West Cumbria

[shaun mc]

I agree with you on Maryport,Ellenbrough had a good youth team a couple of years ago but the players were from all over Allerdale to the detriment of other teams.Its still criminal that a town the size of Workington only has 1 amateur team of any note with any youth set up.

 

Was always the case with the amateur scene in Workington even in Towns heyday in the 50's, wasn't it? Still the same clubs and areas as now. Town also picked the odd gem up from Workington union such as Brian Edgar

[The Parksider]

It's sad to hear from the local Cumbrian fans about the struggling amateur game.  If this proposal will not help the game what do you guys think will?  It would be a disaster if the game continued to slump given the history and passion shown by many of the people up there.

 

I think the "proposal" albeit pie in the SKY without the funding would revitalise the game in Cumbria.

 

Having a super league team did wonders for Wales and did the London game and the Perpignan game good as well.

 

We all agreed on here without Superleague the game per se would wither to very little indeed.

 

It is the case that where there are Superleague clubs we have a half decent junior and amateur game going with that, where there is no SL there is little RL or a decline. 

 

Such a club I feel would not be licensed into SL though, as the RFL must have their sights on bigger markets like Toulouse, Bradford, Toronto, but if the £Millions were there they could in theory win their way to it.

 

But not now because once they hit the top of the Chapmionship they would hit a glass ceiling. It's a good dream but an awful investment.

[PrimroseAndBlue]

I'm all for putting money into Cumbria but what plan is there at the moment beyond maintaining the status quo?  Throwing money at Workington and Whitehaven isn't going to achieve anything unless those clubs demonstrate that they can come up with some ideas as to how RL can be stabilised or improved up there.

[The Parksider]

I'm all for putting money into Cumbria but what plan is there at the moment beyond maintaining the status quo?  Throwing money at Workington and Whitehaven isn't going to achieve anything unless those clubs demonstrate that they can come up with some ideas as to how RL can be stabilised or improved up there.

 

The idea seems pretty simple - put them in Superleague and crowds will go up and more people will play the game. Question is who do you kick out for them?

 

Huddersfield??

 

Then we'll be crying RL is dying in the Pennines as it has no SL clubs!

[MancRL]

The idea seems pretty simple - put them in Superleague and crowds will go up and more people will play the game. Question is who do you kick out for them?

 

Huddersfield??

 

Then we'll be crying RL is dying in the Pennines as it has no SL clubs!

 

Put more money and effort into the Championship. The RFL should be lobbying SKY, who I believe who hold the TV rights to start showing Championship RL games. 

 

  A strong Championship is essential for UK Rugby League.  

[The Parksider]

Put more money and effort into the Championship. 

 

A strong Championship is essential for UK Rugby League.  

 

This is at odds with Superleague clubs who saw £16M allocated to the Championship from the SKY contract that they felt they needed.

 

It doesn't grow on trees and the reality is the reverse of what you say, it's Superleague that attracts the SKY revenue. The stronger SL is the better,

[MancRL]

This is at odds with Superleague clubs who saw £16M allocated to the Championship from the SKY contract

that they felt they needed.

It doesn't grow on trees and the reality is the reverse of what you say, it's Superleague that attracts the SKY revenue. The stronger SL is the better,

If the Championship was funded and promoted correctly and certain standards were set. It could evolve into a de facto Super League 2. Where clubs not quite big enough for SL at the moment could have a good future.

[shaun mc]

This is at odds with Superleague clubs who saw £16M allocated to the Championship from the SKY contract that they felt they needed.

 

It doesn't grow on trees and the reality is the reverse of what you say, it's Superleague that attracts the SKY revenue. The stronger SL is the better,

 

The stronger the SL, Championship, Champ 1, Reserve structure, academy structure and amateur game the better surely?

Then with a stronger game overall through the levels, it would have more chance of attracting greater capital into the game?

Or would 8 very super, very strong clubs in SL with sole control of structures and players at all levels in less and less locations and communities bring in more capital?

[The Parksider]

If the Championship was funded and promoted correctly and certain standards were set. It could evolve into a de facto Super League 2. Where clubs not quite big enough for SL at the moment could have a good future.

 

Funded by what money from where??

 

If you take money off SL to grow the Championship SL shrinks.

 

The stronger the SL, Championship, Champ 1, Reserve structure, academy structure and amateur game the better surely?

 

Not if you weaken SL to get there.

 

Resources of spectators and players are limited Cas fight Wakey for players and fans who fight Fev who fight Cas.

 

Yes please lets give all clubs another half £Million each to try to boost player production and try to promote the game to speccies but where will this money come from??

 

Gents - where??

[MancRL]

Funded by what money from where??

 

If you take money off SL to grow the Championship SL shrinks.

 

 

Not if you weaken SL to get there.

 

Resources of spectators and players are limited Cas fight Wakey for players and fans who fight Fev who fight Cas.

 

Yes please lets give all clubs another half £Million each to try to boost player production and try to promote the game to speccies but where will this money come from??

 

Gents - where?

 

I'm not really talking about putting money into the Championship that isn't there. I mean raising the profile of the Championship, which in turn may attract more supporters and money in time.

 

 The best way to do this is by somehow convincing Sky to show a few live Championship games a season and a weekly or monthly magazine programme . If they could get ten live matches a season I believe this could raise the profile of the RL Championship if they were targeted games.  

 

 But maybe we'll  just have to agree to disagree on the Championship and its future.