Same here, and the name still means nothing to me, not one I would consider?

Union do not seem to have the problem with major international and national sponsors, but is it part of the old boy network still or are they taken more serious?

The union lot can point to a vibrant international game, a well-attended domestic competition and European competition. That helps force through deals and getting companies to part with cash that they don't want to part with.

We have had numerous people at clubs with influential positions who can force deals through due to their position, however when the likes of Fosters and McEwans have been on shirts they have had little money attached to them. Companies are happy to be associated with league, we just don't have the 3 pronged argument that relates to the on-field situation to make a deal worth serious money.

We use the same old boy system, but when it comes down to the arm-twisting we just don't have anything more than a respectable international game and the WCC does not stand up to the Heineken Cup. They can put pictures of Twickers full, we can put images of Wembley full, but only once a year, not several.

When it comes to the crunch they can bluff their way through to get their company to think they are getting a good deal, we come across as though we are trying to force a deal on a company and bleed them for more than the comp is worth.

This must be at least the fourth season Engage have sponsored Superleague, as I recall the PA at the first Magic weekend repeatedly referring to the "Engage Superleague Dancers", yet I honestly couldn't tell you what services/products Engage offer or produce.

At one time some years back all the St Helens Board of Director's were from a Union background and did their socialising at the Union Club?

Do you think it reflects on the background of many in charge in Union and League that we can't attract major sponsors, it did seem a few years back at the start of Super League we were about to bury the flat cap image but in some ways it is returning even more, once again this weeks rugby press letters are moan, moan, moan, thankfully not about us which is good news for once, but Sky and the BBC! When are these people not going to except when you sell you soul and Sky pay so much you have the right to call the tune.

We've sold our soul, and got a decent price for it too. Just gotta accept that, or give the game a wider appeal and wider market so that it look to the likes of ESPN, BBC and ITV to come up with serious offers or joint offers. One way to do that is expansion, which is a sure fire way to increase visibility, but it is a slow burner. The quick way to do it is to expand the international game, get the Aussies as a nation interested in international rugby league. Get Sam Tomkins on all the news shows saying "We have come down here to win the trophy, we respect the Aussies, Kiwis and PNG, but we believe we will be lifting the trophy." The Aussies have decided that they can't even fill the SFS, let alone ANZ stadium so I'm not sure how they feel about international rugby league

Marketing people in this country will see the consistently second best viewing figures behind soccer, sadly they tend to see everyone watching union as middle class with money to burn, and everyone watching league as -poor. Blatantly untrue as a great many league fans travel to away games and very few union fans travel for away games. Not that an example was needed as the perception is totally wrong, but one that is generally held.

Londo06, you are completely correct, it is a sad reflection on our game that the majority of northern club supporters do not have a clue, all they are interested in are their own clubs survival. More money is currently spent on Internet advertising for the first time that Print/TV/Radio/Sponsorship, it is a hard world out there and a small time parochial game will interest no one in major companies.

If Maurice Lindsay had not obtained the Sky sponsorship deal in the first place, I wonder what state the game would be in now, he is not a guy I rate highly, he interviewed me for a position at Wigan back in those days and the meeting was a joke, but he worked dammed hard for the game of Super League as well as Wigan!

So many fans of Northern clubs think that money has come into the game off trees, in the RL letters pages today they are moaning about the change of game times and dates by Sky (St Helens this time) but do they not realise Saints lost £650,000 last year 2009, what would it have been without Sky?

It is time some people think first and wake up to Truth and Realty about the games future unless they want to go part time or amateur once more!

I think some do, they want to go back to a time when all was good, when the best talent flowed from union, etc. Players were part-time then, did it for pride.

They seem to think that it was better back then, so we'll go back to that, forgetting that union now is wholly professional and we live in the age of internet news and every sport under the sun available pretty much 24/7.

Part-time players did okay 20 years ago, why shouldn't they today.

Rose-tinted glasses seem to be doing very well for certain age-groups in certain Northen towns.

They're awl jast a banch of fick norvern maankeys!

I think you'll find that is bollox.

Set up a poll then and lets get an idea based on those who post on here. Whilst your at it ask whether you would be bothered about them going bust if it meant your club survived having not had the expansion card to play.

Its easy for fans of the top clubs not to be bothered whether Quins get a helping hand from the RFL, as it is never going to be at your expense.