I have far more faith in Richard Lewis and the other board members than I do with Saddened and some of the flat-cappers that would have us return to "the glory years".

As for media savvy, Maurice Watkins (RFL board member) is also a director of Manchester United, among others and was heavily involved in the launch of MUTV, so please don't think the board of the RFL didn't have the expertise to secure the best deal available.

In 2003, there were reports in the press about the then top five clubs breaking away from Superleague and forming their own league, following the same press reporting that the RFL were about to be shafted by Sky. The RFL board came back from the negotiations with an improved deal. There was a long thread on this very board about the deal and IIRC the vast majority of the more lucid contributors had faith in the RFL to secure a deal to benefit the game as a whole. Fath that was ultimately rewarded.

(E)