Neil Ormston
@neilormston.bsky.social
Florence & Charlotte's dad | Ali's husband | Lifelong Warrington RLFC fanatic | Organiser of the Rugby League Record Keepers' Club | Former (and hopefully future) triathlete
This. I don’t think the genie will ever go back in the bottle now, but as my reserves GF experience proved, the game is soooo much better without unnecessary off-field interventions. It’s also contributed to a major increase in ‘simulation’ and appeals as players stand there like Christ the Redeemer
For me it slows the game down. Games now routinely 20 minutes longer (ie slower) than say 20 years ago. Not a good thing in my opinion. Especially as controversial decisions have not been eradicated.
November 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
This. I don’t think the genie will ever go back in the bottle now, but as my reserves GF experience proved, the game is soooo much better without unnecessary off-field interventions. It’s also contributed to a major increase in ‘simulation’ and appeals as players stand there like Christ the Redeemer
I saw the anniversary yesterday, and said to my youngest: “I was your age when that happened; she had been the Prime Minister since I’d been born”. She replied, quick as a flash “Jeez, I’ve had about 10” 😂
On the anniversary of the day Margaret Thatcher resigned, let us take a moment to remember what a cruel, heartless piece of shit she was.
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 AM
I saw the anniversary yesterday, and said to my youngest: “I was your age when that happened; she had been the Prime Minister since I’d been born”. She replied, quick as a flash “Jeez, I’ve had about 10” 😂
Feeling underwhelmed about RLWC26.
A combination of remoteness of it, manufactured format giving primacy to money over competitive integrity & lack of hope for England.
A WC is supposed to generate global interest; this one is a function of where the sport globally really is & won’t do that IMO
A combination of remoteness of it, manufactured format giving primacy to money over competitive integrity & lack of hope for England.
A WC is supposed to generate global interest; this one is a function of where the sport globally really is & won’t do that IMO
November 23, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Feeling underwhelmed about RLWC26.
A combination of remoteness of it, manufactured format giving primacy to money over competitive integrity & lack of hope for England.
A WC is supposed to generate global interest; this one is a function of where the sport globally really is & won’t do that IMO
A combination of remoteness of it, manufactured format giving primacy to money over competitive integrity & lack of hope for England.
A WC is supposed to generate global interest; this one is a function of where the sport globally really is & won’t do that IMO
Despite a fragmented day, flying solo with the girls whilst the good lady is away, managed to make more solid progress. Not far of having the set-up finished now (another week I reckon)
November 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Despite a fragmented day, flying solo with the girls whilst the good lady is away, managed to make more solid progress. Not far of having the set-up finished now (another week I reckon)
Anyone have a better visual metaphor than this?: m.youtube.com/watch?v=vW9T...
Moment Keir Starmer trips while meeting business leaders ahead of G20 summit
YouTube video by The Independent
m.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Anyone have a better visual metaphor than this?: m.youtube.com/watch?v=vW9T...
Why do clubs persist in peddling lies over their formation date? All a part of the post-truth landscape I suppose: Wigan 1872, St Helens 1873…
I do wonder if Saints didn’t have theirs wrong, whether Wigan would feel the need to stick with their falsehood too?
I do wonder if Saints didn’t have theirs wrong, whether Wigan would feel the need to stick with their falsehood too?
For the sake of accuracy, Wigan Warriors do not celebrate their birthday today.
They were founded in 1879
Thank you.
They were founded in 1879
Thank you.
November 22, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Why do clubs persist in peddling lies over their formation date? All a part of the post-truth landscape I suppose: Wigan 1872, St Helens 1873…
I do wonder if Saints didn’t have theirs wrong, whether Wigan would feel the need to stick with their falsehood too?
I do wonder if Saints didn’t have theirs wrong, whether Wigan would feel the need to stick with their falsehood too?
Actually, it’s just a great programme. Most clubs can’t be arsed with the hassle of producing one these days. But even if they did there’s no chance Stan Doffish’s article would sneak past the editor/ work experience kid compiling it, for fear of damaging ‘the brand’. And the game is poorer for that
Today in 1987: Wigan beat Castleford 26-16 in the John Player Special Trophy. #RugbyLeague
November 22, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Actually, it’s just a great programme. Most clubs can’t be arsed with the hassle of producing one these days. But even if they did there’s no chance Stan Doffish’s article would sneak past the editor/ work experience kid compiling it, for fear of damaging ‘the brand’. And the game is poorer for that
That’s a great programme cover! Anyone wanna play name the trophies?!
Today in 1987: Wigan beat Castleford 26-16 in the John Player Special Trophy. #RugbyLeague
November 22, 2025 at 6:40 AM
That’s a great programme cover! Anyone wanna play name the trophies?!
“What Labour needs to do is to pick a position and argue for it in its entirety”
Tbf, this can be applied to pretty much any area of policy, not just immigration.
Tbf, this can be applied to pretty much any area of policy, not just immigration.
