Quote: jaybs "The major sponsor of Rugby League SKY wanted the game to expand and have a presence out of the M62 Corridor, do you fully realise how much money BSkyB have invested into the game and I still think the majority of it wasted! grounds were left to crumble and become so dated, but meanwhile average players could command £50,000 salary easily, so I feel your presumption that the game does not need a team in the capital as much rubbish!
It would have been so easily for me to have supported and followed St Helens, born there and lived here all my life, supported West Ham from the age of 6 and attended the first game at Fulham and been loyal ever since, but I Believed in the development of our great game, it is a credit to the South how strong the amateur/school game is now much more popular than many Northern heartland town's.
I supported the name change, but it has not worked, I am unsure about the area and travelling time, but nothing compared to an home game for myself. I still think the game can work in London, but it needs marketing something even top clubs like St Helens can't even get right and the correct area which will build a fan base, the game has to be sold at a competitive ticket price which makes it affordable for families and so much cheaper than football. I still remember sitting in the stand for that debut game Fulham V Wigan with families including grandparents and they enjoyed and loved the game so much.
The game in the North is far too parochial people are only interested in their own clubs, these fans the ones who write the letters to the weekly rugby press need to accept and realise lose London and Crusaders, even Catalan which many would love and Sky will either reduce there money to a minimum or withdraw their support full stop, then who will pay the players wages and the costs for these new stadiums, the game could go like Wrestling did!'"
I'm not sure what your point is. My 'presumption' is the complete opposite. My point is that I agree with Sandy
except for Sandy's comment implying that RL needing a team in London was rubbish - or put another way: I disagree with the view that its rubbish that RL needs a team in London. My argument is that without expansion, RL will not gain the income streams it needs to thrive in the long term etc etc & London is a key part of that expansion.
I even comment on the positive development of the youth & amateur game in London. I do not agree with some on here that the London side should be given more Sky money than others because of the costs of living in London - there are plenty of other issues that disadvantage other clubs & there's no way that everything can be evened out for everyone. But I do say that what the RFL should be looking at is supporting the marketing of the game in London. The RFL already does a fair bit with its support to the development of the youth & amateur game (& Quins RL do too), but if it matched that with support in marketing, the senior game could take some big steps forward.
Sadly I dont see that happening, & sadly I fear for SL in London - even for next season. I hope my fears are wrong, but the writing on the wall seems to be getting larger & larger with every bit of news that comes out of the Quins camp at the moment.
