Its simple then keep it as it is until the sky contract finishes no need to change anything million pound game as normal if that means leigh replace the Vikings or Catalans then so be it

Ah. Missed the point of your previous post haha! Yes I agree. Clubs needs to know before pre-season starts the structure of the leagues etc. Tbh I am getting sick of all the tinkering. Go back to one down, one up or franchising. Top 6/8 playoffs and just leave it at that!

Not a bad idea the hybrid structure. It will at least encourage clubs to better themselves in areas such as youth development. How clubs are allowed to run without academies is beyond me and I am also so pleased that clubs are reintroducing the reserves. Shout out to the likes of Keighley and Halifax who have always had one. But SL clubs should have a mandatory one. And pleasing to see after the Bulls and Fev paved the way we now have a Women's Super League!

The only problem with a hybrid system is those in areas which will never get the crowds or decent youth. When you have say three clubs in very very close areas it's always going to be hard for them to build a good fan base. Furthermore those in areas not in an RL hotbed will suffer as they don't get the crowds. However they are at least creating a small interest in those areas especially at a grassroots level.

And I thought now the clubs are looking after themselves it would be better how wrong was I

My genuine view I'm afraid! I just don't think we can afford to have the situation where Catalans, for example, can go down on the back of a bad year, as nearly happened in 2017. We aren't strong enough to take risks like that. At the same time, we need to reward good on field performance by allowing a route into SL purely by winning games as you guys have done.

I'm not familiar with the re-election system, how would it work? Widnes finish bottom and the clubs vote whether to keep them or promote Hull KR?

Clubs are allowed to market themselves and recruit talent from beyond their own postcode.

Agree with you here. And I have no idea of the re-election system but I hope it doesn't work like that. The SL chairman will just vote who they want in (their mates) and opens up a possibility of bribery etc. For that sort of system to work at all we need a strong, transparent governing body which unfortunately we do not have.

That didn't stop leeds from advertising in Tong, Bradford a couple of years ago

For example, yes.




Because there's no risk of chicanery in using 'independently assessed criteria' to divide SL clubs into first- and second-class citizens? They're not going to be deeply trusted after last time. Also the unprotected teams won't accept it - because it is degrading and that. There's a reason the Washington Generals didn't have many fans.

If we have a route into SL achievable by on-field performances, then there obviously has to be another team going the other way (unless the numbers in SL do change that season). I'm confused why that shouldn't be Catalans (or indeed any other SL team) if their on-field performances that season puts them in the relegation spot?

If Leeds or any other club wants to advertise in an area where they think there is a market, all power to them. The Rhinos should be advertising all across the Leeds commuter belt (and that stretches a bloody long way) where they feel there is an untapped market.

I don't understand why, when people see another club promoting themselves outside their typical catchement area, the reaction is "it's outrageous that they're trying to 'poach' fans from another club" rather than "why isn't my club being proactive like that?"

The idea that clubs should be "staying out of each other's way" smacks of a desire to protect those that aren't going out there and finding supporters for themselves.

I seem to remember quite a few years back Warrington and St Helens promoted the game outside the heartlands by way of South wales and Scotland, correct me if I,m wrong but didn't the 2 clubs go into the schools around Glasgow only for the RFL to set up the big game in Edinburgh.

That's a new story for me!

I seem to remember Huddersfield and Halifax fans getting in a tizz about Bradford Bulls billboards in their area during the Bradford glory years, and the usual suspects have kicked up a stink on here occasionally about Leeds ads popping up on the outskirts of Wakefield.