NRL 2007 Round 1

Hey peeps

Just got back to work after watching All Blacks in Cardiff at the stunning Millenium Stadium. Photos to come.

Views regarding the haka controversy would be appreciated. My view is that as a fan it was just a big downer on what was otherwise a fantastic occasion and a great tour. The Welsh fans were just as gutted as us not to get to see it.

Anyway the Warriors draw has been announced, Round 1 - 17 March 2007 will see the boys play the Eels at Mt Smart with another home game v the Broncoes in Round 2.

All Blacks v France in Paris

Paris

Hello again

Well I am basically struggling right now to get through a Friday at work before heading across to Paris via Eurostar to watch the All Blacks play France at the Stade de France tomorrow night. I can barely contain myself. Lets hope the ABs can maintain their frankly astonishing form and trounce the French again - lets hope theres a few 1999 semi-final videos being played in the All Black hotel.

Anyway I also note the fate of the Kiwis Tri-nations hopes hang in the balance this weekend with the GB v Australia game set to determine whether the Kiwis make the finals. I can't see this GB team pulling out a win as they seem to be on a slippery downhill slope with their coach seemingly unable to say anything to the UK press except how hard it is to play back to back tests in the southern hemisphere. What a whinger - seriously I have read at least three seperate articles with that exact same story this week. Also a little strange is the fact that Mr Long has been sent home by the GB team seemingly when they need him most - anyone with inside views on that little mystery can slap them on the blog.

On a Warriors note I note the 2007 NRL draw has been released. Should be an interesting year with the new expansion Gold Coast Titans, the boys have to make sure they beat them when they play them twice. In addition for those Warriors who aren't in the Kiwis team they have started their offseason training programme. Its well worth clicking on the link because there are a series of photos of a group of guys who do not look like they are in great shape - they look like they are hating it!

Anyway hope you all have a good weekend and I will post some pics of our Paris trip next week.

Manchester United 3 v Portsmouth 0

Hello All

Another big weekend of sport just been with the All Blacks trouncing England at Twickenham whilst the day before Rach and I venture once more to Old Trafford to watch Rooney and co dish out some more punishment to Portsmouth.

Man U went up two nil within the first ten minutes and the result was never in doubt, finishing three nil at the end.

Anyway to the right is a picture of the Man U team warming up, starting from the left, Saha, Silvestre, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Ronaldo, Rooney and Scholes.

To the left is an in game shot with Giggs retiring in the foreground, Saha at far left, Rooney centre, Carrick at far right and Ronaldo at the top.

All Blacks v France on TV next week and then on the Eurostar to Paris for the big game at the Stade de France - can't wait.

Oh and before I go definitely Lowe for NZRL chairman - the mad men have finally completed their take over of the asylum.

Manchester United v Newcastle

Itinerary

Well peeps - there is essentially nothing happening on the Warriors front at present and the league Tri-nations bores me so in order to keep the blog alive lets focus on what I will be up to sport watching travel wise over the next few weeks.

Here is my sporting travelling itinerary kicking off next weekend:

4 November - Manchester United v Portsmouth at Old Trafford

18 November - All Blacks v France at Stade de France in Paris

25 November - All Blacks v Wales at Millenium Stadium in Cardiff

So should be a good few weeks, and seriously I will be posting some pics when I get my act together.

Some news

Hello to all the peeps out there

Well the NRL season is now well and truly over. Broncoes champions - reminds me of the early nineties and those Alfie Langer teams. Was a bit disappointed to see Melbourne lose after being so successful all year but I digress.

A little bit of Warriors news for the fans out there - big Logan Swann is returning to the Warriors fold on a one year contract to add depth to the back row corps after playing in England. Frankly this may be a case of swapping one Pedestrian for another but I have almost forgotten what Swann is like so we will have to wait and see what he produces.

Warriors have also upgraded the contracts of five development players seemingly in an effort to ensure they stay at the club. These guys are all currently in the Allied Workforce "elite development" team and will now form part of the first team squad. The players in question are Constantine Mika, Miguel Start, Malo Solomona, Scott Jones and Russell Packer. None of whom mean anything to me at present but we will see if any breakthrough to the first team in 2007.

And in terms of what I have been up to - I travelled to Manchester last weekend to watch Manchester United beat Newcastle at the theatre of dreams Old Trafford. Was a great time for Rach and I and if you are extra lucky I will post some pics of the big day on the blog during the offseason. However I note that Rooney's form is still in the trough and England's 2-0 loss to Croatia is just further disappointment.