To those who live in the UK

[Knight87]

Just some more general UK league questions in general:

1) What was rugby league in UK like pre-Super League? Was the previous Rugby League Championship successful or not? What are television ratings on Sky Sports like for the SL (I heard recently that a league game beat a Union match in the ratings. Mayhave been Wigan/Leeds, not sure)? I obviously know EPL soccer gets the highest ratings, but where does league stand (in # of viewers) in comparison to soccer and the other sports that are shown on a regular basis on Sky Sports?
2) For those who have been to games in the SL and pre-SL era, have you ever been to any games where it snowed or was extremely cold? What was it like (and did you enjoy it)? Conversely, been to any games that have been very hot in weather (games like the Challenge Cup Final, that are played in the afternoon in Summer over there)?
3) I know that in the SL in general, Sky Sports televises (on average) 2 matches/round (1 Friday Night and 1 Saturday evening). What was television coverage like pre-SL?
4) Do you think players such as Ellery Hanley, Shaun Edwards, Martin Offiah etc. were very unlucky that they didn't play in SL during their prime? How do you think it would've affected their respective rugby league careers and reputations had their played their best football during the SL era and were still playing today?
5) Do you think Rugby League has the potential to overtake Rugby Union in the future in the UK? Like, how popular is Union over there, in comparison to League (in terms of media coverage)? Do you think League can give Soccer a run for its money, especially if England win the World Cup this year in Australia (similar affect to what happened when England won the Union WC in 2003 and the Cricket Ashes in 2005)? What affect would England doing well in the RLWC have on the popularity of the sport over there?

 

[Knight87]

i like the play offs but i think too many teams play in it,i'd go for the top 4 thats it..why should a team finishing half way down the league,possibly losing more than they win get a shot at winning the whole comp?

as for winter or summer.....i'm in oldham so it does'nt matter :lol:

From a mathematical perspective (as thats what I like), I like your top 6 finals system. Its a heck of a lot better and fairer than our top 8 McIntyre System.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McIntyre_Final_Eight_System

Your top 6 is an extension of our old Top 5 system used during 1973-1994, which was my favourite system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs

At least, it rewards the top sides, where in our McIntyre system, if 1st or 2nd win in Week 1, and they lose in the Preliminary Finals (ie GF qualifier), they're out. Also, the fact that you cannot determine your own fate, your fate relies on other results. If teams 1+2 win, then the 4vs5 and 3vs6 games are dead rubbers, and have no meaning or bearing on the finals. oh, there's just so many anomalies and inaccuracies with our system, its not even funny. The AFL finals system over here (also top 8) is a lot better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFL_finals_system

In regards to teams, top 5 would be better. Max no. of teams that can be in a finals system (to me) is 50%. 6 out of 12 teams in the finals sounds good. I hated it when we had the top 8 during 2000-2006, when we only had 15 teams. You'd have teams qualifying that had won less than 50% of matches.

 

[The Clan]

Best stadiums in Rugby league and in order IMO

KC Stadium - Hull FC
JJB Stadium - Wigan
Halliwell Jones Stadium - Warrington
Galpharm Stadium - Huddersfield
Halton Stadium - Widnes


Millenium Stadium and Wembley are on another planet somewhere in another Universe.

 

[Knight87]

I dunno why it is, but everytime I watch Super League games here on Fox, even with a crowd of 15,000, the crowd always seems a heck of a lot louder than at NRL matches of the same size. Is it because the tv crews put the sound microphones very close to the grandstand where all the yobbos are making noise or what?

And what do you mean that Millenium Stadium and Wembley are on another planet? Is that a good thing or bad thing? I'd love to see test matches back at Wembley. I think if England go well in the RLWC, and next years Quad Nations in 2009 (Australia, England, NZ and France) is well promoted and the first test is played at Wembley between England and Australia, I think it could get a very big crowd. Has anyone here been to the new Wembley Stadium? What's it like (in comparison to the Old one)? From what I've seen, it seems a heck of a lot closer to the actual football field.

When I think of Wembley, I think of the great 1992 RLWC final between GB and Australia there. Here's some short clips of it, but it truely was one of the greatest International matches ever played:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7udsO3tPR54
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mc3eeacjKHk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aZ41hLlbjw

Very close game, good game all around. A world record crowd of nearly 74,000 was at this match. Just listen to how loud the crowd got when Great Britain were on the attack. The Ashes series earlier that year was also great: Probably the last great Test series in Australia. All 3 games were very good, exciting, got big crowds, and the deciding 3rd test was nailbitingly close. Back then, it was a lot easier to schedule Internationals because our season wasn't at the same time as yours. But, too bad the SL couldn't shorten their season a bit, cause it would leave more time for Internationals at the end of the year. I guess it will never happen, with Sky Sports getting a motza from all the matches played. Generally, all major English sports have very long seasons.

