The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 9:45 am  

Just reading "Wakefield Trinity RLFC "Fifty Great Games" and its great to reminisce about some of our better moments in RL.
There is a superb quote form John Harbin, immediately after another one of our great escapes (the last day victory against Salford in 2002).

"People really undervalue the working class fan. At the moment it's all about people in suits and ties with accountancy degrees, but that lot on the terraces went to the University of Adversity"

Not only is it a great quote but, it struck me that we were back in the same position as we were 15 years ago.
Under threat of Super League survival, not because we have failed on the pitch but, because, the men in suits at Red Hall want off field issues to take precedence over the ability of a club to compete on the field and to "shape" Super League to be something that it probably wont ever be.

Great book by Les Hoole and as usual, Harbin absolutely summed up the moment.

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:14 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Just reading "Wakefield Trinity RLFC "Fifty Great Games" and its great to reminisce about some of our better moments in RL.
There is a superb quote form John Harbin, immediately after another one of our great escapes (the last day victory against Salford in 2002).

"People really undervalue the working class fan. At the moment it's all about people in suits and ties with accountancy degrees, but that lot on the terraces went to the University of Adversity"

Not only is it a great quote but, it struck me that we were back in the same position as we were 15 years ago.
Under threat of Super League survival, not because we have failed on the pitch but, because, the men in suits at Red Hall want off field issues to take precedence over the ability of a club to compete on the field and to "shape" Super League to be something that it probably wont ever be.

Great book by Les Hoole and as usual, Harbin absolutely summed up the moment.

Exactly.

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:15 am  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Just reading "Wakefield Trinity RLFC "Fifty Great Games" and its great to reminisce about some of our better moments in RL.
There is a superb quote form John Harbin, immediately after another one of our great escapes (the last day victory against Salford in 2002).

"People really undervalue the working class fan. At the moment it's all about people in suits and ties with accountancy degrees, but that lot on the terraces went to the University of Adversity"

Not only is it a great quote but, it struck me that we were back in the same position as we were 15 years ago.
Under threat of Super League survival, not because we have failed on the pitch but, because, the men in suits at Red Hall want off field issues to take precedence over the ability of a club to compete on the field and to "shape" Super League to be something that it probably wont ever be.

Great book by Les Hoole and as usual, Harbin absolutely summed up the moment.

Wasn't it against Warrington? Castleford had to beat Salford for our win to keep us up and everyone stood around not sure what to do, because their game finished five minutes after and no one seemed to have a radio.

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 12:34 pm  

Wasn't that 2006 when we played the bulls at Odsal?

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 12:40 pm  

We played Salford at the Willows and had to win to stay up. Justin Brooker had a 'disagreement' with Bobby Goulding and Goulding got sent off.

The win v Warrington at BV after which we all stood round waiting for the other results to come in was another of our great escapes.

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 12:55 pm  

A bit of confusion here, we beat Bradford 20-12 at their place, and Salford beat Cas 26-16 at the Weaste which led to the £million game at BV against Cas, we were all waiting for the score to come through from their game because if Cas won we were relegated as Catalans were exempt

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 12:57 pm  

chissitt wrote:

A bit of confusion here, we beat Bradford 20-12 at their place, and Salford beat Cas 26-16 at the Weaste which led to the £million game at BV against Cas, we were all waiting for the score to come through from their game because if Cas won we were relegated as Catalans were exempt

Weaste? Should that have been the Willows?

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 1:03 pm  

JINJER wrote:

Weaste? Should that have been the Willows?

It might be for some of you young uns, but back in the day it was The Willows, Weaste a bit like Bellevue really

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:01 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Just reading "Wakefield Trinity RLFC "Fifty Great Games" and its great to reminisce about some of our better moments in RL.
There is a superb quote form John Harbin, immediately after another one of our great escapes (the last day victory against Salford in 2002).

"People really undervalue the working class fan. At the moment it's all about people in suits and ties with accountancy degrees, but that lot on the terraces went to the University of Adversity"

Not only is it a great quote but, it struck me that we were back in the same position as we were 15 years ago.
Under threat of Super League survival, not because we have failed on the pitch but, because, the men in suits at Red Hall want off field issues to take precedence over the ability of a club to compete on the field and to "shape" Super League to be something that it probably wont ever be.

Great book by Les Hoole and as usual, Harbin absolutely summed up the moment.

Belle Vue, Belle Vue, Bell Vue.

July 2017. St Helens were the visitors. 6ooo in including plenty from over the hill. Saints fans came because they wanted to, no one forced them, no one forced us. and everyone who needed one found a parking spot somewhere I'm sure.
6000 in and no one fell over, no one got hurt, no one got wet, some sat, some stood, and we survived. Some ate, some of us had a drink. we watched good rugby and, but for the score, or because of the score, everyone enjoyed themeselves just as species had for over 100 years at lovley old Belle Vue.We were not on TV, had we been viewers would have seen a sports ground appearing pretty much "full." Viewers may have commented, "what a small, quiant ground, but by gum, a popular sport," No such sentiment viewing other grounds I could mention.

Yet we must get rid because all of the above does not matter in the grand scheme of things.Aye lad, The grand scheme.

DISCLAIMER.

No lecture necassary, the above is for entertainement purposes only and letting off of a huge amount of steam.

Re: The University of Adversity : Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:07 pm  

chissitt wrote:

A bit of confusion here, we beat Bradford 20-12 at their place, and Salford beat Cas 26-16 at the Weaste which led to the £million game at BV against Cas, we were all waiting for the score to come through from their game because if Cas won we were relegated as Catalans were exempt

This is correct.
However, Harbin's quote came after we beat Salford at their place in 2002.
Bobbie Goulding, on his way to the sin bin, got involved with Justin Brooker and was duly sent off.
Notably, both Willie Poaching and Gareth Ellis scored that day and a second half fightback kept Trinity in SL with a last day escape from relegation.

We never realised that this type of game was to be such common fayre !

More escapes than Houdini but, this season, IF we can put some wins together, we could be in the mix at the top of the table.