So this is something that was talked alot by Saints fans in the lead up to the final. I think we would have definitely seen a higher game standard with Grace, Dodd, Walmsley, Sezer, Newman and Fusitu'a playing, and half a dozen more on both side playing with injections/ carrying injuries. It seems endemic at the moment that so many clubs have their seasons curtailed by injury on injury. You ultimately want the best players in the competition playing in your showpiece games.

Injuries have always been part of the game, but we definitely seem to either have far shallower squads than the early 2000s (entirely possible with the stagnant salary cap leading to real term drop in cap size), or are picking up far more injuries (likely due to how many more games we play being incompatible with the advances in sports science leading to more broken bodies)

So are you saying all B grade clubs have got to go to a football stadium get a sugar daddy ,do not own there ground, and go hundreds of thousands in det. Sounds to me like Mr Carter is wasting is time going the way we are .I just hope England flop big time in World Cup that is the only way some teams chairmen will same up and smell the coffee

Should read wake

No. Clearly.
But I do think teams should be in safe stadiums that allow players to be their best and supporters enjoy there experience.
And clubs should be financially sound with a plan to gather investors, both big and small.

No, why would you think that and why are we wasting our time?

I think we could be knocking on the door of grade A once the East and North stand is done get the seats back at the South side, elite Academy Reserves women's team new facilities we are well on the way and its our ground, I presume we have little if any debt and have a valuable asset with the stadium upgrade.

I don't think we will, however we will be close and it will be attainable over time. Something we couldn't say as little as three years ago.

I reckon based on current costs, getting us to grade A would cost no more than 2-3 million. A wealthy investor could write that off against tax. The club is slowly becoming an attractive proposition.

That it the point in a nutshell We are one of the club's that have done everything by the book and hopefully do not have a lot of det .Good academy set up . If the new set up are wanting big City's in A grade my fear is that Salford will get a place in A grade in Manchester .Nothing else makes sence with what is happening so would just about some of up for me.

I agree I said we would be knocking on the door not necessarily getting an A but possible however I think we will have work to do. Next season would be a good start filling the ground as much as we can and improving results. It will be interesting to see the club's strategy from now.

I can clearly see the logic in thinking that our upgrades and other positive factors may have us on the threshold of an A grade. But lets not get ahead of ourselves, none of us have the slightest clue of what will be needed. Lets not forget who we are counting on here to come up with these plans. It would not suprise me in the slightest if some brain box decided that one of the criteria, must be that you have played in at least one of the two finals in the last 10 years. OK thats something I have just come up with, but I strongly suspect we will see a couple of such curve balls on the rules.

Further updates e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... Id=7447519

Further updates e.leeds-live.co.uk/_act/link.php ... Id=7447519

IMG haven't said they are doing that. That's just Leeds Live again.

the additional reading from today suggests to me that each club will get an indication of rating at the end of the '23 season and a final grade and positioning before the start of the '25 season''' it also suggests that the assessors will be looking at the deployment of each club's business plan and how they have succeeded against their goals and objectives... i.e. the implementation of a business plan ... as if the believe some clubs have a document or strategy but don't apply it or pay 'lip service' to it.

finally there will be a focus on the product (which is not just the football) game day and community experience as well as marketing, promotion and investor/sponsorship plans and action.



I hate drip feed... trickle down or other like that!

Here's one quoting the chairman of the RFL.
rlhttps://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/two-legged-ties-could-be-introduced-to-the-challenge-cup/rl