No you really are, even if loops are the main reason people are in favour, they are still in favour lol
most think it’s a good idea but feel it’s been rushed and should be for 2027, and the tin foil brigade believe it’s a major conspiracy by wood to get Bradford back in SL. Beyond that the majority of SL clubs want 14 clubs and the majority of fans do. So
The number of people in favour is dwarved by the people that think this is madness for any number of reasons that have became clear as this week has rolled on. I'm not wholly against 14 - I am right now because its about as far off where we need to be as a comp from a fans perspective and also a business perspective, I'm not against expansion nor the need to grow markets but the way in which this has been executed is awful and I hope dearly that this is sacked off immediately, though I know that I will only have to deal with two seasons of this facade before we go back to 12 and P&R/Licencing/Super 8's/A closed shop/whatever combination of these things painted as "new", as that's the rugby league way. The few labelling this great because they're swapping playing some teams 3 times for 4 games against cannon fodder will have changed their tune in two years' time and they'll vote for the next Monorail led by whatever Lyle Lanley that rocks up, be it someone new or someone old.
The reason people feel its a conspiracy is because of the look. The feel is so off with this that it leads to people fanning the flames of conspiracy theories and feel as though that this is going to be a process created to suit certain applicants over others. Plus the fact credible RL journalists here are hearing this will be the case as well, so there's that also. IMG's gradings is fine for the twelve in Super League but Teams 13 and 14 are to be judged by a set of criteria led by a person who is being appointed by a former chairmen of one club and another applicants next CEO has voted this in too. It gives such a bad image off, the optics on this are so bad. Any return of Bradford and/or London, whether justified or not, is going to be under immense scrutiny and cause outrage and I get it.
It's been nothing short of a PR disaster, so far. The whole debacle with Sky so close to negotiations for a new deal is almost criminal really from a set of club owners who are deemed successful businessmen, the Sport England financial loss should have been factored in long ago and the way in which this is going to be decided is going to be another can of worms that rugby league could really do without. I think its telling as well that, as yet, nobody who has voted (either way) has came out and said anything. Nothing in Eamonn McManus' programme notes tonight at Saints, despite him banging the drum for Wood's return, nothing from either Hull's who rejected it and nothing from the usually media friendly Wigan or Warrington clubs. The relationship with the NRL is basically dead, too. They won't deal with Wood, they've made that clear. That's the biggest Rugby League competition on the planet and Sport England that don't want any business with Wood and Sky royally pissed off and looking at a £500,000 bill to show random games of rugby league that aren't likely to score well in viewership for them compared to a third installment of a Wigan v Saints, Leeds v Saints, Warrington v Wigan, Hull FC v KR etc.
I genuinely don't know how anyone can look at this week and think the execution has been anything other than a disgrace.
