depending on how they go early on i think it would be cool to promote the Big One as Wigan V Bradford it would be good to see a competitive Bulls side again.

It would, but I can't see it happening next year, with the signings they've made so far.

Any chance of that email you spoke about the other night?

Simmons began coaching in 1992 for St Marys reserve grade side. The following year he moved to England to coach Hull FC for two seasons

Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 NSWRL season after Phil Gould was dismissed, and served for seven seasons until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 NRL season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon. The Panthers made the finals twice under Simmons' tenure, in the 1997 Super League finals and National Rugby League season 2000 finals.

Since 2003, Simmons has served as the assistant coach at the Wests Tigers under his former coach Tim Sheens.

Simmons has been named to take over the coaching position at St Helens in 2011.



Hardly a "glittering" coaching career is it?

Don't forget his time with the Australian National side.



Same could be said of your coach before he came over here.

So we shall just have to wait and see.

The major difference is Madge was 35/36 when he came and has won the League and Grand Final in his first year.



Simmons was a similar age when he first came to England and didn't win anything with Hull.



18 years later he is obviously more experienced, but is he better? Or is he past his best? As you say, time will tell...!! I suspect he may be a bit on the old side. Wayne Bennett is the exception to the rule - in the modern game I would say that 35-45/50 max are a coach's best years.

I don't buy the argument that the Big One should be aimed at a fixture we don't ususally get a big crowd for to try and make it so. Wigan v Hull KR hardly gets you fired up weeks or months ahead of the fixture & I doubt the public would go for that like they did the previous 2. There's only 2 clubs we can do it against in my opinion, not Saints obviously as that doesn't need any extra hype. The 2 are Leeds & Wire. Two big fixtures that the club would aim to make massive fixtures with a marketing push. I'd go for Wigan/Leeds, Clash of the Rugby Gods. Big One 2.

Hull kr game for me and have a pic of fielden and mason nose to nose

Is he still coming over ?, whats happening about the 'allegations' ?

Wouldn't it be The Big One 3 this time?

First i've heard whats gone on?

I agree with the principle but the Mason factor, rightly or wrongly, has massive marketing potential.