Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:28 pm  

I wouldn't care usually but the newspaper is meant to represent rugby league. I bet no other club would have been afforded the same opportunity and had it been Cas in this position I wonder if Mr Sadler would be pro-licensing?

Aside from that, the article didn't offer any balance or impartiality; I could understand if it was printed on the basis that licensing was unfair but there are clear cases where it has worked and sides have flourished. Like promotion and relegation it has been a case of survival of the fittest. Wakefield knew that Crusaders, Quins and Catalans were going to be preferred when they were fast-tracked in and remain in SL. What has changed since three years ago? Where was the argument FOR licensing or in support of licensing? Why did it have to be a full length article on how Wakefield are feeling hard done by? I can understand their frustrations and some of TRB's points are valid. But equally, it smacks of a last 'boy who cried wolf' situation to try and get some attention to their plight.

I do not see why I should waste £1.50 every week (and yes, it is every week) buying a newspaper that I no longer feel does not represent all fans. Shame, because I do think it's better than League Weekly.

Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:55 pm  

Fully wrote:

I wouldn't care usually but the newspaper is meant to represent rugby league. I bet no other club would have been afforded the same opportunity and had it been Cas in this position I wonder if Mr Sadler would be pro-licensing?

Aside from that, the article didn't offer any balance or impartiality; I could understand if it was printed on the basis that licensing was unfair but there are clear cases where it has worked and sides have flourished. Like promotion and relegation it has been a case of survival of the fittest. Wakefield knew that Crusaders, Quins and Catalans were going to be preferred when they were fast-tracked in and remain in SL. What has changed since three years ago? Where was the argument FOR licensing or in support of licensing? Why did it have to be a full length article on how Wakefield are feeling hard done by? I can understand their frustrations and some of TRB's points are valid. But equally, it smacks of a last 'boy who cried wolf' situation to try and get some attention to their plight.

I do not see why I should waste £1.50 every week (and yes, it is every week) buying a newspaper that I no longer feel does not represent all fans. Shame, because I do think it's better than League Weekly.

Come on Fully the decision has been made already, so the only purpose this article serves is to highlight the problems the next club who are perceived to be for the chop, can expect in the year before the next franchise application decision.

There are 40 pages in the League Express and one is taken up with this article surely the other 39 pages are worth 1.50. Anyway, when we get the boot I doubt we will merit more than a few column inches going forward.

Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:03 pm  

To be fair, I don't read the majority of it because I don't follow the grassroots as much as I should. Ditto, NRL.

As for the decision being made, I refuse to believe that is the case, even as a Cas fan. It serves to highlight the problems but then there are problems with P+R. The whole article makes out that whole concept of licensing is flawed JUST BECAUSE Wakefield are threatened. It has no balance, no equality and no impartiality.

I'm a firm believer in the licensing system and I believe we (Cas) are a prime example of why it has been successful and what it SHOULD be about; however, I do believe that a fairer system would be promotion and relegation every two years. For instance, hypothetically speaking:

2012 - No relegation, no promotion
2013 - Open warfare, bottom side relegated, top side in Championship promoted
2014 - No relegation, no promotion.

Best of both worlds. Promoted club gets a years stability to build a team without the threat of relegation. Or is that too easy?

Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:09 pm  

Bet the RL express won't print an article next week stating how WE 'Castleford' prove that licensing does work.

Prior to the licence system we were relegated twice, the promotion and relegation put the promted team on the back foot straight away. Castleford have progressed over the last 3 years, building a solid academy system, using home grown players in our first team and not over the hill over paid journey men (in an attempt to avoid relegation) now attracting lots of investment etc etc

Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:22 pm  

Fully wrote:

To be fair, I don't read the majority of it because I don't follow the grassroots as much as I should. Ditto, NRL.

As for the decision being made, I refuse to believe that is the case, even as a Cas fan. It serves to highlight the problems but then there are problems with P+R. The whole article makes out that whole concept of licensing is flawed JUST BECAUSE Wakefield are threatened. It has no balance, no equality and no impartiality.

I'm a firm believer in the licensing system and I believe we (Cas) are a prime example of why it has been successful and what it SHOULD be about; however, I do believe that a fairer system would be promotion and relegation every two years. For instance, hypothetically speaking:

2012 - No relegation, no promotion
2013 - Open warfare, bottom side relegated, top side in Championship promoted
2014 - No relegation, no promotion.

Best of both worlds. Promoted club gets a years stability to build a team without the threat of relegation. Or is that too easy?

Fully, if you don't think its been made yet why are every other club in SL signing players for next season and beyond and announcing contract extensions for their players bar Wakey.

Why are a number of Wakey players signing contracts with other clubs in readiness to be announced once our fate is sealed.

We are as good as down and if we accept Quins and Crusaders are effectively exempt, we have the weakest application bar Salford, but they have a new stadium in the course of construction and are based in another key area as far as the RFL are concerned so are also safe.

Re: This weeks RL Express : Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:14 pm  

A number of clubs haven't made signings for next season yet. Wakey announced contract extentions a few weeks back, if I remember rightly.

No one has evidence of Wakey players jumping ship. It's all speculation and hear say. A lot of the posts on the Wakey forum of late have been guff, to be honest. IMO.

Re: This weeks RL Express : Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:01 am  

tropical1 wrote:

Bet the RL express won't print an article next week stating how WE 'Castleford' prove that licensing does work.

Prior to the licence system we were relegated twice, the promotion and relegation put the promted team on the back foot straight away. Castleford have progressed over the last 3 years, building a solid academy system, using home grown players in our first team and not over the hill over paid journey men (in an attempt to avoid relegation) now attracting lots of investment etc etc

Why don't you write one and send it in then... because if you or all the others on here complaining about it don't... then you will indeed all be proved 100% correct. How much do you want to bet if you sent Martin a well written, reasoned but opinion based piece he would print it?

Go on guys, put your money where you mouth is... you have some real journalists (and some supposed trainee ones!) who should be more than capable of writing a very well argued opinion based piece in response about the positive impact of franchising on Castleford Tigers (that is not meant to be sarcastic BTW)!

Any takers?

Of course, in some ways you should all be very pleased that in actual fact this wasn't an article from a prominent Cas fan... I am sure some of the very many reasonable posters on this board understand the irony of it not being about Cas!

Re: This weeks RL Express : Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:08 am  

danny boy1 wrote:

I have to say I don't buy that particular publication, as I find it very biassed against the Tigers and for Wakey. If it does cause any distress to Cas supporters, or is biassed against Cas, then I would suggest the offending publication is boycotted by Cas fans.

Rather than boycotting it, why don't you just buy up all the copies in Castleford and burn them in the town centre? This has worked well in the past for some groups!

Re: This weeks RL Express : Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:22 am  

Inflatable_Armadillo wrote:

Go on guys, put your money where you mouth is... you have some real journalists (and some supposed trainee ones!) who should be more than capable of writing a very well argued opinion based piece in response about the positive impact of franchising on Castleford Tigers (that is not meant to be sarcastic BTW)!

No doubt they would, I know a number of Cas fans who have written regularly for RL Express in recent years

Re: This weeks RL Express : Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:25 am  

Inflatable_Armadillo wrote:

Rather than boycotting it, why don't you just buy up all the copies in Castleford and burn them in the town centre? This has worked well in the past for some groups!

What a great idea IA, why didn't I think of that!