Excellent column from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
@alanmanning4.bsky.social refers to as the “infernal circle” of immigration policy www.ft.com/content/1144...
Labour needs a way out of the infernal circle of immigration policy
Politics today is about ‘open vs closed’, but the UK government’s approach risks appeasing no one
www.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
“What Labour needs to do is to pick a position and argue for it in its entirety”
Tbf, this can be applied to pretty much any area of policy, not just immigration.
Tbf, this can be applied to pretty much any area of policy, not just immigration.
A long but rewarding day yesterday, sorting this out. Today’s task, get it wet and warm 😊
November 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
A long but rewarding day yesterday, sorting this out. Today’s task, get it wet and warm 😊
“They aren’t even asking the right questions”.
If you couldn’t be bothered reading my thread last week, give this a listen. Tony says the same thing here!
Excellent listen as always (and not just because I 100% agree!) 👏👏
If you couldn’t be bothered reading my thread last week, give this a listen. Tony says the same thing here!
Excellent listen as always (and not just because I 100% agree!) 👏👏
The new 'Rugby Reloaded' asks 'what the hell is going on in British rugby league? Listen to a historian's view of the state of the game in Britain: on.soundcloud.com/wJ3BsqOt4TxI...
207. What the hell is going on in British rugby league?
The new Rugby Reloaded looks at the current state of rugby league in Britain, asks 'What's going on?' and tries to provide some answers by looking at how the history of the sport can give us some insi
soundcloud.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM
“They aren’t even asking the right questions”.
If you couldn’t be bothered reading my thread last week, give this a listen. Tony says the same thing here!
Excellent listen as always (and not just because I 100% agree!) 👏👏
If you couldn’t be bothered reading my thread last week, give this a listen. Tony says the same thing here!
Excellent listen as always (and not just because I 100% agree!) 👏👏
Good lord. Of all the things that could be picked over, the choice of London venue must be sooo far down the list.
Headingley (20k) was great, but Wembley (60k) wasn’t. Is there a better proxy for the parochialism of the game than this?!
Headingley (20k) was great, but Wembley (60k) wasn’t. Is there a better proxy for the parochialism of the game than this?!
🗣 "If we can’t fill Wembley we’ve got to be realistic and accept that, and look elsewhere."
📊 John Kear has questioned Wembley's international future, but do the numbers back up his view?
👇👇👇
📊 John Kear has questioned Wembley's international future, but do the numbers back up his view?
👇👇👇
John Kear calls for Wembley international rugby league rethink
England's Ashes series opener against Australia drew a record crowd to Wembley, but do the numbers back up John Kear's view?
www.rugbyleaguehub.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Good lord. Of all the things that could be picked over, the choice of London venue must be sooo far down the list.
Headingley (20k) was great, but Wembley (60k) wasn’t. Is there a better proxy for the parochialism of the game than this?!
Headingley (20k) was great, but Wembley (60k) wasn’t. Is there a better proxy for the parochialism of the game than this?!
A sensible post below.
There was an image this morning that brought home the fact that NH and SH RL are operating in different worlds… It was CommBank stadium, with the backdrop of Sydney’s skyscrapers. For me it epitomised the vastly different macro factors the RFL have to contend with V the NRL…
There was an image this morning that brought home the fact that NH and SH RL are operating in different worlds… It was CommBank stadium, with the backdrop of Sydney’s skyscrapers. For me it epitomised the vastly different macro factors the RFL have to contend with V the NRL…
(Long Read)
1. I'm sure there'll be plenty that disagree with me on the subject of the #RugbyLeague #Ashes and #EnglandRL but here are some of my thoughts:
1. I'm sure there'll be plenty that disagree with me on the subject of the #RugbyLeague #Ashes and #EnglandRL but here are some of my thoughts:
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
A sensible post below.
There was an image this morning that brought home the fact that NH and SH RL are operating in different worlds… It was CommBank stadium, with the backdrop of Sydney’s skyscrapers. For me it epitomised the vastly different macro factors the RFL have to contend with V the NRL…
There was an image this morning that brought home the fact that NH and SH RL are operating in different worlds… It was CommBank stadium, with the backdrop of Sydney’s skyscrapers. For me it epitomised the vastly different macro factors the RFL have to contend with V the NRL…
Ending the season as we started. Full of smiles and mis-placed optimism 😂 Not sure we’ll get on the pitch like we did at Haven, but similarly blessed with unseasonable weather, and a shorter drive home at least. C’mon England!
November 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Ending the season as we started. Full of smiles and mis-placed optimism 😂 Not sure we’ll get on the pitch like we did at Haven, but similarly blessed with unseasonable weather, and a shorter drive home at least. C’mon England!
Minor rant time. In the hubbub of post-hols & with the focus on fish tank and sofa deliveries it completely slipped my mind that I didn't actually have tickets for today's Test - I mean, I purchased them within 5 minutes of going on sale, but 'the modern way' meant I didn't actually have them...
