Quote: 100% Warrior "I said people wanting Fev in over Toronto.
He was doing it for the love of the sport, as quoted many times. I said it was mis managed (by Argyle)
10,000 new fans in Toronto at games. Championship games as well. Mass upset in Toronto about the situation from Toronto residents. But yeah they haven’t widened the appeal.
I haven’t brushed anything under the carpet. They were mis managed, I even said they ran before they could walk.
Salford have been deducted 6pts for financial mis management. Hull KR have dropped out the league. Catalans refusing to relocate. Saints refusing to travel. Yet what is all this met with? Barely a slap on the wrists.
Yes. I’d have Wakefield thrown out on their heels. How many years have they been promising a new stadium? How many years have they been borderline laughable? Cas had a mini revival but have gone down the pan too. The same applies to them. Embarrassing stadiums and offer next to nothing to the sport. So yes if it came down to it I’d have rid of those perpetual under performers, over promisers and under deliverers and bring in those who offer promise and growth. Other than a nice stadium, a good coach and a few odd surprises (making 2 finals), I struggle to see what Salford offer. You won’t find me calling for Leeds, Catalans or Hull to go and to suggest so is a bit silly.
In short, get rid of these clubs who are happy being mediocre and never do anything to grow themselves or the sport. They’re the problem.
The other massive issue I have is how these clubs even had a vote. It’s a bit rich them voting down Toronto when they’re so bloody poor themselves. This sport will never grow outside the M62 unless we are ruthless and demand high standards of performance, facilities and financial growth from our clubs. Standards that the likes of us, Saints, Leeds*, Warrington and Hull* consistently deliver. The RFL bizarrely drove down standards to give clubs like Wakey, Cas, KR and Salford a chance. Where has that got us? Nowhere.
Rid the RFL of its inept leaders. Rid SL of Elstone and bring in people who actually have a bit about them and want to grow our sport.
I honestly wished I liked football or RU. If I did, RL would be nothing more than an after thought to me. And if I (and many others) feel that way, why should anyone who is nothing more than a passive fan care one jot?
Edit
Hull KR havent dropped out of the league just stopped this week, they obviously knew the new structure was happening, same could be said for Salford and Saints as they both refused games this year. You said they voted Toronto out? why not they earned their places and they are the league, Toronto would have had a vote on someone else if they could have kept their house in order.
Licensing drove this and its something we agree on, I think its the best way to go, make sure clubs run an acadmey provide financial stability, Im still astounded Wakey dont spend the full cap and they are given full funding for it from SKY. Wakey and Cas should be omitted as they promised them grounds years ago and still never happened. Not many SL and ex SL clubs over this side of the pennines with poor facilities yet look over to the dark side and its littered with them.
Again I agree with the RFL, it should be be brought back together at the SL split has made things worse since the split really. Elstone is garbage.
We havent been innovative for 20 years and is a big bug bare of mine. When RU turned professional and did things right we sat back thinking we are ok and missed the train