I some what agree its stale, but two things, 1st its money, less to each club from major sponsor hence no growth except foe a sugar daddies whim. 2nd only the top clubs @ finals in turns, whilst being on holiday people have said, non supporters only 2 or 3 win anything which is wrong but outside the sport that's the perception !
Before you point at me, yes I am a wakey fan & wakey got what they deserved !

There are not enough average players for 12 clubs never mind 14

The sport isnt doing badly with different teams in the finals, I think its just Wakefield who havent been to 'new' Wembley. Leigh-Rovers was a fresh final this year.

Cas, Salford and Catalans have also made the Grand Final in recent years, Its getting a different Grand Final winner that is proving a challenge.

I find it hard to believe that there are not enough talented sportsman in the UK to fill 14 squads. The problem is that they are not being brought into the sport of Rugby League.

Brian Carney (who played his first Super League game within a year of playing his first ever game of rugby league) stated in a recent podcast interview that the talent in this country is not being tapped into by lazy scouts. Too many are relying on 'the system' of bringing young players through academy systems, and not reaching out to talented sportsmen playing other sports, such as rugby union, at amateur level but are capable of better things.

I've definitely seen natural gifted sportsman playing amateur union who could be better than the likes of Olpherts if given the proper coaching and full time training. There is no reason we can't be converting these into professional rugby league players.

I've said before, this whole "there aren't enough players" thing is a self fulfilling prophecy. Every time we shrink our top flight we diminish the popular appeal, we harm players pathways. We should never have dropped from 14 and we are a poorer sport for having done so.

Totally agree, 14 teams should always be the target. It might not be instant but the other two teams will be full time and will bring with them more reach for the professional youth game through academies. You keep cutting and you’ll shrink down to size.

agreed, unfortunately its the same people who moan about the game going stale but then shoot down any idea with the same old excuses of not enough money and talent pool !!!!

the fans of rugby league will be it's death !!!

The fans don't make the decisions. It'd be naive to think that the RFL and the chairmen of the clubs even listen to the fans.

The lack of forward thinking and constant band-aid decisions is what is killing the sport. Take the voting to keep the league at 10 teams as an example - everyone knows it is ultimately the wrong decision, but everyone votes for it to make a quick buck. No matter how loudly the fans oppose it.

But in majority of other sports teams dominate

Barcelona/Real Spain
Bayern Germany
Man city last few years premiership

Djokovic dominating tennis pretty much now

The games dying. The Aussies have their little jizz fest in NSW and Queensland but apart from there the game is ant.

Fans who hate on Rugby League just for being Rugby League and for still having the essential characteristics and challenges its always had are so tedious.

Nail on head.
Just like the negotiations for the previous TV deal, BT sports (now TNT sports) were mentioned to try and persuade Sky to increase their offer, clearly, it didn't have much effect.
The real concern is that Sky now know that they can keep on repeating the deal at an ever lower rate.
Maybe we should see if Beaumont's mates have the funds to do what he threatened the other week, although it's very unlikely.

We could do worse than take advice from The NRL.

Should we take Degsey seriously enough? He did say that his 2 mates had more money falling out their ar$3 pockets than what Sly put in the whole 3 years.

It seems the draft gradings will be released this week

This thread is the typical attitude of it’s always someone else’s fault. It’s up to the clubs to build relationships with the communities they sit it, to market, to encourage fans to attend, to make it entertaining. As much as I don’t really like the bloke what DB has done with Leigh is the blue print.

We need the clubs to grab the sport by the balls and send it on an upward trajectory. What we have instead is a load of self perpetuating flat cappers with a few quid holding the game back.