Warrington v Leeds live in Aus

[Hoofhearted]

Just watched Nrl on Fox,during the show they were discussing Joey Johns and Warren Smith said that it looks like they are going to show his first game against Leeds live!
This is unprecidented,we have always struggled to get Esl games at a weeks delay,and even a week ago it looked like we were going to miss out on the CC final.
Joey copped a lot of flack in the media for putting a money grab in England ahead of playing for his country,but I think its time people woke up and started to look at the big picture.
Here are some cold hard facts,
-The Kangaroos will not miss Joey,we have plenty of replacements and should beat the Kiwis easily who will be missing at least 5 top line players.
-The stint in England will benefit him because when the Tri-Nations start in the UK he will already be aclimatised.
-Every Rugby League fan in Aus now know who Warrington is.
-This has put the Tri-Nations in the news.
-More coverage of the Esl will mean greater interest in the Tri-Nations.
-More interest in Tri-nations this year in Aus is good build up for next year when it will be held in Aus.
-This has greatly lifted the profile of RL in the UK.

There is hundreds more benefits of him going to the Esl,so I think its about time people stopped wingeing about technicalities and looked at the big picture i.e what is best in the long term for the whole sport in general!

 

[bartman]

Live in Australia would mean it's on at about 3-5am... so hopefully they'll also put on a replay at a decent time?

But no arguments from me (or probably people in this part of the site?) regarding Joey's choice to come over. Since Warrington had spare money left under the salary cap, then good on them for the initiative.

Only downside is them having to drop someone from the squad under the three overseas quota players rule. Bit hard on Nat Wood or Graham Appo but at this level clubs have to make tough choices.

Still wouldn't back Warrington to beat Hull or Bradford in a sudden-death semi though... I want to see how Joey is used in games first and if he gels with his teammates before assuming they'll make it through.

 

[lyon is a saint]

I'm afraid you'll see a Andrew Johns teams get battered...... Warrington with or without Johns wont challenge Saints or Leeds.

 

[bartman]

I'm hoping they at least make a game of their big clashes - would be good for the coverage and standing of Superleague.

But I wouldn't put my money down on them actually winning just yet....

 

[JasonE]

Fantastic news.
I think the whole Joey thing will lift the Warrington players around him and they will perform much better than they have lately, although I think it will also lift the opposition.
I can't wait and i'm sure the ratings in Australia will be massive, the highest ever for an ESL game.

 

[Hightown Tiger]

I'm with JasonE on this one, although recently it may have had a bad impact on Warrington overall it's a great move.
I think Warrington will keep Grose and Wood, Appo hasn't impressed me this season. I myself can't wait for the 'Joey games' and if Castleford weren't playing I'd go along to them.

 

[Scott]

With Andrew Johns in the team, Warrington can win the title. Quite simply, he lifts players around him, and makes them look like very good players when they aren't. Have a look at Newcastle since he's been back. What he has done for some of those players is unreal. I expect the same to happen at Warrington.

 

[jed]

I think you'll find that Wires are a totally different team once he gets out on the field. For their sake, I hope they've gotten a hold of all the Knights games that he's played this year and have watched them prior to his arrival, so that they're at least somewhat prepared for his style of play. He'll need to make an immediate impact however, after winning 7 games straight from May-July, they've lost 4 of their last 5. They still have 2 "easier" games up next though, perhaps they'll arrest the slide.

 

[renouf]

Johns can play his game if hes got a decent enough hooker.. and some forwards to work behind. If he doesn't get reasonable service from dummy half then yeah it won't matter if he is on the field or not.. but if he does the room to work... hahah this'll be so funny.. he'll tear them to bits.

The game would be on at 4am EST Sunday morning.

 

[Big Bunny]

This is unprecidented,we have always struggled to get Esl games at a weeks delay,and even a week ago it looked like we were going to miss out on the CC final.

Not wanting to be picky, but the ESL has been shown live every season except for the last 2-3. Hardly unprecedented.

 

[ESL - Wire]

Johns can play his game if hes got a decent enough hooker.. and some forwards to work behind. If he doesn't get reasonable service from dummy half then yeah it won't matter if he is on the field or not.. but if he does the room to work... hahah this'll be so funny.. he'll tear them to bits.

The game would be on at 4am EST Sunday morning.

That might be the problem, we have one hooker who is poor and rearly should play loose forward or second row and the other is only good coming on as an impact hooker but is very slim, he will fine gaps in the line and can make good yards. But Nathan Wood will be playing hooker when he arrives and it should improve our 9 go forward by a lot.

 

[bartman]

So do you reckon Appo is getting the chop then?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Warrington seem to get the some of the best players in the NRL, over the years theyve had Bob Fulton, Alan Langer and now Andrew Johns.

Looking forward to this clash, he'd be up against Rob Arrow, who I rate very much.

 

[terracesider]

Johns seems to have had a significant influence even before he arrives. Before the last round a number of us wondered if news of his arrrival would have a negative effect on the rest of the team. It seemed to. Wire were dreadful. From the off they laid down and died. You don't expect that from any team coached by Cullen.

 

[~knights~]

what is the date of that 1st game joey is playing plz?

Edit: nevermind...did some searching
It's sat 10th sept.

 

[SalfordRedsWA]

Newcastle have really benefited from Johns this season havent they?

 

[terracesider]

Should be. But it may be any day that it suits best SKY's schedules.