105 replies to this topic

[gazza77]

One point on the SL clubs looking to save money - I'm not sure why people are ignoring the 2nd reason, which was highlighted in the RFL's update.

Some clubs wanted the reduction in costs, some wanted the system changed because they didn't feel the structure was right. I'm not convinced this structure is right, but people shouldn't just pick and choose elements of the reason to suit their argument and to bash the clubs or the RFL.

I'm not convinced that Wigan and Leeds will have wanted the age group scrapping to save £100k - although that's just my feeling. Similarly I'd expect the likes of Hull to be happy to invest £100k if the system was working properly and providing a suitable pathway.

There must be an assumption that the system wasn't right - as I say I don;t believe this system is right - but I don;t have the facts to hand.

You're quite right in that, I really can't believe that all of the clubs were looking at this for a cash saving perspective rather than player pathway. That said, if the player pathway wanted improving, would it not have been best to have discussions across all of the RFLs member clubs, rather than have some decide on what suited them best and try to enforce that upon the rest?

[audois]

Indeed France is poor/slow at turning up quality RL players.

Yet with eight French lads each week at least still good enough to finish ahead of the World Club Champions in 2012.

[audois]

...that the dire threat of relegation would force their hand. Despicable but not surprising. The Rugby League Family eh?

This dire threat meaning what exactly. Playing North Wales, Gateshead, Skolars, Gateshead, Hemel, Oxford, South Wales and Gloucester All Golds. Are they part of the family too.

[Terry Mullaney]

This dire threat meaning what exactly. Playing North Wales, Gateshead, Skolars, Gateshead, Hemel, Oxford, South Wales and Gloucester All Golds. Are they part of the family too.

You'd better ask the CC clubs which have signed up as subservient partners to the SL in order to avoid the bottom tier..

[Dave T]

You're quite right in that, I really can't believe that all of the clubs were looking at this for a cash saving perspective rather than player pathway. That said, if the player pathway wanted improving, would it not have been best to have discussions across all of the RFLs member clubs, rather than have some decide on what suited them best and try to enforce that upon the rest?

Yep - I agree.

[Griff]

You'd better ask the CC clubs which have signed up as subservient partners to the SL in order to avoid the bottom tier..

Well, two of them will be dropping down, Terry - DR or no DR.

[keighley]

Well, two of them will be dropping down, Terry - DR or no DR.

And it just might be barrow and keighley. the first because they are not in a twinning arrangement and the latter because they came so late to the party they had to link with a weak SL team, the last result notwithstanding.

[Keith T]

And it just might be barrow and keighley. the first because they are not in a twinning arrangement and the latter because they came so late to the party they had to link with a weak SL team, the last result notwithstanding.

By that reckoning then Town should be next favourites after them two as they were the last to link up prior to Keighley, but I don't think it will be Town.

[Gav Wilson]

Gateshead Thunder have a Hull KR badge on the sleeve of their new shirt. I'm saying nothing...

[Keith Nutter]

Gateshead Thunder have a Hull KR badge on the sleeve of their new shirt. I'm saying nothing...

Nothing like preserving a club's heritage is there

[The Parksider]

Nothing like preserving a club's heritage is there

Now then Keith, Border raiding is hardly the heritage of a grand old Lancashire club

[The Parksider]

Yet with eight French lads each week at least still good enough to finish ahead of the World Club Champions in 2012.

Oh whoops. Forgot you may be taking half an interest in this dual reg thing.

Point taken.

Just a quick question, of the other 13 SL clubs which ones do you think you'd beat using an all french side?

Just out of pure interest and respect for your views......

Edited by The Parksider, 12 February 2013 - 07:27 PM.

[The Parksider]

The SL clubs callously exploited the financial weaknesses of their potential 'partners' knowing that the dire threat of relegation would force their hand.

Erm, very well put indeed......

[shaun mc]

All this DR businss was agreed by the Championship clubs according to Rimmer in LE, and they were fully consulted and informed.
How can this be? Many posts on various threads say not. Are we just being fed bland, factually incorrect info just to cover this up and hope we all calm down in the next few days?

[JohnM]

Good question. Maybe the answer is that it was agreed with the Chief Execs or whoever makes the decisions at the clubs. Or perhaps he just forgot to ask the TRL Forum's permission.

[Keith Nutter]

Now then Keith, Border raiding is hardly the heritage of a grand old Lancashire club

LOL Parky. Couldn't agree more. I have absolutely lambasted that little farce in many of the books I have written down the years.

[Terry Mullaney]

Well even Rod Studd and his buddies condemned the system as 'a mess' and called for the RFL to sort it out quickly. It ain't going to happen though, is it?

[audois]

Oh whoops. Forgot you may be taking half an interest in this dual reg thing.

Point taken.

Just a quick question, of the other 13 SL clubs which ones do you think you'd beat using an all french side?

Just out of pure interest and respect for your views......

Interesting question that. Of course the Dragons are by some distance better than the French national side. When you see the quality of their overseas recruits you can see why they've done so well, Jones, Mogg, Greenshields, Ryles, Bird, Johnson and now Menzies, Anderson,Webb and Pryce. I think a team based on French players alone would hold their own against half the competition. Only Wigan, Leeds, Saints, Warrington, Hull and Huddersfield have sufficient English players.

Edited by audois, 13 February 2013 - 01:38 PM.

[The Parksider]

Interesting question that. Of course the Dragons are by some distance better than the French national side. When you see the quality of their overseas recruits you can see why they've done so well, Jones, Mogg, Greenshields, Ryles, Bird, Johnson and now Menzies, Anderson,Webb and Pryce. I think a team based on French players alone would hold their own against half the competition. Only Wigan, Leeds, Saints, Warrington, Hull and Huddersfield have sufficient English players.

That's a great answer. I'd agree with that.

There has to be some disappointment that with a whole region of RL to go at Catalans don't have more French stars.

But that's no different to several SL clubs who equally can't produce many home grown stars.

I'd really fear for Toulouse if they got in 2015. Will they? And how would they raise a competitive team?

Edited by The Parksider, 13 February 2013 - 03:41 PM.

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

I have not had chance to read through all the posts so please accept my apologises if I go over 'old ground' but I am neither here nor there on the dual registration process.

As I understand it, Championship clubs can register as many Super League-registered players as they like but can only play 5 at any one time, an increase on last season's total number of 4.

I'll have to do a bit of research but I imagine that there were a fair few of our game's top flight players getting a game in the Championship at the weekend.

I think the governing body are trying to 'bridge the gap' of quality between the lower leagues and the Super League and one way that they are doing this is with dual registration, maybe with a view that a few of the registered players will ultimately make a permanent move.

On the other side, I wonder what the established lower league players think. Do they feel it is good for their division and team, or are their noses put out of joint having some of their spots taken?

As the 'system' is still relatively knew I'd like to see how it progresses further but it could well be a good thing overall.