iffleyox
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Posts posted by iffleyox
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Agree, I’m certainly not advocating Greece! But for the Gulf States England v Lebanon struggles to clear any of the ‘what’s in it for the host’ hurdles unless someone’s going to pay through the nose… IMO anyway
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3 minutes ago, iffleyox said:
I’m sure there is - various countries are all-in on hosting massive sporting and corporate jamborees for the prestige, regional one-upmanship and reputational er, polishing…
With the best will in the world wanting to host the RL World Cup and wanting to host a couple of random England - Lebanon ‘tests’ aren’t quite apples and apples…
Also, Lebanon is at best geopolitically complicated - genuine question I’ve got is how much other countries round that way even see Lebanon as a country that they want to help out. England probably wouldn’t be going to Beirut, I could potentially see it being held in Greece I suppose.
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25 minutes ago, Sports Prophet said:
We were told by the IRL there was Middle East interest for the 2026 WC.
I’m sure there is - various countries are all-in on hosting massive sporting and corporate jamborees for the prestige, regional one-upmanship and reputational er, polishing…
With the best will in the world wanting to host the RL World Cup and wanting to host a couple of random England - Lebanon ‘tests’ aren’t quite apples and apples…
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9 minutes ago, daz39 said:
Why would a club like Wakefield who can now, according to their fans and backroom staff (not all just ones i've seen and heard about) 'buy' the championship, need to go down this route?
Seems a strange decision and makes me wonder whether this is a Wakey or Wigan lead deal.
Tbh I can just about buy the line that it's a back-up in case too many people are locked down in contracts to other clubs at this point to be sure of giving the squad the depth they would like. Especially given the timing of the takeover - there's at least another plausible argument contingent on that that the first real squad of the new regime would be the 2025 one, as 2024 is clearly going to be a lash-up, not entirely assembled with a free hand.
I wouldn't do it, but there is logical sense in how it has ben explained IMO.*
*again, I wouldn't do it
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3 minutes ago, Dave T said:
On this one, I will go into bat slightly for the RFL. And I say this as somebody who is extremely critical of the game and its insularity, but I actually feel they have been dealt a bad hand on the international game, and often have been flying solo in the world of International RL.
If we look at the last 30 years, the RFL have been pivotal in trying to drive forward international RL.
1995 - we had the first new format World Cup, which introduced many of the nations that are now smashing it.
2000 - we followed it up with another one - this one delivered disastrously, but there was absolutely no lack of ambition here. Probably too ambitious and almost bankrupted the game here.
Early 2000's we then went into a bit of consolidation and hosted the Aussies a couple of times in small grounds. It was a necessary action that steadied the ship somewhat.
Mid to late 2000's and early 2010's - we led the development of the Tri Nations, then the Four Nations. We had a regular calendar, even a title sponsor and the tournament grew quite nicely. Again, plenty of poor decisions, but that goes without saying.
In 2013 we staged what is probably still the best World Cup ever. A large list of sponsors, a decent level of ambition, strong crowds, improving coverage etc. Plus a large profit!
2013-2019 - we continued with some Four Nations, we went Down Under mid-season to play Samoa, we went to Denver to play the Kiwis, we organised Test Series versus the Kiwis when the Aussies didn't want to play Rugby League, we even toured NZ and PNG in 2019 (ignoring the awful mess of the GB branding).
And then we had Covid. This cancelled an ambitious Ashes series. And then the World Cup. The World Cup that was delivered in 2022 was hampered by cost reductions due to the delay (and plenty rubbish decisions) but ultimately was still successful in the grand scheme of things.
The Aussies and Kiwis erased their memories of the last hundred ears of RL and decided they didn't really want to bother with Europe any more, so the RFL have staged a Test Series against Tonga.
There are absolutely loads of things they could have done better over this period - but for me, that shows that they have basically been the main drivers of what has been good in international RL. In an alternate universe, we would have staged a very strong Ashes in 2020 and then a more successful WC in 2021 and we would be in a completely different position.
The international game is a bit of a car crash at the moment - the real bright sparks are actually the likes of PNG and co. but I do think that the RFL are constantly having to battle to get anywhere with this - usually carrying the Kiwis along, but they have now jumped firmly in with the Aussies - and we saw how that went last week with a real low in Hamilton, despite it should have been a real high due to the on-field stuff.
I'll criticise the RFL every day of the week for their incompetence, but I think they have constantly been the most ambitious governing body around Int RL. And I accept that isn't a high bar.
