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FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > This is not a cycle - what can other clubs do? |
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33809_1522680904.png 'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_33809.png |
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| For the first 15 or 20 years of SL it was very possible to see the dominance of a few clubs as one of the sport’s natural cycles. To me, and I don’t think I’m alone in this, it now feels like a permanent hegemony, and that realisation requires some sort of adjustment - initially from the non-hegemonic faction.
None of the options are hugely palatable but those that occur to me are:
1. I don’t think it is very tenable anymore but we should acknowledge the ‘try harder/follow the example of the big clubs’ argument, which has been the ‘this is just a natural cycle’ orthodoxy for a long time. Such a long time that I feel like it doesn’t now deserve much attention. Optimistic fans of also ran clubs, holding out for a super rich benefactor or believing that this next batch of academy graduates must surely, after so many false dawns, represent a golden generation may disagree and want to wait longer. Even I want to see what new coach can do at Hull KR but optimism seems to be, at this point, in short supply. So, moving on…
2. Make a mental adjustment, or the ‘Scottish Football’ solution. Accept that a small number of clubs will continue to dominate the sport over the long-term, essentially in a higher intensity competition, within and central to the wider league programme, with other clubs providing a backdrop and their fans realigning their ambitions to be… well, less ambitious. The Hull derby might forever more be two bald men fighting over a comb, but it can still be fun and entertaining.
3. Do something radical to have a competitive top flight team to support. I’m thinking something like a part-time league including Cas, Wakefield, Featherstone, Doncaster, Sheffield, York, Hull FC and Hull KR feeding in to a full time MEGATEAM. You could have another based on Keighley, Batley, Dewsbury, Hudds, Fax and Bradford. I know, it’s a bit extreme… but when the other options I see are continually having hopes exposed as baseless or giving up on hope as we currently define it in RL, it seems less so.
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60098_1402496159.jpg the future's bright the future's [color=#800000:1p3f9jf7]claret [/color:1p3f9jf7] and [color=#FFFF40:1p3f9jf7]gold [/color:1p3f9jf7]:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_60098.jpg |
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| The draft academy system was one proposed many years ago when a certain rugby union player was heavily involved in our sport at that level. The RFL were all for it, saw it as a way of strengthening all clubs. A sports scientist friend of mine was involved in some trials with the RFL looking at how young players are developed from a S & C perspective and was involved in discussing how this system would be set up.
The system went to vote and Leeds, saints, wigan and Bradford (that’s how long ago this was) we’re massively against the idea (can’t imagine why ![Rolling Eyes icon_rolleyes.gif](images/smilies//icon_rolleyes.gif) ) and there was talk of clubs threatening to pull out if this was forced upon them.
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| Quote: Pumpetypump "Nonsense. I think the gurning lump of gristle from Cumbria was right in trying to remove some of the Academies. The only way we can thrive as a sport is by narrowing the amount of player pathways.'"
I disagree
The key to success is to have more players coming into the system and receiving quality coaching and guidance to help them improve.
It's all a numbers game and of course, money.
Those who can invest most into both recruitment of and keeping hold of the best young players should prosper most often and to be fair to Leeds, Wigan and Saints, plus, Bradford in the early days, those clubs have manged to do this better than the other clubs.
However, as we've seen with say, Warrington and Leeds for the last couple of years, you need a decent coach.
Money alone cant buy success but, it certainly helps.
It's the same in every sport and perhaps the reason that we've had other clubs at least make the final, perhaps shows how a salary cap can be effective, up to a point.
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33809_1522680904.png 'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_33809.png |
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| Quote: Magic Superbeetle "
Maybe its naivety on my behalf, but the issue sits squarely before players make their first team debut. I don't see any likelihood of Mikey Lewis being signed by Saints (Dodd), Wigan (Smith) or Leeds (Sinfield) and if Hull KR can bring another couple through next year and start building that pathway, it would be a really positive thing. The risks of loss of form and missing out on the playoffs, leading to signing another scrumhalf, and HKR having equally talented players in the next academy group can be mitigated, but understandably really challenging.'"
Speculative, but from the Leeds board
Quote: Magic Superbeetle "I do like Lewis, hes exactly the sort of player I would love to see in blue & amber.'"
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Club Owner | 21755 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/34.png) |
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| Quote: Mild Rover "Speculative, but from the Leeds board
He is, of course, a Hull FC supporter (used to sit with his family in the South Stand) so I guess he could end up in black and white, similar to Taylor and Cator.
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Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 12614 | ![](images/sitelogos/fullsize/59.png) |
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Jun 2007 | 17 years | |
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Jul 2024 | Jun 2024 | LINK |
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33809_1522680904.png 'Thus I am tormented by my curiosity and humbled by my ignorance.' from History of an Old Bramin, The New York Mirror (A Weekly Journal Devoted to Literature and the Fine Arts), February 16th 1833.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_33809.png |
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| Quote: ComeOnYouUll "He is, of course, a Hull FC supporter (used to sit with his family in the South Stand) so I guess he could end up in black and white, similar to Taylor and Cator.'"
Cator is a different, though very admirable, case imo - in that he was never the great red and white hope that Taylor briefly was and Lewis is.
If we do end up having to sell Lewis in a couple of years, the consolation that I (alone) would take is that it might mean that there’d be more openness to innovative ideas rather than replicating approaches of a couple of clubs that have very different circumstances.
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Wigan |
14 |
403 |
164 |
239 |
24 |
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
St.Helens |
15 |
423 |
162 |
261 |
22 |
Hull KR |
15 |
383 |
201 |
182 |
22 |
Warrington |
15 |
358 |
213 |
145 |
20 |
Salford |
15 |
295 |
288 |
7 |
20 |
Catalans |
15 |
288 |
220 |
68 |
18 |
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Leeds |
15 |
274 |
270 |
4 |
16 |
Huddersfield |
15 |
298 |
317 |
-19 |
12 |
Leigh |
14 |
264 |
226 |
38 |
11 |
Castleford |
15 |
238 |
429 |
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7 |
Hull FC |
15 |
198 |
474 |
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4 |
LondonB |
15 |
140 |
598 |
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486 |
142 |
344 |
26 |
This is an inplay table and live positions can change.
Sheffield |
13 |
354 |
217 |
137 |
20 |
Bradford |
13 |
341 |
218 |
123 |
18 |
Toulouse |
12 |
332 |
174 |
158 |
16 |
Widnes |
13 |
315 |
245 |
70 |
15 |
Featherstone |
13 |
330 |
283 |
47 |
12 |
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Batley |
13 |
205 |
286 |
-81 |
12 |
Doncaster |
13 |
237 |
325 |
-88 |
11 |
York |
14 |
285 |
293 |
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Whitehaven |
13 |
266 |
358 |
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10 |
Halifax |
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270 |
377 |
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Barrow |
12 |
203 |
339 |
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Swinton |
13 |
260 |
332 |
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8 |
Dewsbury |
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168 |
419 |
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2 |
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