Damien

In really should have been an immediate no as you say. Its not a serious offer.

Still no less bonkers.

Would it? This year was very much a one off funding due to the Ashes with a hope that the new TV deal would cover thereafter.

I think you are talking about the sport we dare not mention but it is a really good comparison. Considering the size, scale and awareness of RU in the UK it can certainly be argued that RL punches above its weight when it comes to the TV deal. Comparing SL to the NRL is just silly.

Its simply Eddie Hearn looking to get him more money in Union.

So are you saying V'landys was lying with his promises and claims of owners no longer needing to plug losses? The NRL ecosystem is worth next to diddly squat in the UK. Sorry to burst your bubble.

It's also about half of what they give to a single NRL club in a year. That is fine, they are an Australian governing body after all, but let's not pretend that an average of £450k per club makes any difference to the SL competition. It does not improve it, it doesn't even give clubs what they were getting under the £40 million a year TV deal, and it certainly does not justify the negging and hyperbole we have heard from V'Landys.

Have they really put in that much time and effort? I don't think so, it just seems a very protracted series of statements with very little happening. Even the NRL said on numerous occasions they were waiting for their TV deal to be out the way.

We've not really tried though and certainly haven't over a sustained period. We have paid lip service and expected miracles. In no small part this is because any time we try and do anything outside the North we have some people moaning incessantly.

Well bought 5 tickets and I have to say availability in the Wigan sections on offer seemed pretty sparse.

Thats confirmed:

This is the crux of the issue and I know we have said all this before. We have gone from a real strategy on this in the Richard Lewis era, where we were actually attempting to build a pyramid and suitable leagues for all, to a complete disaster with no strategy.

Always the way.

So it wasnt 38 and at 37 was in his 3rd year in SL. There's an obvious difference here, whether you wish to ignore that is your prerogative. Neither do you. However with most top class Aussies declining to come to SL at the end of their career for a pension anymore and preferring to carve out a media career instead I think its a safe bet to say that if this comes to pass he is choosing to go to Hull for a large sum of money.

Menzies started in SL at 35, not 38. I would also say the determining factor here is the money.

That doesnt answer my question but merely proves the point. Why pay £40 million when they dont need to? Its nonsensical.

It diminishes it straight away doesnt it.

Yep, those are my thoughts and the kind of deal that would be needed.

I really think we need to be looking at a £10 million a year premium to go with DAZN over Sky. We are giving up an awful lot of eyeballs and security making such a move which is not without substantial risk.

Indeed. I await Sky's TV offer this month with interest because as you rightly say there has been growth across the board over the past few years. If we get a better TV deal which covers 14/15 teams and a bit of a bump to reflect that growth then £6 million a year to give that up and give away 50% really doesn't seem that appealing.

Why would they do that when they could cut out the middle man now and buy the rights anyway?

That makes zero sense as they would have to wait 5 years for control.