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Regardless of the rights or wrongs no-one wants to see a traditional club (Or any club) go to the wall. Hopefully it will all work out OK

Bit rich this Harry, given you had arguments/discussions with me over and over again on this very forum last summer in which you repeatedly seemed to be advocating Fev spending even more money than they already had, whether they had it or not.

Coaches and administrators in amateur sports who overlook their grass roots in an attempt to go for glory poison sports at all age groups all over the world. It’s a mindset they have and they don’t change. It’s infuriated me when I’ve come across it in junior sports in my community. So many junior athletes just leave because of one or two of these personalities take over a team or a club. I get the feeling Lebanon will sort themselves out eventually but the others will be overtaken by other countries that are starting to develop quite nicely. It’s a correction we had to have and it’s a sign of progress.

As others have pointed out, the forum was offline from late afternoon on Friday 15th March until the morning of Monday 18th March, which killed most of the match threads that weekend stone dead. Posts may have been made in them since we came back online, but you can't make any reliable judgements on their popularity based on that, as there was no option to discuss the games while they were taking place, which most people prefer to do. Another factor this season is I'm not posting the match threads up as early as I used to, to avoid them becoming off-topic slanging matches before the actual games have even kicked off! Plus, I am posting warnings in every thread about avoiding accusing officials of cheating, corruption etc, which has probably reduced the number of posts from those who can't think of anything else to say when their team is losing, but is making my life as a moderator a lot easier. So, match threads on here this year may have fewer posts overall, but hopefully the discussions within them are of a slightly higher quality...

Planning application submitted:

Thought better of you Harry,usually one of the level headed ones on here.

I'm awaiting the Mark Campbell ate my hamster finale.

In a sense, it is a sign that the salary cap is working. No team can afford more than 3 A-List players. I think tonight's Broncos would have easily beaten Salford and Leigh.

I will be naughty and suggest that the lack of posts on the game threads are because of the clampdown on referee bashing. Proof to me if it were needed that most people don't really watch the game or have much interest in it. All for the better for me as someone who can't abide bitching about ref's every other post!

Yep, speaking to companies LIKE sky is far better than using their website. It's probably the opposite of most companies.

I ring them at least once a year to see what deals are on offer. They are always very friendly, and I always end up better off (or less out of pocket as Mrs Exiled would frame it). If you have a few minutes to spare of course.

Right on both counts. The great man storming through for two tries...and massive areas of near-empty terracing at Wembley. Lowe was a tremendous player and in many ways the prototype for some of the huge, fast back-rowers we saw from Australia in years to come.

This might have already been mentioned up the thread, but does this 78/13/9 split mean that individual L1 clubs get more income from any deal than their Championship counterparts this year? 9% divided by 9 L1 clubs = 1% each 13% divided by 14 Champ clubs =0.929% each

I was in a medical waiting room in NZ and I spotted a sign ostensibly about nurses. I realised it was a subliminal message from a Wire fan using an innocent poster to get his message across. What an unusual place to spot RL, albeit done surreptitiously.

A shameless plug for my Instagram/Twitter page that details all things International RL eligibility. 2024 lists coming from May 1st. @hecanplayfor Thanks guys

Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos Bronx without Payne Hass and Adam Reynolds after loding Flegler and Faenworth to the Dolphins and look off the pace against a resurgent Penny Panthers. Panthers clawing their way to victory ? New Zealand Warriors v Canberra Raiders The Wahs have had two close losses whereas Canberra are off to a perfect start but this is the first serous test for Ricky's Raiders and its across the ditch. As an aside loving Ricky's appearance at the end of the new NRL McDonalds advert where he can find no fault with McDonalds in his press conference. Taking the rise out of himself. Warriors to repel Raiders? Sydney Roosters v South Sydne I feel it in my bones, the scene is set for a Souffs win. Wabbits in turmoil, Coach under pressure, Latrell being himself, injuries a plenty but its a Derby game so all that goes out the window. Roosters lose this and its 1-2 for the season and the traditional slow start continues not that Trent Robinson ever comes under media pressure... Battling Bunnies Bounce Back? Canterbury Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans Cultural change.match 1 with both clubs in the habit of losing. Canterbury have the return of the Fox to a side that looks better on paper that it currently plays though I expect a big second half of the season from this club. Des Haesler has changed the way that Gold Coast play but as yet nit the results they are getting and considering that the Gold Coat club are the one side missing out on the attendance boom does anyone really care that.much. Dogs savage Des? St George Illawarra Dragons v North Queensland Cowboys Shane Flanagan can be under no illusions about the size of the task involved in changing the Dragons losing culture. Good luck then in turning around Sundays "performance" in six days against a North Quuensland side that surely cannot be as clunky as they were in the first half against the Knights. How bout them Cowboys! Wests Tigers v Cronulla Sharks Cultural change in tigertown still being impeded by noises off the field. Benjis decision to go with the young tyro Lachlan Galvin may pay off in the medium to long term and as a man who grew up without a father figure who could fault his desire to spend less time watching film and more time with his kids especially when he can delegate to the likes of John Morris. When things are going well this never becomes an issue when it is not going well it does... This is a trap game for Sharkies who can play down to the level of their opposition particularly when heavily favoured. Sharks premiership hopes go West ? Paramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles Both sides know that to be taken seriously their opposition in this game Has to be beat. The silvertails have surprised me with their two wins but this is in Parra Territory. Eels shock Silvertails? Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm The Knights have had two tough losses and against a Storm team minus Cameron Munster and the suspended Jahrome Hughes I was getting ready to call this for the Knights. But then Adam O'Brien drops Jackson Hadtings for Jack Cogger, a move that smacks of a certain desperation, and not one that Jacko took well. Novocastrian Knightmare ?

