Angelic Cynic

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/16/london-broncos-making-capital-gains-as-they-target-super-league-return

It is very concerning to me that despite the presence of 2 London clubs the press and media coverage has remained much as it always has. More concerning is the 2 promises made by 2 separate interested parties that both came to nothing. Absolutely totally and wholly concerning is despite the annual Capital Challenge,played in the heart of the city,with the wealthy business people invited, once again a wealthy rugby league club owner leaves a club without an equally wealthy individual taking over. The Widnes guy left - no replacement. Marwan Koukash left - no replacement. Fortunately for Wigan there is a replacement for Lenagan, but I don't think he was introduced to the sport by Lenagan. Why can't wealthy people enthuse equally wealthy people to enjoy the sport and take over when one leaves?

In fairness to Schofield he started off and became a very successful centre at Hull,and when they had one of their regular financial 'dips' he and Lee Crooks were sold to Leeds where he played in the halfs - near the end of his career. He has regularly expressed his opinion that half backs should be improved.He suggested,if memory recalls correctly,that Sean Long should become the specialist coach for specialist half backs. This was decades ago.Just as other sports teams were recruiting specialist defence and offense coaches,and soccer decided to have specialist goalkeeping coaches.

Just an amazing story that the people sitting on their backsides watching a screen will never understand. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63236572 Don't suppose the blowout scores from yesteryear have affected the other code despite their arrogant attitude.

I would be very surprised if Rhys Lovegrove a) Wants to do Keighley Cougars any favours or b) Wants London to go into the play- offs following a home defeat. I seem to recall Keighley Cougars being some distance ahead of London,in the league ladder,when results were allegedly not good enough. Interesting games ahead.Always tricky to predict when players are signed for other clubs.Still,I was always told players are professional...

By 2030? - https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12125231/newcastle-thunder-aiming-to-cause-a-storm-with-super-league-ambitions If only they got artificial promotion to Super League like Leigh did - then got a parachute payment.

Not only got a train station but a Metro Rapid System and an airport.

I think there is a friendship between Messrs Campbell and Ford.Not only because of the financial input into York while Ford was head coach. There was another involvement which didn't eventuate.

Seems to have done the hard yards and have a genuine interest in the sport. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kEOZflBQASg&pp=ygUSYmVlcnMgd2l0aCBicm93bmll

They didn't get round to mentioning how it is to be funded. Not a lot about the 2024 stand. What if IMG fail with a decent broadcast deal and withdraw? I make it 3 defeats in a row in a 'results based business' for the current head coach...

The timing of the latest ' publicity ' is confusing enough,but I don't comprehend what message is sent out,after all of the outgoings since Henderson left,that a young player has been thwarted in his opportunity to better himself at a Super League club after others were allowed to do likewise,or if 'their heads were turned.' Could be a strange dressing room to manage...As to what other players,coaches and agents make of it....Recruitment for next season may have got just a little bit more difficult.

There have been exciting,IMG approved stuff,before IMG made a public utterance. https://keighleycougars.uk/etp-programme-launch#:~:text=“This pathway shows Keighley Cougars,to play for this club. Paragraph 8,above,mentions the owners. How is this getting on? Even got a mention in HOP. https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/sport/19839718.cougarmania-foundation-hope-big-presence-keighley/

I am very surprised that you have only just learned what you were told.

Tommy Doyle hands in transfer request. More incomings and outgoings than a busy airport.

Not so much a love -in just an appreciation that as a left side second row he got through some tackles - albeit League 1. Bulking up for the move to prop may have resulted in more missed tackles,this campaign,but that could also apply to others. Swinton take on 4 loan players - 3 from Super League & 1 from Hunslet. Two spine players - well 3, as 2 are hookers/number 9's. Hard to predict...

The problem,or one of the problems,at this time of the season,is that many players have agreed to join other clubs for 2024. The position the club is now in will make recruitment difficult for next season. Going into games where defence is vital, it isn't the best to allow one of the players who would show quite highly if ever any tackle stats for players outside Super League were shown - Aaron Levy - to leave. Then again,he has stuck around longer than I thought he would.

The Catalans club entered the English league which benefited from a broadcast deal. Over the next dozen years the sport of soccer will have the best players moving to Saudi Arabia. Apart from Toulouse,which other club should be allowed 3 years in Super League? -if your friends at IMG can manage to arrive at a new name for Super League, and get a broadcast deal. Maybe it is going to be another French side.Perhaps they now have a government,local government, council,schools and wealthy individuals who encourage sport. I don't see the same thing(s) in England. It won't benefit the English national side to have a league of French clubs - but as an individual the international game doesn't interest me. What are your hopes for the next 5years,and 10 years,for rugby league in England? I am going to France,by the way,but my interest is the whole development of the sport and raising the standards,altogether.

I think the announcement of the head coach of Swinton Lions commencing his new job at Widnes,next year,has made it a tad more difficult for the side which has shipped more than 200 points in the last 4 games under 2 of the 3 head coaches they have had this year. Some of those Swinton players may very well want to accompany their coach to the Vikings - they have a council owned stadium and may pay slightly more than the supporters -run club. Could be interesting...

It's also what could happen if a club is parachuted into Super League, not relegated for 3 years and make use of the monies from the broadcast deal. Not every club is so lucky. Kudos to Monsieur Guasch for his coaching appointments,also. Mick Potter to build the club, and that McNamara chap who the knowledgeable rugby league fans at Bradford didn't rate. Time is a valuable commodity.

I would have liked to have met you,Indigogo,it would have been nice to have discussed the actual sport of rugby league with you instead of reading the views of the happy clappers on the club Facebook site. Interesting development before the game on Sunday - https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/widnes-vikings-identify-top-head-27434365 Slightly off - topic but the thought crossed my mind,today,as to the possibility of League 1 for Cougars,next year,and whether or not the head coach is staying and about recruitment - but,what happens if Castleford get relegated? They have a connection with Midlands Hurricanes and Scott Murrell has already played for them in their win at Doncaster. Do Castleford retain the reserve team,and coach,if they are relegated? Anyway,for you Indigogo,and your fellow supporters,I hope Cougars do as well as they possibly can. News on a new stand would be nice...

I was looking for some info./reaction from the Australian end. Quite by chance I came across the following coverage. I post without comment. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNa--HVGFg&pp=ygUic291dGhwb3J0IHRpZ2VycyB2cyBidXJsZWlnaCBiZWFycw%3D%3D

There was also 20k to HMRC that was owed. ( But I can't find the link ) The make up of clubs for 2024 doesn't appear certain, to me. Finishing this campaign seems a doubt - for more than Whitehaven.

I hope you told Sheffield Eagles the same,not so long ago. https://www.scci.org.uk/news/sheffield-eagles-club-statement/

Contract not mentioned.It seems the interim has left the club with Hedges and Muir remaining.

Matthew Shaw,the journalist, seems to have read your post last night,Indigogo. The fact that Matt Foster started off,as per Rhys,with Strength & Conditioning before coaching may be very useful as I no longer feel fitness is a strength;at the moment. Has the new appointment been made too late? Probably. Will he,as in the 90's,also be working for the Foundation? If he's good hopefully,but just coaching is a huge ask. Difficult to be optimistic about the sport in this country with the introduction of IMG - and difficult to be optimistic for Keighley Cougars the way things have gone on and off the field since promotion/ Hendo escaped. Approaching ten years coaching in Australia and leaving that for the uncertainty in Keighley? I wish him luck. Perhaps the sage wisdom of the 2 elder statesmen on the board of directors has come to the fore.I hope it works for those who deserve it..