What did Pearson say? Is there a link?

Hudgell, Pearson and McManus all want fewer teams.

I think it might be economically necessary, but it isn't desirable - ideally we'd be growing and spreading the game.

If there isn't enough talent to go around why were so many so keen to cut overseas numbers to give homegrown players a chance?

Where on earth did you drag that load of old fanny up from?

Quote: Mild Rover "What did Pearson say? Is there a link? Hudgell, Pearson and McManus all want fewer teams. I think it might be economically necessary, but it isn't desirable - ideally we'd be growing and spreading the game. If there isn't enough talent to go around why were so many so keen to cut overseas numbers to give homegrown players a chance?'" It's from a press conference held yesterday, the same one that mentioned that we hadn't managed to get a Visa for Chase and other stuff about recruitment. He basically says that he thinks that for the talent to be 'spread around a bit thicker' Super League might need to be cut down to 12 teams. It's up on FCTV. www.hullfc.com/tv.aspx?v=tZfKdYE ... zmElQlxA==

Quote: Mild Rover "What did Pearson say? Is there a link? Hudgell, Pearson and McManus all want fewer teams. I think it might be economically necessary, but it isn't desirable - ideally we'd be growing and spreading the game. If there isn't enough talent to go around why were so many so keen to cut overseas numbers to give homegrown players a chance?'" It's from a press conference held yesterday, the same one that mentioned that we hadn't managed to get a Visa for Chase and other stuff about recruitment. He basically says that he thinks that for the talent to be 'spread around a bit thicker' Super League might need to be cut down to 12 teams. It's up on FCTV. www.hullfc.com/tv.aspx?v=tZfKdYE ... zmElQlxA==

Playing less games is simply not an option. 13 home games a year is too few financially IMO. 10 clubs playing each other 3 times would make more sense, or the old chestnut of a third competition.

You are right about the number of home games. As it stands, we've had two home games in eleven weeks. Imagine only eleven or fewer home games all season. People get out of the habbit of going to games.

The problem with a third competition is that if it's a straight knock-out Cup competition the same few side are likely to contest the latter stages. Plus the Challenge Cup holds little interest pre-final these days. Another cup is unlikely to pull the punters in.

I posted earlier that an uneven fixture list is unfair, but it might the only option. Perhaps the best way would be to base the extra games on the previous season's placings - IIRC this was done for a while in the early years of Super League. Twelve team league, home and away against everyone else plus previous years top six play each other once more as do the clubs who finished 7th-12th.

The downside being with the Magic fixture, Cup and play offs, you could have, say, Wigan and Saints playing each other five or six times a season.

Agree with all that apart from the extra fixtures. Teams in 6th with injuries might chuck the last games to get an easier the next year. Think they paired all the odd-placed teams against each other for the extra rounds and the even ones to give a fair spread.

I'd have two super leagues:

Yorkshire league:

Hull
Rovers
Leeds
Bradford
Wakefield
Castleford
Huddersfield
Featherstone?

Other league:

Saints
Wigan
Warrington
Catalan
London
Widnes
Salford
Leigh?

After regular season both leagues split, bottom and top half and they play each other. Add a Yorkshire and Lancashire game and have rules about playing so many local youngsters. Just a thought!

In your dreams dopey !