Question

[Dakink]

A question for any of our English friends,

Over here we keep hearing rumors if super league in crisis, English teams (ala Bradford) in peril. What is the actual truth to the state if the game in England?

 

[Evil Homer]

Lol, how is it supposed to be 'in crisis'? Did Phil Gould tell you that?

 

[BODISGOD]

It's a in a so so state.

Attendances in the main are good compared to 10 years ago. Problem is that the economy means prices are falling in areas that had pretty poor incomes to begin with so TV is still the only real good chunk of revenue available. The recent contract maintains this for years to come, the sports TV market is in a flux really but Super League is a very attractive product for summer audiences and gets the ratings.

They don't have a State of Origin (and soon NRL new TV deal) which acts as a cashcow for expansion. London and Wales have been failures tbf for professional teams. Supposedly there is more kids playing than ever in Southern England/Wales but if they ever actually come through (ie avoid the already entrenched sports there) there doesn't look like there will be a Super League club to cater for it.

The World Cup should hopefully deliver a profit which should be plowed into ensuring a team will be in those areas if/when these kids make it.

In places like Wigan the game is a strong as can be imagined, they will still struggle when a RU club comes in to hold onto their players though. It's a lucky thing the RFU were too stupid to grasp the mettle in 1995 and not allow the clubs go into private ownership imo, for Rugby League that is...

 

[Dakink]

Lol, how is it supposed to be 'in crisis'? Did Phil Gould tell you that?

Wanna leave the childish crap for TFC. Was asking a genuine question.

Where would you rather me get inenayiln from? News limited? Tool. I'd rather hear the truth from actual English followers of the game.

 

[Dakink]

Thanks bod. Was wondering if the strengthening of the arlc financial position could be a hidden positive? As more English players are possibly attracted out here, the clubs may be forced into more efficient development of youth players. Also despite the possible loss of top players to the nrl, perhaps the exposure to the nrl will increase the national teams competitiveness, and as a by product the interest in the game over there?

Thoughts?

 

[Evil Homer]

Wanna leave the childish crap for TFC. Was asking a genuine question.

Where would you rather me get inenayiln from? News limited? Tool. I'd rather hear the truth from actual English followers of the game.

:? It was a genuine response. I've never been on TFC.

 

[Dakink]

So you always answer questions for information with sarcastic insults? I personally can't stand Gould, don't like the daily telegraph and woul actually like to know how the game is doing over there.

 

[Evil Homer]

I can't see any sarcasm or insults in my post, you need to take it easy. I don't know what sort of 'crisis' has been reported, but it sounds like the kind of garbage that someone like Gould would come out with in response to one club running into financial problems.

One club is in crisis, after years of mismanagement. The rest of the league and the game as a whole is pretty much the same as it has been for the last 10 years - on a steady, mostly upward trajectory. There's a bit of instability at the moment because the RFL haven't yet named the successor to Richard Lewis who left earlier in the year, but that's no different to what's happening in the NRL with Gallop. And the Exiles series was unsurprisingly a flop, but other than that I can't see why anyone would report a 'crisis'?

 

[BODISGOD]

Thanks bod. Was wondering if the strengthening of the arlc financial position could be a hidden positive? As more English players are possibly attracted out here, the clubs may be forced into more efficient development of youth players. Also despite the possible loss of top players to the nrl, perhaps the exposure to the nrl will increase the national teams competitiveness, and as a by product the interest in the game over there?

Thoughts?

Indeed that could be good for the National team and profile. Also less exiles playing as the NRL will need more players for expansion and will be able to afford them will open up more spots.

Double edged sword though. Quality will take a major dip if the top players leave like Tomkins. You'd have the duel threat of RU and the NRL, how many Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis ect can you realistically lose and quality therefore be diluted before people stop going?

Youth development-I'm not completely sure here to be honest, my knowledge here is limited. BUT Wigan, Leeds and St Helens don't seem to have problems churning out players of quality and feeding the rest of the league. And realistically with clubs like Castleford and Warrington- you aren't looking at massively populated towns but they love their RL so I reckon the current clubs are working pretty well in general at it.

Getting inner city kids in Manchester to stop kicking soccer balls and solely a League ball is no easy feat though is it...

What Super League needs is simply more market share. Catalan is a massive step forward against to the huge disappointments of London and Wales.

 

[BODISGOD]

I can't see any sarcasm or insults in my post, you need to take it easy. I don't know what sort of 'crisis' has been reported, but it sounds like the kind of garbage that someone like Gould would come out with in response to one club running into financial problems.

One club is in crisis, after years of mismanagement. The rest of the league and the game as a whole is pretty much the same as it has been for the last 10 years - on a steady, mostly upward trajectory. There's a bit of instability at the moment because the RFL haven't yet named the successor to Richard Lewis who left earlier in the year, but that's no different to what's happening in the NRL with Gallop. And the Exiles series was unsurprisingly a flop, but other than that I can't see why anyone would report a 'crisis'?

And as I've said before, pro Sports live through business activities so like any other industry will always have those whose well runs dry. Though in fairness SL has had too many of those problems in the last few seasons.

Crisis is completely the wrong word-it's all just a bit meh. Outside of the heartlands the results are so so as I've said but at least they've given a go and can learn from mistakes.

 

[Evil Homer]

And as I've said before, pro Sports live through business activities so like any other industry will always have those whose well runs dry. Though in fairness SL has had too many of those problems in the last few seasons.

It's not as simple as that at Bradford, their problems mainly stem from the unnecessary signing of Iestyn Harris and the massive unexpected compensation that they had to pay to Leeds, which resulted in them losing most of their champion squad, crowds dropped off dramatically and it was all downhill from there really.

