Phil W

Sam Tomkins has been on the rugby pod with Jim Hamilton this week, thought it was a really good chat. The rugby pod is a rugby union podcast but thought I'd let people know as they might enjoy it. If you search for rugby pod Sam Tomkins it should come up.

I predict a riot if Ralph Rimmer is anywhere near this tournament.

This has a big event feel and is way ahead of any match experience in the UK.

We have what's being billed as the most inclusive World Cup. Rimmer should be nowhere near it.

I can only see a very small number of category A clubs. This is a twelve year deal with IMG and think that they'll want to give teams something to strive and work towards.

Well the rumour mill was right and Chris Thorman has been confirmed as Head Coach for the 2023 season. Talks about building the connection between fans, staff and players and think he's spot on. That's the first piece in the jigsaw.

Dee got injured and didn't play after Widnes in April but played at centre and think he's a good signing. Ta'ai again spent the first part of last season injured but could well be a good impact player for bursts off the bench, also a leader and well respected by everyone.

Ukuma Ta'ai has signed for York.

I know it's being discussed on the main board but thought it might be good to have a thread on here. What do people think of the proposals? Personally happy enough with them, losing Magic Weekend will be a blow but there's time to make that back in terms of attendances throughout the season. Be interested to see others thoughts on it.

I noticed the Super League awards, Championship and League One awards all at Headingley. Plus Sky often use it as a base for rugby league including a studio for the French derby. Leeds will get paid for this, but does anyone think this is right? It just seems a bit odd that one club is getting extra income.

Brilliant again from Kevin Sinfield, looking forward to getting out and supporting this in Newcastle.

Agree with this from a Thunder perspective as well. What happens to those outside the 20 is there a way in? If club's haven't seen proposals and they're voting on the day a lack of fan engagement on final proposals concerns me.

Brad Day has signed for Featherstone and Peachey has signed for Sheffield. The Thorman rumour is a rumour but a strong rumour. In terms of incomings, sure I saw something on the Whitehaven board about one or two of their players coming to us. But nothing else at the moment.

If there's any seats not undercover they could just hand out umbrella's, that's easily done.

Is the point at the moment not to try and attract a new audience. To do this an event needs to be created that people enjoy and want to go back to the next season. I'm taking my wife and a couple of friends to the World Cup opener and I know it'll be a good game but for them that wouldn't make a difference. What I can tell them is there'll be a fan zone on the Quayside and with it being a city centre stadium Newcastle itself will be bouncing and we've been told to be in seats half an hour before for pre-match entertainment. The big games need to be not just big games but big events. IMG will have ideas around this no doubt.

PNG playing some entertaining stuff here pulled it back to 38-14.

Featherstone have announced the return of Brad Day.

For the games in Newcastle I hope there's school visits booked in, Schools could adopt a nation and ev n if they're not there in person encouraged to watch on TV.

Doyle just confirmed as signed for Keighley, don't think that will go down well at Bulls.

Yes, for one it's a Grand Final but also you have a Saints team who are considered the best In the league against a Leeds team who are on the crest of a wave. Should be a great final.

I'll get shot down for this but Amor saying there's too much of this creeping in when Dupree took a knock to the back of the head doesn't sit well with me. He was basically saying Dupree should get up and get on with it. Given what's happening with former players and head injuries in other sports it seems a very dated way to think. Head injuries and concussions are very serious and commentators should appreciate that.

The difficulty is the step up to The Championship is a big step. It would be useful to have a club in League One to dual reg with. I don't think the reserves works particularly well for player development. Ideally north east clubs in the conferences would be great but travel etc is a big commitment.

Agree with this. The Championship was fairly dull towards the end of the season, you could easily lose two teams and just play home and away. Plus the lose of a couple of home games means more to play for and could increase away attendances.

Given the Queen's death I think proposals might be delayed until after next Monday.

Having seen yesterday tickets flying for the Rugby Union World Cup in France, I think it's a combination for Rugby League but one of the key contributors is the lack of international Rugby League. In Union there are international rivalries and stories built up. We have a great product in League but most fans let alone the general public don't have a clue about the teams and the players. A stronger more visible international game would've helped ticket sales.