145 replies to this topic

[Trojan]

Touched a reality nerve have I?

Your happy to bad mouth expansion, then all of a sudden you become sincere like some latter day Hughie Green.

I have never bad mouthed expansion. I'd like to see the game expand. Just not in the way Celtic Crusaders did it. They failed I was right about them, you were wrong Parky. Get on with it. My view as posted above is that expansion would be much easier on the back of international success. I think expansion in South Wales would have been much easier if the RFL hadn't moved the Magic Weekend to Edinburgh just as CC were starting their first SL season.
I've never been against expansion in London, but after thirty years of trying I think we have to accept that London has been a failure.

[The Parksider]

I have never bad mouthed expansion. I'd like to see the game expand. Just not in the way Celtic Crusaders did it.

"Did it"???

They are still doing it Tro - throwing millions into a black hole.

But Davey, Hudgell, Moran, O'connor, Hughes, etc are all doing the same as well - should they stop throwing millions at SL??

Surely you need to be consistent? I don't mind you arguing that club sugar daddies should not throw millions at SL clubs - after all the lack of such an "investor" will mean Fev having no chance in SL to quote Northern Sol.

But Crusaders aren't doing anything the M62 clubs aren't also doing.

[Trojan]

"Did it"???

They are still doing it Tro - throwing millions into a black hole.

Celtic Crusaders no longer exist - at least according to the logic you apply to London they don't.

[The Parksider]

Celtic Crusaders no longer exist - at least according to the logic you apply to London they don't.

Crusaders are a continuation of the Celtic Crusaders club trying to build roots by nurturing the playing of the game itself in Wales, Like Harlequins policy is to nurture the same and try to get home grown players going which is succeeding.

Previous incarnations in Wales and London simply threw sides together and hoped crowds would respond to that.

You like the idea of roots being put down, why not accept this is what these latest clubs are about.

Sadly when the club went down to neath to put a game on to try to keep links with the RL fans and the RL players down there, the obvious low attendance was jumped on as a (unspoken) reason why we should pack up in Wales and go back to M62 land.

The whole focus of the Neath match was keeping the links with the south, unless you are an anti-expansionist (nowt wrong with that) in which case that focus was ignored and the crowd denegrated unfairly.

[thirteenthman]

Your happy to bad mouth expansion, then all of a sudden you become sincere like some latter day Hughie Green.

It's make your mind up time, and I mean that most sincerely folks.




Yeah, I'll get me coat.

[Northern Sol]

Then whats your view on the difficulty of keeping in touch with the main playing base in the south, whilst playing in the north? Again it isn't all about "crowds".

My view is that it isn't a problem. If Welsh lads are willing to sign for Warrington then they'll sign for Wrexham.

[Northern Sol]

Crusaders are a continuation of the Celtic Crusaders club trying to build roots by nurturing the playing of the game itself in Wales,

Crusaders are almost nothing to do with Celtic Crusaders. Moffat simply bought a SL licence from Samuel and set his own team up.

[The Parksider]

If Welsh lads are willing to sign for Warrington then they'll sign for Wrexham.

They have to be willing to play RL in the first place. The question was about how to attract south Welsh lads to RL now the local professional side has gone. Maybe that will include taking magic nack to cardfii and er playing a couple of Crusaders games in Neath....Oh sorry that's "not good" as the original poster claims.

[The Parksider]

Crusaders are almost nothing to do with Celtic Crusaders. Moffat simply bought a SL licence from Samuel and set his own team up.

The two clubs are inextricably linked by er "Wales" and seem to have the same mission statement.

Still I supppose the RFL would have accepted this transferrable licence to be "simply" taken to Hull to form Hull White Star.

Great sniping as usual in this thread, but when I ask you about what you think you kinda have all the simple one line answers.

I'll consider the debate lost.

[Bomb Jack]

Meanwhile, back in Wrexham, Crusaders get a massive 2,412 for the visit of Salford

[Northern Sol]

They have to be willing to play RL in the first place. The question was about how to attract south Welsh lads to RL now the local professional side has gone. Maybe that will include taking magic nack to cardfii and er playing a couple of Crusaders games in Neath....Oh sorry that's "not good" as the original poster claims.

The question is whether Crusaders RL are responsible for this. Surely the development of rugby league in south Wales is a matter for the RFL and / or Cymru RL?

Nobody slates Salford for the fact that they don't play games in Bristol thus denying the youth of the South West an opportunity to see TGG being played.

[Northern Sol]

Meanwhile, back in Wrexham, Crusaders get a massive 2,412 for the visit of Salford

Now that is worrying.

[Northern Sol]

The two clubs are inextricably linked by er "Wales" and seem to have the same mission statement.

And Salford and Bristol are linked by "England".....

Still I supppose the RFL would have accepted this transferrable licence to be "simply" taken to Hull to form Hull White Star.

Great sniping as usual in this thread, but when I ask you about what you think you kinda have all the simple one line answers.

You are complaining that I answer your questions succinctly that's certainly a new one.

I'll consider the debate lost.

Probably your best option.

[Johnoco]

Now that is worrying.

It certainly is. I'm hoping that it is down to previous low expectations and a possible appearance in the play offs could re-awaken some interest. But let's not forget, 12 months ago no-one had any idea they were playing in Wrexham, so to a large extent it's par for the course.

[Cardiff Cymru]

Meanwhile, back in Wrexham, Crusaders get a massive 2,412 for the visit of Salford

They sneaked a win though. Scorpions won 42-24 at Oldham too while Crusaders under 18s beat Hull FC away. An outstanding weekend for the game in Wales.

[The Parksider]

to a large extent it's par for the course.

Of course such attendances are par for the course in new areas, but they must be singled out as "poor" by those with an agenda, that typically they won't go on to explain. Old jack can't help himself worrying that Crusaders place in SL may continue to have an effect on Widnes's entry. Sol always keeps his agenda behind one liners.

The idea that clubs new to RL wether in West London, Neath or Wrexham should be instantly pulling thousands of fans new to RL is absurd and yet they go on jumping on what is, as you say, par for the course.

Given RL is supposedly so darn "instantly attracting" a prospect according to some then why can't established top of the table NL clubs get better attendances, why can't city clubs like Wakey or Salford get more than a few thousand????

I suppose the bottom line is if there's no culture of RL in an area that has to be built up. Not allowing for that, nor allowing for matching expansion crowds against relatively low crowds in established RL areas either, isn't fair, but hey ho if it matches your agendas guys..........

Well spotted Mr. Johnoco.

And BTW what a rubbish crowd at the Wrexham this Friday. Kick 'em both out...........

[Trojan]

The idea that clubs new to RL wether in West London,

My daughter's thirty three, by your lights she's still a toddler.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Meanwhile, back in Wrexham, Crusaders get a massive 2,412 for the visit of Salford

As the man next to me said, the problem has been the gaps between home matches that means that people haven't got into the habit of going regularly. Hopefully this will be put right next season.

[Silvia Saint]

The big names were always going to be the attraction in year one - the crowds against the major clubs have been decent, save for Bradford but not sure they qualify anymore.

I think Crusaders themselves have stated that their preference is for Friday night matches. Hopefully they can build on this but some of the noises coming out of the club are less than encouraging.

[Bomb Jack]

Old jack can't help himself worrying that Crusaders place in SL may continue to have an effect on Widnes's entry.

Firstly, i'm a lot younger than you Parky, so if i'm old what does that make you ?

Secondly, it won't be Crusaders that keep Widnes out. It will be the RFL and their expansion at all costs policy.