Post of the week certainly, of the month maybe, of the year potentially.
There's so much wrong with this game it's almost beyond analysis (or satire) but the RFL have definitely got their hearts in the right place. Brains and wallets not so much, but definitely their hearts.
I'm not about to bash the NRL too much either, but their problem is they've got enough cash to not really need to worry about doing anything they don't want to do, and right until the Pacific series this year, that has usually meant them cutting across the strategy (such as it is) of everyone else. Even the successful tournament this year is basically on their terms and for their purposes.
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3 minutes ago, Kirmonds pouch said:
On second thoughts I started watching Trin as a losing team, but that's another story!
You and me both
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24 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:
Wakefield as a city has so much potential with its RL history and a massive area to pull fans from - the days are gone of course of the residents of Agbrigg swarming out of their homes and walking round to watch the match and thronging the ground as that particular area surrounding belle vue is a very different place as is the city itself to what it was then - but there is still plenty of surrounding areas such as Ossett Horbury Stanley Wrenthorpe Thornes Crigglestone etc etc to pull fans from
I do know what you mean, but I'd argue you can't just write off areas. Maybe a great crowd of people coming from immediately around the ground is a big ask but at the same time - and Leicestershire have done some great work here with cricket (and yes I know cricket isn't rugby league) - I don't think any club can ignore its own doorstep. Welcome everybody, and if people aren't coming, find out why - and what, if anything, is a barrier.
I'm a southern public schoolboy with an Oxford degree - there are people who think I shouldn't be anywhere near RL (to be fair on both sides of the code 'fence'), I'm passionate that any postcode in England might have RL fans in it, they just don't know it yet... I chose RL, I wasn't remotely born to it.
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38 minutes ago, Eddie said:
Good luck to him and them. If Wakey and Toulouse, or anyone else for that matter can step up, there’s a strong argument for a 14 team SL.
Grade A next year is certainly a big statement of intent
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If this is more than talk then things are really looking up for Trin. What RL in England really needs is about 10 more of him if he does what he says, but very good news for Wakefield.
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Interesting to see how seriously Wakey are taking this - they're referring to IMG grading all over the place in their (increasingly large volume of) press releases and social media updates.
This morning's was talking about their plans for the two redeveloped stands next season, but also mentioned getting on with the planning for the West Stand. I know new owners like to make lots of promises, and Wakey (and the rest of the sport with reference to Trin) have heard it all before, but the new regime really is hitting the ground running.
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4 minutes ago, Damien said:
It is just 1 game though as opposed to a full season, an England game at that, and does allow them to play on the community stadium tag.
Agree, and I know that but bluntly how many of the Brentford fans or management care about England RL, and the former are still celebrating 'no rugby'?
As I said, obviously now my head has decided it is unlikely it will inevitably happen, but of all the open doors the RFL could push at, it just seems like at the moment Brentford would be the one with a security chain on.
Milton Keynes, on the other hand... 30500, quicker to get to from central London than Brentford by rail....
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Obviously Brentford will, now I've said that, be announced as a venue for next year...
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1 minute ago, crashmon said:
Possibly but this is an England game. There is some prestige of hosting your national team. And covered by the BBC so ideal also from a sponsership / Marketing possibilites
I agree if this was some form of club game Brentford would probably say no, but this is the National team covered on the BBC primetime on a sat. This may sway thinking
see my edit I posted while you were typing - they're a cashed up premiership football team that has just received huge applause from their fanbase by saying 'no more rugby' - Brentford simply don't need to do it anytime soon.
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6 minutes ago, crashmon said:
This
I don't think either Brentford or Fulham would say no, its more I just don't see the RFL taking the risk of speaking to them
I think it's politics though that would scupper Brentford - they'd essentially already given London Irish notice to quit even before LI collapsed. They didn't need a co-tenant given they were in the Premiership (rather than lower down, as they were when trying to get the stadium built) and it was a quick win for the owners to throw the Brentford a fanbase a bit of red meat given the persistent claims that RU was ruining their pitch. We all know that RL doesn't have the same impact, but I'd guess that Brentford's owners in particular just have no upside in taking a five or six figure sum for a one-off as things stand.
I'm sure other grounds would say yes, but Brentford at the moment I do think would say no. Or charge through the nose.
Obviously in the medium term things might change, but I can't see the sense in them receiving the thanks of their fanbase for kicking out a rugby team then saying 'by the way, we've organised this rugby match' - especially in a part of the world where it's not immediately going to be obvious to that fanbase that RL is going to be any different to RU in terms of carving up the pitch.
