Jwdub

Agree with reason 1. Its a question of quality. If the games are like the top games we've seen so far the crowds will go. Let's face it some rugby league fans will go anywhere to watch a quality game, regardless of who it is. Reason 2....yes they have to make it a meaningful grand final. Imagine something like the Cas play off final at headingley with 20, 000 fans for promotion and we know what we''re aiming for. There were people going to that game who've never been to a game before. Reason 3...the challenge cup needs revitalising whatever happens . Just need to make sure anything doesn't stop it from progressing which is martyn's point. The one sided games super league against lower sides aren't helping. Martyn's plate competition could play a part here linked with the northern rail plus the maybe the 2nd tier grand finalists also joining the super league teams in a later round.

That's got it going again. Thanks

strange to come on a forum and not even make point for discussion

Strange to come on a forum and not even make a point for discussion.

I agree it would but for the first 11 rounds teams will have their strongest sides, therefore you will get results like Cas beating Leeds at the beginning of the season. As the season progresses their squad becomes thinner and results go against them. If they managed to get into the top 8 I'm not sure playing Wigan, Warrington, Leeds, saints, hull, etc every week would do them any good. Maybe there could be a compromise of possibly 10/11 teams out of the 12 qualifying. This would reduce the panic once safe, and avoid the challenge cup problems anticipated. The bottom 1 or 2 would join a 2nd tier with a genuine chance of winning something whilst they regroup and bid for promotion.

I just don't understand the need to get personal. He's simply picked 3 big points why he thinks it won't work. I'm sure, (like I could) give hundreds of benefits and flaws but certainly not in a small article. Blake solly seems to be the man behind the ideas along with research by kpmg I believe. Blake isn't an old man and certainly spoke a lot of sense during his interview on boots n all. He seemed to be suggesting looking at all clubs not the big ones from the super league. Reaction from gary hetherington, john kear, john wells seemed to suggest they liked a change whatever it may be. However, publicising the options before a final decision has been the wrong decision.

Also, the reasons why Martyn believes the new system may affect the challenge cup competition is quite obvious.......if clubs have a choice of a) a competition with limited success and less financial reward unless they reached the final ( 2 teams) or a competition with more chance of success (8 teams) with huge financial rewards (super league money), teams would undoubtedly go for the second option. If you remove the fear mid season of possible relegation, guaranteeing the super league money the challenge cup then becomes more of a bonus than a hindrance. Martyn has previously published an idea for the rejuvenation of the challenge cup which would remove the chances of one sided games, creating a secondary competition (Plate) to be played at Wembley which would also boost the cup final attendance with fans of the teams involved. It may only be an idea but I think the Rfl should consider the benefits of this or something similar.

From what I've read, heard and seen of martyn Sadler he is extremely passionate about rugby league. He does have an agenda, and that is that he cares about the future of rugby league for all teams. He's written an article in a rugby league paper with a personal opinion of what he believes may happen if the new system is introduced with the intention of inviting other opinions, both here and in the mailbag of his paper. To say he has anything other than the interests of the game at heart is completely ridiculous. The facts are the game in general lacks money, and the current system of franchising in a 14 team super league isn't working. When I first heard the option of split leagues and promotion/ relegation my first thoughts were, despite the details and flaws at least there wont be any more meaningless/ one sided games. However, my new worry would be some teams may end up in the top tier when they have full squads but would struggle in the 2nd half of the season as injuries take their toll playing teams with bigger squads resulting in the same problem. I think the clubs and players need to believe in the new system for the fans to get behind them. Probably the best option would be a 12 team super league with a home/ away play off between the last placed super league team and championship grand final winners, with a parachute payment for the super league team if they are relegated.