West Wales Raiders - laughing stock

[EssexRL]

The problem all expansion clubs face is the same - where do you get players from to be competitive? Until that’s addressed whether you’re WWR, Skolars, Hemel, Cornwall, Oxford, All Golds, Midlands you will struggle. Skolars are well run but we where do we get the players from to compete in L1 (not excusing the poor way WWR seem to have been run, but this is the core issue)?

Being able to pay good salaries isn’t enough, you’ve got to support players to live in non heartland areas.

[fighting irish]

21 minutes ago, EssexRL said:

The problem all expansion clubs face is the same - where do you get players from to be competitive? Until that’s addressed whether you’re WWR, Skolars, Hemel, Cornwall, Oxford, All Golds, Midlands you will struggle. Skolars are well run but we where do we get the players from to compete in L1 (not excusing the poor way WWR seem to have been run, but this is the core issue)?

Being able to pay good salaries isn’t enough, you’ve got to support players to live in non heartland areas.

Well the obvious answer, is to double the number of amateur clubs, then when you've done that, double it again....oh and then......... We seem to be trying to run, before we can walk. Where else, should we expect, the players to come from? 

[EssexRL]

1 hour ago, fighting irish said:

Well the obvious answer, is to double the number of amateur clubs, then when you've done that, double it again....oh and then......... We seem to be trying to run, before we can walk. Where else, should we expect, the players to come from? 

….but how do you build amateur clubs and get players to the standard necessary to compete at L1 and above? I’d argue that successive pro/semi pro clubs act as a catalyst for that community clubs. That’s what Skolars have done. 

[fighting irish]

10 hours ago, EssexRL said:

….but how do you build amateur clubs and get players to the standard necessary to compete at L1 and above? I’d argue that successive pro/semi pro clubs act as a catalyst for that community clubs. That’s what Skolars have done. 

I agree that Skolars are doing a great job, they/we just need to keep building the amateur game here and around the world.

The methods, employed by Skolars, Hemel, Bronco's, Newcastle and others need to be replicated across the entire country. The quality will rise from the greater numbers. In most development areas, we simply don't have enough participants to feed/supply a professional club at the top of the pyramid.

The game could really do with a sensible ''how to'' guide written by the people in these successful development areas, to improve the likelihood of success when would be pioneers feel they want to start a club.

Rather than re-inventing the wheel (and making all the attendant mistakes) the ''guide'' would save them years and heaps of cash by showing them proven methods of getting to where they want to be. 

[GeordieSaint]

On 29/01/2022 at 20:59, The storm said:

Cornwall are also recruiting a lot of students 

I personally would rather have the british army and the british navy in that division

Not a chance. Both services have people scattered all over the country and have people away constantly. 

[Moscow01]

That chap’s thread on Twitter is spot on. 
 

They’ve just tweeted out another ‘we’re happy to announce we’ve partnered with four companies who will be heavily involved with us this season’.

 

They don’t mention in what context. It’s all smoke and mirrors.

 

Its clear the people steering the ship ha e no idea what the destination is. As each week goes by this club gets worse and worse. I feel for the players and the few supporters. This can’t go on. 

[yipyee]

On 12/02/2022 at 18:02, DEANO said:

Ok. Explain why they’re not competitive then

Oww

So money and revenue is one thing

A conveyor belt of talent in an area with no RL background is hard to do.

Especially when they appear disorganised in the back office.

Many a multi million pound companies have gone bust due to poor leadership. 

Now your initially just on about how are they semi pro with 100 Gates, well obviously they have additional revenue streams. This financial side has little to do with hiring a decent coach and recruiting local talent that doesn't currently exist.

[yipyee]

On 12/02/2022 at 17:45, langpark said:

I cannot fault much of what he has said in that letter. 90% of what he says is literally common sense stuff, which sadly, seems to escape those running WWR. 

I have grave fears for League One this year. I worry that between Raiders, Cornwall and Skolars, this league will be littered with forfeits and/or blowout scorelines. 

Its better not to worry and let's see what happens. In Cornwall case the guy in charge has done this before and it worked out just fine until the mafia closed ranks at the top

[langpark]

41 minutes ago, yipyee said:

Its better not to worry and let's see what happens. In Cornwall case the guy in charge has done this before and it worked out just fine until the mafia closed ranks at the top

True. But how does the Wolfpack budget compare to the current budget ge is working with at Cornwall?

[Ivarr the Boneless]

22 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Not a chance. Both services have people scattered all over the country and have people away constantly. 

Totally correct. Both services fly people in from around the world for Challenge Cup games etc. They won't do that for an entire standard season. The army typically get people in Tuesday/Wednesday, train during the week, play Saturday, disperse Sunday. A few years ago a Navy lad flew in from the Middle East on Thursday, trained Friday, played Saturday and flew out Sunday A.M.

It would also knacker up internal army RL competitions, which wouldn't be popular.

I live in Aldershot and watch both the Army and Navy when possible. Neither are good enough for League One.

