Clubs are allowed to market themselves and recruit talent from beyond their own postcode.

Agree with you here. And I have no idea of the re-election system but I hope it doesn't work like that. The SL chairman will just vote who they want in (their mates) and opens up a possibility of bribery etc. For that sort of system to work at all we need a strong, transparent governing body which unfortunately we do not have.

That didn't stop leeds from advertising in Tong, Bradford a couple of years ago

For example, yes.




Because there's no risk of chicanery in using 'independently assessed criteria' to divide SL clubs into first- and second-class citizens? They're not going to be deeply trusted after last time. Also the unprotected teams won't accept it - because it is degrading and that. There's a reason the Washington Generals didn't have many fans.

If we have a route into SL achievable by on-field performances, then there obviously has to be another team going the other way (unless the numbers in SL do change that season). I'm confused why that shouldn't be Catalans (or indeed any other SL team) if their on-field performances that season puts them in the relegation spot?

If Leeds or any other club wants to advertise in an area where they think there is a market, all power to them. The Rhinos should be advertising all across the Leeds commuter belt (and that stretches a bloody long way) where they feel there is an untapped market.

I don't understand why, when people see another club promoting themselves outside their typical catchement area, the reaction is "it's outrageous that they're trying to 'poach' fans from another club" rather than "why isn't my club being proactive like that?"

The idea that clubs should be "staying out of each other's way" smacks of a desire to protect those that aren't going out there and finding supporters for themselves.

I seem to remember quite a few years back Warrington and St Helens promoted the game outside the heartlands by way of South wales and Scotland, correct me if I,m wrong but didn't the 2 clubs go into the schools around Glasgow only for the RFL to set up the big game in Edinburgh.

That's a new story for me!

I seem to remember Huddersfield and Halifax fans getting in a tizz about Bradford Bulls billboards in their area during the Bradford glory years, and the usual suspects have kicked up a stink on here occasionally about Leeds ads popping up on the outskirts of Wakefield.

Think it was around 2002, Glasgow City Council were interested in the game at Junior Level and put money into the venture, Warrington and St Helens sent some of there high profile players there to promote the game through the schools. As already mentioned, the RFL instead of playing the big game at Glasgow opted to go away from the promoted area and play at Murrayfield, Edinburgh instead , they also stopped some of the funding they had with Glasgow City Council.