127 replies to this topic

[Cardiff Cymru]

http://1895sports.co...on-rl-just-yet/

My answer to some of the criticism put on London Broncos' crowd last week. Please share and comment.

[TBC]

http://1895sports.com/the-golden-blog/dont-give-up-on-london-rl-just-yet/

My answer to some of the criticism put on London Broncos' crowd last week. Please share and comment.

As a Giants fan I found this bit interesting -

"I can only surmise that the Broncos decided to write the Huddersfield game off before they started. There’s no point in wasting efforts when there are too many things to battle against."

As there were so many things to battle against playing, say Wigan, would have been a waste of a top draw game re crowd, media attention etc.
There may have been one or two other clubs whose games that they could have written off before us but I couldn't really complain if they actually did choose us.

On the Broncos themselves they gave us a hard physical game and if it wasn't for a few bits of class from Danny Brough and Leroy Cudjoe they would be celebrating their first win.

[Kenilworth Tiger]

Can we give up on them after tonight?

[Ponterover]

Can we give up on them after tonight?

Not just yet, I'm hoping we get them at home in the challenge cup

[Kenilworth Tiger]

Not just yet, I'm hoping we get them at home in the challenge cup

No you don't you want them away mate - you Fev lot love a good road trip! Would even show my support for,you if that happened!

[Ponterover]

No you don't you want them away mate - you Fev lot love a good road trip! Would even show my support for,you if that happened!

Not sure the capital has recovered since the last invasion of Cappers 29 years ago, plus our 18th man only plays at home games (the slope).

I'd be up for it though, might even be able to tempt my southern softie of a brother into watching a real sport for a change.

[The Parksider]

My answer to some of the criticism put on London Broncos' crowd last week. Please share and comment.

Well London are being judged simply on crowd levels against northern clubs established for nigh on 150 years.

Pick the easy criteria to put the boot in and kick away.

There are two schools of thought. London pro RL is a club that falls way short of other SL clubs.

Or London pro RL is important as the pinnacle of an expanding southern game, and as a "capital presence" to provide the game with a national image.

Clearly those in charge and in the know, value the club and even talk of central funding to make them competetive. Fine - get on with it because fans at other SL clubs want a competetive fixture when London show up.

As for those sticking the boot in, I suggest they tell us what should be done and why?

[Bob8]

Well London are being judged simply on crowd levels against northern clubs established for nigh on 150 years.

Pick the easy criteria to put the boot in and kick away.

There are two schools of thought. London pro RL is a club that falls way short of other SL clubs.

Or London pro RL is important as the pinnacle of an expanding southern game, and as a "capital presence" to provide the game with a national image.

Clearly those in charge and in the know, value the club and even talk of central funding to make them competetive. Fine - get on with it because fans at other SL clubs want a competetive fixture when London show up.

As for those sticking the boot in, I suggest they tell us what should be done and why?

Both are true points.

There are huge and very valid reasons why it is tough for the Broncos. There is no reason why the the pinnacle of rugby league should be in London, but we do not have the luxury of investors wanting it to be in Milton Keynes or elsewhere, so London it is.

[Northern Sol]

My take.

You argue that London faces a population who have never heard of RL and a media that don't care about them and that they will never be a heartland area. However you conclude from this that they need to be in SL and a "capital presence" is vital without any justification for this view. These are mantras repeated as an article of faith by many RL journalists but are they true? Has anyone ever investigated this properly?

The RFL database of addresses has been talked about for as long as I've been a member here. I'm guessing that not withstanding what happened in Wales it is not quite so simple or it would have been done a long time ago.

[Northern Sol]

Or London pro RL is important as the pinnacle of an expanding southern game, and as a "capital presence" to provide the game with a national image.

Is it?

Who says so?

Has this ever been studied?

Clearly those in charge and in the know, value the club and even talk of central funding to make them competetive. Fine - get on with it because fans at other SL clubs want a competetive fixture when London show up.

Not going to happen. Would there be a Wakefield club today if Wakey had been given less cash by the RFL?

