Dear moto748, what do you think the serious issues are that RL faces now?

As The Printer and others pointed out the American style nicknames were (and are) a marketing tool some worked, some didn't. St Helens never had one as they have always been the Saints anyway. Paris St Germain was the brand in itself due to association (whether or not the two clubs were actually linked) with the soccer club of the same name so a soubriquet would be pointless. Halifax's choice of name was appalling and was universally hated so having failed in its purpose was dropped. Oldham Bears went bust and a new phoenix club was formed called Oldham Roughyeds (the historic nickname) IIRC that club also went bust or close to it hence now being Oldham RLFC, it isn't (technically) the same club. Hull dropped their (also disliked just as with Halifax Blue Sox) Sharks nickname following a merger with the original Gateshead Thunder club.

Some clubs seem to have chosen well and have marketed their nicknames well like Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls (the business may have been poorly run for a few years but the brand is a good one and is still very recognisable) and IMO Warrington Wolves. I don't like our nickname and always refer to the club as simply Wigan but kids seem to like the Warriors branding and the stuff that goes along with it. I do however see its usefulness in identifying and promoting our club as opposed to confusing them with the Latics.

Wakefield don't have it now. St Helen's has always been St Helens. But look at both those areas. Do they have a Wakefield Athletic or St Helens United playing in the top tiers of football, no. If they did then just St Helens and Wakefield on its own probably would need that something extra to individualise themselves.

When someone asks me if I'm a Leeds fan they're always usually referring to Leeds United. If I say I'm watching the Leeds game this weekend and they ask who the opponents are and I say St Helens or Castleford or Catalans they look confused and say oh sorry thought you were on about football. Whereas if I say I'm watching the Rhinos or I'm a Rhinos fan it gives us the individual identity away from Leeds United.

Dear CW, I did not doubt for one minute that I was dealing with sensible and educated people and who love RL. But just exactly how do I introduce myself? If you look at the Harlequin icon location it might give you a clue where I come from. The reason I focus on names is because I don't accept that we have to accept this Americanization. If only these disneyfied names were nicknames, but they are also part of their official name and most seem ludicrous. I try to imagine Man Utd changing its official name to Manchester Red Devils Utd it would not happen because of history/tradition reasons. Their fans would burn Old Trafford down first! but we in RL seem to accept this process as progress. Kind Regards.

Football doesn't need it in this country because they are the number 1 sport way ahead of RL. I've noted a number of reasons why some clubs have it and why it works for them, your argument for not having them is that you personally just don't like them....not much of an argument at all or reason to change them.

Is this fella who is asking the marketing questions about RL the new CEO in waiting (the one who's just left Everton)?