Crisis is completely the wrong word-it's all just a bit meh. Outside of the heartlands the results are so so as I've said but at least they've given a go and can learn from mistakes.

The results have only been poor at the top level (ie Super League clubs). In terms of actual development of the sport at grassroots level etc, things are going great. It's just a shame that the Super League sides in London and Wales have been so shambolically managed.

 

[BODISGOD]

It's not as simple as that at Bradford, their problems mainly stem from the unnecessary signing of Iestyn Harris and the massive unexpected compensation that they had to pay to Leeds, which resulted in them losing most of their champion squad, crowds dropped off dramatically and it was all downhill from there really.
The results have only been poor at the top level (ie Super League clubs). In terms of actual development of the sport at grassroots level etc, things are going great. It's just a shame that the Super League sides in London and Wales have been so shambolically managed.

What's the scene like with Under 20s say at the Broncos? Many home grown SE Englanders?

As for Bradford and Harris, I could say the same for any business. Business take punts all the time, make stupid strategic decisions, unexpected problems with a product line ect. Bradford are no different, sports clubs are no different. That's my point, the idea that the sport's industry is special is a nonsense, particularly when it's privately owned clubs.

 

[VictoryFC]

Not a Brit, but I spend a lot of time reading English sports press. I think many Australian League fans would be shocked by the coverage of SL and rugby league in general in the papers. Its abysmally poor for a sport that has 2nd best TV ratings.

 

[deluded pom?]

Not a Brit, but I spend a lot of time reading English sports press. I think many Australian League fans would be shocked by the coverage of SL and rugby league in general in the papers. Its abysmally poor for a sport that has 2nd best TV ratings.

It's a pity the media in general don't seem to acknowledge or recognise this fact when it comes to press and tv (outside of Sky) coverage.

 

[joedynamo]

As for Bradford and Harris, I could say the same for any business. Business take punts all the time, make stupid strategic decisions, unexpected problems with a product line ect. Bradford are no different, sports clubs are no different. That's my point, the idea that the sport's industry is special is a nonsense, particularly when it's privately owned clubs.

Sports Clubs are different Bo'D...passion takes over and rules the head. Would you pay 2 - 3 million for a share in a club with an historic £6m debt and annual trading losses of a further £2 million, whose major assets are its players?

Loved your earlier comment re: the rfu and 1995...thanks for the :lol: bud.

Is there a crisis with the Rugby Super League? Not really, the clubs in the top half of the table are ok and the ones that arent are....struggling :shock:

Now go look at other pro sports in the UK that arent Football (soccer to you convicts)...How many pro clubs survive without directors loans?

What we do have a problem with imo, is not enough players continue to improve once they've hit 1st grade...not sure if its a coaching issue or maybes theres just not enough competition for places...as i say, its just an opinion.

Im not sure anythings changed...Rugby League has never got the coverage it deserves, tho a lot may depend on whether (assuming you're reading an actual paper) you have a Northern edition of said Newspaper....

 

[deluded pom?]

What's the scene like with Under 20s say at the Broncos? Many home grown SE Englanders?

As for Bradford and Harris, I could say the same for any business. Business take punts all the time, make stupid strategic decisions, unexpected problems with a product line ect. Bradford are no different, sports clubs are no different. That's my point, the idea that the sport's industry is special is a nonsense, particularly when it's privately owned clubs.

Sorry BOD but pro sports teams are not the same as any other business. On the whole there is far too much emotion involved for the powers that be to make rational decisions as they would if it was a company that makes cars for example. The board of a sports clubs is likely to make some shocking business choices that they would never make if it was concerning their own companies. Results in sport have to be achieved in the short term, relatively speaking, whereas in business they can take years to come to fruition. If they were the same as ordinary businesses then why are so few pro sports teams making any money? I'd never invest in a sports team to make money, would you?

 

[Teddyboy]

Indeed that could be good for the National team and profile. Also less exiles playing as the NRL will need more players for expansion and will be able to afford them will open up more spots.

Double edged sword though. Quality will take a major dip if the top players leave like Tomkins. You'd have the duel threat of RU and the NRL, how many Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis ect can you realistically lose and quality therefore be diluted before people stop going?

Youth development-I'm not completely sure here to be honest, my knowledge here is limited. BUT Wigan, Leeds and St Helens don't seem to have problems churning out players of quality and feeding the rest of the league. And realistically with clubs like Castleford and Warrington- you aren't looking at massively populated towns but they love their RL so I reckon the current clubs are working pretty well in general at it.

Getting inner city kids in Manchester to stop kicking soccer balls and solely a League ball is no easy feat though is it...

What Super League needs is simply more market share. Catalan is a massive step forward against to the huge disappointments of London and Wales.

Rugby League should be played in every poor/inner city school as it would be ideal for this kid's who are in gang culture etc.

 

[Evil Homer]

What's the scene like with Under 20s say at the Broncos? Many home grown SE Englanders?

Yeah of course, what else would they be? The Broncos first team seems to be pretty much home grown SE Englanders at the moment..

 

[docbrown]

Hopefully the World Cup is an all round competitive affair with England putting in strong performances. That will increase interest in the game and with good management, hopefully attract new audiences to the Super League.

The locals should do everything to ensure that the Kangaroos players have a terrible time there...

 

[Dakink]

Would love to see a extremely competitive England at the WC

On a side kite what is the financial health of the other clubs like?

Seems like the Dragons have really cemented themselves well with good crowds. What is the English opinion of them?