Damien

Strawman stuff.

Why would you even do this anyway? I'd say talking about structures isn't the best way to interest anyone in any sport. Most people see a sport and if they like it begin to watch it more. They couldn't give a damn about stuff like this.

That was mentioned and would be pretty good for the concept.

And of course they are all based in Australia anyway.

You'd imagine they've got a fair few high earners, for that level, who they can offload.

Penrith losing at home last year is the best thing that could have happened. To miss next year would just look like them ducking the challenge and would reflect really badly on them.

No we don't. That route just makes a mockery of international RL.

Absolutely and a great point. It really shows the difference between wanting to strive to be better and just wanting to cling on in SL and make up the numbers. It's a attitude we have seen since the start of SL.

I don't think Cas are necessarily out or that Toulouse are necessarily in at all. Leigh are as vulnerable too.

37 tickets? Bravo for your dedication to ticket sales checking

Leaving aside the chip on the shoulder stuff I don't think this is the case at all. I think this also leaves Toulouse pretty vulnerable too. I think they are potentially more maxed out points wise than Leigh and Cas (if they can tick off those ground improvements). Next year's league placings for cas and Leigh could be crucial. Wakey should be fine with their new stand now you'd imagine.

NZ Team in full too:

Welsby was captain for the first two tests. Is it clear? I don't care, you say you don't care. That's 2 out of 2 so far for who this just isn't a thing. I think you are blowing this out of all proportion. Newman being used for interviews is no big deal. I saw Wane used yesterday. If I go to the RFL or England RL websites there is a big half page photo of Burgess being used to sell tickets. It's hardly like it's Newman and that's it.

Saw this earlier then recalled this thread about clubs doing work in the amateur game. I know it was previously said about Wigan doing work throughout Lancashire and Cumbria and here is another example as they now look for a Blackpool development officer: An exciting opportunity has arisen to deliver Rugby League in Blackpool, the role will develop and increase the presence of Wigan Warriors throughout various localities of Blackpool by providing opportunities to access rugby league related school provision, holiday and match day activities, healthy recreation and wellbeing improvement. When delivering, the key agenda is to create a culture of engaging more people in rugby league, involving them in more activity and creating more players, supporters and spectators of Wigan Warriors. Key Responsibilities: - Work with primary and secondary schools in Blackpool to deliver and grow Rugby League participation. - Work towards and achieve income targets set by Wigan Warriors Community Foundation. - Develop and deliver programmes that contribute to the health agenda and significantly increase the number of individuals involved in healthy recreation across Blackpool. - Support and deliver holiday camps for Wigan Warriors, ensuring that every child has a positive and unforgettable experience. - Build and maintain positive working relationships with local partners, primary/secondary schools. - Support the development of Blackpool Stanley and signpost new participants from school delivery. https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2023/10/31/vacancy-blackpool-development-officer/

I don't think it's meaningless, it's fine for this purpose. As I said if you want to put one measure into context and equate it to revenue we can use that argument time and again. How does LED perimeter transfer to more revenue for club? Is a club averaging 7500 at £10 a head really transferring to more revenue to a club than one averaging 6000 at £20 a head? You want this measure to be assessed in a way others aren't.

The digital criteria is quite clear and I have no issue with it for this purpose. Finance is a different criteria and measured elsewhere. You may as well say how much does a LED perimeter transfer to more revenue for club. We can follow that logic time and again if we choose.

A bit before my time but a lot of people always seem to mention Mal Reilly as the hardest player they've seen.

We are talking about a RL club. The measure used is fine for this purpose as part of an all round grading of a clubs suitability for SL. We are not talking about an online company that needs to scrutinise every inch of its online presence to the nth degree here.

Its not doing both though is it, is Welsby really that much more known than Newman? As I said it's not like there are any standouts that appeal to the wider public anyway, we aren't hiding a Martin Offiah away here. Newman is an England player as much as anyone else, I really don't get the club mentality when it comes to the England team.

It's the measure all social media uses and as such its the one that makes sense for this digital criteria. If it's good enough as the measure for Facebook, Instagram et al then it's good enough for this. I can only imagine the howls of complaint if this wasn't used as the measure and the criteria went against the industry standard.

It's not meaningless, it's literally the measure that every social media platform uses. If you have a digital criteria it would be extremely odd to use anything else as a measure.