Dave T

There is logic to the catchment area scoring, whether you agree with it or not. Rather like most of them. We can nitpick, but there is some rationale there. Accepting there absolutely are flaws.

What are you actually asking for here? Like genuinely, what is the answer that will make you happy?

To be fair, the OP did say (or big), and Super Ben certainly fit the scrote description

I'm OK with it all. I'm on holiday right now (I know, posting while I should be chilling with the family), but when I go on Wire site to look for a t shirt or something for round the pool, the choice is really really limited. I'm OK with a bit of mass production stiff tbh. Some will like it, some will hate it.

Aye. I find it tiresome. As a proud Northerner who has also embraced the wider world I find it rather hard work.

Ben Westwood. I was well aware he was an a-hole. But he was our a-hole. I absolutely loved him.

I thought it was a post of self reflection.

I just can't help but feel that RL will just always be like this because of its northern-Ness. I always try and stay pragmatic and often defend Northerners from a lot of unfair and arrogant critcism. But I do feel that the stubbornness and self deprecation which is a trait of Northerners is a barrier. I think we are some of the most welcoming people around, but we'll also be blunt and honest, and pretty negative which can appear unfriendly, and I think the trait of rather being right than proven wrong and the game flourishing is a challenging one. Our Northernness should be celebrated, but we should also be self-aware enough to know when it is a short-coming.

Aye, basically operational stuff (surely they will have done the 'what ifs') but also the wider strategy pieces and telling us where the game is going.

One thing I absolutely would agree with is that the communication from the sport's leaders is appalling, probably the worst I've ever known in in 40 years of watching. And I don't mean IMG, they are the third in line really, behind RLCom and the RFL. When we have questions about what the game is doing in London, it is them who should be speaking up.

Nah, forget charity. Give em a hiding.

First time I've seen that, and I'd like to see it more slowly, but it looks like thuggery tbh.

Indeed. We really do need to let professionals do their job and not make medical decisions based on what we see on telly because we were brought up on Casualty.

I'm not saying people have to like random away kits, but they've been part of the game for decades now, it's a strange thing to focus on for the weekly IMG-bashing article. When saying you watch a game and you wouldn't recognise it as an SL game - i just don't get it. It's how sport is presented in this country. It's almost identical to Premier League football and Premiership Union. I could understand if there was a point about suggesting we should go big kn branding, but to present it as an area where we are going wrong is weird.

I think thats fair. Probably some disappointment around not getting a try, but you also kept Wigan to one wonder try. Plenty to be happy with and positive about fornthe future.

The Aussie stuff looks good and it's looked good in the playoffs, but then I'm sure some people will hate the gambling (and alcohol in Oz) advertising so prominent. I think it looks decent in SL, the logo is generally pretty prominent in tv broadcasts, which is for every game now. Like I say. I didn't really get the point -away kits consisting of random colours are used by somenof the biggest sports in the world now.

I'm not too sure what point is being made in this tbh. I'd like to see consistency on the video pitch branding thingy, but I don't really see too much of an issue, aside from personal tastes tbh.

Well done Pies. Ruthlessly efficient again. Very tough to beat. Great season.

I was clumsy with my wording on the first point. They will always find themselves as a weaker club (not just the spreadsheets) which risks becoming a vicious cycle. It's sort of the story of London Broncos throughout history. In the old system they've made it to Super League twice in recent years, but because they've not invested in the actual club, they've been weak and not lasted. Just sneaking in and doing enough will see clubs end up where they deserve. I dont really see any credible shortcuts.

Twinkle toes from Lewis.

They needed something there KR Started lively though.

Gone a while back that, I think its a shame.

Yep. Should have been binned imo.

No, they're a city team. Clearly I'm not talking about them.

My view here is that clubs trimming here and there and cutting corners to sneak past a threshold in the system will ultimately end up at the weaker end of the gradings. As I highlighted, there is a points handicap for talent pathway, but i don't know enough about what that entails. I don't disagree that this could be a useful scoring field, but I do disagree with anyone justifying this type of behaviour as a sound decision.