No that wouldn't have cost much at all - honest.

Also that just sounds a tad contrived and cheesy to me.

I honestly thing you are reading far too much into this it's not a RFL advert it's a short promo for the start if the season using a very well know sport star which might just grab the attention of non RL fans.

Not all advertising has to be in your face, especially on a channel where there is constant action being broadcast a simple talking head ad can be far more effective

I think Giggsy would be happy to do it. I've seen him asked about RL in interviews a few times and he always speaks highly of it and tells of his father playing for Swinton(?).

During the RLWC, some Australians went to Carrington and met Giggys and a couple of others. it's on the RLWC Youtube channel.

Maybe the good Dr will get him to do an add to get Manchester fans to watch Salford

I'm sure 'Giggsy' loves RL and wants to promote it, maybe he's not allowed for contractural reasons? He's a current premier league player with other advertising commitments it may not be as simple as 'Giggsy like RL let's get him to do it'

don't most players agents own some percent of image rights and maybe they would want to be paid for it?

Of course they do, but I very much mark Webber did this for free. He'll have been on as much if not more that a premiership player

honestly I'm not an F1 fan by any stretch but seriously they would expect to be paid more than giggsy or rooney?

A top F1 driver earns a very similar amount to a top Premiership footballer, so I wouldn't be too surprised.

Who cares anyway? It came out of Sky Sports' budget, not the RFL's.

F1 drivers are on anything from a couple of million a year to up to 20 million, I'd imagine webber being in the best team and hovering around 2-4 in the drivers standings for years would be on around 5-10 million

The Salary of said sports stars is utterly irrelevant, it's more about image rights and other advertising/ sponsorship contracts.

Exactly.

For example, if Manchester United have a partnership with a rival energy company (I've no idea if they do), then you ain't getting the face of a Manchester United player anywhere near a First Utility logo.

Less is more, and this is less.

They could have thrown a rugby ball in there for him to hold at least.

That said, i think its quite good.

I think its a decent ad, but think we also need a more in your face montage of big hits and good tries to run alongside it.

also as much as I don't like Thursday night rugby, if that is now the chosen slot, it would be good if SKY did a 'Rugby League: Thursday & Friday nights on SKY' type ad, as games have moved around different days and times in recent years which doesn't help get a casual audience to watch regularly.

i really like the build ups to origin and i think they would make a great advertisement. imagine professional sports people reminiscing about great moments that happen through a season and show a quick clip of it. Such as talking about the impacts and showing masoe engulfing somebody or the bravery and then showing a player regaining his feet to join the defensive line after regaining consciousness.