Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:07 am  

Not sure why Sky would want licensing to come surely a relegation dogfight is ideal for them and the fact they've chosen our game over Saints and Wigan proves this.

If licensing was in then this game Fri would be a dead rubber.

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:25 am  

This isnt a flawless suggestion, but all suggests so far have floors in them, but I think a 14 team league with 10 teams on a 3 or 4 year license (chosen by what they bring to the sport). Which would give those teams time to build. IE London this year, doing v well but avoiding spending the cap as they could be relegated this year. Security of 3 or 4 years could give them chance to build.

With the remaining 4 teams vulnerable to getting relegated, 1 up, 1 down. A team only gets relegated if a non licensed team finishes bottom.

I think that would help to avoid dead runners as there will be 4 teams (perhaps that bring less to the sport - lower attendances etc) playing to avoid relegation. But also adding security to developing teams that could potentially offer lots.

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:34 am  

Also with the licence review every 3/4 years it makes those teams have to work hard to make sure they earn a place again.

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:36 am  

Agreed. There are so many positives for licensing imo they far out weigh the negatives. The game is not financially strong enough to support promotion and relegation. We have to think of the bigger picture

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:47 am  

Marty Grrrrrrrrrr! wrote:

Not sure why Sky would want licensing to come surely a relegation dogfight is ideal for them and the fact they've chosen our game over Saints and Wigan proves this.

If licensing was in then this game Fri would be a dead rubber.

The people who invest in the game, broadcasters or VCs, want the biggest possible audiences.

There are currently several clubs in the Championship with bigger draws than SL clubs; and the potential to stage meaningful derbies in Bradford's case.

There is a simple meritocracy to P&R and it does have benefits, but I just don't see RL in this country being strong enough in the current format.

14 teams with security of income for 4 years could work, if those teams are chosen strategically and supported centrally. The game would do better IMO with the funders deciding how it will run rather than the clubs infighting with vested interests and ego clashes.

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:04 am  

Joshheff90 wrote:

Also with the licence review every 3/4 years it makes those teams have to work hard to make sure they earn a place again.

For me we need a clear and consistent structure which takes boys and girls right through a regional structure into a professional club academy. There is some devil in the detail as to how you draw and enforce catchment areas, and at which point you give young players a choice of club to play for, but these are fixable issues.

The professional club/licensee should be at the head of that regional structure, and every club should have the same responsibilities in developing its region.

We need to have clear progression for players, administrators and officials which allows the most talented to rise through to the licensed club.

Any petty barriers to those progression pathways should be broken down, and funding should follow good work at grassroots.

14 licensees, 14 well-resourced youth academies/development centres of excellence. We focus on identifying and developing talent across the functions in the game and then provide a pathway, based purely on merit, right through to international level.

This is a case of evolution rather than revolution, but we need to take ownership as a game and stop moaning about media / school bias and stop infighting.

We have several shining lights: the ladies' game, the community aspect, the values as a game and a population. I believe there is still a market for those things compared to our competitors - but let's not forget this is an entertainment business.

Re: Relegation : Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:38 am  

KaeruJim wrote:

For me we need a clear and consistent structure which takes boys and girls right through a regional structure into a professional club academy. There is some devil in the detail as to how you draw and enforce catchment areas, and at which point you give young players a choice of club to play for, but these are fixable issues.

The professional club/licensee should be at the head of that regional structure, and every club should have the same responsibilities in developing its region.

We need to have clear progression for players, administrators and officials which allows the most talented to rise through to the licensed club.

Any petty barriers to those progression pathways should be broken down, and funding should follow good work at grassroots.

14 licensees, 14 well-resourced youth academies/development centres of excellence. We focus on identifying and developing talent across the functions in the game and then provide a pathway, based purely on merit, right through to international level.

This is a case of evolution rather than revolution, but we need to take ownership as a game and stop moaning about media / school bias and stop infighting.

We have several shining lights: the ladies' game, the community aspect, the values as a game and a population. I believe there is still a market for those things compared to our competitors - but let's not forget this is an entertainment business.

Re: Relegation : Fri Jul 12, 2019 8:36 pm  

Relegation has once again become a threat after tonight’s loss to our relegation rivals

Re: Relegation : Fri Jul 12, 2019 9:15 pm  

Actually I think we are now too good to go down this year.

Ava has been great, Lunt improved our structure I thought, Lui quieter but some touches (he’s not quick though is he?), and Martin started to get more involved tonight, some nice moments.

We’re still a few players short of where we need to be, and we’ll look far better once this cobbled together side has had a full closed season together and the youngsters have some more conditioning in them.

[Frosties.]

Re: Relegation : Fri Jul 12, 2019 10:37 pm  

Wakefield - Wigan A, St Helens A, Hull FC H, Hull KR A, Wigan H, Warrington A, London H.
Huddersfield - Hull KR A, Leeds H, Salford A, Hull FC A, Castleford H, St Helens A, Catalan H.
Leeds - Hull FC H, Huddersfield A, Catalan H, St Helens H, London A, Salford H, Warrington H.
Hull KR - Huddersfield H, Castleford H, Wigan A, Wakefield H, Catalan A, London H, Salford A
London - St Helens H, Salford H, Castleford A, Catalan A, Leeds H, Hull KR A, Wakefield A.

Taken Salford out now as they’ve probably made themselves safe with tonight’s win. A tough run in for the bottom teams.