior wrote:

Cas played Thursday, Monday Saturday so an extra days rest.

To be fair, Cas did have the minor inconvenience of having to travel to the south of France and back, whilst we had to go all the way to Salford.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 2:32 pm  

You can also turn this argument on its head as we now will have 1 days rest over warrington before we play them in the CC

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 2:38 pm  

My point wasn’t really about the rest periods to be honest. It was more to do with the Easter fixtures in general. I just think that to see the best rugby, played by the best athletes, 3 games in 8 days isn’t the way forward.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:17 pm  

Give over. God help them if they cant do 3 x 80 minute shifts in 9 days once a year. When i was early 20s i was carrying frozen bags of coal 5 days a week and getting paid pittance for it. These players dont know they are born, they are treated like royalty with all the best facilities, chefs cooking them meals and want for nothing.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:26 pm  

Isn't the problem really that we simply don't have the depth & breadth of squad that we've enjoyed in recent years? With the injuries, lack of spending by IL, no reserves to speak of, inconsistent coaching (allegedly) & the baffling illogicallity of not tying down players & happily being a feeder club to everyone else, is it not surprising we are where we are? & that's before you factor in who the RFL want to win this year & how they've organised the fixtures.

Re: Easter fixtures : Sun Apr 28, 2019 6:20 am  

Ridiculous to say the fixtures conspired against anyone,it could be the weather that conspires..it just one of those things all teams have to play an the 3 games,Cas had to go to France as well let’s not forget.

The quality of the game especially the games this weekend are usually of low quality and it should maybe need to be looked at but it’s going nowhere while Lenegan and his band of brothers in the other SL chairman as they need their quota games to break even.