Dave T

Spoiler alerts have been a thing for years. Right back to scores on news just before match of the day for example. Spoiler alerts are massive in articles about tv etc at the moment. They are a real thing that media considers, that people expect, are used to and in many cases appreciate. I'm not sure why being averse to them, just because, is a good thing. There are plenty of ways that this can be handled, I don't even think a commentator giving a half-assed update of what's going on elsewhere during another match is even a good approach. I think there is an argument for updates from elsewhere (NRL and SL) to take place before matches and at half time with spoilers called out. Media have considered how people read about TV and take an approach not to spoil shows, I don't think it's that unreasonable to expect the same in sport, particularly where there are clear solutions.

That's not what happens in every sport though.

If discussing spoilers in sport on a sport forums is deemed pointless then we really should shut up shop.

That does rather ignore the fact that games being broadcast live on the same platform at the same time is relatively unusual. The NRL don't play games at the same time. That said, I think Champions League coverage does it (from memory) and that would be a good comparison. I used to like it when they would flash up the try highlights during the game on Friday night, I just think it is unnecessary and jarring now that all games are shown live on Sky. There does need to be an understanding of how customers consume the product, people have multiple screens, watch on slight delay, watch multiple games etc. it is 100% a valid complaint and piece of feedback for it to annoy people. On Saturday, I'd been travelling, so watched on delay, around half an hour after kick off. I also watched across two screens, however the Cas v Wigan game on further delay. I ended up turning that off as events were being told to me by the Wire commentator. Sometimes it won't bother me in the slightest, I'll do what you describe, particularly where my team aren't involved but when we have 80 minute games, it's not going to be too unusual for some of the audience to watch two full matches over one evening, and approach to spoilers needs some thought. I mean, it really does go back decades.

That assumption should be based in something though. Has there ever been a thread where fans have asked for that? Have you ever heard anyone complain that they don't tell you the score of another game? Personally I haven't. But now, under this model, Sky offer that service, you flick to the actual live match and see it. They really are offering the best solution

So SL has had plenty of praise recently for the improvements, but this is one area that still frustrates the life out of me. I had a look at the match centre for the Wire v Catalans game, and at first it looked like a big improvement with matchday stats better than previously, but once you actually go into it: Wire team list - missing players, Musgrove and Fitzgibbon not in the list, Hayes and Holroyd instead named on the bench, with Powell and Philbin in the 13 - not accurate at all. Onto Live Stats and they look a little odd. Metres was 1212 vs 1179 - yet running metres 1574 vs 1552. There is no mention of number of penalties in the stat lists. On player stats - this list has Musgrove and Fitzgibbon, but then gets rid of Lindop, his stats completely omitted. We need to be better at this stuff if we are going to provide these immersive experiences - if we aren't going to do it properly, then we should just avoid it. The NRL are excellent with their stats section, we can learn a lot from them. I took a quick look at another random game - the Leigh v Hudds game, and the events tab is empty, and the Hudds team is blank.

THat seems ok considering it was on Sky too. Will be interesting to see if they do any kind of release on overall figures for the weekend. It would be great if we could hit 1m+ viewers for weekends like this when we have a BBC game.

Agreed. Lindop will learn from that (he started his movement towards the ball with real purpose and then lost confidence) but as you say, Dufty should be providing leadership. I can see how it happened tbh, I think he decided to try and offer cover for Lindop, but ultimately, your assessmebt is spot on there.

It was, but I would call out, it was a lovely kick, and I thought it was Lindop's all the way, but he did exactly the same as Dufty. I'd rather they both have gone for it and dropped it because they crash into each other rather than both giving up. Catalans actively targeted Lindop and they got something from it. I haven't followed team news so not sure why we had trouble with wingers.

I think it's tough across broadcasters, BBC have no interest in not affecting a Sky broadcast, but I think when Sky are showing multiple games they should avoid it.

I don't see any reason for Wire to be low for their home opener.

The commentator on the Wire game kept giving the Wigan score. I was watching both and at different stages, and heard a score update and about the red card before they happened.

The big difference is that this is a rather new model for the UK sports market. My personal view is I see little benefit of giving other scores, whereas there is clear downside. Surely Sky want fans to watch both games.

In this model, I think there'll be some people recording and watching one game after the other, as Sky are showing both games, I think it makes sense to hold off. If people want to know the score, they can literally press one button and get a live shot. I don't think updates give any value now the games are on live. Previously I think it made sense, not now.

I agree. This is a new way of doing things, we shouldn't be giving spoilers for games like that. It doesn't make sense in this new model.

I'm not sure what the other games have been like, but they are going to need to work on the camerawork at Catalans. Some of those replays made it really difficult to assess the danger of the tackles. I don't think McIlorum has any defence, when you stand upright and don't bend at all and use your shoulder, it's hard to complain when you see red. Players really do have to show intent to make a legal tackle to get any mitigation credit.

I was travelling, so have only caught up on high speed so not absorbed the game fully, but it does rather look like all the thought has gone into the forwards, I hope that isn't going to be a feature of Burgess' reign. That game was absolutely there for the taking, and the lack of creativity was an issue for us again. But, it was away at Catalans and two tries apiece, hardly a disgrace.

You earlier said I was wrong and that you had spent the last 30 years criticising the RFL. You seem to be defending them an awful lot for someone who is critical of them.

Yep, at least acknowledging that they are disappointed in him feels like an ommission from the official release.

Totally agree. And whilst Martyn will claim that he is prepared to give credit - his bias is absolutely demonstrated on this point, where he dismissively describes it as a payment for 'advice'. The general consensus does appear to be that the launch, tv deals, SL+ launch, marketing and digital work has been great, a buzz created for the launch of the season, and a genuine transformation. On the flip side, the grading is receiving more challenge, and I include myself in that as I believe the execution is off. But Martyn does appear to struggle to give any credit anywhere (apart from the odd reluctant point made in response to direct challenge). One final point - the £440k keeps being brought up as though it's a negative, but maybe a good journo would try and understand what we are getting for that. i.e. does this give us access to services? To people? Does it mean we don't hire people direct? Just keep shouting £400k is weird.

see, that's better....

I don't have an issue with this tbh. Clubs live and die by those kind of decisions, and they have to live with the culture they create. But I do think they should have been firmer in their press release. I'm ok with forgiving, I'm ok with supporting and going down whatever route they choose, but I do think it is a little tone deaf to only mention support and not any kind of condemnation/punishment to highlight that as a club they do not condone this behaviour. Leigh have a responsibility to not only the player, but their brand, employees, fans etc. I think they have got it slightly wrong in their communications here.

I just feel like you are nit-picking.

Yeah, that makes sense.

It is often quoted that licensing failed as a fact, and I'm not sure what that is based on in reality. Just because the game didn't stick with something doesn't mean it wasn't working. Otherwise, that means most systems have failed.