Do you think it’s to late now to change it Cruncher or is that our destiny to play 2nd Fidel to the other brand of rugby?

The last decade has defiantly seen Union stamp it’s dominance in regards to the rugby environment. They’ve had three successful RU world cups starting with the one In SA and those images of Mandela with the white SA captain holding the trophy and it’s really kicked on from there hasn’t it. A good domestic, European and International game has seen their revenues sky rocket from an ‘armature’ game to arguably the 2nd European professional sport behind Football. There are true RU celebrities now like Cipriani, Wilkinson, Carter, Lomu, Johnson & O’Driscoll.

So what can we do to compete and survive? I certainly don’t think we are going down the right road of;

A-Shunning the ex players who have played the game. The likes of Robinson, Hanley, Edwards, Larder, Mcginty, Lydon & Ford have all gone over 2 the other side as we wouldn’t offer them the opportunities that RU have. Why weren’t these players offered the types of roles as back coach, defense coach at SL clubs over the likes of Endacott, Milward, Raper, T Smith, Murray, Anderson, Potter etc? The more people we have in the game who love the game and want to see it be a success the better IMO.

B-Not producing our own GB talent instead of the quick fix 2nd rate Aussies. Wigan have been just as much to blame as the rest on this but all SL clubs have also done it. If we don’t produce GB talent GB won’t win anything at international the level. International rugby should be the major revenue generator for any sport with spectacles like World cups or European tournaments. I honestly think if an international team is doing well people will tune into to watch them. Look at the Olympics for a perfect example. How many people tuned in to watch them even tho they don’t really like Athletics? How many people watch a the RU world cup final or Murray at Wimbeldon?

3-The SC is also a major problem as it’s dulled the skill level imo. Yes it’s a fairer comp but is it as skill full as it could be or is a breeding ground for future internationals? The SC has done two things it’s brought Wigan down and it’s also gave the smaller clubs a free reign not to develop. We need a system in place like a 50% revenue cap with bits adding in allowing young GB players to be exemempt from it as it’s only going to help RL in the long run if Clubs try to increase revenue and produce more GB eligible players.

Sorry for the long post BTW

no truth in this

No need to say sorry, great post mate.

Its so true that all our ex-players should of been offered some sort of role in RL first, maybe even as soon as they retire, even if its just as a coach or training coach or whatever, doesnt have to be a massive job. People like Edwards and no our game very well and would be very well used at any club.

Should be seperate caps for UK and Overseas players. That way, more english players are kept on since this would be higher and more expandable.

Maybe, just thinking out loud on this one..

Different caps should be introduced for different sections of each team, for example..

A cap for the players under 21.
A cap for UK players
A cap for overseas players
A cap for RU players coming over to entice RU players

Keep things equal from RL to RL team in the SL help compete with RU in this country and others..

Its simple IMO

Players brought through the academy should not count on the cap..why should a team with a good academy loss there top players..if your club dont have a good academy TOUGH get your finger out and make one.

Exactly. What is so hard 2 introduce about this and what negative effects will it really have?

This seems like a good idea to me. But would some clubs argue that players sign and poach others at academy level before making it into the first team?

then it would be Pride in the shirt. When theres a promising young lad play amature level there'll be a few clubs that go in for him... at that point its upto the player where he wants to go.

THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THIS RUMOUR

Nothing hard at all mate

But the RFL mindset is to make the rest the level of the weakest.

I know it’s not as simple as it may seem but why would the youngsters chose say Wigan over Castleford? IMO it’s mainly due to the facilities we have i.e training and Stadium etc also it’s cause we have a good track record of producing good youngsters who go onto the GB team.

It’s all about the package you can offer the kids as imo if we were all offering the same thing then team loyalties would come into it. The ‘lesser’ teams have to pick themselves up to our level.

Currently it’s the wrong way round as we are being brought down to their level when they should be coming to us.

If you poach a talented yougster from a team when it comes for him to play first team he counts on cap. i think that would stop most poaching

Hanley coached Saints to win the SL Grand Final, and also coached GB. He lost the Saints job because of his "bombastic" personality! Larder coached Widnes in the old First Division, as well as England and GB. None of which he did with any great degree of success. Ford was coach of Oldham, if my memory serves me correctly, before going to Ireland RU. Likewise, he wasn't proving to be a great success. Wigan gave Lydon a chance, he wasnt impressed. So to say that these did not get a chance is simply wrong. They had chances, and blew them. If they were coaching in SL now, they would still be no better than also rans.

Or just put 500sh onto the gate,