Quote: Surreyben "I think that the RFL could be facing a very embarrassing situation with ourselves on s**t street once more and Crusaders' crowds going through the floor. With both clubs facing very uncertain futures, Rugby League as a "national sport" is, in real danger of dying out and the game going back to it's pre 1980 state as one only played on the M62 corridor. If this does happen, sponsors will leave the game, Sky will probably reduce the money they pay to show the game, and the sport's already poor media coverage will further dissipate. Whatever way you look at it, Rugby League faces a difficult period.'" dream on just look at the results that widnes posted today, rl has never needed a london team it was a whim it didnt work and never will www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=2519 we didnt get bailed out by the rl/sky on we have now risen we will be a force again once the london experiment has run it course

Quote: Surreyben "I think that the RFL could be facing a very embarrassing situation with ourselves on s**t street once more and Crusaders' crowds going through the floor. With both clubs facing very uncertain futures, Rugby League as a "national sport" is, in real danger of dying out and the game going back to it's pre 1980 state as one only played on the M62 corridor. If this does happen, sponsors will leave the game, Sky will probably reduce the money they pay to show the game, and the sport's already poor media coverage will further dissipate. Whatever way you look at it, Rugby League faces a difficult period.'" dream on just look at the results that widnes posted today, rl has never needed a london team it was a whim it didnt work and never will www.widnesvikings.co.uk/article.php?id=2519 we didnt get bailed out by the rl/sky on we have now risen we will be a force again once the london experiment has run it course

it's attitudes such as this thread that kill RL and stop it from ever becoming anything more than a minority sport

That is a very arrogant post and very dismissive of your northern masters.

The game will thrive as it always has done. Having a London-based team has not put a single extra bum on a seat for the majority of rugby league teams. Arguably, it has cost a lot of bums, because the Quins home game is never a must-see, because there is no atmosphere from the away "crowd". Rugby league is one of the most-watched sports on Sky behind football, and that has nothing to do with having a London side. Demographics for national advertisers will be no poorer than it is now, because the presence of Harlequins will not be a deal-breaker for companies, because no one goes to watch you.

I wish you well, but only because of the negative press coverage you will generate, but you need to stop overstating your importance. Those who run rugby league want expansion. Most fans want to see the game become popular. But if you had a poll amongst rugby league fans, most would lose no sleep if you went bust.

That may or may not be true but it would matter to those of us who follow RL in London and that's why it's being discussed on here. Trolls like you add nothing to the debate so please spare us any more of your pompous musings. Thank you.

True , but that doesn't mean they cannot become a force in SL , they have all they need to do it , it won't happen overnight , but with the backing they have it could well happen

The thoughts of the 'majority' have never been convincing to me, if it was announced that IK Pegasi had gone supernova the majority of people would get a good nights sleep, meanwhile I would be furiously attempting to insulate my cellar walls with lead and stocking up on anti-radiation tablets.

Are you worried by IK Pegasi A or B?

I wouldn't disagee with that, but it does prompt the question of how many fans would lose sleep if any club went bust - other than its own supporters. Your own club are a prime example, with another Super League club and an ambitious Championship outfit down the road. I'm not trying to score points here, and I sincerely hope that Trinity don't find themselves in that position, but maybe we're not so different in some respects.

As for Quins, just to be even-handed, I do have some problems getting my head round the Sky TV argument for us being retained. Why are we so important that Sky would bail out of RL if we droped out of the competition? Yes, Sky get a lot of viewers for RL in the South, but is that figure inflated when Quins are on - I very much doubt it.

If Sky did regard us as important then they can help. If not financially, then maybe by publicising a match to Sky Sports subscribers in the London area with discount tickets to a specific game and a draw to win an HD box and subscription.

Homer will smack your ar5e for mentioning marketing

Jeff, many people can't understand the way Sky act! look at politics, but what they do like is being on Total Control and when they pay the money they do and more so when they are aware that a sport like Super League virtually depends on the Sky money of course they can call the shots!

Who would have ever thought ITV would have pulled out of Wrestling on a Saturday afternoons? it is well documented in media the personality of Ken Walton, full halls and some of the biggest audiences other than the FA Cup Final.

People have their heads in the sand if the think our sport of RL is strong as far as the media is concerned, have you seen some of the BBC viewing figures for the Challenge Cup games? the attendances at these cup matches, how many real national sponsors do we generate these days? and the coverage given by the printed national press! It is not just Sky and it is not just the demise of London rugby it is a game that lacks real direction and for some reason does not appeal any longer to much more than the real "die hards"