bobbruce

Fair enough having re read what I’ve put I can see how it’s misleading. What I mean is it’s been 7 years since anyone but one of those three has won the GF (possibly 8 with this year. Now that’s not unusual for most leagues but for the NRL it is. I accept the Roosters haven’t kept themselves competitive right through but they were capable of going on to win the GF. Who is the next team that can do it Sharks possibly this year? Bulldogs with an outside chance?.

Although this isn’t ideal I don’t think this year has a massive effect the way the teams are sitting. There is only really Leigh that it has an effect on. As if Wigan win they finish top nothing KR can do about it if they don’t win KR have to win which they new anyway. Leigh and Leeds play at the same time but Catalan play on the next day but Leigh must know Catalans are going to beat Hull so they already know they have to win.

There has been a gap to Penrith,Melbourne and the Roosters for a number of years. Each year the odd club might put themselves in the mix but those 3 have set the standard.

Easy tiger.

And some of the worst.

It’s an awful situation because I want us to get into the play offs but I know we have no chance of beating any of the top 6 sides. Then from somewhere I start thinking if everyone’s back and the weathers awful we might have a chance. I hate this game.

I thought all grades were ranked so Leeds 16.90 say down to Wakefield (as an example) 15.01. So the top 12 scoring clubs are in SL until the League is increased.

I’m not sure but I think if you are outside SL and you surpass a SL clubs score you will replace them as far as I know.

Jeopardy added.

Classic rugby league it’s simultaneously far too easy to get an A grade and impossible all at the same time. I think Brian Cox is missing a trick not checking out the rugby league multiverse.

Improving the standard

People seem to think an A grade will just stay the same forever. There is absolutely no reason that once enough clubs reach A grade then the criteria could go up.

You really think Sky don’t have an input into what we are doing.

It would need to be negotiated into the Sky /tv contract also 13 would make magic weekend un workable if it’s still happening. So agreements already in place would have to be taken into account.

You say that as if it’s the grading systems fault it would take at least as long for them to get a SL ready squad.

Might’ve been the team getting into the right mindset for the play offs.

I think what he was saying is that Leeds won’t play at the same time as Yorkshire or the superchargers. They’ve only played at the same time as some lower level cricket. What he wasn’t saying is that Yorkshire or the superchargers are lower level cricket.

Worked hard and had the talent to turn himself into a top top player. As you say for a spell right up there with the best in the world.

Expansion is all about exposing people to the game at a young age. Harry’s right about that if you have an interest in the game when you are young you will carry it forever. The RFLs main criteria for being successful should be how many young kids it can get playing the game everything else it does should only be to pay for that. Obviously you need successful pro clubs to help pay for that but if all you are doing with the money they earn is keeping pro clubs going then it’s just an ever decreasing circle.

That’s the date we need to remember.

Cumbria could be looked at as heartland now but it wasn’t then but we managed to spread the game there.

I don’t think they are but I also wouldn’t be surprised if this is all going to be part of the negotiation with Sky. First part we’ve provided the content not only games but also highlights which very often hits close to or above 40hrs a weekend on Sky then you can add the Sky + games on top of that. You then see the top clubs losing money and you can throw that back at Sky and tell them we can’t keep providing this quality of content on what you are giving us. We used to say they give us just enough to keep going but what they give now isn’t enough.

Castleford,Whitehaven,Workington and Hull KR.

Be interesting to see if KR can back up an intense game with another one. As that is exactly what they will have to do when the playoffs come around. If they can’t back it up then the next question is can they learn the lessons of that so they can in the play offs.

Also when you think that the answer isn’t to just give up surely it’s to expose more people at a younger age to the game.