Jeez, it's not about being closed minded it's about using your limited resources to the best of your ability.

Who the hell is going to travel up from Bristol to watch a game no matter how turned on they are. However you may raise the interest in an an entire family in Harrogate who may decide to give say Leeds a go, or re awaken an interest in someone from Salford. Far more likely to succeed both short and long term. Maximise you earnings were you are strong first and when you have use it to spread the word. Truth is RL is still not as strong as it should be in it's own back yard.

When there are 14 SL teams all in modern stadiums and all selling out then it's time to spread the game. This is the Aussie model - they waited till interest in the successful Sydney comp reached breaking point and then answer the demand and chuck as much money at it as you can. We are trying to cater for a demand that is yet to be created, cart before the horse.

Use chances like this to make the heartland of the game vibrant and exciting then the rest will follow - it's basic business/common sense nothing more.

As said above, its about getting people to attend games, not watch them on Sky, thats Sky's responsibility.

Maybe Meridian, London etc Regions or is it time to call it a day down south.

Parochial tw*ts!! Maybe Woody wasnt fed lard when he last came to the Stoop.

As the majority have already said it needs to go nationwide, a great opportunity missed by the RFL to do something right.

I used to live in hull up to 5 yrs ago and i have spent the last 5 yrs trying to convert every person i see to rugby league get the advert all over the country it makes sense

...is there something wrong with the southern doorstep?

The RFL/SKY wanted a London franchise/team in their new summer rugby League revolution but in 17 years have not lifted a finger to help them.....yet again, the Northern Sport that wants to seem national retreats into it's shell.....and in world cup year too.....shocking

I would imagine its to do with cost, I'm not an expert on these things but I'd imagine an ad slot during an FA Cup game is quite expensive

Obviously to do with cost! On their log tables it's not gonna pay. So no go in London and Wales.

For those two regions I would guess about 20K together for a 30 second spot. For London probably a little more.

I think London could better spend 20k+ on marketing than a single TV ad and I would hope that London arent being left out.

Some television advertising - geographically targeted and aimed at football fans - is an improvement on no advertising at all.

Yet because it's not national television advertising, in what is likely to be a pretty expensive time slot, the RFL have got it wrong again, apparently.

Some people need to seriously temper their ambitions for the game in the short term.

What he said.

As much as the RFL get stuff wrong, they are geniuses compared to the idiot in charge at London at the moment.....As much I would love to see the RFL/SKY help out, it would have to be after the current CEO has returned to cricket!

It's all very well singing the praises of the NRL, but don't forget that they didn't/don't have football deeply ingrained in their society and which in the UK probably accounts for over 70% of all sports fans in the country. (fast and loose with the % there but won't be far off)