I repeat. If it were a cent more than the last deal, the RFL would have trumpeted that fact....the reality that we have is that they didn't, so it is a fair assumption, given their recent ability to mess pretty much anything and everything up, that the owners of the new sponsors, Coral, who happen to be owned by the previous sponsors, Ladbrooks have got a better deal than before which also includes the ladies Cup too.

I agree that I am not the biggest fan of the RFL, but this assumption is made based on the simple reality that nobody at the RFL has ever missed an opportunity for self promotion and not just on my belief that they couldn't organise a p-up in a brewery.

As for Catalans paying £500,000........who do you think blinked first? If I were to bet on it, I'd reckon that no money has changed hands, but if that were to become public knowledge, then the Mancpack and Toulouse would be exempt too....so again, this is mentioned but with no detail...great spin doctoring!

They didn’t trumpet the Ladbrokes one. If you actually bother reading the article BramleyRhino linked then it just reads “the deal is believed to be worth in excess of £1m a season”.....no actual quote from anybody or exact figure....exact same as today’s announce. You’ve just read what you wanted to read. Could even be exactly the same amount per year so why they’ve not come out saying it’s more (but doesn’t mean it’s less either)

As for Catalans, doubt the RFL have got £500k out of them, but who knows they may still have got a little something off them. Kind of life a transfer fee, say a players value is £300k then you’re going to get more than if you come out and say his value is £150k

I think you've got me confused with someone else. The view I've consistently expressed is that the RFL is often used unfairly as a lightning rod for failures at club level. That view tends to be at odds with the prevailing opinion on this forum.

I'll critique the RFL where I see fit, but to say I've got a "history of it" is wide of the mark.

Gutters is correct on this one. if the deal was more lucrative than the last, the RFL PR Machine would be shouting it from the rooftops

why are you trying to protect the dignity of the RFL, they are totally inept and have a past history of ruining the game

its about time there was a massive inquest into how they run it

They don’t run it. The clubs do. It wasnt the RFL that sold all its assets and spent all the money on players.

The RFL need improving, but a massive inquest is more needed into how the clubs run themselves and the game. Because for the most part they’re god awful.

I’m not trying to protect them, simply pointing out that we don’t know what the new CC deal is in comparison to the previous despite the assumptions of some.

Buddy....I have some really bad news for you regarding Santa and the tooth fairy if you believe that the RFL got anything other than less for the cup this time than last.......or do you believe the the RFL wanted more or the same and were happy for ladbrooks to walk away, confident that they'd be back to pay
I have no doubt that you're a smart fella, but for gods sake stop digging yourself into a hole here.......they got less, pure and simple and I reckon (assumption) that Catalans didn't pay a brass farthing either.........but great spin.

Sunday 27th January 1:30pm Challenge Cup Round 1 Millom v Red Star Belgrade LIVE STREAM: BBC Sport Website & App bbc.com/sport/live/rugby-league/46633025

Sunday 27th January 1:30pm Challenge Cup Round 1 Millom v Red Star Belgrade LIVE STREAM: BBC Sport Website & App bbc.com/sport/live/rugby-league/46633025

They shouldn't be asking or getting a penny out of Catalan just to "allow" them to defend the cup.
It was a stupid decision to ask and has seen Toronto and Toulouse drop from the competition, a massive backward step and fundamentally wrong.
If the fixtures happen to give either of these sides and advantage in the Championship, there will be uproar (and rightly so).
Lets imagine that either side are down to play, say ,Halifax, the week after a round of Challenge Cup fixtures.
Should Fax play a weakened side in the cup to "save" themselves for the more important league fixture or, be disadvantaged in the battle for promotion.
Equally, if the overseas sides wish to be part of SL or The Championship, they shouldn't be allowed to cherry pick the competitions that they wish to enter.

Also, the elephant in the room would still be the prospect of Catalan or, at some point in the future, Toronto making the GF. Old Trafford would have more empty seats than full ones.

Maybe Catalan should be stumping up another £500k, just in case

Is that the "Johnny Foreigner Cup Final", only open to clubs outside Yorkshire and Lancashire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47205114 is the beeb wrong or is all 14 championship clubs in the cup now

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/47205114 is the beeb wrong or is all 14 championship clubs in the cup now