Personally I'm not sure there is any such plan, even considering your humorous faux pas. I generally think RFL or SLE do a reasonable job in impossible circumstances. It's the easiest thing in the world to blame all RL's problems, as those from Royston Vasey Warriors are doing because they lost in the play-offs, at the feet of the RFL without any knowledge of what work is actually going off behind the scenes.

Of the big 7, I presume you are referring to Hudds' sugar daddy, as this is oft mentioned. From what I can gather Davy has a genuine love of the area & is happy pumping in his money. Hudds are probably alone in that bunch in not being sustainable from a current attendance perspective. Cats have shown the difference between having a good coach & a useless fat Aussie on a drinking holiday with his Brizzy buddies. But that, & Wakey's remarkable achievements this season, what can be attained with the right structure in place.

Catalans took approx 5m Euros in sponsorship & corporate sales last financial year.

And their superb new stand had a significant amount of local/regional government support.

A club on the up.

This ^

I'll just be thankful to have a team to watch, and if they can compete, show some progress and not give in, all the better. Thats all I want from SL 2013.

You are welcome to your opinion, but this Leeds team isn't a patch on the Bulls at their pomp.


First I don't think the salary cap issues had [ianything at all[/i to do with our successes. Second, your comments reflect the difference between (and I am not aiming this personally at you BTW) a statistician who has all the figures numbers and percentages, and someone who actually watches the game and understands and appreciates the play. Statistics can be used to 'prove' pretty much anything.


I am one of those weird people that likes the playoffs. I think there is great merit in being the team that sweeps almost all before it to finish top of the pile, and that gives that team the best claim - at that stage - to be called a great team or to use the season's performance as partial evidence of greatness. The fact that you don't [ineed[/i to finish top to be Champions, whilst true, doesn't detract any more than a couple of percent from the achievement of a team which genuinely murdered the league.

But then there is the end of season comp, which is (almost) knock-out rugby, and to be Champions you have to be the best at that.

So if a team wins from 5th or 6th it CAN indeed cite those wins as evidence of it's claim to greatness. Unfortunately, though, it can NOT cite it's over-the-season performances in support, as frankly over the season it did not play all that great, and so to me can't qualify as a great team. in the sense I mean when I talk of great teams.

Moving on to Leeds specifically, we have a generally ageing squad that has two years on the trot summoned up from somewhere the spirit and determination to win at any price, and has done so. Taken in conjunction with their performances in the preceding years, when they were perhaps "at their peak" and playing overall far better rugby, they do indeed merit the description of a great team, golden era, call it what you want.


Actually I didn't blame him, the decision was on his shoulders, he made it and it was not an unreasonable one. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but nobody can say that decision cost Leeds the game, because it didn't. Times, of course, have always changed and always will. Leeds' good times will inevitably decline too. Sinfield, though, surely deserves to go down as one of the legends of the game.

I presumed Caddick was throwing his money at Leeds. Cats, I am not sure about.

It's my opinion that this Leeds team has won almost as many titles as Wigan did in their pomp but in a more competitive league.

Bit isn't that sort of stats based thing rather than an opinion?

I had an interview last friday at Odsal with the corporate manager (Simon) about a possible job opening at bulls.

Well, I got the placement !!!!! I'm soo pleased, although its gunna start as a non-paid role with a view to making it a paid job

I'm not so sure that Caddick can be termed a sugar daddy. The development of the stadium (and both the Rhinos and Carnegie) has been the result of very astute business where the funds have been secured from sources outside Carrick's "empire". And now the Rhinos side is so successful that the joint operation runs at a profit. Some of the Leeds fans are convinced that Carrick became involved to secure the future of his primary sporting love--kick and clap. They believe the Rhinos substantially subsidise the Union operation.
With Catalans ,as noted above, there is very substantial municipal and local business involvement. Using the name of Catalans rather than Perpignan was a master stroke-- it served to ensure local businesses and councils were seen to be backing a distinct national identity.

Can we return to the glory days in a few years. YES OF COURSE we can. Look at Wigan, they were on the verge of been relegated in 2006, four years later they are champions.

Our circumstances are slightly different in that we have finances to consider, but we have the core of the squad from last year, and with the likes of Bateman, Donaldson, O'Brien developing, we could have a great squad of homegrown players.

It will be hard and not an overnight success, but if we can get our finances in order, and promote the youth we have every chance of returning to the glory days.

We need a good spell in the doldrums to truly taste the spoils of being called champions!

Who can forget 1997? The joy, the relief, the party's! Coming home and destroying Paris, without getting out of first gear!

Moments in history that taste all the sweeter after a long spell in the wilderness!!!

As Caddick is from Cas it is particularly galling.

FA, I am astounded! For the first time in my many years on this forum, I've disagreed with you, and youve responded with sound opinion and without sarcasm or put downs. Has someone hacked your account?

This could become a good discussion!

What era would you regard as "the bulls in their pomp?"
1997 and the 20 unbeatern matches, punctuated by 7 defeats in 7 matches in the WCC and a defeat at Wembley and out first round in the premiership. followed by 1998, probably the biggest let down in history as we are nocked out of the cup by Cas in our first round, and out of playoffs in first week.

Or is it 1999 when we lost in the cup semi to Leeds, finished top by 5 points and then lost in the final with the "Hand of withers"?
2000 when we won the CC (when it was a pre season tournament) but then again failed to get to the grandfinal from third.
2001 was a good year, losing in CC final, finishing top of the league and stuffing Wigan in the final. (or was it that the competition was weak this year?)
2002 was a let down, just the WCC to show for it.

OK so 2003 must go down as the peak musnt it? Beating Wigan in the GF, finishing top of the league, and winning the CC. followed by beating Penrith in the WCC, but then 2004 was a let down. Finishing 9 points off top, and losing in the grand final again!
2005 wasnt much better in league terms! A full 10 points off the top before we romped to the final and won it!

compare this with a similar period for leeds:
2004 top of table win GF
2005 second and lost in GF
2006 3rd
2007 2nd win GF
2008 2nd win GF
2009 1st win gf
2010 4th out in semis
2011 5th win GF
2012 5th win GF


all this in the context of the salary cap having more of an impact and a league where 5-6 clubs can genuinely claim to have a chance of winning!

I hate Leeds as much as the next Bradfordian, but doing down thier acheivements doesnt do our game any justice.

is that slightly different like HItler was a little bit evil?

There is a world of difference between Wigan's resurgence under Ian Lenaghan and our chances with OK and Gerry in charge!

we need to get real!

what sort of crowds do you think you will get next season with the prices been up for season tickets