M j M

What was the logic in breaking the rules to induct him?

The only clubs which can realistically lay claim to be Sleeping Giants are Widnes and Bradford IMO.

Sacrificing for what, Sky covering all games in broadcast quality? That has obvious other benefits including real commercial potential. But the ability to stick some of them on OurLeague is a relatively minor one.

If this was televised widely then it would be a better case. When the games are online or on app only there is no serious reason to change to sub-optimal kick off times. We need to live in the real world sometimes.

So you think they should schedule games to lose crowds rather than losing TV viewers?

I don't think that was ever stated. The cost to clubs of moving from desirable kick off times would probably be more than the revenue generated.

I don't think Leeds would appreciate the biggest gate of the season being wasted (for want of a better word) on an opener which would have elevated attendance by default - unless it was the season opener (but Leeds vs Cas is of more local interest than the other derbys).

Thanks, that would fit the picture. Did they say why they didn't want to renew?

Well apart from the desirability of forming long-term corporate relationships I strongly suspect they aren't paying more.

I'm not particularly bothered about it being in a non-heartlands town or city, the event worked fine when it was in Manchester for example. But this stadium is just totally wrong for it, like Anfield was; and Anfield has much more going for it than Elland Road.

That front cover typeface choice is... interesting.

I live in the same city and would probably skip this event at that ****hole. It was bad enough when Leeds have played occasional games there but an entire round... Elland Rd is so fundamentally unsuited to this sort of event in location, surrounding area and quality of stadium that it's impossible to believe this rumour has any legs to it at all.

I don't get the point. Wigan have got through ten lead sponsors in 15 years. That's unprecedented for any of the major SL clubs, probably for any major UK sports team. Finding and getting sponsors to come on board is by far the hardest bit. I just don't understand why they keep being lost after really short term deals.

Any news on why Wigan have failed to retain yet another major sponsor?

Yeah it'd get good social media traction I'm sure. Like the Amy Parks at AAMI Park thing but with a flat cap angle.

If Fev can't squeeze £750 or whatever out of a local company like Haribo for player sponsorship then they aren't trying hard enough.

I think those that stopped them did so because they weren't particularly lucrative for them. At other clubs they are and hence they remain.

Disrespectful why...? Senior players get paid decent money and asking them to play a game in the middle of pre-season is hardly disrespectful. For the more junior players who get picked in these games it's a massive opportunity and they would be thrilled to be picked.

If Blake Austin was surprised that Leeds had a game on Boxing Day then he can only really blame his (lack of) own due diligence. Although I imagine it would have been a quickly forgotten concern if he'd been offered a new contract.

Seriously lacking in imagination that one.

Personally I find owners who don't grandstand and proclaim how great they are to be somewhat preferable, especially if that owner has a history of dubious behaviour. Let the players and coaches do the talking.

This is a thread for Wakey not another one about Leigh but it's one year of good(ish) stuff after years of negativity. He needs a fair amount more on the credit side of the ledger for me at least to offset the stuff he's done in the past.

Do you mean walk out and not pay the players? I hope and expect the new Wakey owner will be more serious than Beaumont.

This is more the vibe I'm getting.

Not according to Tom Burgess who says he is actually out of pocket for playing in this series. Re the flights he said every other time he has played for England the RFL have paid for business class flights for the players but this time they were told the RFL would only pay economy. Burgess and others paid for business class themselves and the RFL reimbursed them the equivalent of an economy flight fare. I made no comment on whether it was appropriate or not that the RFL didn't pay for business class. But your claim that they just made the players pay for their own flights is clearly not the case.