In the middle of this season, despite the continuing threat of top players leaving our game, I was actually looking forward to the rest of the year, not least of all, the World Cup. But in the last few weeks I've seen the usual suspects bleat about not having any money (AGAIN); the Man of Steel (from Dewsbury, I think) say he'd rather play for Scotland than England; those that were chosen to represent their country stumble to a loss against mighty Italy; players who agreed on an alcohol ban going on a night out with the attitude "yep, but it doesn't mean me", culminating with a senior player ejected from the squad; and now, to top it all off, chairmen from 6 of the clubs in SL walk out of a meeting which was supposed to go most of the way to securing a positive future for the game. There has to be something very serious for the clubs listed to not want restructuring to proceed.

Can someone please tell me why Players/Chairmen/RFL all seem hell bent on destroying what's left of the game? Have they bought shares in the RFU?

And if they want, I'm sure I'm not the only one available to bang heads their together over the next 48 hours!

Why not enjoy the massive Rugby League event coming up?

One thing that annoys me is fans claiming that the 6 SL chairmen walking out is bad for the sport because 'it makes us look bad'.

I know most of you have a hatred and complex about the other code, but would you know that the same thing is happening in that code? The French and English are refusing to enter the Heineken Cup from next season and trying to set up their own competition due to the need for them to qualify for the Cup but Irish/Scottish/Italian teams get in just by existing and the welsh get 3 out of 4 teams in.

So the other code is having an internal war as well, yet that doesnt seem to be having the same cataclysmic effects that some are claiming this is having to RL.

Being perfectly honest, even the casual observer of RL isnt aware this is happening. I have asked some people about it and they didnt have a clue what i was talking about.

Give over saying things such as 'Its overshadowing the World Cup'. The WC hasnt even started yet, how can it be overshadowing it. Especially when 99% of people in this country will be blissfully unaware of what is going on behind the scenes and will watch the WC anyway. This doesnt change the mentality of new fans to the sport because they dont know its happening. (just as i suspect many on here didnt know the same was happening in the other code)

Sit back, enjoy the WC, hope everything goes well. Then lets see what happens with the SL. At the end of the day, these 6 chairmen have the right to want changes after they have been let down time and again by the RFL. It is quite telling that the 6 clubs are all PO teams.

People are seriously overplaying the ability of a dispute between the SL chairmen to have a massive impact on people who are not already fans.

Te 6 chairman aren't destroying the game, they're trying to stop it from going straight over the cliff

I'd agree with that.

This.

So why are 4 of the 6 clubs behind a move to a 10 team SL playing each other 3 times ?

Very sensible post

Sense on RLFANS? Never!

You can learn all you need to know about your typical forum RL fan simply by the fact that there is very limited discussion about the World Cup itself, team selection etc., but the prophets of doom thread, simply about WC ticket sales, has around a billion posts.

Ll, never mind a shot to the feet, bog rush needs a shot to the head. Never seen a code have to suffer the misery, apathy and negativity of its fans like RL. Must be that Northern thing?

Not from me mate I love rugby league and if it was possible I would have them playing 12 mths of the year roll on Saturday lets get started

What a ridiculous thread and clearly a minority view.

The world cup is coming, ticket sales seem fabulous.

Yes there have been various issues. But hey lets all enjoy it and be positive for a change.

By far the best option for SL if we want to move from the insipid nature of a lot of games

In fairness FA, ticket sales are one of the most I operant things about this WC. The spot light and media attention is really on us to finally showcase our sport to the world and become bigger and get more investment. The product will take care of itself with some superb games. But we need to paint a good image and show that RL isn't small time.