Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 10:55 am  

Hear Ye! wrote:

Restarting will only work if it is done with some serious thought and money behind it. The RFL would need to pump cash into it so that all of London would know about it

How is that a fair system. Does the RFL do that for clubs up north? Not on your nelly! So why should Quins/London be any different?

Can you see why northern fans get miffed about the help you get? Blackpool were left to die, Leigh have been allowed to be ripped to shreds financially by their council- both problems could have been resolved with the kind of financial support some of your fans seem expect from the RFL.
If you can't produce players and get a decent level of interest then that's your problem, no ours. Sort it yourselves. If that means time out from SL so be it, that's what the RFL would prescribe for anyone else.

Hear Ye! wrote:

Will watch this develop with interest.

As will the rest of the RFL. I doubt anything will work though. RL has no place in the south of England. If you want real RL move up north! Otherwise enjoy your RU!

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 11:52 am  

Some truth in it, there's just been an interview on Sky Sports News. I didn't quite catch what the whole interview was but there has been talks about reverting back to the Broncos.

So glad! Identity is needed, marketing now need to be in over drive as does the money men to get a big(ish) name in.

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:02 pm  

Gus stated that all names are up for grabs but decision will be made in consultation with key stake holders including the fans but it is highly.likely club to stay at the Stoop

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:06 pm  

Moe Lester wrote:

Some truth in it, there's just been an interview on Sky Sports News. I didn't quite catch what the whole interview was but there has been talks about reverting back to the Broncos.

So glad! Identity is needed, marketing now need to be in over drive as does the money men to get a big(ish) name in.

I don't mean this in an offensive way but you only establish identity by being intrinsically linked with your locality. If there is no desire amongst your population for this sport your always going to be flogging a dead horse.

I wish I could suggest a way to move things forward in London, but after all these years and failed attempts you just have to accept that there is not enough apatite for the game in your region.

Time to go? The vast majority of paying RL fans in the north of England RL thinks so.

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:47 pm  

G.Price Fan Club wrote:

Time to go? The vast majority of paying RL fans in the north of England RL thinks so.

F**K the North of England..............It's a s.h.i.t.e Hole!!!!!!!!

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 1:58 pm  

G.Price Fan Club wrote:

Time to go? The vast majority of paying RL fans in the north of England RL thinks so.

And this is the problem. Away crowds are a big help to the club and if they're not coming down the M62 then there's a major factor why the club are doing poorly both on and off the pitch.

The whole "Cougarmania" and entertainment at The Bulls in early Super League days was a big hit to both clubs. Bigger gates means more income, more income means more investment in the team and more investment means success on the pitch, Keighley nearly made Super League and Bradford won the competition early doors (98ish) and were in two Cup Finals. Recreating something similar when the club reverts back to the Broncos or whatever is chosen could breath life into the club.

Creating a "new" club is the way to go. Knock out Season Tickets at £100 a pop and advertise this in the Standard (Gus Mackay has said advertising in their has worked) and try and create something new like Celtic Crusaders/Crusaders RL did helped them. They were on their knees in Bridgend yet there seemed to be a new feel around the club in Wrexham, marketing was right and they created their own identity and correct target market.

[John_D]

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 2:49 pm  

Thought you meant this story in the Guardian...

Thought you meant this story in the Guardian...

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:00 pm  

I can't believe we're re-hashing the same old '...it's all the name Harlequins fault, when we call ourselves the 'Broncos' again everything will be fine...' crap again for about the 117th time. I posted the below (hopefully) on a different site a few months ago and I believe it still applies. Certainly covers a few of the topics raised above. Comments are invited. Here goes -

'Yes, I also would like to see the club in a new purpose-built stadium with lots of facilities for the fans. It would sell decent pies, be on a major bus route, have a tube station just down the road, have a gigantic car-park for the many thousands of new fans and be easily accessed from anywhere in the UK. The lush turf would be graced by the studs of 17 full internationals (chosen by the finest manager/coach on the planet from the squad of 32, all on £4,000,000 per annum) and watched by 62,267 cheering fans week in,week out. Think of the atmosphere, the bonhomie, the joie d'vivre and the worlds a better place already.
The only problem is that it's unlikely to happen for another year or two. So, let me see, what do we have down at the Stoop?
1) A really nice stadium
2) Not a lot of people bother to turn up - spoils the atmosphere a bit - but whose fault's that?
3) A half decent squad of players that generally try their utmost despite being decimated by injury etc for most of last - and other - seasons
4) Managers that contrary to some of the stuff written and spoken really do seem to have the best long-term interests of the club at heart.
5) A chairman who's spent Gawd-knows-what of his own money to keep things ticking over.
6) Relatively easy parking
7) Relatively easy access from most parts of the UK
The Name and Colours of Harlequins. What's wrong with that? Instantly recognisable name and shirt the world over. It's still London and anyway, everybody knows that the Broncos play in Denver or possibly Brisbane. Or maybe they're wild horses? Plenty of those running around down here in the South.
Ok, rant over. It's just always the same old thing. 'Everything will be wonderful once we have a new ground'. Well, as History has shown - IT WON'T! Meanwhile, for the reasons mentioned above, why not make the best of what we've got, turn up in numbers, support the team even if they're being thrashed and talk about it in the bar afterwards. Even with the lads in the Blue, the White, the Red etc shirts. Anyway, you get my drift.
Probably see some of you tomorrow. Only a 196 mile round trip from down here in sunny Dorset, and, you know what, I CAN'T WAIT! Yee-Hah!'

And, before any smart-ass notices the time of posting and asks why I'm not actually at the Wakey game, I didn't finish work 'til 13.30 today which would have made things a bit interesting along the M3. I value my licence...

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:08 pm  

Halfdan of t'wide embrace wrote:

I wish I believed that but I really don't see any evidence to back that statement. I'm sure a small number of fans will return, probably cancelled out by the loss of some of those from Quins RU who now watch us but won't want to watch a team by another name. Realistically many of those who have drifted away now do other things on summer weekends. It'll be difficult to get them back now, it's been too long in many cases. Any net gain won't be significant purely on the basis of a name change.

Personally I'll miss the Quins name, I've enjoyed being a Quin and have no great desire to return to the Broncos name, though I watched the Broncos for longer than the Quins have been around. However if David Hughes thinks this will help cut his losses I don't blame him for doing it at all.

There are several reasons we do not come to the games any more - mainly the long distance and spending hours on the M25 on a summer Saturday afternoon. Also we really enjoyed the atmosphere when we sat in the Lexus stand but not when we were 'forced' to move to the other side of the ground. Seems a good game today, we are listening on the radio, and wish the Quins all the best for the future.

Re: Story in Guardian today : Sat Jun 18, 2011 3:22 pm  

Everyone seems to say the Harlequins brand is recognisable. It is, there's no doubting that but it is recognised as a Rugby Union shirt and team, which it is. The only difference is if you get very close and have a good look at Joe Bloggs wearing it on the High Street then you may see those very small letters that say "Rugby League". The club needs its own identity, not to be borrowing one from another sport.

I can fully understand The original Broncos thoughts of jumping on the Harlequins bandwagon but it hasn't worked. The club needs to establish its own identity and market it well. Good marketing for the first game as the "new" London Broncos is surely going to bring in the crowds. 5,000 has to be the aim for the first home game of 2012 and beyond.