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26 minutes ago, crashmon said:
Its more likely to be south Midlands, which is ok IMHO as that is commutable from London (couple of hours max)
Stadium MK then - 25 mins from Euston, direct West Coast Main Line services from the West Mids and NW...
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2 minutes ago, Simon Hall said:
That's all very nice, but this is a Transfer Tracker thread...
see my edit, with which this crossed
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11 minutes ago, Coco said:
It's just my own personal opinion. After what Beaumont has done at Leigh, I have seen a lot to like with what he has done to the club, the brand and the publicity. Living in London Leigh gets a lot of national press. It's brilliant what he has done.
I been following the new owner Ellis, and he has been making a lot of noise. Would not have a problem he followed the Beaumont route. Make a lot of signings / new nickname / a new brand / make good publicity. Makes national press.
Right well that's fine as far as it goes. I don't often pull rank on here as a johnny come lately not from the north, but nearly two decades in brand and marketing consultancy has taught me two things as my professional opinion:
1) just because something works in one place doesn't mean you don't have to look very carefully before you do the same thing somewhere else
2) doing anything other than trying to reinforce a brand like Wakefield Trinity is (expensive) madness
What Trin have been lacking for decades is cash. Inject that, and there's nothing wrong with the brand. They are one of the best candidates (along with St Helens and Hull KR) for just running a brand on cash and pure heritage.* They don't need to become Wakefield Wombles or Trinity Titans.
Anyway, back to signings...
*Actually I think you could probably do the same with Batley and Hunslet, but the sums involved would be eye-watering.
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1 hour ago, Rene_Artois said:
Great signing for York. As a Dons supporter I can't wait for next year. Massive step up but I think we're making the right signings
I've got everything crossed for Dons - I know someone there from years back so always keep an eye out.
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52 minutes ago, Coco said:
Hopefully the new owner will do a Beaumont and rebrand the club name.
are you high?
Even as someone who only properly committed to RL when Oxford came along in my very early thirties (I'm 42 now) I've known who Wakefield Trinity are all my life.
The whole reason the Wildcats was a pointless nonsense was that (and I'll stand by this one even with the current 'youth') they've got one of *the* iconic names in English sport.
Not a lot else for the past couple of decades, but they've got that.
I don't think these days the average person in the street would name them off the top of their heads, but I'd bet you'd still get a plurality of random public intercepts across England that *claimed* to have heard of them if presented with a list of sports teams*
*yes I do/have done research for a living, I'll now get my coat.
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On 02/11/2023 at 10:07, headtackle said:
Going to regional leagues below SL should not be seen as a backwards step. With a proper structure it is one that could allow for new clubs to be more effectively introduced.
Many other sports follow this model ie a National premier league then below a certain point regional leagues.
Take our main competitor, rugby union. Premiership, National League 1 then at level to whilst called National is basically 3 regional leagues, North, East & West.
On a point of order, the split is at tier 4 in RU - Premiership, Championship, National 1, National 2 E/W/N
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4 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:
Wakefield with shirt of the season so far, and it’s great to see them doing a proper promo to launch it rather than a Photoshop mockup. Well done.
Like that a lot.
obviously the shirt’s been in the works a while but it’s amazing what you can do when you’ve finally got cash
Up the Trin
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46 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:
not a mention of the biggest defeat in the kangaroos history on the BBC website - not even recognition the match took place WTF?
I appreciate not everyone is going to be crawling round the sports pages of the Guardian online but I’ve just read it covered there.
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Toby Boothroyd from Cronulla Sharks to Trin
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44 minutes ago, sam4731 said:
I know the NRL are venturing into the USA but I feel that the RFL reaching out to the the NFL to form a partnership could be mutually beneficial. The NFL would be able to utilise (the apparent) higher levels of rugby league engagement in the UK as well as being able to put down roots in parts of the UK that they could explore which they may not have considered. The RFL would gain from the juggernaut that is the NFL in terms of marketing and exposure and we might get a bigger US audience.
I'm not sure suggesting to the NFL that they could use the M62 as a bridgehead to making NFL really popular in the north of England is necessarily a compelling proposition for them, and if it did come off it's almost the definition of not being careful what you wish for!
Gut feel however is very much 'what on earth is in it for them?'
Trinity owner has big plans
in The General Rugby League Forum
Posted
Absolutely bizarre intervention that was - I come on on the train, walk from the station, go to a pub or two… there have been many problems with Trin’s ground but not being central (ish) for the city was never one of them