Tommygilf

Closeness and competitiveness of fixtures is exactly what the aim is and can be achieved. Arguably that relies on clubs like Wigan and Leeds not always being at their optimum. Google Premier League circle of parity. Its one thing they love to talk up because "anybody can beat anybody" makes every game more attractive and therefore the whole league. That's not saying there won't be stronger and weaker sides in a given season, or that this will change through a season with recruitment, injuries and managerial changes for example.

Yeah its not mythical at all. Some of the solutions and methods proposed might be fantasy stuff, but its perfectly possible to have a comp with most fixtures being relatively even odds for most of the season. Injuries, discipline and tactics can be the difference then. RL has moved to make periods of dominance in a match even more influential with 6 agains and a preference for ever faster rucks. That has skewed some results which have seen more big scores.

General consensus seems to be that this is a minimal upgrade of RLL4 from 2017. Yes its a small studio etc but the suggestion was that this has been built from the ground up (which feels like its been a waste of time). Whilst the players looking well-scanned is nice its really just icing on the cake stuff and unfortunately it seems the cake itself is lacking. Key aspects are missing like the NSW cup, international teams* etc. The gameplay itself has on the face of it not improved since RLL4. The stadiums included are very varied if again not very polished. I feel like if they were doing annual or every other year or so releases you could get away with minimal improvements to the core gameplay between releases. They could then focus on upgrades like adding new teams/comps. This however feels like half a game unfortunately. Compare it to Rugby 25, their RU game, and it is night and day, and even that game isn't particularly good. Over 150 international teams, plus fully licensed leagues from English Premiership, France Top 14 and Pro D2, URC, MLR, Super Rugby, Romania 1 and 2, Bangladesh, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, and Brazil. *apparently you can play the ashes in career mode, but England don't have a kit, are described as the Lions and neither they nor the Kangaroos are available to play as outside of this mode. Seen ironic posts suggesting to wait for RL26 World Cup Edition next year...

No NSW cup seems odd, and internationals seem to not be in either?

League 1 too apparently

None of that is much more than platitudes though. Anyone sensible would want those things, its the how which is in doubt. No further clarity was really offerred in this regard. The idea that the previous regime were somehow not working towards this and thus had to be removed is therefore silly and doesn't get to the heart of the issues there. IMG's role and advice is not actually that controversial, despite how so many have tried to make them out to be the big bad. Perhaps its just really difficult to say that when "in reality..." Again its all very matey, like everything in RL seems to be these days. You're either part of the group of mates and get the support of the broader, for want of a better phrase, "in crowd" in the game, or you don't and are constantly harangued by whoever with a voice. The Mark Aston saga strikes me as such an example too. Whatever the personal relationships, these people need to be challenged and held accountable - a point Mr Sadler is keen to point out with regards to the former RFL leadership and IMG not coming on his podcast. Nothing particularly learned from the pod tbh, which is a real shame.

Its all very matey and fawning over eachother. Disappointing given Martyn is likely the only journalist that will be spoken to directly, though perhaps that is why.

Did he press any further on working with the NRL and IRL despite key figures from those organisations having at best a poor opinion of him?

That's proper Rugby League person talk that.

Please don't make me go back and watch more

First 5 mins if the interview is a lot of fawning... hope the last 55 improves.

SL has loads of options in the immediate vicinity of those cities already. Personally I think the likes of St Helens, Warrington, Wigan and Salford/Leigh should be taking "big games" to Liverpool and Manchester respectively like Union clubs do in London. Those clubs should be out there making connections to those cities. None of that stops work in any of the other cities you mention taking place.