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| Moderator | 32344 | Bradford Bulls |
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Fewer games = less income and with all SL clubs making large losses reducing the size of the comp was never going to happen.
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| leeds owl:ArthurClues:Trebor1:
I tell you what, the Leeds Salford and the Wakey Hudds games were blo*dy dreadful adverts for SL... absolute bore fests and poor quality games.. watched some highlights of the Wakey game, it was an appalling spectacle for TV... no crowd, very one sided, poor standard of RL.. awful.
And that's why we should be very cautious about moving to 14 teams. I know 13 home games against different teams would be a big tick in the box for supporters (including me) but the novelty would soon wear off if 4 of those games were 40 or 50 point blow outs. Personally I think that if you want to raise standards you actually lower the current number of participating teams, to 11, which would provide a 21 game SL including a magic round. You could add another 3 home games by incorporating another Cup Comp (early season) perhaps on a conference basis, with championship clubs included, which would be free to season ticket holders. Why would supporters only want 21 games a season ? The whole idea of spectator sport is that the speccies work hard all week and then have something to watch and look forward on a regular basis. The more regular, the better. It ‘s time to stop kidding ourselves that everything should be aimed at a small number of pro teams prospering while the rest can go and wither on the vine. The R.F.L have done a great job of destroying the amateur game which has in turn led to a decline in professional standards, and for a long time seemed intent on destroying some of the “smaller” clubs in the professional game. Give the like’s of York and Fev a go and let their fans have a taste of the big time or at least the chance to dream. Superleague has become stale and boring for the best part, but this season has been a breath of fresh air seeing more competitive teams. The lower standard overall hasn’t bothered me one bit. There still ways of giving spectators 27/28 games, without diluting the standard of the competition further, it might just have take a little more effort and imagination from the powers that be. Anyway,we are where we are now with an extra 2 clubs, possibly 3, if Salford don't make it, for 26. Good luck to those teams in trying to build a squad, without the SKY money that the existing SL clubs will not want to share. Surely a better way to build is to do it from a position of strength, which has been the NRL way. By comparison our approach is built on a house of cards, which will fall over with the first faint gust of wind. |
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| Moderator | 32344 | Bradford Bulls |
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| Dec 2001 | 24 years | |
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Comparing SL with NRL isn't fair. In Australia RL is akin to the national sport in parts of the country and as such attracts far more money and player participation is astronomical compared with over here - so of course they build on a position of strength.
Much more difficult here so more likely to mean frequent changes of course. Twas ever thus.
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| First Team Player | 892 | Leeds Rhinos |
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| Bullseye:
Comparing SL with NRL isn't fair. In Australia RL is akin to the national sport in parts of the country and as such attracts far more money and player participation is astronomical compared with over here - so of course they build on a position of strength.
Much more difficult here so more likely to mean frequent changes of course. Twas ever thus.
One of the problems here is not necessarily the change of course, it's that the ultimate destination changes at an alarming rate. There are different ways of reaching a clear.goal, and often a number need to be tried before the best one is discovered. The game here has no clear goal, hence no one has the first.clue how to get there (wherever "there" is). |
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| Moderator | 32344 | Bradford Bulls |
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| Dec 2001 | 24 years | |
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I'm sure there must have been an overall aim or objective when the IMG criteria were agreed. The fact that none of us know what it is speaks volumes. It probably mentioned something undefinable like having a vibrant and sustainable competition played in modern stadia in front of big crowds, attracting ever increasing coverage and sponsorship.
Whether it was achievable or not is another discussion.
You have about 17 or 18 clubs that have aspirations to be in SL. That's where clubs want to "be".
Going back to one of Arthur's points, making any new clubs competitive on the field will be a massive challenge since none of them would be competitive with their current squads. At Bradford we have about four or five players who could do a job in SL at the most, so I'd expect anyone going up to be bringing over a lot of overseas players.
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| Bullseye:
Comparing SL with NRL isn't fair. In Australia RL is akin to the national sport in parts of the country and as such attracts far more money and player participation is astronomical compared with over here - so of course they build on a position of strength.