November 8, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Minor rant time. In the hubbub of post-hols & with the focus on fish tank and sofa deliveries it completely slipped my mind that I didn't actually have tickets for today's Test - I mean, I purchased them within 5 minutes of going on sale, but 'the modern way' meant I didn't actually have them...
The best thing about these old clips is the crowd noise that's picked up - in this one, the fella who shouts "Bootiful" 6 times to show his appreciation (he may well have been the club video commentator of course)
My favourite thing about this how referee Robin Whitfield calmly trots over then gestures at Bernardin to get up after he's been ironed out all the way to HIA land.
Big Hit
YouTube video by xbfletch
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The best thing about these old clips is the crowd noise that's picked up - in this one, the fella who shouts "Bootiful" 6 times to show his appreciation (he may well have been the club video commentator of course)
Advanced warning: tomorrow I take delivery of what will become my second reef tank (I got rid of the first 6 years ago); you may soon be very bored of various updates relating to this!!
To whet your appetite, here's two shots of my new water prep area & the empty space the tank will live in :-)
To whet your appetite, here's two shots of my new water prep area & the empty space the tank will live in :-)
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Advanced warning: tomorrow I take delivery of what will become my second reef tank (I got rid of the first 6 years ago); you may soon be very bored of various updates relating to this!!
To whet your appetite, here's two shots of my new water prep area & the empty space the tank will live in :-)
To whet your appetite, here's two shots of my new water prep area & the empty space the tank will live in :-)
My belated two penn'orth...
I'm left with an ever increasing feeling that I don't like the way the sport is going. We bang on about how we have "the product"...but I'm not sure we do. I despair at the micro-analysing of decisions, and it seems the game has become a constant battle between players...
I'm left with an ever increasing feeling that I don't like the way the sport is going. We bang on about how we have "the product"...but I'm not sure we do. I despair at the micro-analysing of decisions, and it seems the game has become a constant battle between players...
November 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM
My belated two penn'orth...
I'm left with an ever increasing feeling that I don't like the way the sport is going. We bang on about how we have "the product"...but I'm not sure we do. I despair at the micro-analysing of decisions, and it seems the game has become a constant battle between players...
I'm left with an ever increasing feeling that I don't like the way the sport is going. We bang on about how we have "the product"...but I'm not sure we do. I despair at the micro-analysing of decisions, and it seems the game has become a constant battle between players...
24 hour SoMe blackout incoming. Can’t watch live today, so I’ll be in iPlayer catch up tomorrow when I’m back in UK. C’mon England 👍
November 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
24 hour SoMe blackout incoming. Can’t watch live today, so I’ll be in iPlayer catch up tomorrow when I’m back in UK. C’mon England 👍
V’Landys rather gives himself away here: “you'd have the club in Australia having a brother or sister club in England, and they share the resources, they share the players and so on”. The NRL strategy is obvious. SL is now caught between the devil and the deep blue sea…
What do you think of this? www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
October 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
V’Landys rather gives himself away here: “you'd have the club in Australia having a brother or sister club in England, and they share the resources, they share the players and so on”. The NRL strategy is obvious. SL is now caught between the devil and the deep blue sea…
Oh for match reports of this ilk today. I love in hope they may make a comeback! I’d click this bait 👍
Renegade #RugbyLeague #LeedsOtherPaper correspondent #TheManInTheStand travelled many a mile even as far as the coast of the North Sea,virtually half way to Denmark for this Olympian Classic.
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Oh for match reports of this ilk today. I love in hope they may make a comeback! I’d click this bait 👍
Credit where it's due: SL+ worked very well & meant I got to see a game that otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. £8 was a tad steep IMO but I stumped up my cash so can't claim it was over-priced!
I'll watch a day late for free on iPlayer next week tho when back home, before being at Leeds IRL 👍
I'll watch a day late for free on iPlayer next week tho when back home, before being at Leeds IRL 👍
If the game has as many highs and lows as the sign-up process, we're in for a treat! :-)
October 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Credit where it's due: SL+ worked very well & meant I got to see a game that otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. £8 was a tad steep IMO but I stumped up my cash so can't claim it was over-priced!
I'll watch a day late for free on iPlayer next week tho when back home, before being at Leeds IRL 👍
I'll watch a day late for free on iPlayer next week tho when back home, before being at Leeds IRL 👍
Think England are just gonna run out of time here...
October 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Think England are just gonna run out of time here...
What does the Captain's Challenge actually add to the game? Does it offset the gamemanship of delaying re-starts, undermining of referee's authority, and adding to the ever increasing & arguably unnecessary over-scrutiny of details of decisions?
October 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
What does the Captain's Challenge actually add to the game? Does it offset the gamemanship of delaying re-starts, undermining of referee's authority, and adding to the ever increasing & arguably unnecessary over-scrutiny of details of decisions?
Can Harry Smith play full-back? Welsby by far the weakest of of England's pivots, and missing Smith's big game kicking abilities.
October 25, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Can Harry Smith play full-back? Welsby by far the weakest of of England's pivots, and missing Smith's big game kicking abilities.