Castleford Hawk

And as if to emphasise my point. Anyone can market the big games, we need to work harder at ALL levels. Flanagan Snr v Flanagan Jnr should have gone global, never mind the UK.

Our own reporters don’t talk our game up enough. If we are to survive, let alone progress, we all need to be highlighting its virtues, not pointing out its flaws. Yes, it is propaganda and goes against the grain for us straight talking diehards but we are competing against so many other sports for attention. Example. More than one RL journalist pointed out how Hunslet didn’t really deserve medals for winning the L1 Play-Off. So here was a final that we had chance to make into an event and some reporters were happy to point out they didn’t actually win anything. Compare that with football who make the play-off final between 3rd to 6th placed teams seem like a World Cup Final. If we can’t promote our own game why do we expect other media channels to take an interest.

Were Hunslet delusional in 1999 when they won promotion to SL but were denied entry? That is not the point being made here though. The point is we believe in on field performance being the criteria clubs should be judged by. Not only is that what sport is about, and what 76% of supporters surveyed wanted, but it is a lot simpler to understand and monitor than the farce we now have. Minimum standards have a part to play but let’s keep it simple, if you pay all your creditors on time that’s a tick for the finances - don’t make it more complicated than that.

In last season’s dummy run Leigh were 12th and Cas 13th. (I know Cas appealed). On the assumption Wakey are definitely going to be in and London out that still leaves a current Club to fall out due to Toulouse’s high ranking. 10. Toulouse Olympique – B – 12.97 – Championship 11. Wakefield Trinity – B – 12.52 – Championship 12. Leigh Leopards – B – 12.45 – Super League Championship 13. Castleford Tigers – B – 12.16 – Super League 14. Bradford Bulls – B – 12.02 – Championship It must be a nightmare for the clubs at the margins to put a playing budget together.

The transition year was never going to be perfect but this probably represents as fair a solution as possible. I also like the Super 8s between Champ and L1, the differential is not that great at this level so anything could happen. At the other end it will be interesting to see what the “increased prize money” is for the Champ winners in comparison to missing out on the SL £1m plus. 3 divisions of 12 sounds right to me but contradicts the “if you get a grade A you’re in” pitch. If we suddenly get 14 grade A’s then the Champ and L1 structures are up in the air again.

I think it is a good idea to freshen up,say every 10 years. That way generations of greats who follow the likes of Goldthorpe, Todd and Sutherland are also remembered. Hanley, Offiah, Schofield etc deserve their day in the sun.

There are millions involved in missing out on SL, if this was the real thing I suspect we would be seeing court action. Even now the squabbling and fallouts do not portray the game in a good light to any would be investors. Why anybody thought this was a better option than on field performance and minimum standards is beyond me.

L1 was always on borrowed time once the central funding was cut, just a case of who folded first and how many. The RFL/IMG must (surely) have discussed life outside of SL over the last 2 years, after all the strap line is “re-imagining the game” not “re-imagining Super League”. The question now is whether the desired number have fallen by the wayside to implement the master plan. If not then clubs could be left to rot for another season rather than act now. The problem is there may be more casualties than would thought, and more players drift away from the game. Champ clubs have a simple decision, are you prepared to put a nail in the coffin of the likes of Rochdale, Hunslet, Keighley, Workington by delaying a merger or will the rugby league family rally round.

Hope you guys stay up as Killer deserves to coach at a higher level. Has been brilliant for us. Total professional in everything he does, always raising the bar. You’ve got a good ‘un.

The population of Leeds is 800k. Rhinos averaged 13k in 2022. So there is quite a bit to go at still.