Whilst 14 teams would be ideal it's a non-starter. There is no way the clubs are going to split a lessening pot an extra two ways, plus most of the understudies in the NRL wouldn't qualify for work visas anymore so the player pool would be streched way too thin.

So another £10 for our league and all the fun and games that getting a stable feed brings? Not for me. Paying for Sky is about all I can manage, hopefully C4 get more games, it just comes across as a much more pleasurable way to spend 2 hours than listening to Brian Carney. Woeful.

So maybe they have to play some young British talent? Perish the thought.

Sky seem likely to get the bulk of the games and Channel 4 is free so, it's only if you want to push the boat out for a Trinity game and this wont be an issue if we drop into the Championship.

The most frustrating issue here is that SL is giving up more of its "product" for a diminishing return.

Or have they learned from the football and NRL model. If you give people access to all of it, they will follow it and take an interest and it grows the popularity. If you provide a limited selection, out of which only half might be decent games, does that generate interest?

The main worry is crowd attendances. Saturation coverage hasn't affected NRL audiences, but games in half-empty stadiums never look good. But how many casual fans are there, in reality? There are the hardcore who go regardless. Then, there are the people who take an interest but can't go to every game, for a variety of reasons.

But if saturation coverages attracts extra interest, that might attract more people who fancy popping along.

Sometimes, to get interest, you've got to remind people you exist.

The preliminary grades were due to be released to clubs this week, however,
From MG Twitter
I’m hearing there has been a slight delay and the long awaited revealing of the IMG indicative grading table will now take place next week.

I guess IMG and the RFL, have a bit of last minute manipulation due to last Sunday match in France. I wish I could have seen the statement before they decided to change it.

Doesn’t look good or professional at all.

Surely all scores are done but for a couple of small adjustments to the GF winners points for finishing.

London getting promoted has just changed the landscape. I would bet good money on them being protected from relegation now making it harder for us to get back up unless they move to 14 teams, which a lack of money from the TV deal may prevent.

Maybe i'm being cynical but this is what IMG said themselves back in December...

rlhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/dec/15/london-img-transform-rugby-leaguerl

After supporting Trinity for over 65 years am absolutely exhausted and dissilusioned by the status quo.Would really like to see the likes of ourselves, Halifax, Fev, Swinton , Oldham, etc , etc , break free and form a viable competition. I know it's ' pie in the sky' ,but feel Rugby League ha lost its identity and ' raison d'etre'.

And how would you finance that league?

How is it financed at the moment? The club's don't appear to benefit from Sky deals

Oh yes I see what you mean.
I still don't see the point of breaking away.

I’ve often thought myself that there are many ‘lower’ clubs with big potential.
I’ve advocated before for SL 1 and SL 2, to bring to life such clubs as Widnes, Halifax, Featherstone, and now us!
Problem is finance. My idea wouldn’t work because clubs like Saints, Wigan and Leeds wouldn’t allow finance for it. They want the Money for themselves.
A breakaway league of the said championship clubs would get my vote all day long to get away from a one sided (putting it very politely) set up we have now BUT much more money would be needed than the championship clubs generate now! The league would have to be full time to attract the players of the right quality, otherwise all the best players would stay in SL.
As said, if it could be done it would get my backing all day long.

It's never looked good or professional to me. The criteria is so vague and without clarity that it can be interpreted in many ways. I think that's the reason ,so it can easily be manipulated and definitions can be stretched to make it achieve the outcome you desire.

I have always thought it's good to improve the game in many ways off the field, but this IMG process looks nothing more than a sham to give more control and power to a few. I think we know who they are.

I don't agree at all. It's very specific.
There is nothing vague on there as far as I can see.
Each section has targets to achieve.