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Coventry was not lost they chose to expand into a wider catchment area. Alan Robinsons vision was to embrace the whole of the Midlands. It was clear that after 15 years of trying to drum up an audience to make a go of it. He created the brand that attracted significant investment which was sorely needed. Mike Lomas saw the opportunity and bought into the idea. Mike's business acumen has given RL a boost. We all know that what is badly needed by any club trying to make is it's way as a pro club is A, Money B, the vision to understand that Rome was not built in a day. Mike has transformed the team from also rans into a side that is giving the status quo a run for it's money. First he brought in a fantastic coach in Mark Dunning. Mark has transformed the coaching and playing staff. Now Mike has brought Eorl Crabtree as Chief Exec. That is in itself a masterstroke. The status Eorl is held in is clear whenever we go to an away game. He knows the game inside and out. Obviously, Eorl will have a massive task in taking the club forward off the field. Just talk to him and Mike and its clear they know full well what needs to be done and what's more they know how to do it. As I mentioned earlier Rome wasn't built in a day. It will take hard work, commitment and time. Midlands Hurricanes unlike the other teams mentioned in this thread have the people that have the commitment necessary to see it through. So Coventry haven't gone, they have grown and it's all down to ALL the people mentioned above.

Talked to someone at RFL ticketing today. Leeds sold out. Everton less than 500. Wembley 15-20k big plan to do a big London kids, schools and local push later in year

You create a great day of entertainment so the fans that are coming are more likely to come back and recommend to others. You don't scrimp on the product just because you've already sold the ticket.

These ticket sales are just extraordinary. Headingley sold out and only limited tickets left at Everton which has just short of a 53,000 capacity. We've got 6 months to focus on just selling tickets for Wembley. I have a feeling this series is going to be something special.

I was thinking of going to Everton, just waiting for payday before buying the tickets but looks like it could be sold out by then, but you know I don't actually mind if I can't go because I'll just be so happy watching the full stadium and incredible atmosphere on tv.

Newcastle were 3rd in League 1 in 2019. 1st and 2nd were promoted that season. After Toronto went pop and Leigh took their place, it was basically a choice between them or Barrow (the 2nd relegated team). Hardly controversial or artificial promotion.

Genuinely believe that the dire set-up around England v NZ at the Olympic Stadium in 2015 explains the 10,000 crowd drop off for the visit of Australia the year after. When all you're selling is the match then it needs to be a cracker. It wasn't. If they'd sold an event not a game they would have got people coming back. Hopefully the positives we've seen so far continue into the matchday aspects too.

Bradford Northern, 1963, and York Wasps, 2002, folded part way through the season. Edit: BN after 13 games, YW 11.

We count that as a glorious day in Yorkshire!

An Oldham signing now making the pages of the BBC Sport Rugby League website - we have most certainly arrived in the big time now

Something has happened that has pleased me and annoyed me in almost equal measure (the pleasure bit is higher). An old friend who moved away got in touch recently to suggest we go to one of these games, Headingley was his preferred venue. I told him I'd get a couple of tickets and let him know the ins and outs later. Unfortunately I had a few other things to do and didn't anticipate the *genuine* demand for tickets (I'm sure we're all used to the 'almost sold out' line that wasn't the reality) and as such have been unable to get tickets. This is both fantastic and annoying at the same time but genuinely, is so good to see. We'll probably plump for Everton instead.

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but the dual reg agreement between London and Salford is a spectacular move. What a pairing.

Old Macdonald is a yed Ee aye ee aye oh! All together now

Only town in the country where the window cleaners use a sander.

Oldhamers getting excited about a trip to Wembley. What could possibly go wrong?

Signed for Oldham on a short term loan. Massive for the Yeds

Unbelievable signing. Let's welcome him with open arms and hope he loves it so much that he wants to stay. Thanks to our owner Bill for all his investment, commitment and time. How things have changed in the last 2 years. Amazing.

Exactly this! Make them events to remember so that when NZ 2027 goes on sale people see it as unmissable again

I must have missed the Total RL editorial calling on the other clubs to give up a portion of their funding to keep Cornwall going. And yet, apparently, that should have been an option for Salford.

Everybody talk about Pop Musik.

