RayCee

I've only seen the highlights of the two tests. For those who did see the full matches, any opinions on whether Samoa lifted and England likewise or was it much the same for each? I appreciate it's subjective. I thought maybe a 10% lift.

If you want to be happy, just choose the team winning that year. Not very loyal I know but you always have that winning feeling.

Mergers aren't always successful. I don't know how it would go down in Cumbria. I actually did some digging re populations of the two W's a few days ago and thought the distance between them is just 8 miles but I guess the real issue is the distance there may be in town loyalties.

Important for the women's game.

I think England will have to lift their game because Samoa will.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Bradford Bulls. Just saying.

While I and others here have talked about helping smaller clubs or behind the scenes investments in youth etc, the fact is few if any actually do that. They usually buy a club and the higher the profile and success the club enjoys the more likely they are to attract investors. The EPL is an example of that. I guess it's more exciting to put money into a competitive club but more long term value to a sport like RL to help lower levels and the grass roots of the game.

But why would you dilute the quality of the Leigh squad?

So they're on the hunt.

You could end up with egg on your face but admire your ambition.

Not living in the UK, I'd need to do research on what and where I would get involved. I like the idea of youth development by working with a club that values that but simply can't afford it.

More detail if you wish Mark.

I get that. A good choice.

Either. That's over to the investor / philanthropist to decide.

If you were in a very favourable position financially and decided to put some money into RL, what would you be looking at? Into a club such as start up a new one, buy an existing one or a part share in one? A scholarship or youth development programme? Would helping the women's game appeal? Sponsorship?

For all the success Penrith has had with the men's game, the women's side of their operation has lagged. York Valkyie's success will be something to benefit from, especially if Penrith can put a team into the NRLW. I'm sure they'd want to hit the ground running and some Valkyie players would assist in that. It could go both ways too. I wonder how much YK men's side will benefit? Penrith have a huge junior base so I guess that could be one avenue.

A t-shirt in an English winter? They would be cool kids for sure.

I'm really not sure of what point you're trying to make in relation to what have been saying. I said a club has to spend in getting a good squad to succeed when moving up to Super League. I don't know how much he spent on each attempt but for the latest attempt the squad was definitely stronger so I presumed he spent more to do that. The initial point I made was that TO needs to spend up if they hope to have success getting to SL and being competitive once there. It's not a guaranteed outcome, and that hasn't been claimed by anyone, but it's a basic requirement.

I agree. Without either of those benefits and the travel costs they have to carry, what do you think their chances are at being a successful SL club like the Catalann Dragons are?

Double post.

Yes, but they realised they had to spend on a strong squad to stay up, learned their lesson and achieved success.

You implied before it was all about getting SL money. Now it's about having a sugar daddy.

Toulouse entered SL in 2022 and went straight back down. Leigh Came up in 2023 and cracked on in 2024. They both got the same opportunity, both got some SL money so that isn't the issue is it?

The TO squad needs to be stronger if it's to more competitive on the paddock. That said, they've got to do better off it too so good that they are working on that. Poor crowd numbers in a stadium larger than they currently need isn't helpful though.

London RL doesn't have to disappear if the public in London want to support it. But is it worth spending limited resources in a city that hardly knows RL is played there and people like crashmon who are happy to walk away from it? In places like Goole the locals will get behind their club and support it. Clubs in London can still exist in local leagues or if a club wants to get serious get a wealthy backer to fund them and London has plenty of them. If it comes down to saying 'goodbye', it's mainly because the public in London aren't interested in sufficient numbers and the well heeled are even less so. I hope someone comes along and decides to take up the Broncos.