28th January 2013 by Jay Leeming.
Good evening BULLievers and welcome to your weekly BULLieve.
It’s finally here! This week the much eagerly anticipated
super league season starts this week!
The bull welcome the wildcats to the Provident Stadium on
Sunday with a 3pm kick off.
This week there hasn’t been much
news to report from the Provident stadium as the weather has effected a few
things from delivery of shirts to training. Well the RFL have finally let us
fans know where we stand – kind of. Chief Executive Nigel Woods has revealed
that he is “excited” with the progress our club is making and has said we shall
receive the same revenue generated from gate receipts and sponsorship deals.
Superb news after we had to give up most of our sky money which has no doubt
put a dent in the budget but so far so good.
Woods has said that there is to be a review of our “probationary period”
mid-season. Yet more good news for us as the way things are going we will be
allowed back into Super league and hopefully for the 3 year franchise unless
the relegation and promotion is brought back then we shall be playing season by
season with the rest of super league trying to avoid the drop which, for us I’d
say we would be very unlikely to be relegated. On the training front as we know the lads have
a day off usually during the week but, the dedication from the lads has been
brilliant as they have been training on their day off which shows how much the
lads are preparing for the fourth coming season.
Just this morning it has been
revealed that Paul Medley has been appointed head coach for the under 19’s and
could possibly become Francis Cummins right hand man from next season.
Medley’s young charges will play
Wakefield in their opening under-19s fixture at the Provident Stadium on
Thursday. The match will kick off at 7.30pm.
As far as the new 2013 away shirt
goes I think it’s a decent looking shirt. We have gone with hoops and the
colours are; deep purple green and white. The shirt looks a lot more professional
than the home shirt which, in my and a lot of other fans opinions looked rushed.
Far too much going on all in a small space at the top of the shirt where as it could
have been spread out but the emphasis mainly was based on the record breaking
sponsorship deal we made with Provident. To be fair it shouldn’t matter what
shirt we have as we have a club and a team which looked doomed last year. The challenge cup sponsor was revealed this
week and I can now reveal the new name for the challenge cup is, the Tetley’s
challenge cup. The deal is for 2 years. That’s all good and well getting
sponsors for the challenge cup but, the worrying thing for me is so far we have
no sponsor and seems won’t have a sponsor for the super league. After last
season having a sponsor (stobart) and receiving no revenue this is bad. As I
have touched upon this subject in a previous edition of BULLieve, is this just
pointing in the direction that super league is going down the pan? The
comparison in money between super league and the NRL is staggering and we may
see ALL of our best players being poached by the money makers down under. I
know we have been a minority sport for years but surely we are recognised
enough for business’s to want to be part of our game? I know all fans of super
league are loyal and will stay to the end but I’d like to see the end further
than nearer the future. Another name cropped up this week, an online bingo site
namely Foxy Bingo.com. As soon as this name was mentioned a lot of fans thought
this was the new name of super league. I can definitely say this is not the
case. I can clarify Foxy Bingo.com is an
official partner of super league for the next 3 years which will involve more
community based things to promote super league. Also with the partnership
scheme it has emerged that Heinz big soup is continuing its partnership with
super league.
This week I have the upmost
pleasure in speaking to our first match day mascot of the season and his
father. Stuart Fynn is a young man all the way from Bridlington East Yorkshire
and will be this Sunday’s mascot. Here is a short background on Stuart provided
by his father Mr Thomas Fynn;
Stuart was born 08/09/04. He was
4 weeks early and spent 2 weeks in special care very ill with many things.
However he has turned out into a great little lad who like most have their
moments. He is 8 now and a last year was diagnosed with a rare syndrome called
kabuki it effects his muscle tone in his legs and is unable to walk long
distances he also has a condition with his eyes called Duane’s syndrome
basically one eye does not sit in correct place and has almost a tunnel vision
but is good at seeing at long distance great for bulls games really lol. Like
most boys he loves trains fire engines etc. and particular spotting Eddie
stobarts. I kind of brought him up with the bulls and had his pic taken on a
bulls flag at only few months old he used to be terrified when I cheered after
they scored but we found that his ears were very tender and had gromits fitted
to assist him to hear clearer. He attends Kingsmill special school in Driffield
which is a fab school every parent should see the work they do. He loves his
bulls and his 2 favourite players are Brett Kearney and Heath L’Estrange. He is
looking forward to his day on 3rd Feb immensely and so are his mum and dad as
at one stage we never expected him to get past a few month he was so poorly as
a child.