As I listened on Radio, can't give the best overview but here we go: Despite starting brightly enough, we soon went 0-6 down. Early in the second half, Russell made a good try (converted by Lino) with Rourke finishing another soon after for 12-6 (converted by Lino). However, Rourke undid his good work by committing two howlers which not only allowed Leigh to score 3 more tries, but go for the 2 pointer from a penalty. However, despite the two howlers, Rourke has been a good young player since signing. We should have been 18-6 up but the opportunity wasn't taken. Congratulation Leigh, best of luck on the semis!

Surely not 'umble Matty Peet. He was probably taking the referee a miniature bottle of whisky.

I’ve got to ask how Warren Turley gets given an officiating job in such a vital game where Leigh are involved. It’s not like his dad and his brother are Leigh RLFC legends or anything is it

Man, I hate that stoopid "song", even when the Hull fans sing it. Pathetic.

Just been looking at England's highest home attendances. From what we're hearing about Everton close to selling out, looks like that is immediately going 3rd on the list, knocking the 44,000 at Olympic Stadium for the Baskerville Shield down to 4th. England's record home attendance is 67,545 at Wembley for the 2013 world cup semi. I would say we've got a very good chance of beating that. With how sales are going and the excitement that is buzzing round this series, I think we can get 70,000 at Wembley. The record international rugby league attendance is the 2013 world cup final when 74,468 turned up. Not out of the realms of possibility this Goose thinks!

We should base a club's viability on measuring their online engagement?

Liar, liar, pants on fire! You can nearly always spot posters who reappear under a different moniker. They can never change their posting style and it always gives them away.

I have been to every international held in the south since my exile started in 1990. It has never been particularly difficult to find non leaguies who would go. There are hundreds of thousands of sports fans who would love to watch a high class sports event. I am sure many other leaguies down here are in the same boat. What tips the balance is the point at which they mention it to me. It has happened a few times over the decades but not often enough. Early 90s and the World Cup semi spring to mind. In contrast, some games - the England NZ one at the Olympic stadium springs to mind - have felt like an afterthought, with no general awareness among sports mad people down here. It looks entirely feasible that Everton will be pretty much done by Easter, and 10s of thousands at Wembley already in the bag, which leaves the team 5 months to sell it. I have no doubt that if they put their mind to it we can get over 70k, and could go far higher. The potential audience is absolutely vast. Once they are on their way, I think the best way to turn it into an event is to use Wembley Way properly. There is no equivalent at the Emirates, or even the Olympic Stadium where everyone comes from all directions. Then put some music on before and at half time, get some proper community singing down our necks and the game will look after itself.

I think this has caught some RL fans out, which is in a way a good thing, it hopefully sets a precedent that A. Tickets won’t be discounted and B. That it’s a good thing to get tickets early to avoid missing out

I remember GB winning at Wembley in Oct 1990, with a 50k+ crowd. I think that was the first time in the modern era since Odsal '78 when we won a test at home. The day after, Old Trafford (2nd test) had a massive surge and sold out all at once. The psychology of ticket purchases, especially amongst the RL "passive" audience, is a strange phenomenon. But like any event, you just have to have something that triggers the cultural spark and a ground will surge-sell. It's quite possible to see a near 100k stadium sell out for an event in a very short period of time (NFL, Taylor Swift...). Something that we in RL very rarely manage. Yet sometime do.... We often talk about "marketing" or "the event" - which I support. But there is a cultural trigger at play that means that occasionally, we get a surge. And that is, I wonder, what's happening here. Why it's happening here is the question. I'm guessing Everton will surge now. Then, what will be interesting is whether and why Wembley will surge - or will remain guest to Mr Alternate Row and Mr Grey Upper Deck.

I once sat next to someone who paid £2.50 less for his ticket than me, and was nearer the halfway line. It made my blood boil I could scarcely enjoy Wigan beating Saints. It ruined the day for me.

Debates about the rights and wrongs of Headingley aside its great PR that this has sold out before even going on general sale

Now here’s a thing. London St George

Even if they held some back on Monday there would have been no reason for them not to have put all of Everton on sale very quickly after they saw the initial demand. So it's frustrating to see new sections open up there now.

That’s great news, while obviously nowhere near the big 3 Athens area clubs Panionios are a traditional club who’ve won big football titles in Greece and it’s good to have their name attached to rugby league.

