Dave T

Hmm. So that's intentional grounding.

Wire by 14.

RLCares offer the services that they offer for.those who may want to take them up on those services. Other service providers offer other services that they may need as well. I expect everyone's needs will be different.

Again, that is nothing to do with RLC.

I agree. If they've paid a $300k premium per year in the form of a transfer fee they need their head tested!

I enjoyed the match. I do like seeing a strong Leeds team. As a neutral, I always enjoyed the big Leeds games against Wigan, Saints plus the likes of hHull and Cas etc. but they've been a bit depressing for a few years (not unlike my club really), and if you get the likes of Leeds back to where they were, it will add a lot to the league. The atmosphere and coverage was really good I thought.

I think this is right. We should have really strong standards linked to pathways, maybe via central funding, but I dont think that means we can't also see more overseas players. I think some of the criticism that is aimed at overseas players is a little lazy, you can't just click your fingers and create ready made players from our towns. We know the likes of Saints and Leeds are among the best in this area, but its hardly been translating into success in recent years.

To challenge your last paragraph. Personally, I think we'll see a new TV deal of, say £25m per annum and some.modest successes on sponsorship etc and there will be back patting all round. Of course the assessment will ignore the real work that's been happening in how we present the game, drive up standards and reinvent our broadcasting presentation, decent crowds and successes like the Ashes sales. The direction of travel has been positive, its a bizarre time for a coup, but people are being cute here, they'll probably benefit from this.

It just feels like bad governance, which is an ongoing issue with RL that is never resolved. Why on earth would you have two boards with the same chair? The RFL was judged to be not fit for purpose around commercial activities, so why are we now ultimately putting RLCom back under RFL.control by stealth? Why not just have an RFL commercial department if you are going this way? Its the same old nonsense. We run a few years, decide we are performing poorly, blame the RFL (defo not the clubs!), stage a breakaway, then decide its a bit hard and there's no silver bullet so give up and let the RFL take over again. And then repeat again in a few years. The owners are clueless and out of control. But, they have money so we should bow to their knowledge.

Yeah, I'd seen them there,but in any level that seems bad business so many years ago!

That's not their role.

I think its difficult to believe some of those fees tbh.

Yup. It was absolutely a controlled grounding.

I just think that's a try.

I've been clear that Wood doesn't particularly bother me. I dont think he was as bad as many make out (i known that ain't a ringing endorsement). But this whole thing just stinks.

Didn't we get told by DB that Wood wasn't being paid for his involvement in the review? Does he get paid for this job he's been successful in interviewing himself for?

Obviously none of these folk drink in the same pub as Harry.

He is the RFL CEO isn't he? Rhdori Jones is RLCom CEO. Or MD, or something else.

I can't lie. I'm still not that sure exactly what's happening and who is after what, apart from a few obvious bits. People often refer to 4D Chess, but I'm not sure what game is even being played here.

So IMG proposed, and has voted in a system that would expand the league to 14 when clubs improved themselves to a higher standard and funding had increased to a level to support it. And now the clubs are heading towards overriding that and include clubs deemed not good enough and without money to fund it. But still, IMG are the issue here.

I'm not sure about yout last paragraph. You could argue that London Broncos is a brand that doesn't exude success and confidence. They are a club that have meandered along without a real identity for 15 to 20 years now. An all-encompassing rebrand like Leigh's could absolutely act as a relaunch like it did for your team, and in effect draw a line under the past. I can see why this is on the list for London. But if it is just a kit and logo, it will mean nowt really.

Aren't transfer fees for British clubs a little more common now, based on the fact that there is a wage difference and the fees are modest in the grand scheme of things? The costs are probably still relatively modest tbh. I expect a transfer fee wouldn't be extortionate for an NRL club.

Didn't they basically back out of it and just go with GMB?

I actually don't think we need to overthink what the actual name is, unless it is something like Blue Sox obviously. The important thing is that it is fully embraced. Even at Leigh where at the start it was clunky and less than professional, they fully bought into it and it wasn't just a new kit with a logo. Whether you like it or not, The Hundred have gone in different direction to animal names, but again, they've gone bold and fully embraced it. London need to go big, or not bother. A big problem, is it costs a lot and is a lot of effort. Something London haven't been great at.

I was under the impression that Wire paid a transfer fee for Williams? Edit: no, just read he was a free agent after being released by Canberra. His version of events (from Wiki): Williams said "I asked for a release weeks ago for the end of the season... Not once did I ask for a immediate release but instead of supporting me the club kicked me out the door".[18] On 22 June 2021, Williams fired one final parting shot at Canberra head coach Ricky Stuart saying “I'm just sad that relationship is pretty sour, I’ve not spoken to him since the release. He was brilliant and I’ll never forget that, but when things went bad he turned his back on me".[19]