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FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > Robert Elstone Interview |
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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... n-nou-camp
“Super League needed to freshen up, and that’s probably putting it modestly.” Barely five minutes have passed since the Dictaphone was switched on, and it is clear Robert Elstone is in no mood to mince his words. For months, the Super League chief executive has promised a revolution for British rugby league’s elite competition amid a backdrop of boardroom politics but you sense the 54-year-old finally feels as though he is making progress as 2019 begins.
Last week Super League unveiled its self-titled “new beginnings” for 2019; a series of law changes aimed at revolutionising the image of the competition. Interchanges have been reduced, while shot clocks designed to speed up games and golden point extra-time are being implemented for 2019 – but Elstone’s plans for change do not end there. “Super League will be different in 2019, that’s for sure,” he explains. “But you’ll see a much better-looking competition in 2020 and the years after that. That’s a guarantee.”
Expanding Super League’s global reach is high on Elstone’s agenda, underlined by the possibility that the traditional Magic Weekend could have an international flavour to it sooner rather than later, with Barcelona a likely venue for the event. In May, Catalans will host the reigning champions, Wigan, at the Camp Nou and while Magic will have a new home at Anfield in 2019, Elstone admits that the success of that game in Catalonia could set the stage for all 12 clubs to play in Barcelona at some point.
“If that worked, then it would increase the chances of Magic going there without question,” Elstone says. “I think Wigan playing Catalans there is the most incredible development we’ve had for years. It’s a huge statement and it creates huge traction beyond our traditional circles. Super League has to get out of its own bubble, and the Nou Camp helps do that. It’s not lost on me that our sport has a rebellious soul, and was founded out of injustice. If there’s one region of the world that captures that, it’s Catalonia.”
As the former Everton CEO begins to share his vision for a sport he began watching on the terraces of Castleford over 40 years ago, it is not difficult to see the strains of the first six months in the job showing. Most of that period was spent entrenched in a public dispute with prominent lower-league clubs about a restructure of the leagues in 2019, which was successfully achieved in September, with confirmation that the Super 8s format would end in 2018.
Despite that victory, Elstone is in no mood to stand still. Next month he will move a new-look team of staff – many of whom have been poached from the RFL – out of the governing body’s headquarters in Salford into the centre of Manchester, emphasising the differing directions of the two parties moving into 2019. Talk of a split between Super League and the RFL is not wide of the mark.
“Getting a group of people focused solely on Super League is well overdue,” Elstone says. “I don’t think the competition got the focus that it should have had. A big part of all this is about giving the competition accountability. We’re accountable for our actions now so there’s a spotlight on us we’re conscious of, but one we’re excited about. We need to break out of our bubble and aim big for this competition.”
Part of Elstone’s vision includes, by his own admission, looking to Australia’s NRL for inspiration. “I’ll no doubt be branded an NRL sycophant,” he smiles when explaining why Super League has emulated the NRL in adopting golden point extra-time. “The drama of a period of time to decide a winner excites me,” he says. “There were a number of variations on the table, including golden try rather than golden point, but aligning ourselves with the NRL was the major factor.”
Other significant changes will follow in 2020, including the introduction of two referees per game rather than one: a law amendment again inspired by the NRL. “We came close to doing it in 2019, and had club approvals and budgets signed off, but it was just too late,” Elstone says. “I’m pretty confident you’ll see it in 2020 though. With the changes to speed the game up, it will put undoubted pressure on officials in 2019. We have to listen to referees and give them more help in-game, and a second referee does that.”
The Man of Steel award will change from an end-of-season dinner to a week-by-week voting process that is made public throughout, while the World Club Challenge will also receive a “long-term focus” as part of Elstone’s plans for overhaul. Yet despite all that, Elstone concedes the challenge of giving Super League increased profile in a world where everyone is fighting for attention will be a difficult ask.
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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... n-nou-camp
“Super League needed to freshen up, and that’s probably putting it modestly.” Barely five minutes have passed since the Dictaphone was switched on, and it is clear Robert Elstone is in no mood to mince his words. For months, the Super League chief executive has promised a revolution for British rugby league’s elite competition amid a backdrop of boardroom politics but you sense the 54-year-old finally feels as though he is making progress as 2019 begins.
Last week Super League unveiled its self-titled “new beginnings” for 2019; a series of law changes aimed at revolutionising the image of the competition. Interchanges have been reduced, while shot clocks designed to speed up games and golden point extra-time are being implemented for 2019 – but Elstone’s plans for change do not end there. “Super League will be different in 2019, that’s for sure,” he explains. “But you’ll see a much better-looking competition in 2020 and the years after that. That’s a guarantee.”
Expanding Super League’s global reach is high on Elstone’s agenda, underlined by the possibility that the traditional Magic Weekend could have an international flavour to it sooner rather than later, with Barcelona a likely venue for the event. In May, Catalans will host the reigning champions, Wigan, at the Camp Nou and while Magic will have a new home at Anfield in 2019, Elstone admits that the success of that game in Catalonia could set the stage for all 12 clubs to play in Barcelona at some point.
