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Does it smell fishy to you?

https://northwalescrusaders.com/2021/11/13/crusaders-to-play-in-colwyn-bay-until-at-least-the-end-of-2023/?fbclid=IwAR2KH48DssRJGXUxjswarm3LMaZokpx8FPZIkdJh-_IWmu7pHwpyJOPoE1s

You'd think the Crocodile Dundee films would have earned him a few quid.

You're entitled to that opinion but it's completely detached from the reality which has been discussed in detail over the last 22 pages of this thread. I've no wish to go over that again.

Re-build Odsal, fund TWP mk2, subsidise coaches to Cornwall and build a railway link to the LSV. Something for everyone.

The new Forty-20 magazine reports a £100m offer by a strategic investor could be made as soon as next month. This would be for the British game as a whole. This ties into what Gary Hetherington has been telling the media recently, such as here and here. “We need to create a commercial entity which can really maximise the game’s worth. “It will sit underneath the RFL and will be led by industry specialists to maximise the commercial value of the game. “All the game’s commercial properties and key events will sit in this company, so that creates the perfect structure. “You then need the right senior management and executive management to run it effectively. “The governing body, ultimately, can only do so much. Most clubs aren’t maximising their potential. One of the objectives is to bring in a strategic investor – a major partner not just for Super League but for the whole game.” “Part of this major piece of work being done will be to increase participation of the women’s game and sell it as a separate entity.” “Constitutionally, all the Super League clubs voted to create this change and whole series of recommendations to move the game forward. “All aspects of the game will be looked at; we don’t want to be coming back with anything in isolation. It’s a big piece of work which is going ahead now; I am confident things will change.” “There is a common purpose now to do something collectively because our sport could be in jeopardy if we don’t do something about it.”

I suspect they have picked the game between two of the clubs with the biggest amount of followers at a fancy new ground for the opener to try and get more people to subscribe. Monday night is great, 7.45 ko gives plenty of time for Fev fans to get over to York after work as well. Can’t wait for it.

Congratulations to France for winning the series, well done to both teams for putting on two fantastic games of RL! This series feels like a real watershed moment for the wheelchair game, I can only see it going from strength to strength from now on, not one person that has watched these games won't want to see more. This is a brilliant form of the game and I personally just want to see more and more of it!

Does this mean I have to leave 15 minutes before the end?

Have you ever thought of setting your own RL club up, as it’s so easy to do?

Anfield is OK if you have got a 20" leg length, the seat spacing is ridiculously narrow, the most uncomfortable seats I have ever sat in, I vowed I would never go again after the NZ test, but I will definitely go to Wigan.

That’s the spirit!

The difference is that with Wigan we’re effectively fishing in the same pond, where there are already lots of matches. It’s potentially oversaturated now. With Anfield, whilst I dislike the stadium for the reasons already stated, it did add prestige and is targeting a different market, one which we will now miss out on potentially

Have to agree with some of the comments on here about Anfield. It is iconic but this is down to the atmosphere of those amazing European nights in particular. As a football stadium it’s very good, but I have been to 3 RL matches and as a venue for RL, sorry it’s not all that. Comparisons with Old Trafford are likely to cause the football fans on here to go nuts but having experienced both Anfield and Old Trafford as a RL fan there is only one of these venues that I would have major RL matches at and it’s not Anfield.

It looks like a good venue. I home they put down roots there. Might be a potential venue for the Summer Bash, too.

North Wales Crusaders have made some decent signings and have just announced they've signed a 2-year deal to remain at their new venue at Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay. Those saying there's no atmosphere where there's a running track around the stadium need to get to the Zip World Stadium and watch North Wales fans lift the roof of the stand with their support.

Maybe the England QF will no longer be that game and move to a bigger venue.

The club have just announced a deal with Conwy County Borough Council which will see us stay at Eirias Park until at least the end of the 2023 season. Fantastic news! https://northwalescrusaders.com/2021/11/13/crusaders-to-play-in-colwyn-bay-until-at-least-the-end-of-2023/

I don't like Anfield, but it was one of the marquee venues that gave the tournament more prestige. Disappointing, but hopefully 24k in Wigan will make up for it somewhat and it will look and sound great.

I just don't see how dropping to part time and potential growth go together. I can't see this ending well in that situation. They're going to be less competitive than previously, which isn't going to bring the fans in.

I'm amazed how many folk who probably have never set foot in a Bears Game suddenly have an opinion about the club and will happily tell those on here, that have spent the last 20 years establishing RL in the Midlands, that they are doing it all wrong...

Yes, we are staying. I was talking to one of the directors a couple of weeks ago and he said that he is taking the dugouts from Queensway, (which his company made to comply with RFL rules), and taking them to Colwyn Bay. He has also moved the "Wrexham Lager Stand" sign from the main stand at Queensway to the hospitality stand at Eirias Park, where Wrexham Lager will be extending their sponsorship of Crusaders, as well as also sponsoring the union club for their new season. He said that Conwy Council are very keen to have us there and that sponsorship opportunities are so much better than in Wrexham. The club also held the end of season awards in Colwyn Bay. Add to this the recent Wales Women, U16s & U17s games played at Eirias Park, and it looks like rugby league has found a new North Wales home.

