Sports Prophet

The last line means exactly what it says in context of the whole post Dave. Nothing I said was directed at you. You have a fair way of handling a different opinion. You don’t manipulate. You don’t humiliate. Perhaps I should have started my earlier post with “a tiny few” rather than “a few”. It certainly wasn’t directed at the majority of the forum.

I asked Google AI what the major sports events in October were (for organising a school camp). Domestically, the result was NBL, Spring Carnival (Horse Racing) and Bathurst. It also noted major international events of World Series, F1 and some athletics carnival. I then asked “doesn’t the RLWC begin in October?”, to which it apologised and confirmed it starts in October. Frustrated, I responded with something like “why didn’t you include that tournament in your list of sports events when I first asked you? Is it because you are part of a Rugby Union conspiracy to deny Rugby League the coverage it clearly deserves”. It confirmed that it has no bias towards any sport and not part of any conspiracy. I remain unconvinced and told it so

I was disappointed with Dom Young out there tonight. He played for penalties a number of times. Firstly for a crusher which rightly went unpunished. Then twice Klein called him for “milking” when mucking around after being tackled. I was pleased to see Klein call him out for that.

I would love nothing more to see England win the WC @Dave T. I think another team will need to knock the Aussies out though for that to happen.

It’s an unfortunate strategy of a few people on here. It’s a never ending climb to be eternally correct. Never accept that they might be wrong. Ignore the facts. Twist people’s words. Take comments out of context. Accusations of changing goalposts. If that doesn’t work, resort to ridicule. Then have the audacity to claim others are gaslighting. The behaviour makes it difficult to have an adult conversation. No one is allowed to have a different opinion. Shame.

Personally, I don’t have an issue with PVLs language. He calls a spade a spade. The SL is improving but demonstrably has big problems. PVL has been vocal of his objective and is now open on his opinion about the trajectory of the British professional game. It’s hard to argue that the sport is not heading for a tremendous crash. You do ask a good question about what the NRL really wants. True, they could have been more interested in the WCC. I disagree with you there is a reluctance to play England though. From my position, the WCC is a pre-season exhibition match. A position many Australians, and likely the NRL, agree with. England clubs can win as many pre-season matches as they want, it doesn’t detract from the WCC in it’s current format being a pre-season event with little matter. So I think a lot of the reluctance lies right there. So we are somewhat left to speculate over the intentions of the NRL in running Super League. Claims of turning it into a feeder competition are ridiculous. There is no common sense to that theory. In my opinion, the NRL is looking to globalise club Rugby League and put the sport on a pedestal above all other club Rugby. Britain and Europe is pivotal to that ambition, as the prevalence of RU in Europe questions that very objective. I think the NRL and PVL are right to question the RFLs ability to bring the English game up to a similar standing as the NRL. So much so that they now have intentions which look something like “for heavens sake you lot. You’ve had 30 years of Super League and the division in performance between the two competitions has never been greater. You obviously do not have the skills to change it, so we want to come in and do the job for you, because a successful English RL is hugely important to the success of our global ambitions”. That the NRL wants to work with the RFL demonstrates to me the positive intentions, rather than establishing a rival competition and seducing clubs across.

Yes, I think you are right. He was asking for permission from the ARL to represent NZ. I think that permission was granted. Can’t remember. He makes a huge difference to that squad.

It appears you need English lessons Tommy.

Competition inflates value

If I’m not mistaken, the RFL have one development officer for South of a line between Birmingham and Norwich. The RFL’s strength as a governor of growth is definitely in question.

Further to my last post, I think there is a good argument to say that in development areas, clubs at a particular level should be administered by the governing body. Not that the RFL have the finances or corporate or political support these days to finance any such programme. London and the South East is littered with senior and junior clubs which have come and gone over the last 20, 30 and 40 years after a few enthusiastic individuals have burned out. Strewth, Europe is littered with nations experiencing the same.

Were they victims of large losses before they finished? Ive always thought there is room for 60 or 70 minute matches at grassroots level.

As an avid contributor, you will well have experienced the conundrum that is - I agree with most of that post, but I don’t necessarily agree with a portion of it. Certainly, the idea that there are many on this forum who think everything is rosy with the SL/British game was not in fact the whole premise of the post. Not in my opinion at least. However, I did agree with the larger part of the post and felt it worthy of the good ol “like”. Do I think there is a large population on this forum which is happy with the state of the game in the UK? Absolutely not. As an avid contributor, you would also have no doubt noted my affection and acknowledgement of the improvement we have seen in British RL since IMG - as much as a total coincidence that appears to be to some. I think I give a fair and balanced opinion of the management of RL, backed by supporting evidence, even if some still disagree with my opinion. What else should we touch on?

I was quoted and I respond to the message. Adequately and appropriately. But since I am here and since you have asked, why do you want me to list a few on the forum who quotes British footy as super?

The problem for me Dave is that there are other people on this forum willing to stick it to the NRL and PVL and they do so unsubstantiated. I disagree. I think the predominant opinion demonstrated on this forum about the NRL and PVL is negative. I’m not “seal clapping” through any result. Those supposedly holding PVL to account in this whole episode seem to feel it is their inherent right for PVL to publicly demonstrate his financial plans to the general public. “Why hasn’t an offer been presented”, “It’s all just talk”, “When will they present an offer” etc, whilst denying the same scrutiny of the local governors. I am quite comfortable in the NRL, the ARLC and PVL to discuss their ambition without spelling out to the public their full financial and administration case and rather keep the figures between the parties at hand until a decision is made. I am also quite comfortable that at this stage, the NRL may not even have presented an offer to anyone. In fact I think it’s obvious, common sense. It’s the SL which is underperforming and underdelivering. If the NRL are the ones discussing a potential investment, it is equally - if not more so - the responsibility of the British game to put their offer forward… which appears to have been the case last week. As to PVLs demeanour, this is me speculating, but I have little doubt that language of “train crash” has support of more than two senior individuals at the SL clubs and is dedicated to put pressure on other individuals to show their cards and their skillset. Unfortunately, as you have said, PVL is getting a bit of a free pass there when the ambition of the lead administrator of the sport in England is to reach a break even point.