Matt King comments on SL

[VictoryFC]

Actually seeking to kill you eh?

You mean they send men round with big guns or are they putting something in your water to poison you?

If you put a tin foil hat on, you should be alright though.

As an avid reader of both Australian and English media, your pisstake is a tad misplaced. The "code wars" here are something I've not witnessed anywhere else in the world. Our media plays an active role in the code wars, something which I have basically never seen in English media. To say the code wars are a big deal here would be an understatement. Even just in the past few days, there have been stories and discussion on who is going to get the bigger crowd at ANZ this week (NRL or AFL)? Where would you find something like that in England? And this is from quality newspapers too...where the audience would be more like what you'd find in the Times/Guardian than the Sun/DM. NRL vs AFL is a major running debate in sporting landscape, and England has nothing comparable to that.

In the past year, there have been 3 new media deals signed with the big 3 in England (soccer, league, union), and all media related to those stories never once talked about the other code. Writers concentrate on their own sports, without feeling the need to big themselves up or compare themselves to others with putdowns. They celebrate new deals without take potshots at others. Here, forget about it. Any sign of weakness is pounced on from all corners of society. The Melbourne media would have had a field day had the NRL not broken $1B. And I'm not exaggerating.

I would guess that part of the reason is because England invented all three major codes, and has developed an acceptance of them as homegrown sports. But your tinfoil comment is truer than you think, because each sport is complicit in trying to weed out the others. There isn't really any secrecy over that.

 

[roughyedspud]

union journos are always sniping at league here :lol:

 

[deluded pom?]

Has VFC ever heard of Stephen Jones, the Times chief (I assume he's still there. I wouldn't know as I don't read it) union writer?

 

[VictoryFC]

union journos are always sniping at league here :lol:

Yeah, I just dont see it being nearly as bad as here. Like I said, I do my round with red tops and qualities. Kitson or Rees at the Guardian didn't mention RL in any of their pieces on the new union deal. Transplant that to Australia, RL would have been mentioned every 2nd paragraph. I cant remember when I've seen a dick measuring piece in the English media, the likes you get here.

Has VFC ever heard of Stephen Jones, the Times chief (I assume he's still there. I wouldn't know as I don't read it) union writer?

I have heard hes a troll, yes. Though its become a bit difficult to keep up with the Times considering its behind a paywall.

 

[BODISGOD]

union journos are always sniping at league here :lol:

Apart from Stephen Jones who trolls both League and half of the Union world, who would you be referring to?:?

 

[BODISGOD]

As an avid reader of both Australian and English media, your pisstake is a tad misplaced. The "code wars" here are something I've not witnessed anywhere else in the world. Our media plays an active role in the code wars, something which I have basically never seen in English media. To say the code wars are a big deal here would be an understatement. Even just in the past few days, there have been stories and discussion on who is going to get the bigger crowd at ANZ this week (NRL or AFL)? Where would you find something like that in England? And this is from quality newspapers too...where the audience would be more like what you'd find in the Times/Guardian than the Sun/DM. NRL vs AFL is a major running debate in sporting landscape, and England has nothing comparable to that.

In the past year, there have been 3 new media deals signed with the big 3 in England (soccer, league, union), and all media related to those stories never once talked about the other code. Writers concentrate on their own sports, without feeling the need to big themselves up or compare themselves to others with putdowns. They celebrate new deals without take potshots at others. Here, forget about it. Any sign of weakness is pounced on from all corners of society. The Melbourne media would have had a field day had the NRL not broken $1B. And I'm not exaggerating.

I would guess that part of the reason is because England invented all three major codes, and has developed an acceptance of them as homegrown sports. But your tinfoil comment is truer than you think, because each sport is complicit in trying to weed out the others. There isn't really any secrecy over that.

The reason is quite simple; soccer destroys everyone else and transcends class, geography and everything else. There is no debate. The Premier League drives subscription channels by itself for 90% of customers, in Australia League/AFL drive a large proportion each and Union/Soccer less so. The Code Wars in Australia is caused by so many things which exist there but not up here.

Soccer journalists don't care about anyone else. Union and League interact at times and its usually over a player transaction from the latter to the former.

 

[The Clan]

There is no code war in the UK, not anymore!

That's because it's over and has been for decades, soccer won it hands down and everyone else is dining on the meagre scraps left at the premier leagues banqueting table.

There is nothing and I mean NOTHING comparable to the premier leagues unilateral dominance of the UKs sporting landscape in Australia or any other country for that matter.
End of!

 

[BODISGOD]

There is no code war in the UK, not anymore!

That's because it's over and has been for decades, soccer won it hands down and everyone else is dining on the meagre scraps left at the premier leagues banqueting table.

There is nothing and I mean NOTHING comparable to the premier leagues unilateral dominance of the UKs sporting landscape in Australia or any other country for that matter.
End of!

Wouldn't agree on that. The Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga have just as deep a strangle hold in their respective countries.

 

[fanatique]

I think a lot of the "lower" clubs are destined to be "lower" clubs for ever more unless a fairy Godmother/Godfather comes along with money to burn and a love of RL. They may have a season or two where they exceed expectations but then it'll be back to the basement. As it stands the bar is too high for anything more than an eight (and that's pushing it) team SL and I'm talking finance wise not player distribution wise. The weak are becoming the cannon fodder for the strong and this just ensures the cycle continues and the same handful of teams win the trophies. I'll leave it there as there's already a similar thread on this in this forum.

The essential competitive problem is that SL's top 4 is settled as Leeds/Saints/Wigan plus whatever other club is the strongest that the time. It's Warrington now. It has been Bradford and even Halifax.

The Big 3 are so used to play offs and CC semis and finals that there is no novelty for them.

 

[geordiesaint]

theres too many teams in super league...i'd cut it don't to 10..

wigan
st helens
warrington
huddersfield
leeds
bradford
hull
hull kr
london
catalan

I disagree with that. I think 12 teams should be the maximum figure including 2 x French sides. I'd also have a really strict criteria-based P&R system (the French clubs are exempt).