Wigan seal their coaching team until 2030:

The situation Fev currently face provides a justification for the new IMG rules, and shows how a straightforward promotion and relegation between a full-time SL and a part-time Championship doesn't work. Without a very rich sugar daddy available (like Leigh and now Wakey), Fev, if promoted last year, would have found themselves having to use their fresh SL income to cover the previous losses incurred in trying to gain entry to the top table. They would have been at the back of the queue (inevitably) in recruiting a full-time squad, largely from cast-offs and fringe players from other SL teams, hamstrung by their starting financial position. Like Toulouse the season before (but probably financially worse off) they would be odds-on to go straight back down again. Back in the Championship, Fev would then have the task of offloading all the players they signed on two year contracts that they then couldn't afford, which would make their current financial problems look trifling.....

Welcome to Rochdale, Emmerson. A career enhancing move!

You could always look at their accounts.

A seven year coaching contract would be considered short term at Sheffield. We've only had seven head coaches.

No surprise there. He'll (along with the rest of the ex-Roughyeds) have a point he wants to prove next weekend. It's going to be a spicy one! Emmerson Whittel joins Hornets until end of season (hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk)

Grade E is 3 - 5 match ban plus a fine from the very 1st game of the Season. Shooting ourselves in the foot from the get-go. Let this be a lesson for everyone else (Stack & Johnson particularly) for the rest of the season. Fortunately Adam Jackson is a competent replacement.

They’ve announced a squad, unlike Leigh. Fev might be asking the same question

22% of the SL commercial deals is a substantial amount of money.

Think he had something to do with Wakefield at one point.

His and Openshaws pace should catch a lot of teams out this season.

Yeah, Parramatta had a great day at Parra CBD and a march where people from all cultures were encouraged to join in, it looked brilliant and lots of smiling participants. Massive Indian population around Parra and I saw Indian dancers and the like, Parramatta really needs to get these groups following their team and having the Eels banner central to a great gathering like this is not a bad place to start.

"Math" is just wrong.

Rather like the Toronto players, I don’t have a problem with journalists using their platform to keep the non payment issue to the fore. But there should be some official response by now.

Yeah, working from home has benefits for these Thursday matches!

Yup. It's a poor structure if that is what's been agreed. And we are just going off RL journos. Things should pass the sniff test, and this doesn't. It's not difficult to have commercial agreements that are weighted in favour of the main focus of the deal. I'm sure international tv deals won't be weighted like that, so I'm not sure it will be true.

A key element of being televised is that scheduling is affected. Some of that impact will be through no-standard days/times, but some will be down to lateness of changes. But those things are only happening because of a TV deal. When people talk about tv deals impacting crowds, they aren't just talking about the actual end point of the match being on telly.

Great news for Wigan, in my view the best coaching team in SL. Unusually long contracts but there may well be break clauses and I doubt the club would stand in the way if big opportunities came up elsewhere - which I suspect would only be England or NRL ones.

It will be interesting to find out what the financial support is to make all grounds ‘broadcast ready’. However, if the deal goes ahead and the income is spilt 78, 13, 9 split in favour of SL then simple math shows that each SL club would receive £3250 in year 1 rising to £6500 in year 3. Surely, for an elite league these amounts are simply minuscule. Here is a radical idea …. let the Championship clubs have the money!

And on the 7th day, ye shall rest.

Done.

Such a great player, but also a lovely bloke who commanded every room he was in, an imposing presence but friendly and always had time for everyone. Proper heartbeat of the club. I love this photo, think it encapsulates everything.

hull to tenerife- how long does that take?

I know I live on another planet at times in the world of what's feasible. But it would be great to have a Championship and League One broadcast deal. It would give Midlands a chance to showcase their new stadium to a base, us at Thunder a chance to try and grab an untapped audience and with Sean Long at Oldham a real look at their resurgence. That's just three teams, there'll be more stories out there. At the very least us League One clubs should be allowed to offer a streaming service. I'd also like to see some Championship on terrestrial, I've enjoyed watching it over the last couple of seasons since Covid despite Thunders woes. It's a good league to watch and I would watch it on the red button on BBC or wherever. I guess I'm a bit frustrated that as we come into a new IMG era as a game we're not grasping at chances to generate new audiences and streaming is definitely one of those ways.

In the 70s playing league 0n Hackney Marshes in London,103 soccer pitches and 2 rugby pitches. Good old days in SRL Ron

Nice post and so true.

Yes the banks will be closed, but for everybody else just a normal day. https://jobs.hscni.net/Information/7/public-holidays-and-leave

1463 at Doncaster.

I believe it is a joint venture. The majority owners of both clubs are the same people.

Can't see all 3 of them still being at the Piedome in 2030.

What, like having every game available live on* Sky? *I know later in the season the non feature games will likely be the red button rather than the main Sky channels, but still it’s far more than we’ve ever had before

My nephew just returned from a week in Haarlem in the Netherlands and met a Aussie who was St.Merge Dragons which warmed my cockles.