If there's one thing I'd love to see in my lifetime (in relation to League), it'd be to see the International game restored back to what it use to be. Love to see tests back at Wembley and Old Trafford, and not at the small 20-25,000 seat stadia.

There's also this from the 1994 Kangaroos tour, if anyone remembers this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kSCZ-qQTodQ

 

[roughyedspud]

you want to see a test @ wembley?.

with a like bit of luck the england v australia game in the 2009 four nations might be at wembley....might don't hold me to that....but....if england put up a good showing in the world cup final or even win the damn thing you can pretty much bank on it being at wembley..

i went to the old wembley for the 1995 world cup final,that was pretty special,66,000 where there that day...but let me tell you,i went to the new wembley last year for the challenge cup final and 85,000 turned out.....1995 can't compete with that..

the RFL are ready to kick on from the 25,000 capacity stadia they've been using,trust me we will be using likes of wembley,eastlands & elland road again in the near future

 

[Knight87]

What do you mean the 1995 WC final can't compete with the 2007 Challenge Cup Final (despite the fact there was 19,000 more ppl at the Challenge Cup Final, due to a larger capacity)? Or the 1992 WC final (if you saw those clips)? Or the 1990 or 1994 Kangaroos Tour opening test (which GB won both of them)?

And, you mentioned Wembley, Eastlands and Elland Road? You forgot one other big stadium: Old Trafford!!!! That should be well received, being in league territory in Northern England. What's watching rugby league at Old Trafford like (to those who've been there)?

the RFL are ready to kick on from the 25,000 capacity stadia they've been using,trust me we will be using likes of wembley,eastlands & elland road again in the near future

Do you honestly believe that's going to happen? Or do you think the RLIF will still bludge, by having them (Internationals) at 25,000 stadia capacity without having to do any promotion at all?

 

[Knight87]

Best stadiums in Rugby league and in order IMO

KC Stadium - Hull FC
JJB Stadium - Wigan
Halliwell Jones Stadium - Warrington
Galpharm Stadium - Huddersfield
Halton Stadium - Widnes


Millenium Stadium and Wembley are on another planet somewhere in another Universe.

How would you rank that, if you included, Wembley, Millenium Stadium, Elland Road and Old Trafford there (the larger stadiums), and your reasoning for it?

 

[roughyedspud]

2) For those who have been to games in the SL and pre-SL era, have you ever been to any games where it snowed or was extremely cold? What was it like (and did you enjoy it)? Conversely, been to any games that have been very hot in weather (games like the Challenge Cup Final, that are played in the afternoon in Summer over there)?

seriously...you aussies think is cold and wet all the time here don't you?

right this is how the weather generally plays out during our season..

1. first few rounds (feb/march),maybe upto 5 rounds it's not uncommon for it to be snowing,freezings etc..it's still winter for christ sake...lol

2. april/may - normally raining with the odd dry spell and the temps can creep up.eg for the 1st 2 weeks of the may this year (now) it did'nt rain at all and the temperature got up to 25c...even here in oldham,yesterday it rained for the first time in 2 weeks..

3.june till september - generally fine,sure we get the odd wet summer like last year but normally,believe it or not it's dry & sunny...temperature do go over 26,27 28c..but during the summer it's not uncommon for teams to start play in the evenings (6pm+) when it's cooled down abit.... i remember a couple of years ago warrington playing harlequins in london @ midday and the temperature was well over 30c..only brisbane & north queensland regularly do that...

4. end of season & play offs..going into september & october the weather can be unpredictable...indian summers have become more frequent but grand finals tend to bring the rain....for some reason...but then again it is in october which is the begining of autumn..


if you want to know what our weather is like...just look across the tasman...New zealand is'nt much different to ours

 

[deluded pom?]

I remember Hull playing Widnes at their old ground, the Boulevard, and the game was in doubt but kicked off none the less. Dessie Hasler was on Hull's books that year. Poor Dessie didn't know what he'd let himself in for as the temperature plummeted even lower as the match wore on. After the game it transpired that poor Dessie and Hull fullback Richard Gay had been treated for hyperthermia. Tarts :lol:

Hey spud, do you think Knights 87 is doing a Uni degree on English Rugby League? He asks more questions than Chris Tarrant :lol:

 

[roughyedspud]

What do you mean the 1995 WC final can't compete with the 2007 Challenge Cup Final (despite the fact there was 19,000 more ppl at the Challenge Cup Final, due to a larger capacity)? Or the 1992 WC final (if you saw those clips)? Or the 1990 or 1994 Kangaroos Tour opening test (which GB won both of them)?

And, you mentioned Wembley, Eastlands and Elland Road? You forgot one other big stadium: Old Trafford!!!! That should be well received, being in league territory in Northern England. What's watching rugby league at Old Trafford like (to those who've been there)?

as long as alex ferguson is united manager we will only play 1 RL game at old trafford a year...that being the super league grand final....he hates us

Do you honestly believe that's going to happen? Or do you think the RLIF will still bludge, by having them (Internationals) at 25,000 stadia capacity without having to do any promotion at all?

