*Toronto Wolfpack vs Toulouse Live*
Toronto Wolfpack vs Toulouse Live
How_good_does_that_sound_and_what_an_opportunity_for_us_all_to_put_our_best_show_on._Everyone_has_been_telling_me_that_Leeds_v_Bradford_is_the_modern_titanic_derby.
Obviously_only_being_here_a_short_time_I_can_only_listen_to_experienced_judges,_but_I_am_totally_persuaded_it_is_true._The_BBC_has_chosen_this_game_as_first_pick_for_their_coverage,_and_that_has_not_gone_unnoticed_and_is_evidence_as_to_how_the_match_will_be_viewed.
Therewill_no_doubt_be_columns_and_columns_written_about_this_game_and_that_is_all_great._The_history,_tradition,_match-ups,_the_former_Leeds_players_we_have_in_our_team;_there_are_so_many_aspects_and_perspectives_to_this.
Of_course_at_this_time,_we_are_also_celebrating_the_2003_Cup_final_when_the_Bulls_edged_out_the_Rhinos,_22-20_at_the_Millennium_Stadium,_Cardiff
We_should_also_reflect_upon_a_24-18_win_in_2000_in_Edinburgh_when_apparently_the_match_was_nearly_flooded_off
I’m_tempted_to_add_that_the_Bulls,_then_known_as_Bradford_Northern,_got_home_8-4_in_1947_at_Wembley;_if_anyone_was_there,_please_get_in_touch!
So_three_finals,_three_Bulls_wins,_in_three_different_capitals_in_the_UK._That’s_got_a_nice_ring_to_it.
We_are_certainly_under_no_illusions,_as_we_start_the_countdown_to_kick_off_as_second_favourites_in_a_two-team_race.
I_don’t_know_the_bookmakers_odds_but_I_suspect_they_will_have_the_Rhinos_in_front_of_us_by_some_margin.
Don’t_lt_any_league_placing_distract_you._While_we_came_up_short_against_Toronto_on_Saturday_in_Canada,_I_think_the_scoreline_flattered_a_very_strong_Toronto_in_the_second_half.
I_think_Leeds_will_be_comparable_to_the_Wolfpack_in_strength._Both_clubs_have_strong_Super_League_quality_outfits._Both_boast_strong_experienced_line-ups.
I’m_also_told_there_has_been_a_lot_of_bad_blood_between_Bulls_and_Leeds,_in_particular_with_regard_to_the_Iestyn_Harris_law_suit_that_drove_a_wedge_between_the_two_clubs_some_time_ago,_which_some_say_was_the_start_of_the_decline_for_the_Bulls.
Well_I’d_like_to_say_that,_in_the_846_days_since_I’ve_arrived_at_Bradford,_Leeds_have_been_cordial_neighbours.
Our_aim_is_to_restore_the_annual_derby_and_to_help_to_build_rugby_league_in_this_part_of_the_country._Let_us_hope_we_have_a_classic_fixture,_settled_by_brilliance_not_controversy._But_make_no_mistake_cordial_or_otherwise,_our_objective_is_to_#BeatLeeds.
At_the_start_of_the_year_when_I_made_my_predictions_for_2019,_you_may_recall_that_I_thought_the_Summer_Bash_would_go_from_strength_to_strength,_and_the_Super_League_Magic_event_would_go_the_opposite_way.
Well_the_day_of_reckoning_will_shortly_be_upon_us_and_I_remain_convinced_of_my_earlier_prediction._Our_#BullsNation_will_make_Summer_Bash,_and_the_Saturday_Night_live_fixture_against_Halifax_will_make_a_great_advertisement_for_Championship_rugby_league.
Blackpool_will_be_rocking_and_the_Bulls_faithful_will_make_it_simply_a_great_occasion._The_concept_of_Bash_as_a_day_or_weekend_out,_call_it_what_you_will,_is_a_proven_vote_winner,_although_I_wish_they_hadn’t_scheduled_our_Toronto_game_just_before!
Even_though_there_are_some_pretty_challenging_followings_for_some_clubs_within_the_Championship,_it_will_still_provide_a_season_highlight._An_out_of_the_ordinary_venue,_a_destination_location_and_a_chance_for_the_Championship_to_show_its_true_worth.
There_will_be_the_odd_one-sided_game_that_has_to_be_aired_but_basically_the_RFL_has_rightfully_stuck_to_the_formula_of_choosing_derbies_and_that_is_what_supporters_need_to_tempt_them_to_invest_their_hard-earned_pounds_in_a_trip_to_Blackpool.
The_Bulls_v_Halifax_taps_into_the_natural_rivalry,_as_does_Dewsbury_v_Batley,_Rochdale_and_Swinton_and_the_other_match-ups._We_have_even_got_Toronto_v_Toulouse,_1v2_in_the_ladder_which_again_should_make_for_compelling_watching.
My_prediction_for_Bash_is_wins_for_Swinton,_Toulouse,_Featherstone,_the_Bulls,_Barrow,_Dewsbury_and_Widnes,_although_either_of_the_last_two_fixtures_could_be_a_draw!
Great_fixtures_each_and_every_one._It_seems_to_me_that_this_is_fundamental,_which_is_why_I_am_convinced_and_afraid_that_the_Super_League_equivalent_will_not_generate_the_same_success._It’s_not_that_Liverpool_is_a_poor_choice;_it_may_be_a_great_location_I_simply_don’t_know;_but_the_clubs,_and_I_do_mean_the_clubs,_not_the_RFL,_have_chosen_to_keep_back_their_best_match-ups_for_themselves.
They_have_chosen_to_do_this_to_justify_the_crazy_loopy_fixtures_introduced_this_year._So_for_instance_instead_of_a_titanic_Hull_derby;_we_will_be_treated_to_Hull_v_Huddersfield_and_Salford_v_Hull_KR._This_is_the_kind_of_loopy_decision_you_get_when_the_clubs_suit_themselves.
They_all_try_and_find_opponents_where_they_think_they_can_win_irrespective_and_forget_about_producing_a_blockbuster_schedule.
And_you_know_what_happens_next,_supporters_are_not_tempted_to_go_in_the_same_numbers._Instead_of_having_the_humility_to_accept_that_they_stuffed_up,_this_year's_predicted_low_attendance_will_get_the_naysayers_clamouring_to_bin_the_concept,_saying_it_doesn’t_work….let’s_have_a_nines_tournament_instead.
