I don't think he was suggesting that w play a round there, but instead, help Cumbria develop a top flight RL side

he hasnt really said what he wants, or how he thinks Cumbrian RL should be developed.

This Cumbrian expansion thing always makes me laugh. No one puts any credible idea forward, bar 'We should expand into Cumbria, it's an RL hotbed'

Which of the Cumbrian clubs should get all this financial help? One of them? All of them?

The idea of a combined Cumbrian club is a none starter, ask any cumbrian RL fan if they'd support a made up side, they wouldn't. Fans wouldn't go, they's still go and watch [itheir[/i side, and if that side had gone to the wall because of the combined side, they'd not go and watch that as club b/c/d/whoever will have killed their club. How many of our fans would go and watch a merged Saints/Wigan side? They'd be lucky to get 3,000 through the gates.

If someone comes up with a credible solution, then go for it, until then stop whining about it. The only realistic way of getting Cumbrian SL is if one of the current Cumbrian clubs gets it act together and produces a decent business plan along with a decent team and gets a franchise.

Thats what Barrow are doing and i can see their inclusion in 2012

If they branded it as the Lake District RL they would have tens of thousands flocking there every weekend.

Jammer is entitled to his opinion. It is more informed and authoritative than many on here. More please.

He's just trying to help his mate Ade, set up a nice little retiremant plan at home!

On the Cumbrian theme, could they not do what some of the Aussie clubs do and split the Cumbria home games between Barrow, Workington and Whitehaven.

posted by saints 35 Bulls 0


"OK then – if the X amount of £ from this event goes to development of Super League, that is £X that doesn’t need to be found from other sources. That money would be invested in SL anyway, but the fact it comes from the Magic Weekend means that money from other sources can be used to fund development in other areas".

it doesnt fund development elsewhere its solely for Superleague europe day to day running- the clubs get little or nothing out of it

and your point about NL clubs not complaining about the free tickets in R4 - the Barrow chairman certainly did and in public - the compo from the RFL was £9k , way less than they would have had if the Wigan fans had paid

and as for the clubs finances and going without a home game for 4 weeks - even the premier league doesnt inflict that sort of planning on the clubs- any firm - sport or otherwise will find it difficult cash flow wise on that business model - its better to have a home game with the usual income streams on a more regular basis than the " small amount" - they get from this weekend - and lets not forget even greedy premier league clubs Baulked at a 39th game distorting the fixture list - i rest my case

Can somebody teach Mr Kinsella to quote properly,I would be most gratefull.

I agree with James. This is the 3rd year and if it doesnt pull in the punters like a few have said use this weekend for the second Easter game and get back to 1 away and 1 at home.

The point still stands that this money would still have to be spent and would have to be sourced from somewhere else…with the MW money coming into the game, this cash doesn’t have to come from another pot – therefore that pot of money can be spent elsewhere in the game.



But way more than if they had drawn a NL2 club, for example.



The clubs know the fixtures in November the previous year, they have plenty of time to plan the cash flow and budgets for the following season, they can’t suddenly be surprised that they have a few weeks without a home game.

Let us assume that they played 1 game at Easter, and played the 2nd game this weekend. Saints’ Easter Monday game against Hull is now played on Friday night this week. Easter Monday it attracted over 13k people, this Friday night it would probably get around 11.5k – immediately Saints have lost revenue. Average ticket price £10 * 1500 people = £15,000 (before you even get into extra revenue from the club shop etc..).

However, SKY liked the idea of playing 27 games, so they reduce their revenue into the competition. Off the top of my head the last contract was worth around £14m per season, or £518k per round (27 games). Lets assume they pay the same round rate, but only for 26 games, so they only pay £13.5m. The clubs therefore used to get £1m per year, but now they are only getting £960k. The decision to scrap MW has so far therefore cost Saints around £55k, which would be the annual salary for an average player. What about sponsors though, Saints are now only able to sell sponsorship space at 26 games, rather than 27 (and a high profile TV game at that) – so expect annual sponsorship revenue to go down slightly.

As for the Premier League 39th game – the clubs came up with idea and would have gone ahead with it, they only backed down because the media and the public didn’t like the idea.

Also, can you please figure out how to work the quote feature of the site!

Spot on, and it wouldn't happen in football it couldn't happen, I have taken football fans to games who are shocked enough they could stand with the away fans at the game!

The games are only a small part of the weekend, its the way all the fans mix regardless of the club they support which makes it so special. After the games on the Saturday last year I went into Cardiff with some Warrington fans we were away with, outside one bar we met some Hull FC fans and some Wigan fans and the banter there was fantastic, no trouble at all just a great atmosphere and lots of fun.

Of course this is what the weekend is all about. A bit of fun, good craic, a lot of p!ss taking, shake hands and see you all again next time.

It's what makes OUR game special.