Just been reading on Facebook that Florida are now interested in creating a side following Toronto's game today.

I have said previously I am all for expansion.

However on an experiment like this, I believe in the saying learn to walk before you can run.

Any thoughts?

Pretty sure we will be one of the sacrificial lambs amongst others to make way for the RL'S vision of a global super league when the day comes . Must make MC and other chairman wonder why they bother at times.

My personal vision for this international expansion would be to have an international super league, where we have 12 countries which all have their own solid league structure, then the top team from each country competes in international league for the year.

e.g. if it had happened this year then the Sharks and Wigan would be competing alongside 10 other teams each from different countries. Have a proper world series to get excited about.

Because the team which is competiting in the world series wouldn't be playing any domestic games, the team which finished top will change every year. That way we would be able to preserve the domestic leagues and promote the club game internationally. As further countries want to develop their own league, we could then look at having 2 or more international leagues

Unfortunately, I think in where it could end up would be a nail in the coffin for clubs like us, and the sport could lose its identity as we know it.

Maybe we could see, a break away one way or the other, just like in 1895.

Like I say, I do agree with expansion but I feel for it to work, you need time to see if that branch is growing and nurture it, so to speak before you plant another seed.

I agree that expansion needs to happen but it's happening in the wrong areas.

A load of Kerry Packers, sort our own clubs out first.

The community/amateur game is in a mess with a split between winter and summer causing further disruption and players being lost en-block from 16+ ages. The RFL needs to get its head on and work with BARLA and the community game to all become aligned, invest a lot of money to ensure that the game becomes stable and sustainable, play consistent rules throughout the game. Rather than teaching u6-9's a totally different game and then start teaching them the rules we play over that is rediculous, the game at 6 should be more recognisable with the gradual introduction of the wider games rules year on year(much the same way we teach kids in all other subjects) is the best way to develop their understanding and ability to play the game. They need to talk with the NRL and agreee international rules that are played at the top tiers of the game, rather than different rules in each hemisphere and a third set of rules when internationals are played.
I think that the Toronto experiment needs to be seen through to conclusion before adding another ingredient, maybe use it as a way to develop the game in North America and Canada as a whole, with such a large populous surely it wouldn't be too difficult to form say 20 teams in a area where the population is over 300,000,000

Jacksonville have been laying foundations now for a number of years... and seem to have a sound development model spawning teams in Atlanta, Daytona and Tampa! Seem to have a sound business model and presence in the community and local media

Steady growth

It's a long shot but if the game takes off in N America, then Sky will have no option but to either increase SL deal or make way for someone who will.

I watched the freeview program prior to the game on premier sports yesterday and this guy came across very well, he's also a very successful business man so knows all about risk/strategic planning and budgeting, I think the RFL could learn a lot from sitting down with him and his partners in order to help the whole game, however whilst ever NW is in charge we will not progress the game further. I don't know how many of you are involved in the community game, but the RFL have introduced a new "players registration" system from this year, let's just say, the start of the junior leagues and summer men's leagues looks to be in jeopardy due to it being implemented in an all encompassing manor with not enough back office support to process all the data, another fine example of pi$$ poor planning from the RFL, they make half their back office redundant 3 months before instigating a new system

A North American league would be amazing.
I do feel we need to let the development go longer before bringing them to SL though. They need their own games and their own derby games at that.
I'm interested to see how the "home" Toronto games are marketed and attended.

Who's talking about Canadians or bloody Yankees I'm talking about our own governing body slacko. Any way you've more to worry about than rugby now Mr Trumps running your great county