At least *Something* seems to be happening, just feels like
the game has been in a slow decline for so long.


 


There is a debate to be had on Catalans, I'm very much in
favour of them being in the competition, but they have received significant
investment from the game in terms of TV revenue and its difficult to quantify
financially what they have given in return, there is an argument that a club
that generates 12-14m Euros in revenue could do without the TV money coming
from the UK given the 1,000 of fans that travel over and support the local
economy in Perpignan.  I'm a big fan of Catalan, and further French involvement
in the league, but without a paying French TV contract we need to look at the
financials carefully in terms of what is 'fair'.


 The suggested model seems to be 8 teams from the UK Wire,
Pies, Saints, Leeds, Hull FC, Hull KR, with 2 'others' from Leigh, Wakey, Cas,
Huddersfield, Salford, London, Bradford and two from France, Catalan &
Toulouse presumably.  With the ones missing out playing in a ten team
second tier.  Can't say I'm a fan of a ten team comp, 14 is the ideal
number for me but I accept that there isn't enough money in the game to support
that it seems.  Ultimately we need to provide what the broadcasters will
pay for I guess.


 I'm wary of the NRL coming in if I'm honest, I accept the
way they run the game is FAR better than the RFL ever has, but I'm just
concerned about what we give up and losing any element of control - there would
have to be some form of break clause involved I guess, which would obviously
mean paying back any sort of NRL investment.  Not sure where this leaves
IMG either? We brought them in 18 months ago to turn things around, we're
ripping that up now?
The one thing NRL involvement may bring with it is further investment in clubs from Australian sources I guess...

Yes Hull KR are getting it right at the moment managing to fill their 11K stadium. Although why they needed a crappy band at the start when all the spectators wanted to do was cheer and sing, escapes me. But I may be in the minority on that one. 
Wigan's attendances this season have been amazing. 21,000 vs Leigh, 17,600+ vs Huddersfield. 

I don't like crappy bands either or silly races at half time. I like watching the players warm up & spotting who I might know in the crowd ... maybe have a chat. Then it's time to visit the loo and prepare for KO. If I want to watch a band I'd go to a concert.

I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.

I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.

That music only means one thing to me ... Wire coming onto the pitch. I remember my dad telling me what it was. I used to practice passing a ball and kicking on the back lawn and ran out from the house (in my kit) humming that tune. For some reason they played Telstar (Tornados) at Widnes as the players came out & I used to hum that as well. I was always going to play rugby & support Wire. I read once that Brian Bevan used to walk through crowds in town practicing his side-step so I used to do the same ... it wasn't very clever if you got it wrong. 
Anyway that's enough of that ... you silly old sod ... it's a forum! 

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.

Wires71: I used to like signing the Warrington usual chants against Widnes or Wigan at Wilderspool with the atmosphere building, then the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up when they played this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0 The smell of wintergreen would surround all of us, dizzying. Someone booting the corrugated steel at the back of of the Fletcher Street, tension palpable, nerves, excitement, the waft of embassy fags, the kick off and the first crunching tackle.  Could not stop laughing when I played that just now, my god that took me back, am I weird in thinking it’s better than most the crap they play now. Or is it just my age showing lol.