1. it's go nothing to do with the RLIF

2. yes i do think we will go to wembley...

for the 2009 four nations i think we will play the aussies @ wembley & the kiwis @ eastland

What do you mean the 1995 WC final can't compete with the 2007 Challenge Cup Final (despite the fact there was 19,000 more ppl at the Challenge Cup Final, due to a larger capacity)?

the new wembley is the best stadium in the world...thats why it can't compare

 

[deluded pom?]

2. april/may - normally raining with the odd dry spell and the temps can creep up.eg for the 1st 2 weeks of the may this year (now) it did'nt rain at all and the temperature got up to 25c...even here in oldham,yesterday it rained for the first time in 2 weeks..

3.june till september - generally fine,sure we get the odd wet summer like last year but normally,believe it or not it's dry & sunny...temperature do go over 26,27 28c..but during the summer it's not uncommon for teams to start play in the evenings (6pm+) when it's cooled down abit.... i remember a couple of years ago warrington playing harlequins in london @ midday and the temperature was well over 30c..only brisbane & north queensland regularly do that...

4. end of season & play offs..going into september & october the weather can be unpredictable...indian summers have become more frequent but grand finals tend to bring the rain....for some reason...but then again it is in october which is the begining of autumn..


if you want to know what our weather is like...just look across the tasman...New zealand is'nt much different to ours

Then why are we all so pasty looking all the time, especially you Lancastrians ;-)

 

[deluded pom?]

the new wembley is the best stadium in the world...thats why it can't compare

Of course it is , Aussies built it. It took them ten years and £250M but they got there in the end :lol::lol::lol:

 

[roughyedspud]

Hey spud, do you think Knights 87 is doing a Uni degree on English Rugby League? He asks more questions than Chris Tarrant :lol:

i was going to PM you the same question...:lol:


and about our summers....they have got warmer...just cos you lot have been under 6ft of water

 

[roughyedspud]

Of course it is , Aussies built it. It took them ten years and £250M but they got there in the end :lol::lol::lol:

£250m..........and the bloody rest..it cost nearly £800 million (thats nearly $2billion for our aussie students)

 

[Knight87]

btw, where is eastland? What's the ground there called?

And why would Sir Alex get angry at other teams playing at Old Trafford? It's a great stadium and it's not like he owns the ground. He should get off his high horse.

 

[roughyedspud]

eastlands is the city of manchester stadium,where manchester city play

as for sir alex.......

he gets angry because he says it f**ks up the pitch,in days gone by (80's to early 90's) we used to play 3 games a season @ OT, 1 test & 2 premiership finals...but then united started winning titles again and we only play 1 game there now...he thinks the 2 are connected.

and i'd love to see a person tell alex ferguson...sorry SIR alex ferguson..to "get of his high horse"... :lol:

 

[Knight87]

Oh, City of Manchester Stadium? That's a really nice ground. It reminds me a lot of the Sydney Football Stadium over here. Both have very similar capacities of approx 45,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Football_Stadium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Manchester_Stadium

In the 2004 tri-nations, when the GB side was going well, they got 38,572 ppl for a test match vs Australia there at Eastlands. It shows that theres lots of potential there.

But as I said, I know Man Utd are tennants at Old Trafford. They play 19 Premier League matches there + F.A.Cup matches + Carling Cup matches + UEFA Champions League matches there each Soccer (or as you poms like to say, Football) season. I don't agree with Sir Alex's supposed justification that one game of rugby league #$@# up the pitch. I don't see how even two matches there in a year (Super League final and a Test match vs Australia) would stuff up the pitch. As I said, he needs to get off his high horse and remember that just because he's one of the highest paid sporting coaches in the world (earning over 3-4 million pounds/year), doesn't mean he owns the ground. Maybe he's been drinking too much (he does have a bit of a 'boozy' nose).

Like, did he publicly condemn a single match of rugby league being played there in the media or what? He doesn't realise that in the last 10 years, only one Rugby League test match has been played there (that was the 2000 Rugby League World Cup Final between Australia/New Zealand)

 

[roughyedspud]

But as I said, I know Man Utd are tennants at Old Trafford.

united are'nt tennants...they own Old trafford lock stock & barrell...if they don't want more than 1 RL game a year on there they don't have too..

has fergie publicly condemned RL being played @ OT...yes after every grand final :lol:

frankly i think we can do without old trafford,it's cramped seating and small pitch are'nt suited to watching or playing RL..especially compared to eastlands & wembley,OT is a distant 3rd.

 

[deluded pom?]

The problem is United don't need to host the GF. The money they get from it is useful but it won't break them if the SL decided to take it somewhere else. We are talking about the greatest money making machine in professional sport here.

 

[roughyedspud]

i think i'm right in saying man united earn more on a match day,for a premier league game,than the RFL makes in a year... :lol: