Great stuff..... however, how dare you assume that nobody else is doing their bit. My plans are working towards a job in RL.....

People who already are, I tip my hat to them. I think you & I both know though, that the majority simply care about one thing

It's my tolerance for the viewpoints in general. What I've read on rlfans over the past few days is no different to what people were saying on USENET 15 years ago, predicting the demise of the sport within the next few years, blah blah blah. It seems people don't really learn or pay attention to what has gone on before.

I'm speaking from experience, have I called any individual a self pitying loser? Nope. Just many RL fans who I happen to know personally that never stop complaining about the lack of money/media coverage/anything-else that is afforded to RL, and yet do nothing themselves to help rectify that, even nothing as simple as helping to distribute flyers/posters advertising the game in their local area. (And yes, I do, and have, done that in the past). I consider that, given how many I know personally are like this, it is not unreasonable to take the standpoint that there are many more across the RL fanbase that are much the same.

I don't think it's unreasonable to be frustrated by the 'couch potato' element who follow the game, but there are many on this message board who are involved with junior set-ups, and most of the others who post travel home and away, so they put their money into the coffers of various RL clubs. I think that entitles them to a view. And though I don't agree with the OP on this thread, I can't accept that having concerns about losing players to RU is "beyond contempt".

That's pretty choice language for something that is NOT a non-issue and DOES need to be discussed.

I know that moves are now afoot at higher levels to do something about this, but to be fair, the RFL aren't making a big song and dance about it. People can be forgiven for thinking they're happy to just do nothing.

Losing players to RU and being concerned about that is not the bit I find to be beyond contempt. It's the mistaken belief that losing a few players is the death knell of the sport and it's all going to come collapsing around us in a pile of rubble. People need to show a bit of perspective.

I don't disagree with that.

But I think we now have to act to stem the tide of defections.

It isn't a huge tide, but we haven't got so vast a reservoir of talent that we can just ignore it.

Exactly. The TV coverage alone makes RL look second rate. Empty seats down at Cardiff when EVERY RL team play there over two days. Just looks bad.
I'd actually like to know the average SL attendance. The 'mean' average is probably completely dispreportational due to a few big clubs.

RL is obsessed with expanding the range of the sport-this isn't a bad thing, but letting well founded clubs suffer in the process is. Practically driven away fans from major RL clubs such as Widnes and Halifax.

The direction SL clubs are allowing our sport to be taken will kill the sport.
Currently if you support a non SL club you have nothing to aim for, and dont give me any BS about maybe getting a franchise sometime. The game below SL is being killed and 11 clubs will not sustain a national game, as non SL fans become more and more disenfranchised and abandon the sport.
If I were the RFU I would target a club like Leigh with fantastic facilities to showcase the game, and throw resource at it with a 5/10 year plan to recruit all the best junior RL kids and convert them to RU. The cash and structures taking kids to SL Academies from non SL heartland areas would be insignificant when compared to what would be on offer from RU.
RL must unite or accept our fate of semi pro.

I'm the one with my head in the sand? LoL. Oh you know what, forget it, I agree with you all - RL can't possibly increase it's revenues (and as a result afford to pay out higher wages by default), nobody comes to watch the games anyway, and that's all the RFL's fault. let's continue to rely on a few wealthy benefactors propping up the finances of the currently big clubs, and if any of those benfactors go away for whatever reason, and that club implodes, oh well, it sucks to be them.

I agree with the franchise issue. Franchises were supposed to allow clubs to put in stable financial plans for the future, without the threat of relegation this was supposed to stop clubs from overspending in an effort to stay in SL, due to their being less pressure. That has obviously not been the case, and from where I was sitting, it was really the only sensible/valid "pro" in the pro's and con's list of franchises.

I'd be perfectly happy to see proper P&R come back in to RL.

rlhttps://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12553_6786935,00.htmlrl

15 seconds into this interview, looks like the Union boys have their eyes on the Tomkins brothers.

The RU 'tapping up' turns its attentions to Sam and Joel. Seems like we're now a 'feeder' for the England RU backs!

Rugby League has always been a northern england sport... im not sure if its more popular than Union up here but we need to promote the game darn sarf. Just look at the media attention Chris Ashton is getting, one or two trys for England and everyones up his ... its an attractive offer made by Union. Big cash on the table and the chance to make a name for themselves. In Rugby League, Sam Tomkins is probably the biggest star going at the moment but hardly makes the headlines. I seen Unions premiership rugby... its not impressive, my guess is its the international stage that plays its part. And this is the problem that the RFL alone can not do, we need other countrys to promote the game. France, Italy, Ireland, Wales, Scotland etc all have a huge interest in RU.... at the moment if England RL won the world cup no one would give a rats . You would expect a mension on Sky Sports News and thats about it

Would increasing the salary cap attract players and keep hold of the talent? No. We have to get the media attention, promote the game around the southern part of the country and get bums in seats. England RU have their own 80,000 seater ground... we usually have to play England games at a 25,000 seater and struggle to sell outicon_biggrin.gifEPRESSED:

Either way something needs to be done, im no saints fan... but watching the likes of Eastmond and other players switch code is quite depressing. Is that a young players ambition these days? Come through the ranks and hope that a union club comes knocking on the door for them? The interest in international rugby league is the main issue, until other countrys give a cr*p our game will always be in the shadow of union.

And thats the very reason why both Sam and Joel were gien 5 year deals. Where Saints were slow was in getting him on a long contract 18 months ago. From what i can see i am more bothered about the NRL getting players from SL than Union. Think Graham will be going to the NRL next season.