Um...when Mr. Niu was giving NBC misleading information about the impact of rugby in America (combining rugby UNION information with rugby league), and was called out on it by union supporters, that's NOT on me, that's on Mr. Niu.
http://www.rugbyleague.com/blog/stevemascord/114
Will you please also ask Steve Mascord to "shut up, it's hurting our chances to get sponsors?" PLEASE. People worried about correct criticism are not in as strong an effort as they claim. I think you should know by now that I am not going to be shamed into shutting up. By the way, if the story is NOT true, where is Mr. Niu out there publicly refuting it? Think his website might be a good starting point.
Speaking of piggy-back, why are you piggy-backing union by having a promo involving "Invictus?" That's bully for union, not league.
http://www.jaxaxe.com/Home/tabid/129/newsid540/350/Default.aspx
Sir, it's a MESSAGE BOARD. The idea that anyone is above criticism is absurd.
If Mr. Niu wants to stops the criticism, he knows what he can do: Fix the website and admit the league is a no-go for 2010.
Heck, it's a no-go for 2011 unless they have a real contract in place for television and venues by MARCH 2010. You CAN'T rush a product because you'll make desperate decisions and not have time to really get into a community. The NBA's D-League is a classic example: Rushed a league with 6 months lead time in the south and it was a disaster.
It takes a year to properly market a league AFTER a television contract and venues are actually in place. (Not "big announcement coming soon...")
A year to develop booster clubs (to take care of the players).
A year to have NRL or SuperLeague on TV in advance to educate the people on the game with ads for the new league.
A year to develop a network of sports management majors for internships.
A year to develop a distribution center to sell jerseys and league equipment to Americans.
Up to that year, you need a rapport with business owners willing to pay the rent for the venues in advance (many arena directors have been burned with start-ups leaving town and not paying rent, now demand it upfront), and to set up real infrastructure like I mentioned above (for starters). NFL owners are actually the first group I'd talk to, if just two of them allow their league in a NFL venue in the Spring, it can take off.
It should be marketed as a "developmental league," with the concept being SuperLeague and/or NRL agree to feed no more than 8 players to a team. After 5 years, it is weaned off, and contracts are bought and sold like the "big boys." And get a new name, any name with "NRL" in it sounds like a minor league to NRL which would NOT be supported here.
(And of course, I think they should play 11-a-side like my "gridiron rugby" idea, so it can work on a football field. NRL and SuperLeague can see if it works. If one studies Major League Lacrosse, you'll find they did a lot of great work getting the sport in high schools throughout the country. What has rugby league done? You need to tweak the rules for rugby league to make it work on American football fields. Just my opinion.)
Bottom line: This is not happening in 2010. Or 2011. Better off starting over, without a league name that conflicts with NRL, being brutally honest with what it really takes to start a professional league, and try a totally new effort for 2012.