Martyn Sadler

The Podcast was an opportunity for him to set out some principles that will underlie his Chairmanship. He made it quite clear that he wants the game at all levels to become more financially secure. He emphasised his commitment to the international game and referenced his record in that regard. He also made it clear that he believes that Super League should only expand when there are clubs that can enhance the competition. He also made it clear that IMG will negotiate the next broadcasting agreement and he appears to fully support the 12-year agreement with IMG. He actually was due for a face-to-face meeting with IMG yesterday afternoon. So I think he made some quite significant statements. And let's not forget, he will be the Chairman, not the CEO, who will continue to be Tony Sutton.

I wouldn't have expected you to make such a silly comment.

I'm sure I can spot a pattern there. Can you?

I'm glad to see a reasoned critique of the Podcast, as opposed to some of the sillier comments earlier that were so laughable. Even if I don't agree with you, you're entitled to your view. In terms of Robin Day or Paxman, it was a Podcast discussion, not an interrogation of the sort that they used to do. That would have been a very different event. As for Manchester United, on 10th March this year Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the following: "Manchester United would have run out of cash by the end of this year - by the end of 2025 - after having me put $300m (£232.72m) in and if we buy no new players in the summer. If we hadn't have implemented the cost programmes and restructuring that we have done over the last 12 months." You need to get in touch with him to reassure him that things are not as bad as he obviously imagines. But then of course he's the owner and you are not.

In the latest edition of the League Express Podcast our host Jake Kearnan and I speak to the new RFL Chairman Nigel Wood for a wide-ranging discussion about his new role and his priorities for the British game. We discuss his election as RFL Chair, Tuesday's RFL Council meeting with the clubs about the strategic review and what the future of the game holds. We discuss the potential of a 14-team Super League, getting the RFL's finances in order and the NRL's interest in Super League. We also discuss the future of French clubs, the next broadcasting agreement and how the game can better market itself.

In this week's episode of the League Express Podcast, Jake Kearnan and I react to Queensland's winning the 2025 State of Origin series. We discuss where it ranks among the best Queensland series wins of all time, who were the stars and we discuss the heroic efforts of Cam Munster, who was playing three days after his father passed away suddenly. We speculate about the impact of the Origin series on the Ashes series this autumn. We discuss Danny McGuire's exit at Castleford and where he might end up, changes to the international player quota and Sam Lisone signing with Hull FC, and we preview the weekend's Super League matches.

Check out the latest League Express Podcast in which Jake Kearnan and I discuss all things Rugby League.

Nigel is keeping us waiting. We won't get much out of him until after the Council meeting on 15 July, at which he is likely to become the RFL Chairman. I do know that he's spent quite a bit of time recently in London speaking to Sky Sports about likely future broadcasting scenarios for Rugby League, while also marshalling the Super League club owners to accept they have a common interest in making their competition as attractive as possible for potential investors. The clubs have the final say in how many teams comprise Super League and they seem to have moved en masse to wanting 14 as early as next season, although such a move isn't yet guaranteed. I believe that Nigel has been tasked with finding the money that will enable the clubs to maintain their current distribution levels, both for them and for any new clubs coming into the competition, and that won't include Catalans losing their share of the distribution. And anyone who claims that the NRL won't make a move for Super League because of Nigel's appointment is talking nonsense.

Check out the new edition of the League Express Podcast.

The London Hounds seems to come out of left field. I'm not sure who would have thought of the idea. I had a meeting with Gary and urged him not to change the name of the club. The Broncos may not be a wildly successful club but at least they have some name recognition. To completely rebrand them will be expensive, if it is to be done properly, and its success will not be guaranteed. It sounds to me more like a fox hunting organisation, which won't necessarily guarantee its popularity with the audience Gary is trying to attract.

I wish I had more faith. It's rare for any organisation to cede power for the greater good but that is effectively what the clubs are being asked to do. My fear is that they will opt for the status quo and they will continue to make decisions that don't benefit the game as a whole. One example of that is the expansion of the quota system, which will result in more money flowing out of the game to overseas players just when that money should be aimed at expanding our own player production process.

Those are the issues the clubs are currently debating, among others.

Not in the clubs, in the competition.

It's actually far more accurate than the article written by John Davidson about Nigel Wood. But the clubs have to find a way to facilitate investment into British Rugby League that will deliver income growth for the leading competition that new investment can generate. That is likely to mean the clubs themselves submerging their identities into the competition as a whole and forgoing some of their current powers. All their current meetings are focused on that point. Whether they are prepared to combine their interests in the way any new investors will require will determine their prospects of success.

It's actually quite difficult to argue with people who allow their prejudices to override or misrepresent facts that are put in front of them. There's none so blind as those that refuse to see.