“If that worked, then it would increase the chances of Magic going there without question,” Elstone says. “I think Wigan playing Catalans there is the most incredible development we’ve had for years. It’s a huge statement and it creates huge traction beyond our traditional circles. Super League has to get out of its own bubble, and the Nou Camp helps do that. It’s not lost on me that our sport has a rebellious soul, and was founded out of injustice. If there’s one region of the world that captures that, it’s Catalonia.”
As the former Everton CEO begins to share his vision for a sport he began watching on the terraces of Castleford over 40 years ago, it is not difficult to see the strains of the first six months in the job showing. Most of that period was spent entrenched in a public dispute with prominent lower-league clubs about a restructure of the leagues in 2019, which was successfully achieved in September, with confirmation that the Super 8s format would end in 2018.
Despite that victory, Elstone is in no mood to stand still. Next month he will move a new-look team of staff – many of whom have been poached from the RFL – out of the governing body’s headquarters in Salford into the centre of Manchester, emphasising the differing directions of the two parties moving into 2019. Talk of a split between Super League and the RFL is not wide of the mark.
“Getting a group of people focused solely on Super League is well overdue,” Elstone says. “I don’t think the competition got the focus that it should have had. A big part of all this is about giving the competition accountability. We’re accountable for our actions now so there’s a spotlight on us we’re conscious of, but one we’re excited about. We need to break out of our bubble and aim big for this competition.”
Part of Elstone’s vision includes, by his own admission, looking to Australia’s NRL for inspiration. “I’ll no doubt be branded an NRL sycophant,” he smiles when explaining why Super League has emulated the NRL in adopting golden point extra-time. “The drama of a period of time to decide a winner excites me,” he says. “There were a number of variations on the table, including golden try rather than golden point, but aligning ourselves with the NRL was the major factor.”
Other significant changes will follow in 2020, including the introduction of two referees per game rather than one: a law amendment again inspired by the NRL. “We came close to doing it in 2019, and had club approvals and budgets signed off, but it was just too late,” Elstone says. “I’m pretty confident you’ll see it in 2020 though. With the changes to speed the game up, it will put undoubted pressure on officials in 2019. We have to listen to referees and give them more help in-game, and a second referee does that.”
The Man of Steel award will change from an end-of-season dinner to a week-by-week voting process that is made public throughout, while the World Club Challenge will also receive a “long-term focus” as part of Elstone’s plans for overhaul. Yet despite all that, Elstone concedes the challenge of giving Super League increased profile in a world where everyone is fighting for attention will be a difficult ask.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 578 | No Team Selected |
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Oct 2012 | 12 years | |
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| Step 1. We know we have the greatest game and the 2019 tweaks help redress the slippage of late.
Step 2. Then its all about marketing. Marketing requires a consistent, identifiable, unique and compelling brand image. Two refs is one component from 2020, the Steedon ball etc - but a lot more can be learned and adopted from how the NRL does things. Needs commitment to do it not to mention hard work.
Let's have a truly global game. A process to discuss, agree, establish and maintain one set of laws by the NRL, SL, RFL and RLIF is essential. Given the starting point, this will be driven by the NRL - but the balance would be redressed over time.
The NRL and SL seasons need to be aligned so far as possible. Points to a 14 team Super League (by inviting in two overseas teams for 2020) (thus avoiding loop fixtures with Magic Weekend becoming the Challenge Cup last 16 on first weekend in May) but also retaining P&R thereafter.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 741 | No Team Selected |
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Sep 2017 | 7 years | |
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Nov 2022 | Nov 2022 | LINK |
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| All these changes yet still nothing done about the PTB. You want to align with the NRL then sort this PTB out as its simply a joke and its crazy that SuperLeague have not addressed this.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
International Chairman | 1468 | |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Dec 2001 | 23 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 1970 | Jun 2022 | LINK |
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| Quote: puroresu_boy "All these changes yet still nothing done about the PTB. You want to align with the NRL then sort this PTB out as its simply a joke and its crazy that SuperLeague have not addressed this.'"
Totally agree , I remember one season when the RFL clamped down on this , they went through a period where they clamped down on a particular part of the game at the start of the season ... it never lasted long . Its so easy to police , simply keep penalising the offending team , the message will soon get through .
And I hope this season we dont see players feigning injury , no place for it in the game .
And no throwing the ball at a player who cant clear the ruck , or is on the ground . Simply penalise the player who threw the ball at him , again the message will soon get through .
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Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 973 | No Team Selected |
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Jul 2015 | 9 years | |
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| We seem to focus on rule tweaks and speeding the game up. Cricket and Union are slower sports but have grown the awareness of there sports and ultimately seen increases in crowds(and sponsorship)
We need to do a lot more than shot clocks that's for sure.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 1087 | No Team Selected |
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Oct 2018 | 6 years | |
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77270_1562571079.jpg The Leigh and Wakefield fans mentality......
Say something negative about any other team than theirs - Its an opinion
Say something negative about Leigh and Wakefield - TROLL:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_77270.jpg |
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| Well they have had the radical idea of reducing interchanges so players get tired and its easier to score tries in theory.
They have obviously identified that the game in the UK is as dull as dishwater at the moment
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