It's a ludicrous idea, if it is true. Little if any thought seems to have gone into it and the potential problems it could throw up.

it also shows a distinct lack of original thought, given that, apart from the top teams only playing once in the first half of the season, it is identical to the structure proposed for the top tiers of Scottish football - vetoed about a month ago by a couple of SPL Clubs voting against it

Devil's Advocate: It makes sure that you've (pretty much) always got something to play for.

Crackers.

Spot on GT - expect it to be introduced then.

How do you , sell season passes for such a concept , or advertising or sponsorship


buy a £250 season pass , you may have 5-6 games against a leeds or a Hull or a Warrington , however by round 12 , your next home games could be v Barrow Workington or Batley.

It will devalue the potential for the lower 6-7 SL clubs to attract players , sponsorship & crowds , Sign a top drawer player , by march he's playing against Dewsbury , if you have a rocky start to the season .

the 6-7 top SL clubs should not have anything to fear, they get to play pretty much play-off football for the 2nd half or the season year in year out , that will guarantee them top drawer players - best sponsorship & all the Sky coverage

I'd love to construct a reasoned response to this proposal but I can't. It's utter s***e!

If we're having to nick poor ideas from the SPL then we might as well quit right now.

Shocking leadership to even let this piece of 'blue sky thinking' slip outside of the boardroom.

Just when you thought the RFL couldn't possibly make a bigger balls-up than they currently have, they come up with this gem. Do you think they deliberately go out to make RL look like the laughing stock of modern sport?

Sounds like a Gary Hethrington idea, hope not or it will go through.
The RFL often shoots itself in the foot, looks like they are about to do it again. Or is it just proposed ?

It's a great concept for a closed shop top 8 and 16 also-rans. It throws up a lot more questions than answers for me.

this is about taking the game forward, but will result in going back in time time

first of all the first part of the season is unfair when 6 teams play 6 home games and the others play only 5.

then when the league splits some big games may be missing.
if you look at tonights table 3 big games may only be played once. (all 3 are near the line)
Wigan v St Helens
Leeds v Bradford
Hull v Hull kR

and the teams playing in the 3rd group will be playing for nothing

You'd hope that if this abortion does take place that teams in the 2nd tier seek a different television deal and see if they can get the BBC to come on board.

Am I the only one of an increasing age that remembers in my youth live sporting events other than snooker and darts on the BBC? pretty much every week there used to be some form of live team sports event and pretty certain that we would reach a bigger audience than with SKY?

All pie in the sky for me but you'd hope if there is any credence to it that the powers that be flirt one right up Uncle Ruperts crapper.