Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:20 am  

musson wrote:

Currently Toronto receive no sky money
If this is the case going forward I’d be happy to see them promoted and SL and go to 13 teams with each club getting a buy but play everyone twice and get rid of the redic loop fixtures

If Toronto didn’t get any sky money surely that keeps everyone happy in the existing sl structure

I understand your thinking with this but, if/when Toronto get into SL, they should get the same slice of TV revenue as everyone else.
It's a strange view to say that you can come into SL but, only if you dont want any money ??
FWIW I dont think that clubs in N.America should be anywhere near the "European" competition but, that's a whole new subject.

What really irks is that, following the 3 x 8 debacle and the very recent change, there was an ideal opportunity to "promote" both Toronto and Toulouse and finally find out what benefit this would bring to SL.

Those "in charge" of the sport have told us, for a number of years, just how great the opportunities are by having these clubs in the comp and then those very same people spectacularly missed the opportunity to find out - unbelievable.

As for Schofield's suggestion of moving to 14 clubs now, it's just ridiculous.

We've had 1 1/2 seasons of the current format and to change AGAIN, so soon, makes the sport's administration look even more stupid.

Relegation is awful for any club and could be catastrophic for some clubs (especially Trinity) and losing Leeds, whilst quite funny and great for winding up their fans, would also cost Trinity (and others) some serious revenue but, having gone with this system, knowing full well that this may happen, it's just crazy to want to change, again, quite so soon.

The only circumstance that would make a further change sensible would be IF, by increasing the number of clubs, there could be a significant increase in the TV deal and right now, it would be a brave man that would gamble on this scenario.

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:34 am  

steadygetyerboots-on wrote:

Not sure on the logistics, but could it be factored so that the teams bye would be the weekend after their trip to Toronto? Can you imagine playing Saints on a Thursday after being in Toronto?!? Unfortunately, where the RFL/SL are concerned, I can!

Just continuing your point Steady, there is a very interesting letter from a Fev fan in this weeks League Express saying that if they finish 3rd in the Championship and results go as expected in the playoffs, then their first match would be away in Toulouse potentially followed the next week with an away match in Toronto, then likely followed by a home match against Toulouse again, and if they win that, then it would be the grand final, likely away in Toronto again !!!
His point being that for a part-time team, then this would cause them serious logistical issues.

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:33 am  

FIL wrote:

Just continuing your point Steady, there is a very interesting letter from a Fev fan in this weeks League Express saying that if they finish 3rd in the Championship and results go as expected in the playoffs, then their first match would be away in Toulouse potentially followed the next week with an away match in Toronto, then likely followed by a home match against Toulouse again, and if they win that, then it would be the grand final, likely away in Toronto again !!!
His point being that for a part-time team, then this would cause them serious logistical issues.

Wow! Great forward planning!

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:23 am  

I think 14 teams is the best number because it gives each team 13 home games and 27 fixtures with magic and no loop fixtures

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:29 am  

steadygetyerboots-on wrote:

Wow! Great forward planning!

Looks like as much planning as it was for Catalan reaching the Challenge Cup final (or Grand Final, if they ever make it).
Proper forward planning doesn't exist in Rugby League

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:07 am  

ball-in-hand wrote:

I think 14 teams is the best number because it gives each team 13 home games and 27 fixtures with magic and no loop fixtures

Exactly this. To be honest i couldn’t care less if the game looks daft by changing the set up again because it already looks daft by having those extra 7 games. Personally i’d cancel relegation this year, all teams have shown they are competitive. I’d promote Toronto as they are by far the best team in the championship. Then the others can play off for the final place, which at this point looks like Toulouse but who knows. Then from there one up, one down based on certain criteria being hit. It evens up the competition and loses a couple of games in a already congested season. Only one game then at easter to ease the burden on players.

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:43 am  

Sacred Cow wrote:

Exactly this. To be honest i couldn’t care less if the game looks daft by changing the set up again because it already looks daft by having those extra 7 games. Personally i’d cancel relegation this year, all teams have shown they are competitive. I’d promote Toronto as they are by far the best team in the championship. Then the others can play off for the final place, which at this point looks like Toulouse but who knows. Then from there one up, one down based on certain criteria being hit. It evens up the competition and loses a couple of games in a already congested season. Only one game then at easter to ease the burden on players.

That's not actually a bad idea...

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:04 pm  

That's a very good idea....but far too sensible to be adopted by the RFL

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Tue Jun 25, 2019 6:51 pm  

I know it looks bad changing the format for next season again especially mid season buithe fact is a 14 team league solves lots of current problems such as player burnout , playing the same team 3 times , space in the schedule for internationals and a league with London Toronto and Toulouse in it is more likely to attract a decent broadcast deal and new lucrative sponsors.

Re: Garry Schofield, expand SL to 14 teams : Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:49 am  

Sacred Cow wrote:

Exactly this. To be honest i couldn’t care less if the game looks daft by changing the set up again because it already looks daft by having those extra 7 games. Personally i’d cancel relegation this year, all teams have shown they are competitive. I’d promote Toronto as they are by far the best team in the championship. Then the others can play off for the final place, which at this point looks like Toulouse but who knows. Then from there one up, one down based on certain criteria being hit. It evens up the competition and loses a couple of games in a already congested season. Only one game then at easter to ease the burden on players.

The big issue with increasing the number of clubs still boils down to TV revenue and it's fair to assume that, with the last restructure, either the RFL were knocked back by Sky or weren't brave enough to broker the subject.
Therefore, for the league to increase in size, it would necessitate the current 12 clubs agreeing to take a 15% reduction in central funding to accommodate the additional clubs, unless we expect them to come in and receive nothing and this is where the problem arises.
We have ben told that Toronto and to a lesser extent Toulouse will help the game attract more sponsors etc but this still remains to be seen.

Finally, would we be having this conversation if Wakefield or Salford were in peril ? I dont think so.