BBC SPORTArabicSpanishRussianChinese
BBCiNEWS  SPORT  WEATHER  WORLD SERVICE  A-Z INDEX   SEARCH 

BBC Sport
 You are in: Rugby League 
Sport Front Page
-------------------
Football
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Statistics
Super League
Challenge Cup
Ashes Series
World Cup 2000
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
Boxing
Athletics
Other Sports
-------------------
Special Events
-------------------
Sports Talk
-------------------
BBC Pundits
TV & Radio
Question of Sport
-------------------
Photo Galleries
Funny Old Game
-------------------
Around The UK: 
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales

BBC Sport Academy
News image
BBC News
News image
BBC Weather
News image
SERVICES
-------------
LANGUAGES
EDITIONS

Tuesday, 11 June, 2002, 14:57 GMT 15:57 UK
Sculthorpe: Time for a cut
News image

News image
News image

I'm the first person to sing the praises of the two-match Origin Series between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

We need these kinds of representative games to improve standards.


The stresses and strains on the body are such that we are left completely drained after each game
Paul Sculthorpe

But the fixture calendar is becoming so congested that players will start to suffer.

With the Origin matches taking place on Friday and the following Tuesday, any St Helens player involved will have three games in just eight days.

That's a tough ask, no matter how fit you are.


With the internationals against Australia and New Zealand to come as well, the top players are going to end up competing in 40 games this season.

That is far too much given the pace and intensity of the modern game.

It is totally different to two or three years ago.

The stresses and strains on the body are such that we are left completely drained after each game.

Paul Sculthorpe goes on another run for Saints
Sculthorpe: There is still room for improvement
That's why we train so hard. Players have to be so much fitter to be able to stand the physical exertions placed on them.

The players are in a difficult position.

We want to play in the big games, so we end up playing pretty much every week.

The only solution is to reduce the number of fixtures in a season, in particular the number of Super League games.

The ideal scenario would be for each team play one another home and away just once.

That would make a big difference, although the clubs would no doubt complain about lost revenue.

It is a sensitive subject but one which will continue to attract plenty of debate.

Surprised

With the Origin games taking centre stage, a few of the Saints lads will be able to get a rest before the Super League campaign resumes next weekend.

With the season at the halfway point, we have to be pleased with the way things have gone.


I've still got a lot of work to do on my game
Paul Sculthorpe

Our aim before the Leeds game was to move into outright second place in the table.

And our 41-14 victory at Headingley made sure we did.

We were surprised to win by such a margin but we stuck to our gameplan and it worked a treat.

That's three wins over the Rhinos this season now and I'd like to think we've got a psychological advantage over them.

Our coach, Ian Millward, compared me to Australian legend Laurie Daley after the game, which is one helluva compliment.

But I've still got a lot of work to do on my game.

I can improve in every department - and that's what I aim to do in training each week.

News image

Read his latest column

Forum

INTERNET LINKS
See also:

08 Jun 02 | Super League
Links to more Rugby League stories are at the foot of the page.


News image
News imageE-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Rugby League stories

News imageNews imageNews image
News image
© BBCNews image^^ Back to top

Sport Front Page | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League |
Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Other Sports |
Special Events | Sports Talk | BBC Pundits | TV & Radio | Question of Sport |
Photo Galleries | Funny Old Game | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales