Wakefield Ram

If Nigel Wood gets his way and extra two teams join SL, then that leaves 22 outside SL. As we have seen 11 clubs is not enough for a league, so could it be Championship of 8 where they play each other 4 times so 28 games League 1 of 14 teams so 26 games Or 2 leagues of 11 with extra "loop" fixtures?

So that rules out any kick near the line?

The human brain is a jelly-like substance. Getting it repeatedly rattled around the inside of your bone hard skull isn't a good idea, whether it's one big collision in Run it Straight or dozens of lesser but still big collisions in your average RL match with kick off returns the biggest risk.

Yes no chance of brain damage from any of these tackles....

So 1 man running directly at another man from a distance is dangerous and for morons? Remind me what happens at kick-offs? They run into 2 or 3 players from a distance. How many times certainly in the NRL have you seen players concussed at this point?

One I would like to see is more contested high kicks. When they were started, there were a lot more contested kicks. Now there's a lot fewer as players blatantly obstruct the chasers. RU changed their approach, so if you're running back and not going for the ball you can't "escort" the chasers. Its just obstructing the chasers, we all know it, it just means we see less of exciting contested high kicks. I know some on this forum would never agree as RU have done it. Contested possession adds a bit more jeopardy and unpredictability to the game. Or are we happy with seeing more "arm wrestle, five drives and a kick"?

Given that Bob McDermott nearly drove the club out of existence, then why would he be asked.

And they've signed Jack Teanby...

Don't disagree with your idea, but might be difficult to implement.

It's ironic that on a thread about a refereeing decision, we rarely call out players for their relentless attempts at cheating by time wasting, feigning injury, trying to illegally strip the ball, being deliberately offside etc.. Players can be penalised for time wasting. I remember a Dewsbury v Featherstone game from a long time ago where Dewsbury were 1 point up near the end of the game and the ref had given warnings for slow PTBs and then gave a penalty which Steve Dickens kicked from the touchline to win the game. Maybe refs should be given new guidance about penalising time wasting. I met a referee a few months ago who now only did schools matches as at amateur games he felt some spectators turned up just to abuse the referee. And a simple reason the RFL can't accept letters from clubs is down to self-interest. I mean it wouldn't hurt Wigan if Castleford had a slightly stronger squad for the next 6 weeks?

Another important game we need to win to stay in with a chance of the top 4. Unfortunately Keighley seem to be finding some form with the return of our ex-players Matty Beharrell and Andy Gabriel. If we play like the 2nd half v Whitehaven, good chance of a win. If we play like we did against Goole, then we won't. Still keeping my fingers crossed for some 6th tackle kicks in opposition 20....

Because it comes with a huge risk to base the sustainability of a club on the wealth, whim and age of one person. Ken Davy is 84 for example.

I could also look up the post that said the £1.5m sent on the Championship/L1 could be better spent on Development Officers but have better things to do. Not sure that the many £miliions distributed to SL clubs over the last 30 years has produced that great ROI. Most would still be insolvent without wealthy benefactors propping them up. Leigh, Huddersfield and Hull KR wouldn't be anywhere without their owners bailing them out over many years. Salford's woes are down to not having a wealthy benefactor. Maybe there should be 10 IMG points for having a sugar daddy committed to pump money in long term?

I could also look up the post that said the £1.5m sent on the Championship/L1 could be better spent on Development Officers but have better things to do. Not sure that the many £miliions distributed to SL clubs over the last 30 years has produced that great ROI. Most would still be insolvent without wealthy benefactors propping them up. Leigh, Huddersfield and Hull KR wouldn't be anywhere without their owners bailing them out over many years. Salford's woes are down to not having a wealthy benefactor. Maybe there should be 10 IMG points for having a sugar daddy committed to pump money in long term?

If you look back Dave T put that the £1.5m money distributed to Championship and L1 would be better spent on development officers etc...

Promotion will now be done by Nigel Wood.

Correct. Player pathways, match official pathways, cup competitions, support for international matches, hey even having clubs ready to replace failing clubs like Salford.....unless SL wants to reduce further in size to 11 clubs. The sport is a pyramid.

Nigel Wood is tearing it up to get Bradford Bulls into SL. This will further lower playing standards in SL and there's no plan for the non-SL clubs. It's a joke. So much for the game being re-imagined by IMG. It's now just being made up on the spot by Wood.

Really? You seemed to think that paying players in lower leagues was a waste of money. Any debate about SL numbers has a direct impact on Championship and L1 and all the other points. With no "lower leagues" SL would be stuck with Salford or do you think they could be replaced by an NCL side?

See Salford squad numbers up to 56

Otherwise known as overpaying retiring Aussies some of whom can barely be arsed to play. So SL couldn't survive without ageing Australians? Without the "lower leagues" you'd be stuck with Salford next season or shrinking the M62 League to 11 clubs...

And wonder how many £millions have been wasted over last 30 years on boosting the retirement funds of ageing past their best players from Down Under.....?

Only if you've got enough IMG points or are on Nigel Woods list

So 3 players out of 500 is a pretty feeble excuse. Without the "lower leagues" where would match officials come from? Where would all those DR players from SL get their game time and development? I remember players like Liam Hood, Brad Singleton having long loan periods at Dewsbury in the Championship at the start of their career. Where would they have played and developed without the "lower leagues"? Maybe SL clubs would have had to pay for their own Reserve Grade teams? DR has saved SL a fortune. As for ROI, exactly what have Salford, Huddersfield, Castleford delivered this season? And without "lower leagues" you'd be stuck with Salford next year as there'd be no team to promote. You could ask what have SL clubs delivered when the majority of them after 30 years of SL and Sky money are still dependent on wealthy benefactors to keep them out of insolvency? And a standard of play substantially below that of the NRL?

Any suggestions what happens to the teams below SL? I know that would take some forethought and actual planning.....