Why would the smaller M62 clubs vote themselves into oblivion?

As for those sticking the boot in, I suggest they tell us what should be done and why?

Replace them with Toulouse.

[a.n Other]

.

Clearly those in charge and in the know, value the club and even talk of central funding to make them competetive. Fine - get on with it because fans at other SL clubs want a competetive fixture when London show up.

The RFL should take over the running of the club - take more TV money of the other clubs. Use a sliding scale, so Wigan would receive less TV money than say Salford, and use all this money on London. They could then use their marketing power and prowess to entice people into going to the games.

Edited by a.n Other, 03 March 2012 - 10:43 AM.

[ali]

The crowd last week was ######, mostly due to the engineering works. I live in Central London, and to get to the game normally takes me around 45 minutes. Last week it took an hour and a half! Despite having a season ticket, I actually considered not going as I knew it would be a nightmare.

And for those who say there are no RL fans in London, that is wrong. There is a ton of them, but most are happy to follow their teams from wherever they come from, and at most get to one or two Broncos games a year.

[giwildgo]

The RFL should take over the running of the club - take more TV money of the other clubs. Use a sliding scale, so Wigan would receive less TV money than say Salford, and use all this money on London. They could then use their marketing power and prowess to entice people into going to the games.

Keep dreaming - completely unrealistic to expect anything but an equal share of the TV money to the clubs. If London can't make it work on a financially sustainable basis, then it shouldn't be the responsibility of others to constantly bail them out. They already have a huge advantage in terms of a monopoly on the largest catchment area in the country and they've had plenty time to make it work, At some point someone will have to decide whether the game is flogging a dead horse.

[Ponterover]

Keep dreaming - completely unrealistic to expect anything but an equal share of the TV money to the clubs. If London can't make it work on a financially sustainable basis, then it shouldn't be the responsibility of others to constantly bail them out. They already have a huge advantage in terms of a monopoly on the largest catchment area in the country and they've had plenty time to make it work, At some point someone will have to decide whether the game is flogging a dead horse.

Excellent post, agree 100% They've had 30 odd years and they're still floundering, even after being gifted a place in the elite competition.

[a.n Other]

Keep dreaming - completely unrealistic to expect anything but an equal share of the TV money to the clubs. If London can't make it work on a financially sustainable basis, then it shouldn't be the responsibility of others to constantly bail them out. They already have a huge advantage in terms of a monopoly on the largest catchment area in the country and they've had plenty time to make it work, At some point someone will have to decide whether the game is flogging a dead horse.

If one of the reasons that SKY are prepaired to pay so much for SL is due to there being a club in London, then surely its fair they receive more money? Especialy if they are struggling and need money?

[giwildgo]

If one of the reasons that SKY are prepaired to pay so much for SL is due to there being a club in London, then surely its fair they receive more money? Especialy if they are struggling and need money?

If such an assumption was based on any real evidence rather than speculation then you may have a case. Personally I can't see how a floundering franchise in London is more valuable to SL as a commodity than the likes of Wigan and St. Helens which despite being in small northern towns, have much bigger recognition, reputations, support and legacy in the game.

[Billy Bunter]

Genuine question, as I may have missed it at some point, but has anyone ever got a definitive answer from either Sky or the RFL as to whether the size of any TV/Sponsorship deals is dependant on the presence of a London club?

[a.n Other]

1
If such an assumption was based on any real evidence rather than speculation then you may have a case.

2 Personally I can't see how a floundering franchise in London is more valuable to SL as a commodity than the likes of Wigan and St. Helens which despite being in small northern towns, have much bigger recognition, reputations, support and legacy in the game.

1 Parksider may be able to answer that?

2 If they do bring more money in, then sure they should receive more?

[TheDuke]

Would the extra money just be wasted? they have a good squad now, think a change of coach is required to kick start things


also a Knighthood for David Hughes for services to the game

[a.n Other]

Would the extra money just be wasted?

If it keeps a club in London and in the SL, then regardless of how good they are, it wouldnt be wasted imo.