Be careful what you wish for??? Yes Oldham will go into this game as overwhelming favourites but I've seen enough games in my life time to not take things for granted. I'm hoping your are correct but Barrow are no mugs, have already beaten us this season (all be it against probably a radically different Oldham side than the one that will be put out on Sunday) so are no mugs, we must give Barrow the respect they deserve as they are a decent side but hopefully your prediction comes true and we march into the semi's. COME ON OLDHAM!!!!!

Fantastic signing! It's things like this that SHOULD be spread over as many outlets as possible BBC, Look North, etc.

A time and a place for what? We can make it into whatever kind of event we want. A good start for things that would make it an event for me are: - A decent fan zone - we get this right most of the time provided nobody invites Wayne Godwin and his mate - Meet and greets with Brad Fittler or Andrew Johns before the game, and a presentation to great Ashes players from both countries on the pitch - A proper singer of the anthems, with a real orchestra/band and a sound system that actually works - Some good clips from great Eng/GB-Australia matches on the screen before the match. - Decent food and drink for sale in and around the stadium, with a set of staff who've actually been briefed on what a RL crowd is like compared to a football one.

I love it. It's classy, its sensitive to French culture, it reminds me of fruit salad sweets. What's not to like?

Blimey, was not expecting that when i logged on a few minutes ago. Now that is a statement signing even if it is only short term, well done BQ / MF / SL!!! I remember a post i made a couple of weeks back where i said only a few years ago Oldham had to beg / steal / borrow from the amateur scene just to make up the numbers. Christ how times have changed. Before i get ahead of myself i know this sort of signing will not become the norm and we will have to cut our cloth accordingly however for now I'll allow myself a big smile and think how far we have come from our days in the wilderness. COME ON OLDHAM!!!!!!!!!!!

Headingley is sold out, Everton will likely be sold out by the weekend so that leaves 70k for Wembley to hit that. I think we’ll defo do it!

There are some players at Rochdale with yorksher heritage. I think their relatives were illegal immigrants to Lancashire (build that wall). We could have them enter the field wearing flat caps and accompanied by whippets to the sound of Ilkla moor bahtat.

We've only sold 100 tickets and they've counted each one 600 times. It's 2021 all over again.

Yei, Gallagher and Tyrer all named by Hornets under dual reg

Dom Young going for the ball instead of easily smashing the try scorer in to touch as soon as he caught it was a shocking error that basically cost them the game

It's not quite that long, we lost at home to them in 2006 (and twice in 2004).

Very true, and he won't be the only one. Unfortunately the RFL is currently in an existential crisis and the fate of our "little clubs" will only be featured under aob.

When you say the pyramid are you including the amateur leagues? If so, I have all the league tables of all amateur leagues since 1973 up until 2 years ago when I lost interest. I could answer these questions but would have to be in the mood to do the research and I'm fast losing interest in the game I once loved. Amateur RL peaked in the mid 80's and I could confidently say there are not a quarter of the teams now that there were then in the whole Country. I'll give you a few names from the 1986 - Carlisle league (8 teams) Dalston 'A', Caledonian, Morton, Pheasant, Platform One, Wigton 'A', Carlisle RL Supporters Club, Penrith. Southern Amateur RL (21 teams) South London, London Colonials, Ealing, Peckham, Aberavon, Streatham Celtic, Fulham Aamteurs, Fulham Travellers, St. Mary's College, Cheltenham, Wokingham, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Peckham Pumas, Fulham Amateurs 'A', Bexleyheath, Ealing 'A', Springfield Hospital, Hounslow,Streatham Celtic 'A', Hemel Hemsptead 'A'. York League had 13 teams. These are just open age. Hemel Hempstead did more than the RFL to grow RL during their existence and in 1986 they ran a 9 teams competition of 11 to 13 year olds. The RFL talks a good game when it comes to expansion but they are only really interested in the Super Greed. Anybody who tries to grow the game outside the traditional areas will have to do it voluntarily.

Nicholson sticks in defence and his footwork on attack is fantastic. Keep playing like that and he'll be GB/England's right-edge second-row come the end of the year. Can you imagine Nsemba and Nicholson on each edge!