Damien

They shouldn't have had to purchase or merge with an existing club though.

I have to say it did cross my mind that when Wood ran the RFL that Leeds and Hetherington seemed to rule the roost. That influence disappeared once he left. I can't say I'm surprised Hetherington wants him back.

It is quite ironic Leigh's role in this considering how much they have improved by embracing the new IMG/grading approach. Indeed they went all in to a greater extent than other clubs and have reaped the benefits. They are now a.club transformed in all ways and an asset to SL. Under Wood they took the easy, lazy boom and bust approach where they signed has beens and changed little else. They took short term decisions like scrapping reserves, fell out with players by threatening to show them the door, had Beaumont saying he was going to pull the plug etc. There was absolutely nothing better about Leigh under that era.

It's possible to think that change isn't needed and that Nigel Wood isn't the answer (and arguably isn't even change).

I am not questioning a players union. Didn't think that would need saying. However their attitude hasn't helped the international game and they have very often sided with their paymasters, the NRL, to the detriment of the international game. Indeed sometimes they have done the opposite of what players have openly said.

I have to say the RLPA have been a huge barrier when it comes to international RL over the last decade or so.

Oh come on thats not fair. What about that morning when he moved an Excel spreadsheet? Transformative that.

Again because the Aussies and Kiwis played ball and we actually played games. Wood ain't the difference between those games getting played then and not being played now. Neither was he instrumental in getting the Tri and Four Nations setup. He just continued that. New Zealand were more than willing partners at that time because they faced the same problems as us. Having a series with them, with Australia beginning to have fallow years and the subsequent demise of the 4 Nations, was a very obvious no brainer for both parties. They don't face those problems now and aren't half as willing. Again it was circumstances at the time. I will give him credit for playing matches in London and going for bigger venues. I can't remember anything special though about the way those series were marketed beyond the usual RFL offerings.

There was a report a few weeks ago that said about the Aussies still not knowing dates, still not knowing about playing France, still talking about mid week games etc. Like we know when the season finishes and when the international calendar is. There is literally only about 4 weekends when these matches could be played. It's beyond a joke now.

Let's face it success internationally for England pre covid in terms of calendar was very much dependent on whether the Aussies were interested. The Kiwis were then traditionally the fallback in the 2010s. Now even their interest seems to be waning with new rivals on their doorstep. Therefore administrators claiming success for achievements internationally, which often basically amounts to just playing games because the Aussies were more interested in that moment in time, needs to be taken with a huge pinch of salt. Even the original 4 Nations was driven by Wayne Bennett, because he cared about resurrecting the international game, and he had the clout the bring the Aussies with him.

That shouldn't stop them announcing it.

Grant does it in every interview or at least puts down what he inherited.

Yeah I agree.

Man City have consistently refused to let RL use the ground in the Football season since the 1 test that was held there years ago. There is no way the Grand Final will be going there and if by some miracle it did I wouldn't bank on them being reliable partners like Man Utd have been.

Interesting statement by the IRL, with the word concerned no accident an the attack on the previous administration. Obviously no IRL statement can be without Troy Grant spouting his usual: International Rugby League (IRL) is saddened and concerned by the news of the resignation of the Rugby Football League Chair and Deputy Chair of the International Rugby League, Simon Johnson. Mr Johnson has served on the International Rugby League Board for a period of five years. Since late 2023, he has served as the Deputy Chair of International Rugby League. IRL Chairman Hon. Troy Grant said: “Simon has been a wonderful contributor to the rebuilding of International Rugby League as part of the new board who inherited an organisation that suffered a telling period of selfish amateur administration, lack of vision and strategy and poor governance. With his fellow Directors, he helped guide and navigate the organisation through the pandemic period and made a meaningful contribution to the organisation's rebuild structurally, operationally, and financially.” Mr Johnson has been a member of the RFL Board since 2014 and served as RFL Chair for nearly six years, playing a key role in England's hosting of the Rugby League World Cup in 2022. Mr Grant said: “Simon has been instrumental in building the strong relationships that now exist between the Australian Rugby League Commission and Rugby Football League fostering a close personal and working relationship with ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys. This relationship has seen record investment back into the international game, regular tours of southern hemisphere teams in Tonga and Samoa to England in recent years and the historic return of the Kangaroos tour to England in the Autumn of 2025. “Simon is deeply admired and respected by his fellow IRL Board Directors, and my friend will be greatly missed. He has been a wonderful Deputy Chair to me, who was always fully supportive with the highest integrity, decency, and has always acted in the game’s best interests. I will miss him dearly as sound counsel and only wish him every success in the future.” https://www.intrl.sport/article/404/irl-statement-resignation-of-simon-johnson,-rfl-chairman

It wasnt a sellout.

Simon Johnson steps down: Simon Johnson, Chair of the RFL since 2019, will step down after the scheduled spring Council meeting on Wednesday 12 March. His resignation will end more than a decade serving the sport and nearly six years as Chair. He was appointed interim Chair in July 2019 then named Chair in October 2019 and will now leave with 15 months remaining on his second term. Simon first joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2014, adding experience of over two decades operating at the highest level of sports and media. He had been Director of Rights & Business Affairs at ITV, negotiating rights for multiple major sports, spent two years as Director of Legal & Business Affairs at the Premier League, and worked alongside the CEO at the Football Association as Director of Corporate Affairs. https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63535/rfl-chair-simon-johnson-to-step-down

Continuing were he left off last season.

Hull KR continue to improve and grow: Hull KR are delighted to launch a major consultation exercise on its ambitious proposals to regenerate land surrounding Sewell Group Craven Park. The plans, which will be the most significant changes to the stadium footprint, since its original completion in 1989 will now go to public consultation. The Club’s proposals are set to enhance the area with investment into better facilities and amenities, to promote health and wellbeing across East Hull and the wider city, while helping to future-proof the Club’s ambitions, both on and off the pitch. In doing so, Hull KR aims to generate a positive impact for local communities and the wider city through their proposals, which would contribute significantly to wider rejuvenation efforts ongoing in East Hull by Hull City Council. If successful, the proposals would see significant investment into sport and leisure facilities, with the development of three training pitches, with one available for public use; new outdoor sporting facilities and the rejuvenation of the Waudby Centre. Proposals would also bring forward two, large-scale retail stores, which would be occupied by leading UK brands, in addition to the development of a retail terrace, open, public spaces, the refurbishment of the Waudby Centre, and adequate car parking facilities to support the masterplan. Some initial future enhancements to the Sewell Group Craven Park stadium itself have also been outlined within the plans. https://hullkr.co.uk/news/hull-kr-unveil-sewell-group-craven-park-land-regeneration

D'Acre sounds the part. It will be interesting how he fares; Canadian rugby union representative Marcus D’Acre is prepared to play Jersey Flegg in a bid to become the first Vegas Combine winner to earn an NRL contract. D’Acre and US Olympian Adam Channel are due to travel to Australia along with female Combine winners, Renee Gonzalez – also from Canada - and Columbian sevens star Maria Arzuaga for a tour of NRL and NRLW clubs. However, D’Acre has already attracted interest from NRL clubs, including the Knights and Cowboys, while he and Channel trained with the Sharks in Las Vegas. https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/03/11/canadian-combine-winner-on-verge-of-nrl-deal/

I wish! Over the last few months it feels like we have a thread on it every other week.

I definitely think it's club led. The right people need to be in the right positions to nurture a positive culture at all levels in the club. Obviously you also need the right players to buy into that but if the club culture is strong, with the correct standards and expectations, that becomes relatively easy.

A crazy stat: