: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:07 am  

philipk wrote:

Edinburgh is putting money in as it expects to get a return on its investments - not out of charity - Dont you think Cardiff would have fought harder to keep the event if it was such a cash cow-

Of course Edinburgh are expecting to get a return on investment, what is the problem with that?

Cardiff did try to keep it. Edinburgh put a better bid in for the event though, so not sure what your point is?

philipk wrote:

Development in cumbria is not funded from this as any money from this weekend is for Superleague - that was a direct answer from an RFL official- the free ticket scheme for the CC didnt apply to NL clubs - not in round 4 anyway Barrow didnt give tickets away to their own fans and they could have sold more comfortably.

OK then – if the X amount of £ from this event goes to development of Super League, that is £X that doesn’t need to be found from other sources. That money would be invested in SL anyway, but the fact it comes from the Magic Weekend means that money from other sources can be used to fund development in other areas.

NL clubs got free tickets in Round 3 I believe – Barrow possibly could have sold more to their own fans, but they didn’t have to, they had the money guaranteed by the RFL before the game. I didn’t notice them complaining too vociferously.

philipk wrote:

and on your point of if it wasnt happening- then 7 of the clubs would be at home raising their own cash - as it is many of them are going to be with a home superleague match for 4 weeks - some will get a bit from their cup ties but a month without direct matchday income during the season is not good for any club

No – it’s an extra game. If it wasn’t happening in Edinburgh we would only have 26 games, not 27. Clubs still get 13 home games, regardless of this weekend. If clubs are so precariously financed that they cannot afford to go 3 weeks without a home game, then they are in serious trouble, and shouldn’t be complaining about the way that the RFL runs its business.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:08 am  

Cragganmore Kid wrote:

Or we could give it a home, and build on the foundations already laid in Cardiff.

isnt that the idea of Celtic Crusaders?

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:50 am  

joanne callotte wrote:

as for the aussies, i know many of their elite have played in the trans tasman test on a friday night, and backed up for their club on the saturday afternoon, they dont whinge though

To be quite honest I dont give a flying s**t about the Aussies all I care about is a successful British competition and a fully fit International side when we come to the Tri Nations. The Aussies dont give a flying toss about us and its about time we should them the same!

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:51 am  

I like the fact Graham has spoken up on this and that it is in the media. The more column inches the better for RL.

He is entitled to say he feels the Easter weekend is too much - he has been personally affected. And he is constructive in his criticism in saying that Cumbria could use some development. Good on the man.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:56 am  

BigRedV wrote:

I like the fact Graham has spoken up on this and that it is in the media. The more column inches the better for RL.

its only appeared in the RL media and on the RL blogs.

BigRedV wrote:

He is entitled to say he feels the Easter weekend is too much - he has been personally affected.

you are right - he has been personally affected

BigRedV wrote:

And he is constructive in his criticism in saying that Cumbria could use some development. Good on the man.

he has offered nothing constructive about how this development should happen, how it will be funded and what the benefits of developing in Cumbria are compared to other regions.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:46 pm  

Fully agree.

Cant take these events seriously with a quarter full stadium and a fixed fixture.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:50 pm  

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

its only appeared in the RL media and on the RL blogs.

Wrong. I read it in the Mirror today.

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

you are right - he has been personally affected

Yes, I am right. He was there. He must be knackered to speak out like that, and given physical the demands of the modern game.

saints35 bulls0 wrote:

he has offered nothing constructive about how this development should happen, how it will be funded and what the benefits of developing in Cumbria are compared to other regions.

You may be right about this if you were there when he said it. However, I doubt you can pick it up from the soundbite-sized reports of what he said. Nevertheless, my point is that it doesn't sound like he is just moaning about Magic weekend, but offering an alternate view on development of the game. My position is that this is healthy both as part of the expansion debate and for giving column inches to RL. I don't necessarily agree with his points, but they are as valid as the next man's and I like to hear Saints players views on things.

The rags are full of 'soccer player thinks this', 'this manager said that', blah blah, blah.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:12 pm  

BigRedV wrote:

Yes, I am right. He was there. He must be knackered to speak out like that, and given physical the demands of the modern game.

its his job!!!!! its not as if its a sudden innovation to play two games at Easter, he knew what was involved when he decided to become a pro rugby player. You cant take the good parts and perks of a great job without having to take the tough parts too.

BigRedV wrote:

You may be right about this if you were there when he said it. However, I doubt you can pick it up from the soundbite-sized reports of what he said. Nevertheless, my point is that it doesn't sound like he is just moaning about Magic weekend, but offering an alternate view on development of the game.

I heard the interview on the radio too. He has offered no proper alternative, other than "it’s a waste of time – we should do stuff in Cumbria instead". Its like me saying "lets have a Super League team on the moon" without actually suggesting how or why...its a pointless suggestion, and doesn’t really stimulate debate about whatever his main point may have been.

BigRedV wrote:

My position is that this is healthy both as part of the expansion debate and for giving column inches to RL. I don't necessarily agree with his points, but they are as valid as the next man's and I like to hear Saints players views on things.

The rags are full of 'soccer player thinks this', 'this manager said that', blah blah, blah.

If he believes that Cumbria is a good development area, there is nothing stopping him outlining his beliefs in any number of media outlets – and I would be very interested in hearing his thoughts and views on the subject, along with any other players’ views on the issue.

By doing it in the week before a major event he just comes across as whinging because he can’t be bothered to go to Scotland.

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:20 pm  

BigRedV wrote:

I like the fact Graham has spoken up on this and that it is in the media. The more column inches the better for RL.

He is entitled to say he feels the Easter weekend is too much - he has been personally affected. And he is constructive in his criticism in saying that Cumbria could use some development. Good on the man.

very true but where we all gonna sit!! in a field!! good idea not realistic.

i do think cumbria need a franchise

: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:22 pm  

sgtwilko wrote:

very true but where we all gonna sit!! in a field!! good idea not realistic.

i do think cumbria need a franchise

I don't think he was suggesting that w play a round there, but instead, help Cumbria develop a top flight RL side