The British Lion

Im sure we will show up, Wire. But, that cup final will have taken a lot out of us. Leeds by 12 at least.

For me, a real struggle between Jonathan Davies Lee Briers Alfie Langer. Davies gets it over the other two just for the pure brilliance, genius and skill in his first 93/94 season at Wire. Scored many tries out of nothing and seemed untouchable that year - man of steel year for him Briers was and always will be a Wire legend. His long term with the club and the way he played the game was an incredible to watch. Langer - again just a genius on the field.

It will take a minor miracle for Warrington to win this with all the injuries sadly. HKR by 20

Perhaps less games will make space for more anticipated International series, that are more profitable. I can't be the only one that doesn't like loop fixtures. Agreed. 10 teams is too low. But cut the loop fixtures. Watching my team play Wigan/Saints whoever, home and away, plus a loop, plus a challenge cup, plus a play off, etc etc....it dilutes the fixtures. Its boring and no wonder crowds are not increasing.

I despair with RL in the UK.

Absolutely brilliant response for this round of Challenge Cup games! Loved seeing the video scene at Craven Park.....begs the question, does the score matter for these rounds? Great to see the Hull lot get out to support West Hull especially amongst all the other fixtures. Well played all!

Class, well done Leigh

Its not a trigger. I think the difference is, if you take a look at football. clubs can climb the FA pyramid and come from various geographical locations. Even Union has this (and yes, they have had their own difficulties with 2 clubs facing big financial difficulties). What RL currently has, is a mass bunch of small town clubs in the main (my club included), and yes theyve been around for generations - and have earned the right to be where they are. However, they are mainly dotted off the M62 motorway. And unfortunately, the SL M62 clubs have too much power in the say of the running of the game. Of course its not a 'massive, disheartening shock' but, what it is, is a continued dissatisfaction at the insular nature of the way RL is ran in England. Don't expect a new audience to follow (just an example) Castleford v Warrington in their droves. They won't. Im sorry. Also, as a longstanding RL fan, i can't say im 'with you' at the prospect of watching Warrington play Salford/Wigan/whoever potentially twice in the league, once in the cup, once in the play offs, and 'dreamingly potentially' once in the GF. A potential of 4 or 5 times!! If RL has any intention of growing the game to attract new sponsors, higher revenue, new audiences, it needs growth and new markets to sell into. That happens through developing the international profile of England RL first, and creating pathways geographically outside of its traditional footprint. There's a saying. Do what you've always done, and you'll get what you've always got. And the current plans feel, are where we are at.

Well, I didn't see it

Thanks John. Hadnt seen this. In saying that, I consider myself a core RL fan and so not seeing this means its not well distributed. Ive read it, and Im sorry, Im really not excited by it. For example, 'a' mid season international. It simply isn't enough to ever build a growing fanbase. 'A' mid season international means currently it must be England v France or Exiles/All Stars. It isn't enough. The mid season window needs to be at least 3 weeks break. Co-incide with Origin. Make use of British NRL Players and Heritage players for home nations and others to start to 'develop' a meaningful mid season window. RL has to think development now for tomorrow. RL must build a northern hemisphere competition. Capped non British clubs for SL? Then 'what is' Superleague? Is it a euro/French Anglo competition or not? If so, how can you cap it? If it isn't, then ask Catalans to leave (not what I want) and get them to lead an RL French revolution! Also - a 'number' of clubs who received an A grade in SL, to be quite honest, is ridiculous. If they are grade A clubs - if 'they' are the mantle to aim for, Im sorry, but RL will be in the same situation in 12 years time.

The issue is, I don't see or hear a long term vision from the RFL right now. Perhaps you do, with inside info. Not asking you to divulge that if you are in the loop on that. Ive been, as im sure others have, a lifelong RFL fan. To be quite honest, the season upon us does not excite me personally. Another year of loop fixtures v m62 clubs. Continued 'make-shift' internationals (even if it is vs Australia). Im really hoping for, the RFL to come out and give an ambitious blueprint for where the game is heading. Internationals planned for the next 10 years, with a competition to win. Emerging Nations in the North Hemisphere to have a plan to join the elite. Strategy in how that will happen. Clubs to be able to climb the UK pyramid (there is no clarity currently - i wont go down the reasons why, re the IMG thread). RFL - Give the fans vision, a future, and a hope. For me, another year of The M62 Super league isn't enough. Yes, Ill still watch, but not as enthused. I will not attend loop fixtures as usual. Get clubs to provide an exciting match day 'experience' (I stupidly took my wife to her first RL game at Headingley last year. It was cold, rainy,(away stand with no roof, just as an example) with little pre match entertainment....whether she comes back in future is unlikely due to the first impression. ....'Make Rugby League Great Again!'

