I have been away for a coupleof weeks on a RLWC odyssey at many sold out or almost sold out stadia. Prior to that I remember your in the know numerous posts on how bad the attendances would be at the Cup games. Now you have been proven to not be not in the know in that area you have switched to the TV coverage aspect in a similalry negative manner.

Whilst it is early days, maybe the loss of the soccer contract to BT and the record crowds and viewing figures for the cup will make Sky realise that they 1. Need to replace their lost soccer coverage and 2. Realise what a gem they have in RL and improve their coverage and cash offerings at the next contract discussions,

a real pity.

I'd agree the sport needs a Barry Hearn to an extent, but this is a sport that hates change, and Hearn from, as you mention both darts and snooker, needed some slight, some major changes, to be in the position it is in. I think the parochial nature of our sport wouldn't allow a Hearn to succeed, sadly.

Hearn not only wants change, he wants power.

Total and absolute control over the sport as an entireity and who does what, where and when.

Easy enough to do when you're dealing with an individual sport like darts or snooker (albeit there has been dissent within both games) but absolutely impossible when you're dealing with a sport like football or one of the rugby codes where the clubs are businesses.

Nothing novelty about darts. It gets good ratings, has a huge fan base and with a man such as Barry Hearn at the helm, it's thriving.

Needless to day, I can't stand Hearn. As Andy G says, it's not about the money with him, it's the power. He wants 100% control. Plus he always has his favourites in each sport he runs; Taylor in darts, O'Sullivan in snooker.

Main sports item on BBC and ITV, not a word on sky