Charity Shield considered warm-up for Wigan

[Robbie 12]

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Charity Shield considered warm-up for Wigan

BY MICHAEL CARAYANNIS
18 Nov, 2010 04:00 AM​

ST GEORGE Illawarra Dragons hope to field a near full-strength side for next February’s annual Charity Shield game, one day before the team flies to England for the World Club Challenge.
The Leader understands the Dragons will fulfil their preseason commitments, using the Charity Shield as their only warm-up game for their world title clash against Wigan.​

Despite a push from the Dragons to have the World Club Challenge played in Australia for the first time since 1994, it will be staged at Wigan’s DW Stadium on Sunday, February 27 (Monday EST), where Wigan will unveil new recruits including Brett Finch, Ryan Hoffman and Jeff Lima.​

A second-string Dragons side will travel to Perth on the first weekend in February to play against Melbourne, before the NRL All Stars v Indigenous All Stars February 12 game. ​

Jamie Soward has been picked for the Indigenous side and one other Dragon, chosen by the fans, will line up for the NRL All Stars.​

Coach Wayne Bennett will then choose a side for the annual Charity Shield match against South Sydney on Saturday, February 19, before the squad flies to England.​

The Dragons are not expected to play warm-up matches in the northern hemisphere. ​

Their first NRL game is against Gold Coast (March 11-13).​

http://www.theleader.com.au/news/lo.../charity-shield-warmup-for-wigan/2000340.aspx

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[rabbit0h8]

Does this mean the Coffs game is changing dates??

 

[Galeforce]

Enough cheap talk for souths , Charity shield means really nothing , wait for the real games that mean points and more importantly hope to knock the dragons out in the finals. meantime dragons enjoy youre 2010 success, which is now history as Souths remember their richer history.

 

[bubblesunlimited]

I think that most people miss the point when it comes to the Charity Shield.

Regardless of what kind of teams the respective clubs put on the field, the most important thing is that the match goes ahead and that the money raised goes to the respective charities.

Isn't that what is all about in the end?

 

[muzby]

I think that most people miss the point when it comes to the Charity Shield.

Regardless of what kind of teams the respective clubs put on the field, the most important thing is that the match goes ahead and that the money raised goes to the respective charities.

Isn't that what is all about in the end?[/QUOTE]

no... it's all about who gets the pirate lego ship!

 

[BunniesMan]

Glad they're going full strength for charity shield. So the merkins have no excuse when we flatten them.

 

[muzby]

Glad they're going full strength for charity shield. So the merkins have no excuse when we flatten them.

is "not really caring about the game cause we'll have a more important trophy to win less than a week later" an excuse?

 

[jackb]

is "not really caring about the game cause we'll have a more important trophy to win less than a week later" an excuse?

No it just makes you look stupid. I think that Storm won this thing in England the year before but who cares? Never watched the game, never seen the trophy etc. Manly won it too - didn't watch that game either.

The Charity Shield has a massive audience because it relates to the NRL and is the unofficial kick off to the new season. The world chess challenge in the UK matters to no-one and very few will bother to watch it!

Not that winning the Charity Shield is the be all and end all. It is a warm up for the big games ahead and raises some good dollars for charity. I look forward to watching this game every year along with every game the Rabbitohs contest.

 

[Dragon Dave]

Hopefully the merged dragqueens leave this game with some serious injuries - about time for things to even out on the injury front!

Um, what happened last time we played you guys? It was our second string side and we still towelled you up.

Next excuse please.

 

[jackb]

Um, what happened last time we played you guys? It was our second string side and we still towelled you up.

Next excuse please.

Second string side? You left out 3 players - big deal. Rabbitohs had around 7 first grade players on the sideline with injuries but who cares about a standard match in season 2010? All in the past now and I have little interest in looking backwards.

The summer has arrived and the never ending sport of cricket is back upon us. Cricket bores the cr*p out of me and I am always chomping at the bit by the time the footy is back.

Some of your supporters will focus on 2010 because you won it and fair enough. Not so much for me though as I am already looking forward to the NRL and the year ahead - can't wait!

 

[Dragon Dave]

who cares about a standard match in season 2010?

True. A trial match in 2011 is way more important.

 

[muzby]

No it just makes you look stupid. I think that Storm won this thing in England the year before but who cares? Never watched the game, never seen the trophy etc. Manly won it too - didn't watch that game either.

