Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:55 am  

alegend wrote:

Think it's just a way to get Bradford back into S L

I don’t know if it’s the RFL spending money on Odsal to improve the stadium, but someone must be. There was an item on look North recently, regarding Stock Car racing returning to Odsal next year. It will take a lot of money to make spectator viewing safe. Do the RFL own the place or just the lease?. I do hope the RFL are not pumping more money into the pit, they have a lot of other clubs who contribute to the RFL coffers, those clubs should have say how that money is spent.

Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:08 pm  

I would go more long term thinking 14 clubs maybe a little less to go around but clubs would have to look to developing young players instead of signing so many average overseas players
End relegation to allow clubs to build solid foundations
Add 3 one definitely a Cumbrian side followed by two from York, Widnes, Halifax or Featherstone

Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 2:10 pm  

GET EM ON SIDE REF wrote:

I would go more long term thinking 14 clubs maybe a little less to go around but clubs would have to look to developing young players instead of signing so many average overseas players
End relegation to allow clubs to build solid foundations
Add 3 one definitely a Cumbrian side followed by two from York, Widnes, Halifax or Featherstone

Long term thinking’s definitely what’s required (but is also, sadly, what the RFL tends to lack).
But your suggestion sums up exactly why going to 12 teams next season is fraught with difficulties.
a) why definitely a Cumbrian side? Why not definitely a French side? Or a London side? Or a Midlands side?
b) which 2 teams from York, Widnes, Halifax or Fev? Why those four? Why not Newcastle, Toulouse, Bradford and Leigh?
What I’m saying is, the RFL can come up with criteria to judge teams against but those criteria can’t help but be skewed in favour of some clubs and against others. That will lead to protests, appeals and threats of legal action from clubs that feel aggrieved their bids were rejected. Chaos and more bad press for the game. On top of all this, ending relegation and, presumably, promotion, will kill the Championship stone cold dead.
We should stick with 11 teams in SL next season and move to 14 teams from 2022.

Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 4:03 pm  

Kevs Head wrote:

Long term thinking’s definitely what’s required (but is also, sadly, what the RFL tends to lack).
But your suggestion sums up exactly why going to 12 teams next season is fraught with difficulties.
a) why definitely a Cumbrian side? Why not definitely a French side? Or a London side? Or a Midlands side?
b) which 2 teams from York, Widnes, Halifax or Fev? Why those four? Why not Newcastle, Toulouse, Bradford and Leigh?
What I’m saying is, the RFL can come up with criteria to judge teams against but those criteria can’t help but be skewed in favour of some clubs and against others. That will lead to protests, appeals and threats of legal action from clubs that feel aggrieved their bids were rejected. Chaos and more bad press for the game. On top of all this, ending relegation and, presumably, promotion, will kill the Championship stone cold dead.
We should stick with 11 teams in SL next season and move to 14 teams from 2022.

A Cumbrian side sounds great in theory but, none of them would ever come close to generating the number of fans needed to make it viable.

Although there have been some noises that BT may be interested in bidding for the TV rights, the deal is lightly to be reduced and with Toronto gone (who didnt get any TV monies), there is already an extra mouth to feed. Less cash and more clubs just doesn't seem to work, although it would be nice to see the back of the loop fixtures.

Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 6:17 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

A Cumbrian side sounds great in theory but, none of them would ever come close to generating the number of fans needed to make it viable.

Although there have been some noises that BT may be interested in bidding for the TV rights, the deal is lightly to be reduced and with Toronto gone (who didnt get any TV monies), there is already an extra mouth to feed. Less cash and more clubs just doesn't seem to work, although it would be nice to see the back of the loop fixtures.

Correct.

A Cumbrian super team has always been one of those fantasy moments RL fans are prone too.

Whitehaven isn’t much bigger than Fev, however unlike Fev it’s nowhere near anywhere else. Ditto Workington on a slightly bigger scale. Only Barrow has any potential, but that potential is similar to Mist Championship teams ie not much.

Worse still whilst the two W’s could possibly play as a joint team Barrow really couldn’t and without them it’s a non starter for me.

Cumbria is one of the least populated areas in England, that really tells you all you need to know.

However on a positive it’s a great breading ground for players and if SL teams like Warrington and Wigan weren’t so obsessed with Aussies and diverted some of their cash to supporting what used to be a thriving amateur league the you’d see Cumbria come good.

As I keep saying RL cannot just be about SL, an area can be a total success without having a team in the top flight.

Re: 12th SL Team : Sat Nov 07, 2020 7:46 pm  

vastman wrote:

Correct.

A Cumbrian super team has always been one of those fantasy moments RL fans are prone too.

Whitehaven isn’t much bigger than Fev, however unlike Fev it’s nowhere near anywhere else. Ditto Workington on a slightly bigger scale. Only Barrow has any potential, but that potential is similar to Mist Championship teams ie not much.

Worse still whilst the two W’s could possibly play as a joint team Barrow really couldn’t and without them it’s a non starter for me.

Cumbria is one of the least populated areas in England, that really tells you all you need to know.

However on a positive it’s a great breading ground for players and if SL teams like Warrington and Wigan weren’t so obsessed with Aussies and diverted some of their cash to supporting what used to be a thriving amateur league the you’d see Cumbria come good.

As I keep saying RL cannot just be about SL, an area can be a total success without having a team in the top flight.

rl in Cumbria is in dire straits vasty, it’s dying at a rapid rate. The interest in the game the player participation at open age and above all junior level is falling rapidly. It’s not the only area struggling but the RFL have no idea how to rectify it.

Re: 12th SL Team : Sun Nov 08, 2020 10:09 am  

MOPSEY LIVES ON wrote:

rl in Cumbria is in dire straits vasty, it’s dying at a rapid rate. The interest in the game the player participation at open age and above all junior level is falling rapidly. It’s not the only area struggling but the RFL have no idea how to rectify it.

I know that’s what I said.

However it’s not just the RFL. There is no reason why Wigan, Saints and Warrington couldn’t pull together and drive a initiative to save the amateur game. They don’t even need to have a noble aim, self interest should suffice.

This is where the NRL and the Aussie clubs crucify us. They understand grass roots and they invest. It’s not just about money it’s about the will. Little things count.

Say all the teams I just mentioned do the following. Pick a club to support and then insist that their kit supplied gives that team a full set of kits from young kids to open age. That’s nothing to these companies but means a lot to an amateur club.Run coaxing seminars, help with transport and above all help find and recruit match officials.

It won’t cost nothing but pound for pound it’s money well spent imho.

Re: 12th SL Team : Tue Nov 10, 2020 7:29 pm  

8 clubs eligible... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54893659

8 clubs eligible... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/54893659

Re: 12th SL Team : Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:28 pm  

I wonder if Leigh have been given some sort of guarantee based on the money they are paying on strengthening their squad.

Re: 12th SL Team : Tue Nov 10, 2020 9:34 pm  

Scarlet Pimpernell wrote:

I wonder if Leigh have been given some sort of guarantee based on the money they are paying on strengthening their squad.

Leigh are the ultimate Groundhog Day club. Every five years or so they rise back up, spend like mad, usually on rubbish, then go bust.

They are a wanna be club who’ve had there chance imo, if it weren’t for their ground I don’t think anyone would give them a second glance.

I’d like to see all the other teams mentioned the chance ahead of Leigh to be honest.