Not so sure I agree with all of that Penguin. Putting aside the team selections for the recent Warrington/Broncos game, I think our squad is pretty threadbare as we have a first team that picks itself backed up mostly by inexperienced youngsters. Warrington on the other hand have a team full of internationals, both on the park and the bench…….their squad is far bigger, better and more experienced than ours, but all allegedly paid for within the same salary cap. Hardly a surprise that the match result is a forgone conclusion.
This is the problem with the top 4 -6 teams and why we get the same old teams competing for honours every year……..they hold all the cards and the teams in the bottom half of the table mainly consist of average journeymen, inexperienced youngsters and a light sprinkling of talented players who are past their best. Anyone who shines in the lower half is quickly snapped up by the top teams (always plenty of room under their salary cap) and the status quo prevails.
I would agree that SL has become dull and perhaps there is an argument for reducing the number of clubs, reintroducing promotion/relegation to provide interest at both ends of the table etc……..but then again those options have not been successful for the long term future of clubs and the game in the past. Pains me to say it, but perhaps the game of RL has just become dull and boring, hence the general lack of interest from investors, sponsors and Joe public in general (do we have a main sponsor for the 2013 RL World Cup yet?).
Quins/Broncos have continually struggled both on and off the pitch…….some of it is their own doing but the RFL could also be criticised for their lack of investment and foresight in trying to grow the game anywhere outside of the North, including Wales, London, France. Perhaps the game will always be small beer and we would all be far happier if we just accepted that it is a minority sport and will remain so.
