Spot on!

And if they do, it's no skin off my nose!

I wonder if the same poster thinks the same of Asda and Marks & Spencers etc. They are both technically working class northern companies

On the grounds of what? You saying so?

My post is neither 'wet' nor 'snobby'.

Firstly, Stobarts is based in the UK and Ireland. SL has a french team in it to start with. Are they aware of Stobarts? Does this potential sponsorhip help increase french engagement with our sport?

Then lets look at our sporting competitors. Football is sponsored by Barclays and huge multinational brand. RU is sponsored by Aviva, a huge multinational brand, spotting the theme? Sure, we are not instantly comparable to RU and certainly not football in terms of pulling power but surely that has to be the aim. All this sponsorship does is put us in our very small box.

Another poster mentioned my view of Asda or M&S. You my man missed my point. They may be 'northern' in terms of origin (really not sure why thats relevant but as you wish) but they are bigger, more established, further reaching brands.

Sponsorship is (in part) about reaching new audiences and about appealing to multiple demographics. In my view Stobarts will not achieve this for us.

I presume you're aware of what other offers the RFL had on the table then, given you think they should have turned the Stobart one down in favour of something else?

What other potential sponsors of the game have their own fly on the wall TV series on a free-to-air channel, for example?

We are sponsored by a FTSE 250 company that is more than a "fleet of trucks".

Having said that "a fleet of trucks" could be a marvellous sponsor in terms of exposure - they have thousands of vehicles that could be moving advertising hoardings for our sport. Not to mention a programme on terrestrial TV.

I think you're being more than a little precious.

I think you made more sense last year when you opined that we could go a whole season undefeated!

Every man and his dog has seen a Stobart truck! A quick look at the Stobart site would reveal that they operate throughout Europe from 40 sites, using 2250 trucks to make a delivery every 20 secs!

I should imagine that sort of mass exposure will catch the eye of many of the indigenous population along the way, including even the most myopic Frenchman....

An even grander version of the Northern Rail cup, if you like.

This is a very good point Andy. I was going to tackle this in my other post, but in trith its a whole new thread.

I would be really interested to know what other offers they have had. If this is considered the best then its very worrying.

Its just reconfirms, if we needed it, that we are a niche sport.

And for me there in is the issue.

We think small. National brand ooooooooooh.

Except rather than a service offered exclusively up north to northerners with the word northern in it, it's offered across the UK and Europe.

Who'd have thought that northerners would be so biased against a company headquartered in the north? It's almost as if people are ashamed of the fact that they are northern.

I Was merely writing in jest. I couldn't care less who the sponsors are. If the game went 100% amateur I'd probably still watch it.

Perhaps you should drop an email to Google and see if they're up for it.

Idiot. Well you just give Tim Cook a call and let us know what he says...

I'd be more than satisfied with the RFL if they could secure a sponsor as recognisable as Stobart in the current economic climate.

(The transportation of the fire truck from Carlisle to Southend was particularly noteworthy in last week's TV episode as it managed to feature the port wing of XJ823 and XL426 in it's entirety. Classic)

For once, well done to the RFL.

Stobart is a proper company with good recognition and a damned sight more credible and respectable for RL's brand than the collection of bookmakers and loansharks who sponsor most sporting teams and events nowadays.