I managed to speak to Stuart and
Thomas to ask them a few questions regarding match day and their love for the
club;
Q1 what is the best thing about
match day?
The best thing about match day is
the hype and the excitement you can forget all your worries and engross
yourself in sport and shout and yell for the team I (Tom) love the atmosphere
of odsal there is nowhere like it for a rugby venue. (Stuart) I love to see
plenty of tries and conversions and being with my mum and dad.
Q2 what is the distance in a
round trip on match day?
The distance is around 170 miles
there and back takes us about 2 hours on a steady run but don't want to say
much more I have done it in less.
Q3 Do you have any match day
rituals/ superstitions?
Stuart. I always kiss my bulls
badge on my shirt before every game and must have my flag as well. My dad once
went a whole season where he never shaved on match day and that was 2003 when
we won the lot it worked. If he did shave we nearly always lost so that is now my
dad’s match ritual not to shave. I also won't buy a new shirt till mid-season
as last seasons is always lucky and I'm sure I can put it to rest with my
others. My dad says 2 beers before kick-off is an absolute must.
Q4 Who has been your all-time
favourite player?
My favourite player that's a
tough one. Of the super league era there has been some great players to wear a bull’s
jersey. Going to have to go for 2 here and its mick withers and big les I could
choose more to be honest I like my wingers like tevita vaikona. I would also
like to mention that Trevor Forster became an idol for me as he worked
tirelessly for the club thru dark times and good times it’s nice to see him
behind recognised more with bars named after him I think a statue would be
fitting for him inside odsal.
Q5 When you cannot make a match
how do you keep up to date with the score?
When we can't make matches I tend
to be glued to sky sports news or if live on TV obviously we watch it. But I
also use Facebook as I know that jay or someone does a live feed of which I am
great full of I'm not allowed Facebook at work so never comment but when we win
it gives me that added boost to my day
Q6 Who is the biggest fan? You or
your dad?
Biggest fan is definitely dad he
is bulls crazy always wears a bulls shirt and we always dance to woolly bully
before bed time even at work I know he has something bulls related under his uniform.
And bullman is always in the car.
Q7 which is better Bullman or
Bullboy?
Well this one shocked me when I
asked Stuart and he says bullboy.
Q8 If you had a say in
merchandise what would you want to see and purchase?
I have a million ideas like I say
Leeds rhino bog roll. No seriously I would like to see more things that you can
use every day t towels bath towels etc. even little cars for kids with bullman
in. I also think a sticker book for bulls but incorporating other super league
teams with relevant information about them we have to keep the younger ones
interested may sound like a broken record but it’s imperative that in future
years they bring along their kids just like we do now and spread the word of
bullmania. To be honest stick a bulls badge on anything and trust me ill buy
it.
Q9 If you could change anything
on match day what would it be and why?
I'm hoping that now Omar has
taken over we get back to the bullmania days it just seemed for a bit there was
nothing for the kids to do I appreciate last year’s issues so I never expected
anything more than a game to see after all take kids there going to spend all
your money on sweets etc. I also think an activity book for kids too just to
keep interest as there our future generation of the bulls.
Q10 If the bulls had not kept their
place in super league would you still have been as passionate?
Yes we would it does not matter
where the club ended up our passion for the bulls will never die and I think
most fans feel the same. I would still have gone to see them play.
Q11 how did you feel when we went
into administration?
Probably like the rest of the
fans gutted heartbroken the thought of losing them became so real my dad had
been thru it all before so it brought back the stories he had told me hence my
admiration for Trevor Foster. Anyway we're safe now and I believe the future is
very bright at odsal.
Q12 Does your dad scare you when
he is cheering on the bulls?
Yes he does he shouts so loud
that the next day he can't talk properly but it's good because he can't tell me
off and he always gets me a little gift.
Thank you lads for giving us
BULLievers your time to answer those questions we shall see you at the Provident
stadium on match days especially this Sunday 3rd of February when Stuart
will be running out with non-other than Matty Blythe. Enjoy your day Stuart we
will all be there cheering you and the lads on.
Well our game is slightly
changing as regards of law changes. These changes have been trialled in all pre-season
friendlies and the RFL have decided to implement them for this season.
