David Dockhouse Host

As we've continually said, we don't know the requirements of the catagories. So I've no idea

You could flip the argument the other way, has the current situation brought all the things you mention? I'd say we are closer to a semi pro top league than we are an increase in exposure, income, investment etc. You cannot please everyone, but failure to anything won't improve the situation, we are on a slippy slope to mediocrity and a semi pro game. This I feel actually helps those lower league clubs as it stops them throwing money at a squad that's unsustainable without the correct infastruture behind it. If they improve they can climb the ladder. Genuine question, is there a decision or direction that RL can go in where every fan will believe in it? I strongly suspect not, so someone has to be the bad guy and make the difficult decisions for the good of the game. On the surface this seems a sensible way forward, but none of us have seen the details yet so I may reverse my mind if I'm confronted with new info or a strong counter argument. We have covered why in numerous shows. I'm listening to Dockhouse Rugby Pod | Structure and Psychobabble with Rod Studd on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-i654f-12cbbe5

Much has been written and spoken about in terms of the pros and cons of promotion and relegation. Some are for it and some are against. I'm not sure anyone will be convinced to change their mind. I like IMGs ideas, it helps the top tier to work on being elite and attracting much needed funds. Without these changes there's a real risk if the top tier becoming semi pro. It also encourages others to up their game and doesn't shut the door on them. It's a hybrid of removing P&R and allowing movement into the top tier. I don't think Leigh will go down, but any possibility could happen.

I haven't claimed to know Harry? In fact if you look at my posts I say the same, we don't know what the categories will be.

Depends on how many is enough

That's good we need more big teams for a strong league. Promotion and relegation doesn't work anymore sadly, I wish it did but the gaps are way to big

Only succeed if they hey meet the requirements for Cat A AND perform on the pitch. As I've just said, if we don't make changes were more likely to be a semi pro game than expand

Well we don't know the details yet but it should be achievable even if difficult. At first it will be B category clubs, so the same stands, B clubs can go up for other B clubs. If we don't do this then nothing changes, the top clubs get stronger and the gap widens. How many L1 clubs have threatened SL in the past 20 years? We can keep the dream open and it holds back the top tier, I'd say without change there's a bigger risk of the top tier becoming semi pro than lower league gaining SL. I'm other words we hold back the top level. This way we don't hold back the top level or close the door, best of both worlds.

I dont think SL is a closed shop. If there are 12 Cat As and a cat A wins the championship we can expand the top tier. Theres nothing stopping us keeping adding teams, we could have a league if 18 if we had enough viable teams. All this does is raise the standards. If you don't improve your catagory it will limit you. We all want RL to I price, we say it's broken then request it remains the same????

Also uploaded to be an audio version, this link is Spotify And on Spotify the Clive Sullivan tribute the below link won't delete sorry ?

We did a show on Clive Sullivan last year and have re edited and uploaded a new opening and pictures.

Also on audio podcast. I'm listening to The Dockhouse Rugby Pod | Referee decisions and the Match review panel with former referee Ian Smith on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-azbem-12da374

Oh noooo, I think most of us have done similar in the past, tough price to pay though.

Sorry you missed out, we did get to go with Saints academy the year earlier, it was a great experience Have you been since and you have to tell me what point two is

I hope they return soon, Internationals at that age is excellent for their development My lad is to old for academy now, he dropped out the game for a while but is planning returning in the reserves next year, all being well he will start pre season next month. I'm happy as I enjoy watching him, but also happy for the sport, we really should be keeping talent in the game. He may not come through but glad he will hopefully get a chance to play regularly at a good level.

Latest show discussing this year officials and MRP with Ian Smith

Was a great series of games that year. Two years later the England academy was due to tour Australia, my lad was in the squad and the tour was cancelled due to COVID, real shame that has affected the development of those age groups

Now on audio, Spotify, Amazon etc. I'm listening to The Dockhouse Rugby Pod | The restructure and reimagining of rugby league, The IMG proposals deconstructed. on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ea/pb-vy666-12dde5b

I wonder if central contracts would help, paid direct from SL rather than the club, therefore first draft get say 30k regardless of club

I know there's no draft, but essentially this is what happens, top 3 get the best pick. I don't want to repeat what's already been said if I can help it but many other clubs do offer those things and still cannot convince the best to join them. Big 3 are more likely to win, big 3 have more kudos, big 3 can show conversion to first team, big 3 not in a chance of going down so can risk kids easier etc. Many reasons why best youth chose them. To say improve coaching and facilities and players will then chose them is incorrect, if it was that easy the other teams would have done it as the benefits are obvious. I understand on the surface it may appear that simple but it isn't. The fact that this has been the same for more than a decade is proof the current system is almost impossible to change. It can only be done by the teams at the top being replaced by others, which means playing more money than other clubs etc. Simply put the current system favours the top 3, this isn't blaming them, many get defensive, it is how it works though.

I imagine the easiest way is to increase participation in the heartlands but say 15% may be easier than a new area completely. More Tag rugby games to encourage those not physically developed yet I think would help if we consider a pyramid approach were the more players you start with the more you get out the other end.

Certainly worth investigating for sure

I love the idea, but it's a big investment and will take a lot of time with little chance of rewards for sometime. It would probably need community clubs to take it up unless the schools would have a meaningful system, which I doubt

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Are there community clubs in this area? If so that lake is still being fished, the clubs recruiting will soon be there if there are good players. If not there's little point having an academy, they would only recruit from the same community clubs