Re: I.M.G : Mon Sep 25, 2023 3:51 pm  

Pumpetypump wrote:

I've said before, this whole "there aren't enough players" thing is a self fulfilling prophecy. Every time we shrink our top flight we diminish the popular appeal, we harm players pathways. We should never have dropped from 14 and we are a poorer sport for having done so.

Totally agree, 14 teams should always be the target. It might not be instant but the other two teams will be full time and will bring with them more reach for the professional youth game through academies. You keep cutting and you’ll shrink down to size.

Re: I.M.G : Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:58 am  

Pumpetypump wrote:

I've said before, this whole "there aren't enough players" thing is a self fulfilling prophecy. Every time we shrink our top flight we diminish the popular appeal, we harm players pathways. We should never have dropped from 14 and we are a poorer sport for having done so.

agreed, unfortunately its the same people who moan about the game going stale but then shoot down any idea with the same old excuses of not enough money and talent pool !!!!

the fans of rugby league will be it's death !!!

Re: I.M.G : Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:02 pm  

The_runaround wrote:

the fans of rugby league will be it's death !!!

The fans don't make the decisions. It'd be naive to think that the RFL and the chairmen of the clubs even listen to the fans.

The lack of forward thinking and constant band-aid decisions is what is killing the sport. Take the voting to keep the league at 10 teams as an example - everyone knows it is ultimately the wrong decision, but everyone votes for it to make a quick buck. No matter how loudly the fans oppose it.

Re: I.M.G : Sat Sep 30, 2023 9:39 pm  

UllFC wrote:

The sport isnt doing badly with different teams in the finals, I think its just Wakefield who havent been to 'new' Wembley. Leigh-Rovers was a fresh final this year.

Cas, Salford and Catalans have also made the Grand Final in recent years, Its getting a different Grand Final winner that is proving a challenge.

But in majority of other sports teams dominate

Barcelona/Real Spain
Bayern Germany
Man city last few years premiership

Djokovic dominating tennis pretty much now

Re: I.M.G : Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:09 pm  

The games dying. The Aussies have their little jizz fest in NSW and Queensland but apart from there the game is pissant.

Re: I.M.G : Sun Oct 01, 2023 6:50 pm  

Fans who hate on Rugby League just for being Rugby League and for still having the essential characteristics and challenges its always had are so tedious.

Re: I.M.G : Thu Oct 05, 2023 2:50 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Im not convinced the other bidders were that serious, there didnt appear to be any panic from SKY in offering less money. While video ref at every game will be an imorovement they are getting more cheap content to show so its win win for them.

Nail on head.
Just like the negotiations for the previous TV deal, BT sports (now TNT sports) were mentioned to try and persuade Sky to increase their offer, clearly, it didn't have much effect.
The real concern is that Sky now know that they can keep on repeating the deal at an ever lower rate.
Maybe we should see if Beaumont's mates have the funds to do what he threatened the other week, although it's very unlikely.

We could do worse than take advice from The NRL.

Re: I.M.G : Thu Oct 05, 2023 4:56 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Nail on head.
Just like the negotiations for the previous TV deal, BT sports (now TNT sports) were mentioned to try and persuade Sky to increase their offer, clearly, it didn't have much effect.
The real concern is that Sky now know that they can keep on repeating the deal at an ever lower rate.
Maybe we should see if Beaumont's mates have the funds to do what he threatened the other week, although it's very unlikely.

We could do worse than take advice from The NRL.

Should we take Degsey seriously enough? He did say that his 2 mates had more money falling out their ar$3 pockets than what Sly put in the whole 3 years.

Re: I.M.G : Tue Oct 10, 2023 5:04 pm  

It seems the draft gradings will be released this week

Re: I.M.G : Wed Oct 11, 2023 1:01 pm  

This thread is the typical attitude of it’s always someone else’s fault. It’s up to the clubs to build relationships with the communities they sit it, to market, to encourage fans to attend, to make it entertaining. As much as I don’t really like the bloke what DB has done with Leigh is the blue print.

We need the clubs to grab the sport by the balls and send it on an upward trajectory. What we have instead is a load of self perpetuating flat cappers with a few quid holding the game back.