If Ive caused offense, @JohnM my apologies. It wasn't intended to do so, or otherwise be so assumptive. I obviously don't speak for everyone, accepted. Happy to change it. It poses the question though, do you, or, are others happy with the vision of the game and how it's being ran?

Forgive the silly season post. But, is it? I would love for our game to be managed by someone with an exciting vision for the future. What could RL be in 10, 20, 50 years. Who would be involved? What would International RL look like? What would the league structure look like for UK, France and others be? I probably speak for some others, in that, currently, I have zero confidence in the current administration of the RFL for the future of the game in the UK, let alone the m62 corridor, and beyond that. What would you do if you had vision for the game, for the future going forwards? Here are my own personal strategies, with long term goals. 1. Establish a European Nations Championship - Call it what you want. - Not England Knights, but full strength England. - Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Serbia, any others in Europe worthy of merit for serious development. - Allow heritage players for 10 years (or whatever) - play this comp at the same time as NRL Pacific cup, or, mid season. It doesn't matter how it does crowd wise for the first 10 years. Start with the end in mind. - Each country in the Euro comp to have development officers employed. 1 (a). Each SL team to be assigned a nation from this comp whereby players in their first team squad are salary cap exempt. Encourage this development. This plan over ten plus years would allow for, for example, a Dublin club to be developed, and at the end of the ten years ( or whatever time period necessary) that SL club to be rewarded financially and those players to be set free to establish a local team - This would be a UK owned development process. RL will not be birthed with good foundations otherwise. - Players from the catchment area salary cap exempt also (50% if born Leeds, Saints, Wigan etc - just a suggestion) 1. b - Have a tiered system approach for the first ten years like the Pacific cup with promotion and relegation. Just play it! and build it! IMG can surely help market player profile to build interest. 2. We (RL) Can never build on the status quo, there has to be room to grow through the league structure - Cull the loop fixtures, make room for developing Internationals and build - No, that does not mean Lancs v Yorks or Exlies etc. Just build internationals. Do whatever it takes to get buy in from NRL to release heritage players. - 1 month in the season, have a mini tournament (origin style) over a round robin. Call it what you want. SL and Championship clubs commit their best players to 1. Manchester, London, Glasgow, Dublin, Paris etc etc all with the aim of 'planting clubs for the future' Surely a TV Deal would finance that with some expertise in selling the product. The aim is - grow the game without the need of touring OZ, NZ or others which would be so welcome and immense. How about RFL we start somewhere? Have a vision, and work towards it. Understandably, I may get some flack for this. But, if we intend to play with a league that consists of M62 corridor clubs, with no strategy for beyond (which has been the case for London, and Catalans believe it or not) we will always get what weve always had. Sorry - Wire fans (im one) St Helens, Wigan, Leeds, etc....those pushing for inclusion from the Championship....Featherstone, Bradford etc.... Its not rocking the sporting world with excitement and vision, but, you should be a part of it, like football. What would you do?

100% After a few or so bleak years as Wire - these signings, with Van De Velde as coach, with Kohe Love and a few other amazing talents. Lee Briers emerging well,, Alan Hunte, Jonathan Roper looking strong etc....it felt like 'it could be our year' After the 1995 WC, also in 95 (I think, Wales won the Euro Round Robin v Eng and France.) Big expectations for that WC....alas! It was a disaster. Warrington never realised their potential with that incredible squad of signings, and the WC was a wash out due to the weather being one of the worst on record for a WC.

I’d also add (50% controversy and 50% genuine excitement) when Toronto came around and it looked like the game in Canada and America might be a dream coming out the pipeline. Then the M62 Papa Johns Super League shut the door firmly and gave Toronto no free pizzas from the deal.