12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:44 pm  

....All 14 clubs who were awarded three-year licences in the summer of 2008 will have to reapply within 12 months and at least three of them will face demotion if the Super League were to be cut back to 12 teams, as some influential figures within the game have suggested..... Scary stuff, if this is true, but surely if ever we are to compete with the boys from down under, we need more teams playing at a higher level. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ja ... o-12-teams

....All 14 clubs who were awarded three-year licences in the summer of 2008 will have to reapply within 12 months and at least three of them will face demotion if the Super League were to be cut back to 12 teams, as some influential figures within the game have suggested..... Scary stuff, if this is true, but surely if ever we are to compete with the boys from down under, we need more teams playing at a higher level. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/ja ... o-12-teams

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:05 pm  

If this actually goes ahead, im very worried we will be saying goodbye to SL. Its ashame really, the players or us the fans do not deserve that, our players and fans are SL quality as we have shown, shame cant say the same about the board!

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:25 pm  

the RFL is killing the game slowly with changing the goal posts all the time and one rule for this and one for that and so on, its them that needs sorting out and getting rid of a few of them nerds, not the heartland teams that have kept Rugby league alive and kicking With top talent for a 100 years.

the whole thing stinks of back handers and sweeteners and hidden agenda's

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:41 pm  

The one thing I'm truly worried about is the number of pathways young players have to the top level of the game. We want to encourage youth development and more international quality players, but then reduce the number of positions those youngsters can get experience with...

And the teams that would probably be chopped: Cas, Wakey and Salford, have all provided international players in the last year.

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:55 pm  

Gazemous wrote:

The one thing I'm truly worried about is the number of pathways young players have to the top level of the game. We want to encourage youth development and more international quality players, but then reduce the number of positions those youngsters can get experience with...

And the teams that would probably be chopped: Cas, Wakey and Salford, have all provided international players in the last year.

Good point and not only that, with a Super League of 12 teams, we're talking about there only being 10 clubs in England and 9 in the heartlands for these players to gain such experience.

Surely we're getting to a stage now where junior development is strong enough to support 14 top flight clubs in England.

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:02 pm  

Bonzo wrote:

Good point and not only that, with a Super League of 12 teams, we're talking about there only being 10 clubs in England and 9 in the heartlands for these players to gain such experience.

Surely we're getting to a stage now where junior development is strong enough to support 14 top flight clubs in England.

[/i]totally agree, we should be looking at 16 clubs to promote more youngsters through and not cut down there opportunities, call me synical if you want but a slice of cake cut 12 ways will be a lot bigger than cut 16 ways

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 4:37 pm  

kentcat wrote:

totally agree, we should be looking at 16 clubs to promote more youngsters through and not cut down there opportunities, call me synical if you want but a slice of cake cut 12 ways will be a lot bigger than cut 16 ways

Another good point. A lower share of the TV revenue will not only reduce club's abilities to overspend on imports; but will also force them to try and increase revenue through attendances, sponsorship and merchandising; thereby forcing them to increase their links with the local community. Now if that isn't a guaranteed way to grow and develop the game, I don't think one will ever exist.

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:09 pm  

Bonzo wrote:

Another good point. A lower share of the TV revenue will not only reduce club's abilities to overspend on imports; but will also force them to try and increase revenue through attendances, sponsorship adn merchandising; thereby forcing them to increase their links with the local community. Now if that isn't a guaranteed way to grow and develop the game, I don't think one will ever exist.

maybe you should go for a job at Red Hall, cant do any worse than the numpties that are there now

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Thu Jan 28, 2010 6:15 pm  

I was at the Lions re-union dinner on sunday and apparently (although i didnt see him) Richard Lewis was there. I asked a select few of ex lions legends what they thought of him been there and the response was basically, the mans ruining our great game. I think if he was there on sunday he wouldn't of got much acknoledgement from the likes of Billy Boston, Neil Fox, Roger Millward, Alex Murphy, Gary Schofiled etc etc etc.

Re: 12 team Superleague? : Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:51 pm  

It is very frustrating for me reading these posts, all the things you are saying, me and many Rovers fans have been saying since we were booted out in 95 having finished no where near relegation and averaging 5k fans, Yes Rovers averaged that many. What it would be now with 1 million a year and better away support is anyones guess. Wether you like Rovers or not is irrelevant what they are doing is wrong and it seems it is only when fans own clubs are threatened they see what is happening, it is very frustrating.It wasnt long ago Lewis and co said there would be no upper limit on teams in super league, this proves they have no strategy whatsoever, its as though they make it up as they go along. I have seen Rovers win the lot but they are now by stelth trying to turn us and the rest of the championsip teams into feeder clubs, with the dual registrations. There plan is 12 teams they will do away with there reserves and the rest of the teams will be there feeders like they do in Australia, Would you lot like to be Leeds Rhinocerouces feeder club? What annoyed me was Terry Matterson saying Cas tigers good season last year proves franchises work, i wonder what he will think if it goes to 12 teams and Cas are out. He didnt get it and a lot of people still dont they no more want Cas and Wakey in that top flight than they do Rovers. The whole super league application process and the tick box scenario is bolx, they picked the 14 teams they wanted last time regardless and they will do the same next time. I console my self in the thought that the championship is an excellent league, i enjoy watching every Rovers game just as much as i did when we were winning the 1st div title in 1977, i cant wait to go to Hunslet on Sunday and i think the league will just get better and better the entertainment value is 1st class. So if it does happen it isnt the end of the world