Much more difficult here so more likely to mean frequent changes of course. Twas ever thus.
It was ever thus, but it doesn't it should always be. In a rare moment of clarity the clubs elected to bring in a huge, world class sporting consultancy a couple of years ago, and are now basically choosing to ignore their counsel. I know the NRL is different world to SL, but the principal of measured growth still holds. Look, I'm sure Bradford will be promoted and I'd love to see 20k packed into Headingley and Odsal on the respective fixtures, I just wonder how long the party will last. |
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| ArthurClues:Bullseye:
Comparing SL with NRL isn't fair. In Australia RL is akin to the national sport in parts of the country and as such attracts far more money and player participation is astronomical compared with over here - so of course they build on a position of strength.
Much more difficult here so more likely to mean frequent changes of course. Twas ever thus.
It was ever thus, but it doesn't it should always be. In a rare moment of clarity the clubs elected to bring in a huge, world class sporting consultancy a couple of years ago, and are now basically choosing to ignore their counsel. I know the NRL is different world to SL, but the principal of measured growth still holds. Look, I'm sure Bradford will be promoted and I'd love to see 20k packed into Headingley and Odsal on the respective fixtures, I just wonder how long the party will last. Well if the Bulls are allowed back in it should be on the condition the pitch size is sorted Playing on a pitch width of 55 metres is a farce and you may as well play with no wingers Who wants to watch a forward slog for 80 minutes. |
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| Moderator | 32344 | Bradford Bulls |
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| Dec 2001 | 24 years | |
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Well Bulls fans don't like the pitch size at Odsal anymore than anyone else. However, needs must when you need every penny you can raise outside of SL. I imagine the pitch will be re-enlarged as soon as the club can survive without the money from hosting stock car racing - even so it's acceptable to the RFL and pitch size isn't an IMG metric so it is what it is. It's no coincidence that away games on bigger pitches are much better to watch.
On IMG I've said I agree with the rationale of it but the system was very flawed in some regards. Don't think chucking it all in the bin is the solution either, just a bit of tinkering perhaps.
I can't help but think that the decision to enlarge SL is borne out of short term financial necessity in the same way the Odsal pitch fiasco is.
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| First Team Player | 892 | Leeds Rhinos |
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| Bullseye:
I can't help but think that the decision to enlarge SL is borne out of short term financial necessity
And there in lies the problem. Short term thinking delivers short term results. To my earlier point, the game over here doesn't know where "there" is. |
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| YosemiteSam:Bullseye:
I can't help but think that the decision to enlarge SL is borne out of short term financial necessity
And there in lies the problem. Short term thinking delivers short term results. To my earlier point, the game over here doesn't know where "there" is. Yes, classic case in point is today's story re the Magic Weekend being cancelled. This was an IMG recommendation that the clubs chose to ignore for 25. Looks like they've now changed their mind. Literally anything is up for review,cancellation or reintroduction at the drop of a hat in rugby league. The only thing that is consistent is the complete inconsistency. |
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| First Team Player | 892 | Leeds Rhinos |
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| Feb 2022 | 4 years | |
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| ArthurClues:YosemiteSam:Bullseye:
I can't help but think that the decision to enlarge SL is borne out of short term financial necessity
And there in lies the problem. Short term thinking delivers short term results. To my earlier point, the game over here doesn't know where "there" is. Yes, classic case in point is today's story re the Magic Weekend being cancelled. This was an IMG recommendation that the clubs chose to ignore for 25. Looks like they've now changed their mind. Literally anything is up for review,cancellation or reintroduction at the drop of a hat in rugby league. The only thing that is consistent is the complete inconsistency. I haven't seen the MW story, but absolutely nothing would surprise me. On the 14 team plan, it's being reported that the criteria for the 2 additional teams haven't yet been agreed in private, never mind made public. Stinks of "which clubs do we want in SL next term, now let's make the criteria fit". Knights, Bulls, Toulouse, Broncos (Hounds??), Oldham, Fev - are but a few names mentioned. Some would get into the 14 under IMG criteria, other wouldn't - so it's clear the independent panel has its remit. The game is amateur hour from top to bottom. |
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