The Charity Shield has a massive audience because it relates to the NRL and is the unofficial kick off to the new season. The world chess challenge in the UK matters to no-one and very few will bother to watch it!

so... you've managed to contradict yourself there...

firstly you say that the WCC is a game that no-one else watches, apart from the fans of the club.... whilst the majority of viewers of course will be fans of the NRL premiers each year, there are also a number of people who watch it from an AUS vs ENG point of view...

but... that's exactly the same for the CS.... it's watched by dragons & souffs fans, of course... and a handful of other fans... but i hate to be the one to inform you, it's hardly the "unofficial kick off" for the nrl season... it's important to you because your club is competing... the rest of the comp really couldn't give a toss...

and i'm willing to bet a virtual beer on the fact that the WCC will get a bigger tv audience than the CS.. both in australia and globally.... when the official numbers are released, please feel free to point of if i'm wrong, but highly confident that i will not be..


but then again, maybe you have realised that the CS is not everything... hence your next comment...

or maybe you have just given yourself an easy out.. just in case...

Not that winning the Charity Shield is the be all and end all. It is a warm up for the big games ahead and raises some good dollars for charity. I look forward to watching this game every year along with every game the Rabbitohs contest.

 

[muzby]

who cares about a standard match in season 2010?

well, considering all you had to do was win that one little standard match in season 2010 to put yourselves into the final, you guys probably should have cared a little more than you obviously did....

 

[Southern Rooster]

No it just makes you look stupid. I think that Storm won this thing in England the year before but who cares? Never watched the game, never seen the trophy etc. Manly won it too - didn't watch that game either.

The Charity Shield has a massive audience because it relates to the NRL and is the unofficial kick off to the new season. The world chess challenge in the UK matters to no-one and very few will bother to watch it!

Not that winning the Charity Shield is the be all and end all. It is a warm up for the big games ahead and raises some good dollars for charity. I look forward to watching this game every year along with every game the Rabbitohs contest.

Winning the World Club Championship is far more important then winning the Charity Shield. As for unofficial season kick off As an Easts supporter I could say the Foundation Cup is also an official season kick off. But it is not. The real season kick off is the WCC where a trophy of substance is up for grabs and the Australian teams now realise that and are taking it more seriously each year.

I will most likely go the charity shield again and foundation cup but the WCC is more important then both. Especially this years one with two of the sports (if not the two) most famous brand names playing each other.

 

[bubblesunlimited]

Second string side? You left out 3 players - big deal. Rabbitohs had around 7 first grade players on the sideline with injuries but who cares about a standard match in season 2010? All in the past now and I have little interest in looking backwards.

The summer has arrived and the never ending sport of cricket is back upon us. Cricket bores the cr*p out of me and I am always chomping at the bit by the time the footy is back.

Some of your supporters will focus on 2010 because you won it and fair enough. Not so much for me though as I am already looking forward to the NRL and the year ahead - can't wait!

Wow, these words from a Souths Supporter.

 

[jackb]

Wow, these words from a Souths Supporter.

I have probably been around a lot longer than you bubbles. I focus on my club and its traditions along with everything else that goes into the making of any great club!

The problem with many fans it that they only concentrate on the results of a match or series of matches. The results on field are of course important but they are a part of the whole mix and they are not the only aspect to concentrate on.

Why do you think that Souths have the most members? It is the overall pride of being a member of a great club but I do not have the time or patience to explain what my club means to me on this forum!

 

[cleary89]

I have probably been around a lot longer than you bubbles. I focus on my club and its traditions along with everything else that goes into the making of any great club!

The problem with many fans it that they only concentrate on the results of a match or series of matches. The results on field are of course important but they are a part of the whole mix and they are not the only aspect to concentrate on.

Why do you think that Souths have the most members? It is the overall pride of being a member of a great club but I do not have the time or patience to explain what my club means to me on this forum!

They give them to dead people?

 

[muzby]

Why do you think that Souths have the most members?

becasue donations to charity of $2 and above are tax deductible?

 

[jackb]

becasue donations to charity of $2 and above are tax deductible?

I know that you are a 12 year old muzby but you should still be able to check facts. Both Souths and the merged dragqueens had similar member numbers this season so why do you think that st.merge raised just over $1 million in memberships and Souths raised around $2.5 million? The merged club would take anyone, even sold 6 game passes and tried to convince everyone that these were "season ticket holders". Not at Souths - ticketed members start at $210 + each against $85 for the dragqueen 6 game "selected matches".

 

[muzby]

ahhh jack.. so easy..