POSTING ON BEHALF OF PAUL-THE-COWBOY. Due to being in England I doubt he'll see he'd need to repost in time for Fulltime.
Paul-The-Cowboy
Penrith Panthers #3
713 words (inc title)
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An ode to St.Helens
With the news of the suspension of Ian Millward, on swearing related charges, it is that time of the year for Saints fans to sit back and reflect on the soap opera setting that is Knowsley Road.
It follows a weekend of protests staged after the Challenge Cup fixture against York, chants of sacking the board who saved our very club, and even a small group of Saints fans travelling to Salford for the televised cup game to show their support for the guest analyst, Millward.
And it follows a week where just days after Sculthorpe told the press he was confident that this season would not be derailed by scandal like previous ones, head coach Ian Millward was mysteriously suspended.
A lot has happened during the summer era of rugby league at St.Helens. Silverware, protests after the suspension of Ellery Hanley, the controversial axing of Hanley, salary cap breaches, weakened line-ups, betting scandals, voluntary tackles, more silverware, last gap victories, boardroom changes, constant speculation on a new stadium, and too many entertaining moments on the field to mention.
Here is an ode to St.Helens in the summer era:
On the first day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the second day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
2 betting scandals,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the third day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
3 derailed seasons,
2 betting players
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the fourth day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
4 league titles,
3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the fifth day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
5 cup finals,
4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the sixth day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
6 hour protests,
5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the seventh day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
7 foreign stars,
6 hour protests, 5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the eighth day of Summer,
St.Helens brought to Odsal,
8 teenage reserves,
7 foreign stars,
6 hour protests, 5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the ninth day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
9 GB call-ups,
8 teenage reserves, 7 foreign stars, 6 hour protests, 5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the tenth day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
10 straight Wigan losses,
9 GB call-ups,
8 teenage reserves, 7 foreign stars, 6 hour protests, 5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
On the eleventh day of Summer,
St.Helens gave to me,
11 ground move proposals,
10 straight Wigan losses, 9 GB call-ups, 8 teenage reserves, 7 foreign stars, 6 hour protests, 5 cup finals, 4 league titles, 3 derailed seasons, 2 betting players,
And a swearing, cursing Aussie.
Just as I've been writing this, news has broke that Millward, our swearing, cursing Aussie has been sacked. Just another colourful chapter to add to our Super League history.
More protests and mass demonstrations will follow on from the sit-in that rumbled on at Knowsley Road till past midnight on Friday. Fans will argue about the decision to let go of one of our most successful and longest serving coaches. But the hype will die down one day. In a year or so this will be a mere bitter memory of how we pressed the self destruct button on another extremely promising start to the season. Yet again. Then the next day, we will probably awake to yet another sensation that will dominate the headlines and the column inches in the rugby league media. Yet again.
But we wouldn't have it any other way, would we? There are many things we can accuse our beloved club of. But keeping us and the world of rugby league bored is certianly not one of them!
And on the twelth day of Summer,
St.Helens took from me,
That swearing, cursing Aussie.
P.S. ANTONIUS. THE IMAGES IN THIS POST HAVE SOMEHOW NOT APPEARED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY. ON THE OTHER SITE THEY SHOWED UP. PAUL HAS INFORMED ME THE IMAGES ARE A VITAL PART OF HIS POST. PLEASE VIEW THEM. THANK YOU.