Tommygilf

I think the scale of this is particularly egregious though, it was literally a full reserve team.

Matt Shaw, amongst others, has been repeating the line, presumably from key figures at some clubs, that currently the dearth of Fed Trained players of sufficient quality is driving up contract values to a point clubs are not happy with. To paraphrase his words, domestic £50k players are being paid £80k when they are still only really worth £50k in terms of on field. Add that in with the need to find another 40 odd SL standard players in a few months for the pre season and well you can see why we are in this predicament.

And from a broader base too. The M62 is not enough

Look at what other sports have done to engage more than a basic core base. RL doesn't like doing this, on any level.

I think the difference is that the quota is an immigration case (essentially) whereas the wages are comparative.

They're held on RL Project

Loads. The M62 corridor has some of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the country. 2 of the 5 largest combined urban areas. Lots of large Universities. A range of income households.

I think its intrinsically linked to Wood's appointment, the review *cough decisions already made cough* and a now expected move to announce 14 SL teams regardless of grading or indeed of sufficient funding.

Is that supposed to make it better? And no, its worse

The need for an instant hit however is being self imposed, which brings us back to the overall issue with the Review.

I don't disagree entirely, my main criticism is this is just demonstrating that the "Strategic Review" should be called the "Implementation of a Preexisting Plan Committee" There definitely needs to be as broad a recruitment pool as possible. Though quite why a reserve grade Aussie is easier than broadening the junior recruitment pool within the UK I don't know.

He did, but achieved a lot via savvy recruitment. Looking at that squad now it was maximised value everywhere.

I think this decision will go hand in hand with a move to 14 teams

Cas can't afford to get better/more proven coaches than they have had, and can't afford a better squad to support a less proven coach. Till that fundamental income issue is resolved they'll be stuck in this cycle, or they accidentally/luckily align Daryl Powell and his 2014/17 squads again.

Ironic considering some of the political views in some RL boardrooms...

He does that regularly. In the post match Connor said how they were looking for him to come on because the team needed that lift. Impact substitutions are worth having whilst still impactful.

I hope so. I don't think we have ever produced a sort of barnstorming prop like that ourselves though. Oledski could be dependent on conditioning but I suspect it will be another NRL player being brought in.

Quite. This is from the "cut costs and boost recruitment options" element of the coup supporters. Next, up to 14 (supported by this quota increase)

I think his impact though is massive. At 25 minutes in players are looking for when he comes on to bust lines. He's an exciting player, as you say can be a bit of a luxury but I think if he leaves then another similar style of player, hopefully with a better engine, will have to be brought in.

I think we'd ideally be looking at 6 to 9k averages (Wakefield/Cas/Leigh levels) with the occasional big attendance if the investment in the club came too. Hanging around the lower reaches of SL would see those attendances at the 5k mark imo.

True, though they were never a club that dropped to the 2-3k averages mark either in the 20 or so years prior. You can probably add 50% relatively easily by some short term success. Maintaining and growing from that however is very difficult.

Not enough though, and not in the right areas to grow and thrive.

Whoever has a lot of money to spend I suppose.

RL Project is your friend guys. Oldham have averaged over 5k twice since 1980 (both in the 80s). Data from before that is minimal. Widnes have averaged over 5k quite a lot in that time, but over 7.5k only 3 times (all in the 80s again). A lot of work tapping into latent fanbases would have to happen. Not impossible, but not easy as many would say either.

The line has been pushed that the dearth of English talent (which has caused "inflated" English player wages) can only be solved by increasing quota spots. Oh and how are Bradford and A.N. Other supposed to recruit a squad for next year without a load of Q Cup players? I wonder how the Stategic Review will play this?