iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Our new adventures in the world of weird second-hand cars on Facebook Marketplace...

Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Championship Grand Final day between London Broncos and Doncaster in Wimbledon. You can tell it's a big game because there were queues at the bar and we had a rendition of the national anthem before kick-off.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Seeing as no one asked, here's my not entirely serious prediction for tonight. Happy Grand Final Day, everyone. www.totalrl.com/total-rugby-...

Warrington Wolves against Wakefield Trinity. It's Always Your Year versus It's Never Your Year. Either way, by 8pm on Saturday it'll be someone's year a new name on the Super League trophy. And how's this for a highly-scientific analysis? Wakefield have won eight of the last 10 meetings of these two. Warrington have the edge according to the bookies, but do you believe in miracles? Well, kind of. So let's say Wakefield by eight and Jack Sinfield to win the Rob Burrow award - and remember my guarantee: All predictions wrong or your money back.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Daryl Powell is back in the Super League Grand Final, and the team barely anyone expected him to get there with are facing the side many, at one time, thought he’d win it with. Some reflections on the Super League semi-finals. Read and subscribe: theballisoval.substack.com/p/whose-year...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it says a lot when you repeatedly refer to your head coach by his first name and only namecheck your GM by his surname.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Your occasional reminder that Rugby League Logic dictates when blowouts happen in Super League it's because the competition is poor, but when it happens in the NRL it's because the winning teams are good. Make it make sense...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Your regular dose of second-hand car nonsense is here...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's great the World Rally Championship is going to be back on the BBC next year, but if their coverage doesn't look like this then I'm cancelling my subscription.

William Woollard off of Old Top Gear in the international media centre at the 1986 Lombard RAC Rally.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Connor Robinson shattered rugby league’s record for consecutive successful goal kicks on Sunday - and can still add to that tally. A few words on that, other remarkable kicking displays, and whether the record is now unbreakable. Read here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/heres-to-y...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

My takeaway is PVL needs to stick to yelling at clouds about the AFL. And that he's not as smart or shrewd as people over here think he is. He's just smart and shrewd compared to some British RL administrators. Pretty sure even Big Nige wouldn't tee off on the players like this, though...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

My latest Rugby League World feature is now online, with ex-Super League star Brad Singleton on ending his playing days at hometown club Barrow and his first steps into coaching up the Cumbrian coast at Workington. Read here: www.totalrl.com/brad-singlet...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

History made for London Broncos in the 1895 Cup final as they repelled the Widnes Vikings invasion of Warrington, but the capital club have their eyes on a bigger prize. Read more here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/broncos-ey...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Some proper commitment to the bit from Scarborough Pirates here. Imagine the fun they could have had in the social media age...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Bank Holiday trip out to the HJS for the 1895 Cup final. Supposedly a neutral venue, but about as close to a home game as Widnes Vikings could have asked for.

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Reposted by Marc Bazeley

Neil Ormston @neilormston.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

To add on the branding piece: why face the furore of changing red to navy blue last time, and then not retain it, move to royal blue on the shoulders, and have socks that do retain the earlier shade (on the official photo shoot). tbf, I don't think the RFL's new marketing manager has started yet...

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Reposted by Marc Bazeley

Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

29 August 1895. 6.30pm. The George Hotel, Huddersfield. The birth of the Northern Union. 'I say with Mark Twain's bold, bad boy that we glory in the sentence of outlawry pronounced on us, as freeing us from tyrannical bondage of the English [Rugby] Union'.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The lights going out at Castleford while they're getting tonked by Catalans on the night they celebrate their centenary is the perfect metaphor for their 2026 season

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Look, maybe I'm just being picky here. But Harry Smith and Mike McMeeken wearing shirts from other sports made by rival kit manufacturers for the England RL World Cup kit launch video doesn't exactly seem like marketing best practice... 🤷‍♂️

Harry Smith in a Nike-made San Diego Padres baseball shirt.

