The COVID situation was we still had to pay a huge rent without playing there for 18 months or so, and then when we returned we had those odd low capacity games. Other clubs could have just padlocked the gates and done some basic maintenance.

But there are advantages to renting, as the stadium has got older it has got more expensive to maintain. It's believed we get free stewarding and more stewards are needed for 2020's standards than first envisaged in the 00s.

Agree with you that we have been successful in the stadium before so it's not necessarily holding us back. We miss out on bar takings but also organising catering and staff isn't straightforward either. Concerts aren't a guaranteed success in Hull (Rovers haven't bothered this year as after poor sales for Rod Stewart and The Who)

Yes the atmosphere is a struggle but that is directly linked to how we are playing. Fans are loud when they get cocky and confident of a win, and it's many years since we've felt like that!

Correct. Mortgage not in the clubs name apparently.

Land grab facilitated by a sympathetic Council.

You've got me mixed up with someone else I think. I'm not negative, I'm a knowledgeable realist

Hudgel, sewell and lakin own it and the land around it don't they?

He may not be the signing we hoped for or expected but this tribute from a Raiders fan reads well.

"The news of Rapa leaving is really starting to sink in, and is really starting to hurt.
A club legend, one of the best backs the club has ever had. He deserves to go down in the history books as one of the best Raiders of all time.
I don't know where we are going to find our never say die attitude and that determination and will to win that Rapa has always produced throughout all of his years absolutely bleeding for the jersey.
He has put his body on the line, every tackle, every run, every game. He has played through broken sculls and countless other severe injuries, he has always put his body on the line and given 100% and refused to quit, even when his body has told him to.
His entire career with the raiders I have always been blown away by his efforts and enthusiasm. Any negative errors which were only ever caused by trying too hard, were always far outweighed by the countless positives that he brought to the team each and every week.
I will never forget the brilliance he created in the Leipana days, I will never forget him being one of our oldest players in his later years, but still one of our best, each and every week. His determination and willingness to literally die for this club shall never be forgotten. He is a true raiders viking, club legend and I doubt I will see another player like him in my lifetime.
I write this with a very heavy heart as he has provided countless memories and id even go as far as saying he is my favourite Raider of all time. It's so hard to believe his time with us has come to an abrupt end, I was near certain we would be lucky enough to have him for atleast another year, if not two.
Thank you for everything Jordy, you are a once in a lifetime player. This one really hurts . We love you Rapa, and we will never forget you"

I don't know but it's not in Rovers balance sheet. I thought it was Hudgell, Lakin and a chap with a tyre garage but can't remember where I saw that. If that's right though those individuals rather than Rovers would benefit from £ on sale/development so that can't be right.

On the topic of ground ownership equivalence with financial success idk - Rovers lost almost £400k in 2023 despite a Wembley appearance and concerts. The sport's finances in general are a basket case - see Wigan's latest loss - feels like we are back to pre SL days in terms of fundamental unsustainability (if that's a word).

Wow, that's some sentiment, great stuff.

Are you gonna blow the horn and start the Viking Clap to make him feel at home.

The next problem is the BBC have unsurprisingly made no effort to promote their SL games and viewing figures are down on Channel4) the idea of these free TV games was to drive SKY subscriptions, and we hoped we'd have a bidding war between say BBC/ITV/C4/C5 but can see it just fizzling out. Sky of course can continue to hold the game to ransom

Not sure about Sewell, but deffo Lakin and Grudgell.
Grudgell was going to walk away if the sale wasn't agreed. He was fed up of ploughing £250K per year just to keep them going. This way he might get some of his money back, courtesy of Hull CC.

We can't compete with women's super league football for money and coverage.
The drop in Super League standards is another issue I can't see improving anytime soon.
Not sure what the future of the sport holds, but you cant help but think it's going to be difficult.

I think the game will be lucky to see out the decade as a full time professional sport. Finances are dwindling across the game and the RFL are completely inept at selling the game. It needs huge investment (hundreds of millions) and a complete revamp of how the game is governed, marketed and funded but it's not going to happen. Clubs/owners are too greedy and short sighted. It's why the transfer of power from the governing body to the clubs with the split in 2018 was always going to be ill fated. That and the constant tinkering with structures, rules etc.

It'll take a miracle to reverse the accelerating downward spiral the game is in.

They should come up with a sustainable model and stick to it. For my tuppence worth it would be two sixteen team pro/semi pro divisions with one up, one down and reserve and academy team mandatory, the Challenge Cup back to May and a three match War of the Roses series akin to Origin. Make it important, make it matter. Don't play in that series, don't play for your country. If there's space in the calendar, Magic could be a one day nines comp at a different venue every year. ALL funding would be distributed by the RFL across all competitions, all players released for the WotR and Magic.

Like I say, loads of money and a bunch of people who have half a cue and the good of the game at heart. Never gonna happen!

Rant over.

The games is boring. Since maguire came over to wigan it seems that every team just wants to push the rules to the maximum and gain every advantage they can. Constant tactics to slow down the ptb, constant offsides from defenders, play acting, players throwing their arms in the air at the slightest thing. The game is strangling itself. Watching nrl is like watching a different game. Well refereed, players playing rather than trying to cheat. What we really need is strong governance to deal with the issues which kill the game as a spectacle. I can barely be bothered to watch games now theyre so dull.

Add in the ridiculous sending offs and s8n winnings, random penalties from the match review panel and there's no wonder the game is on its ass