We must support this , premier sports has chosen the top game of the round to show the championship off to prospective new fan's, as a supporter of this club iam proud that we have been chosen , good luck with the Mon p .m . games .

Good solid middle, great video too, hilarious

Great news. Looking forward to visiting this season.

Wouldn’t read too much into that result(as good as it was) it will be a different team this year

After seeing the Hull one in person, I'm not a massive fan. I refuse to buy a shirt over £50 that doesn't have an embroidered badge. The sublimated badge looks cheap as hell. I wouldn't mind as much if it didn't lack so much detail. Doesn't have the detail on the crowns it should have. Comes across as cheaply made but wanting a lot of cash.

This is great news, I love the North Wales coast, a fantastic setting for a RL game!

Oldham are indeed at their lowest in many a year, however, we are playing back in Oldham. Admittedly not where most fans would like us to play and in my view on the wrong side of town. But nevertheless we are in Oldham. On the positive side the club has decided to try something new. Most of the relegation squad have gone, the decent players to Widnes or barrow, with the indifferents to Swinton. And we are doing something different, we are starting from scratch. Many of us are looking forward to the new season. As they say "the only way is up".

I'm not massively negative. Wigan may not be as famous a city (town) or stadium but this is the Rugby League World Cup and in Rugby League the name Wigan is iconic.

What is then? I’d say Anfield and Old Trafford are equally the most iconic, befitting of by far the two biggest clubs in the country.

Giving Baz Tez and Phil new 50 year contracts

If this is the only fallout from having to shift the whole of the mens, womens and wheelchair WCs at just 12 months notice then it's not a bad overall outcome. Never particularly liked visiting Anfield anyway, absolutely awful seats and nothing to do round the stadium.

I think timing is everything, by all accounts Pickersgill signed for Fev months ago, long before Wakefield released Walker. Full back is one of the few places that seems to be a buyers' market at top-end Championship level, most of the better Championship teams seem to have at least one already signed up and there's a fair bit of quality around with Woodburn-Hall/Walmsley at Fax, Craig Hall/Pickersgill at Fev, Hooley at Batley, Elliot Hall at Bradford, Marsh at York, Mullen at Newcastle, Owens at Widnes, the lad from NRL at Leigh...most of the teams that are widely forecast to be challenging for the play-offs are set at the position. Then Hampshire has just come on the market too, he can play half back too but most of the top teams are set there too now. Probably Bradford the team with the bggest need for an extra pivot. Very unfortunate for Walker who isn't really a SL player but is a very solid top-end Championship full back, but am sure he will find a home somewhere.

No offence to Wigan, but this was an opportunity to take a Marquee game to a top tier venue and it feels like a step backwards

Jack Logan a centre is the 24th player to sign on for the 2022 season, welcome to the Knights Jack.

Loved his time at York….playing at the old Clarence street ground. never has the term jewel in the crown been more appropriate

Purely financial. The 80% cutting in central funding and the refusal of the landlords to help us grow. Despite them getting 100% of the takings from the bar they didn't even try to help themselves to help us. We now have an opportunity to grow, we have investment and a new challenge. From being down and out we now have a future. Will it work? Well at least we can say we tried rather than just died. Sorry to spoil the wake for the miserable Jeremiahs on here

part 2 will be made soon. P.S. If anyone on here has a PSG jersey they would like to sell or no someone. Let me know as I have a friend that would be happy to buy

Given there is literally 2 games outside the North I don't think even the powerhouse funding was that stringent, but regardless it does still strike me as a downgrade. England shouldn't really be playing in a less than 30k capacity ground for a home world cup - especially when so many games are in the heartlands anyway.

Am I the only one that really enjoyed watching RL at City of Manchester Stadium? For all its failings, Anfield is a marquee venue. Wigan simply does not have the same lustre.

Even if it is the best stadium in the world we really shouldn't be staging WC games on a pitch 10 yards too small

So what did you get for your 2 Opera tickets ? Gary H talks of a ' serious investor ......for the whole of the game'. Along with 95% of the game I'll sit on my hands for the moment......... That 95% ? Everybody at Tier 4 and below , without whose input ( as most 'serious ' investors should appreciate- no idea what the RFL have promised ) this game would collapse. Start spending there before anywhere else - first call for me would be 36 or so development officers ( attach them to pro clubs and expansion areas initially ) with specific KPI targets including to increase immediately playing numbers at teenager level........ Will our Great and Good take a holistic approach ? Jury out is the most hopeful message I can expect at this stage.

Just under 13000 for Notts County v Solihull Moors .

Bad luck on Newcastle like , off-season announcing top full time signings and all feel good factor only too be smashed down to earth … hopefully in a snowstorm or hurricane

Probably a good time to play them before all their new players click.

It would seem fevrover was right

These boards would be boring if we all thought the same way. Luckily you always provide a unique perspective.

While Anfield was one of our marquee venues for the tournaments, I certainly aren't a fan of rugby league being played there. Tiny pitch and some of the most horrible leg room I've ever experienced. The game moving to Wigan doesn't mean it will be England's quarter-final, all the games still have to be rescheduled and reallocated venues so England's hypothetical quarter might be moved to a bigger venue.

I can only judge the existing board on their track record so far and that track record is one of competence, realism and sustainable ambition. If we can get the move over the line and increase the capacity to at least 6,500 I'll be very optimistic about the direction we're heading.