This one.

Good for you, unfortunately not everyone who watches RL is a fat, dumb, loudmouth Northerner.

seen it for the first time today

not a fan

Let's face it, whoever we (Sky) get to front up an advert is unlikely to be everyones cup of tea, Vegas certainly isnt.
But, there is no denying that he is a real fan and follows St Helens and a lot of what he says in the advert is what draws the current supporters in and keeps them coming back and many RL fans dont enjoy football (although plenty do), they dont watch a lot of Union (again some do).
It's only supposed to give a "heads up" that the new season is almost upon us and it certainly does that.

None of the critics have said who/what they would want to see instead ??

Treatment like a real, legitimate sport and not some type of regional backwoods aberration.

I think what you've ultimately got with this ad is something that is believable - and that's something good ads have to have. Jonny Vegas may be many things, but there's no question that he's a fan of the sport.

OK, he may play to a certain stereotype but as he says in the ad, "it's who we are" (whether you like it or not). You could give that script to Benedict Cumberbatch and whilst I'm sure it will look a lot more sophisticated than Jonny Vegas, it certainly wouldn't be believable.

If you want to start arguing that the sport needs content that appeals to a more sophisticated audience (and that's certainly something I've said the sport should be doing) then go ahead, but that isn't a task that starts and ends with a Sky TV ad. Sky TV isn't the RFLs or the 12 SL clubs' PR agency.

Rugby League isnt great because it isnt Football, it isnt great because it isnt RU, or NFL. The cliched criticisms of another sport dont make us a worthwhile way for people to spend their time.

Its negative, its pandering, it has the image of those faux-salt-of-the-earth types holding court at the WMC bar telling anyone who will listen 'ow t'worlds gon t'pot cos a namby pamby young'uns n t'pc brigade.

At the very least, if we decided to go down the route of a Johnny Vegas surrealist rant or soliloquy, have one that is actually positive about the sport.

It's not who I am, or many other people who follow RL. This is a sport FFS, it's not some weird hobby like Morris dancing that will only ever appeal to weirdos, it's IMO the best sporting product in the world and I'm pretty sure you could show it to anyone anywhere in the world and they would appreciate it. So why is "who we are" a bunch of fat, dumb Northern slobs?

You didn't think that it was positive then ?
Vegas wasn't looking forward to the start of the new season . it looked like he couldn't wait.

We do have a "northern image" but, let's face it, that is where the game is played.
If we had Sir Steve Redgrave or Sir Andy Murray "selling" the game, it just wouldn't be believable.

Perhaps you should tell us exactly who you would have giving us the "2 week warning" that the season is about to start and what line they should take.

Do you know whether any of these northern cultural icons have an interest in Rugby League?

I think you have missed the point. Im not proposing any of these as spokespeople for our game, simply highlighting that 'the northern image' isnt defined as Johnny Vegas.

Looks to me like a an internationally known comdian passionate about his sports team saying things many other fans would be thinking about their team and their sport.
But please, do explain how the psychology behind the advert is wrong and only hints at RL being a "regional backwoods aberration" as you so deftly put it, you're wrong but I'd like to hear you explain it in a cogent and well argued manner.
crack on sonshine

Let's flip this round - could you see the premier league, the EFL, RU etc promoting the start of their new seasons through having an immature pop at other sports? Professionalism- it's lacking.