Mike McMeeken in an Adidas-made Real Madrid football shirt.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

No, we haven't been asked to host the Top Gear reboot. We can't think why...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Rugby league’s summer era hasn’t always been kind to Widnes Vikings, but the team once known as the Cup Kings could lift some silverware on Bank Holiday Monday when they face London Broncos in the 1895 Cup final. My latest on Substack here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/growing-th...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The summer wind is a Raider, pillaging just for fun. They'll knock you 'round and upside down, and laugh when they've conquered and won.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Another day, another rugby league adventure. Barrow Raiders against Leigh Leopards in the Women's Super League followed by the small matter of the Cumbrian derby against Whitehaven for the men.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Going to tell the Barrow PA announcer to play a submarine dive alarm for every set restart from now on...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Perfect afternoon for a nice friendly South Cumbria derby between Dalton and Millom 🏉☀️

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

My latest Substack post is a dive into some salary cap numbers in PREM Rugby and Super League, and a look at whether Henry Pollock could get that £1million contract Eddie Hearn thinks he’s worth in league or union. Read here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/henry-poll...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

So, this is where we find ourselves...

That Geordi LaForge meme, but it's BBC Sport saying no to Rugby League World Cup 2026 broadcast rights and yes to Italian football broadcast rights.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

My latest Rugby League World feature, on Doncaster head coach Richard Horne, is now online. Read here: www.totalrl.com/richard-horn...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

New post on Substack looking at Huddersfield Giants’ decision to play home games at Dewsbury’s FLAIR Stadium from 2027, and why a “medium-term” move 10 miles down the road might turn out to be more long term. Read here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Super League clubs tomorrow when Big Nigel's briefing them on the NRL investment offer...

Homer Simpson: "I only have two questions: How much? And give it to me."

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Been getting slack with the editing of these recently, but we're still here as long as there's mad shit being listed on Facebook Marketplace...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Some Saturday morning reading for you on Wakefield against Leeds. This Sporting Life, the Watersplash final, and a look at a rivalry which is about more than just West Yorkshire bragging rights for the first time in nearly six decades. Read here: theballisoval.substack.com/p/this-sport...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Why are Nottinghamshire hosting Northants at Derbyshire's out-ground today? I'm all for taking games to out-grounds, but muscling in on your rivals' turf because you've pimped your home out to the 16.4 for a month is a bit much. County cricket really doesn't help itself at times.

static.klipy.com

The Office: Jim Halpert Shrugs

ALT: The Office: Jim Halpert Shrugs

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

That England selection meeting for the Pakistan series...

That Father Ted "Another mass?" scene but it's Stephen Flemimg saying to Joe Root: "Recalling Ollie Pope - that's our best idea?"

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Another one from the archives on Substack, looking back at when six - count them, six! - players were sent off when Huddersfield and Wigan met in March 1981. One can only imagine the sort of sanctions today's Match Review Panel would have handed down. More here: open.substack.com/pub/theballi...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

August's issue of Rugby League World is out now and includes my feature on Doncaster head coach Richard Horne. Go buy a physical or digital copy here: www.totalrl.com/rlw

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Huddersfield Giants vs Hull FC. Bottom versus second-bottom. Even the most tragic of rugby league tragics could have been forgiven for swerving this one. Fortunately, I watched it so you didn’t have to. Although, in hindsight, maybe you should have. More here: open.substack.com/pub/theballi...

Picture of Accu Stadium in Huddersfield with the headline 'Thursday night and the stakes are low'.

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Back to where it all began for this now-sprawling franchise on the latest pod...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Wigan and St Helens clash in Super League tonight, but there was a time when they had professional rivals in their respective home towns. My updated Substack looking at the short histories of St Helens Recs, Wigan Highfield, and Springfield Borough. Read: open.substack.com/pub/theballi...

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Marc Bazeley @marcbazeley.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Everyone is on Substack these days, so I've joined them for some of my longer-form rugby league writing. It's just archive posts and other bits for now, starting with this from 2015 about Sir David Attenborough's surprising contribution to the code. Read here: open.substack.com/pub/theballi...