I'm confident that Groupon or Wowcher will come to the rescue of the modern day tightwad fan of discounted SL by offering cheapo deals.

Yes, but a lot more games for people to pay for.
Currently teams such as widnes get £167 for 13 games from their fans. On the new system lets say they get 11 games for £150 or there abouts, but now widnes are guaranteed another 3 home games, that's 3 x £20 or there abouts. Even if attendances half in these games, the average income from fans goes from £167 - £ 180 plus all extra revenue from food etc

for me, I wouldn't bother with a competition where the sole focus is not being the worst. I watch sport to see people competing to be the best.

If we wanted to watch a sport where the only aim is not being the worst, let's give the players LSD first. At least then it would be funny.

That assumes people will pay for those extra games, all available evidence from the challenge cup and playoffs say they won't. And the difference isn't small it's pretty big. It assumes people will pay for an SL season ticket plus the additional games when it may very well simply encourage people to pick and choose the games they do attend

Ok so the decision has been made but what i want to know is how the 2nd league of 12 will be made up.

Obviously it will include the bottom 2 from SL this year so that leaves 10 spots.

There were 14 teams in this years championship along with another 9 in championship 1. So how are the other 10 spots going to be filled? Is it the top 10 from this years championship or is there some sort of application process open to all 23 non SL clubs

Realistically Fax, Sheffield, Featherstone and Leigh will be 4 of them but just wondered what the official word was (if any!!)

not ideal preperation that is it

yeah then play cold against teams in the championship who are playing with momentum,

wouldn't fancy their chances too much

No, that's assuming only half turn up.

In which case they should have performed better against the easier teams. As for the question of an injury crisis, it really isn't that different to getting an injury crisis in round 20 when you're 10pts clear of the relegation zone in 1u1d and ending up getting relegated. Sport is based on so much luck that these things happen.

As for the problem of funding, I'm 100% with anyone who fears for clubs getting relegated, going bust etc and wasting a ton of resources. That is the cost of any system with a gulf in funding between leagues, and I'm worried about that aspect of things (which is why I have [delalways[/del preferred a centralised/franchised system).



Sure, but again what difference does that make compared to now? Once a team has lost hope for making the playoffs, they may as well prepare for the next season too.



...am I missing something? What's the difference between trying to make the top 8, and trying to avoid the bottom 4 when there are 12 teams competing?

This decision is fantastic for RL. We are well known for being grumpy so and so's who love nothing more than to complain.

Well fill ya boots, this is going to keep the grumps going for most of the next 12 months.

All the arguments against that I have seen so far carry with them huge assumptions. (Stated as facts of course).

The biggest issue is the season ticket issue, but it's hardly an issue that will take all the powers of Stephen Hawking to solve.

Quite frankly I'm glad it's done. The only problem is that having to announce it so far in advance, we will have to put up with 12 months of sour grapes from those against the system.

Just like the RLWC we will have predictions of doom and gloom until the day arrives.

When actually I think most people will just get on with the new system and there will be very little in the way of people walking around puzzled by the Rubik's Cube that is RL.

I would, championship,sides will have spent the entire season playing against inferior opposition.

thats the difference between super league and NRL and the biggest in my opinion.

I edited that to try to clear it up. It does also assume that people will pay 150 for 11 games when they weren't paying 167 for 13 games in big enough numbers.

Well I never thought I would see the words "kipper" and execution" used in 1 post, not even one as condescending as this.

Clearly you have never played the game before.

Quote: SmokeyTA "I edited that to try to clear it up. It does also assume that people will pay 150 for 11 games when they weren't paying 167 for 13 games in big enough numbers.'" Who pays £167 you cheap skates. www.saintssuperstore.com/matchtickets.html cheapest season tickets at Saints £251 for standing. You yorkshire folk are a bit tight fisted.

Quote: SmokeyTA "I edited that to try to clear it up. It does also assume that people will pay 150 for 11 games when they weren't paying 167 for 13 games in big enough numbers.'" Who pays £167 you cheap skates. www.saintssuperstore.com/matchtickets.html cheapest season tickets at Saints £251 for standing. You yorkshire folk are a bit tight fisted.