The law changes in full are as
follows:
Ball in touch or touch in-goal or
dead in-goal (Section 9)
A player is deemed to be in touch
if any part of his body touches the touchline or anything outside of the
playing field. Similarly, a player is deemed to be touch in-goal or dead
in-goal if any part of his body touches the touch in-goal or dead-ball line or
anything outside the field of play in those areas. If a player who is in touch,
touch in-goal or dead in-goal touches a moving ball then the team who kicked
the ball or knocked on are responsible for the ball going out of play. However,
if the ball is stationary in the field of play and is then touched by a player
who is in touch, touch in-goal or dead in-goal then that player is responsible
for the ball going dead.
Scrum on 20m line
Other than as outlined above, the
game is restarted after the ball has gone into touch by forming a scrum 20
metres infield opposite the point of entry into touch but not nearer than ten
(10) meters to the goal-line.
In all aspects of general play, a
player who does not deliberately play at the ball (e.g. ricochet or rebound)
will not be disadvantaged by a consequent restart of play when the ball has
gone dead or into touch.
Penalties – where taken
A penalty kick resulting from an
offence at the kick off shall be taken from the centre of the halfway line. Any
penalty kick arising from the restarting of play from an optional kick on the
20m line shall be taken where the offence takes place. Any penalty kick arising
from any other 20-metre restart shall be taken from the centre of the 20m line.
A penalty kick resulting from any offence at the drop out from between the
posts shall be taken from the centre of the line drawn parallel to and 10
metres from the goal line.
Also there have been a few new
changes in the reffing of rugby league;
Changes to Interpretations
Late challenge on the kicker
A late challenge on the kicker
will no longer result in an automatic sin bin for the player who tackled late.
The referee will still have the option to penalise, sin bin or dismiss the
player if he sees it as appropriate.
Calling held if a player is
dragged
The referee will call held if a
player is being dragged when there is more than one tackler involved. The referee
will call held once he sees one of the tacklers (where there is more than one
tackler involved in the tackle) take up a position where he is holding up the
player and moving backwards towards the touchline or his own in goal area. If
the player continues to drag after “held” has been called he will be penalised.
Referee signal for team caution
The referee no longer needs to
inform the captain verbally that his team has been placed on a caution. In
order to keep the game moving, the referee will inform the team and spectators
that a team has been placed on caution for a period of time by pointing at that
team and circling his other arm in front of him.
Quick 20-metre restart
A team can take advantage of a
quick 20m restart if the player collecting the ball after it has gone or been
made dead in the in goal area runs back to the centre of the 20m line while
retaining possession of the ball and takes the restart himself. In addition,
all players from the team taking the 20m restart must be back inside the
20-metre area, the referee must be back on the 20m line and the restart must be
taken at the centre of the 20m line. A mark will be placed on the centre of the
20m line as an indication to the players.
Advantage
If a team gains possession from a
forward pass or knock on then they will only be deemed to have taken their
advantage if they keep possession until the next tackle is complete. If
possession is lost before the tackle is complete then the referee will go back
to the point of the original infringement and award a scrum against the team
that infringed first. The
Referee will rule that the team
in possession has not had an advantage if they are tackled close to their own
goal line. Foul play by the team attempting to take the advantage will be penalised
at the point where the foul play occurs.
Markers not square when the ball
is played
Where there is a quick play the
ball and a marker(s) does not have time to get in position, he can be played
onside by getting into the position he should have been in at marker. Once he
has got to that position he can make a tackle. The referee should penalise
players who get into a marker position but choose to leave early before the
ball has been played.
So when you are watching the game
you will notice the refs using a few different signals this season which they
have been practising during the off season.
In other news;
As you may or may not know,
Bradford City have had a fantastic run in the capital on cup this year and have
beaten not 1 but 3 premiership teams on their way to the final in Wembley. On
behalf of myself and all other BULLievers I would like to wish them the best of
luck and I hope they bring back the silverware.
Warrington played Wigan for Ben Westwood’s
testimonial game and the result was Warrington 20 Wigan 0.
Well ITV was supposed to have
been showing some adverts to help raise the profile of super league during the
FA cup ties but, it did not come to fruition for which ever reason. I think
once again that is a dent in our profile.
Well I have made a group on Facebook for all
fans of the Bulls and BULLieve can join and can be found here https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/440032066068082/
and don’t forget to follow on twitter
too @BULLieve2013
I hope you have enjoyed reading this week’s
edition of BULLieve.
Many thanks go to Thomas and
Stuart Fynn and of course each and every BULLiever who reads.
Can you please pass this on to
other bull’s fans who haven’t seen BULLieve before?
Thank you for giving me your time
to read BULLieve. Enjoy the game on Sunday and look out for BULLieve next
Monday at 8pm.
All the best,
Jay.
BULLieve © Jay Leeming 2013