Edited February 14 by Ivarr the Boneless

[del capo]

On 13/02/2022 at 09:02, fighting irish said:

I agree that Skolars are doing a great job, they/we just need to keep building the amateur game here and around the world.

The methods, employed by Skolars, Hemel, Bronco's, Newcastle and others need to be replicated across the entire country. The quality will rise from the greater numbers. In most development areas, we simply don't have enough participants to feed/supply a professional club at the top of the pyramid.

The game could really do with a sensible ''how to'' guide written by the people in these successful development areas, to improve the likelihood of success when would be pioneers feel they want to start a club.

Rather than re-inventing the wheel (and making all the attendant mistakes) the ''guide'' would save them years and heaps of cash by showing them proven methods of getting to where they want to be. 

It is ABSOLUTELY about numbers.

Check out Wigan  Warriors - they have 21 Ambassador clubs   ( 4000 + players ) - they are not alone -  and the path to getting there by those feeder clubs is well documented.

8-10 years and recruiting good athletes at a young age  to play in a reasonable competition could  get you there.......

[Impartial Observer]

3 hours ago, yipyee said:

Its better not to worry and let's see what happens. In Cornwall case the guy in charge has done this before and it worked out just fine until the mafia closed ranks at the top

History will show that he either appears to have no money, or wisely, likes to spend others, he wasn't involved in Toronto for a long time before they went into SL but left apparently lots of unpaid bills when he was there 

[RugbyFan99]

For those who, earlier in the thread, state that the owners of WWR own the ground - this seems to suggest otherwise...

https://www.llanellitowncouncil.gov.uk/index.php?id=112

Maybe not as rolling in cash as stated?

[langpark]

31 minutes ago, RugbyFan99 said:

For those who, earlier in the thread, state that the owners of WWR own the ground - this seems to suggest otherwise...

https://www.llanellitowncouncil.gov.uk/index.php?id=112

Maybe not as rolling in cash as stated?

I think that they own or run the sports bar there. Not dure how much money that generates, but is probably a decent asset to have. 

[TheFlash]

6 hours ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

 

I live in Aldershot and watch both the Army and Navy when possible. Neither are good enough for League One.

I absolutely agree with your post above, even including this last bit... You are right, they aren't good enough for what should be the third tier of the sport.

That being said though, I think we can agree they would skittle the likes of West Wales raiders, who train 1 night a week while calling themselves "professional".

 

[DEANO]

12 hours ago, yipyee said:

Oww

So money and revenue is one thing

A conveyor belt of talent in an area with no RL background is hard to do.

Especially when they appear disorganised in the back office.

Many a multi million pound companies have gone bust due to poor leadership. 

Now your initially just on about how are they semi pro with 100 Gates, well obviously they have additional revenue streams. This financial side has little to do with hiring a decent coach and recruiting local talent that doesn't currently exist.

So no local talent and not enough money to attract better players. No fan base   Constant beatings and a board not fit for purpose. Not a recipe for success. 

[JM2010]

11 hours ago, del capo said:

It is ABSOLUTELY about numbers.

Check out Wigan  Warriors - they have 21 Ambassador clubs   ( 4000 + players ) - they are not alone -  and the path to getting there by those feeder clubs is well documented.

8-10 years and recruiting good athletes at a young age  to play in a reasonable competition could  get you there.......

This is exactly what the focus of professional clubs should be. If clubs such as WWR, Newcastle, Skolars, Broncos Coventry and Cornwall could get 15 + strong junior clubs in their catchments then they'll end up with a conveyor belt of players feeding into their teams. They would also have the added advantage of not having any competition from nearby clubs when signing the most promising youngsters which is a problem for the smaller or less attractive clubs in the heartlands.

[DEANO]

Exactly. Why would you set up a pro club where there is no interest in rl. 

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

21 hours ago, Ivarr the Boneless said:

I live in Aldershot and watch both the Army and Navy when possible. Neither are good enough for League One.

But a new League One South competition may be an appropriate level for themselves 

[welshmagpie]

9 hours ago, DEANO said:

Exactly. Why would you set up a pro club where there is no interest in rl. 

If this is aimed at South Wales you’re severely wrong. There are nearly 100 kids training RL through the winter at WRL’s centre of excellence (boys and girls) in the height of union season.

League is popular down here it just needs tightening up on the ‘player-pathway’ front - the Salford link is doing that currently.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

9 hours ago, DEANO said:

Exactly. Why would you set up a pro club where there is no interest in rl. 

Like in Salford? 

[Angelic Cynic]

11 hours ago, DEANO said:

So no local talent and not enough money to attract better players. No fan base   Constant beatings and a board not fit for purpose. Not a recipe for success. 

Bit like York not so very long ago.At the time they went bust,and since.

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

36 minutes ago, Angelic Cynic said:

Bit like York not so very long ago.At the time they went bust,and since.

A bit like Melbourne not so long ago too 

[Simon Hall]

1 hour ago, Angelic Cynic said:

Bit like York not so very long ago.At the time they went bust,and since.

Apart from the "no local talent" bit.

[DEANO]

5 hours ago, Angelic Cynic said:

Bit like York not so very long ago.At the time they went bust,and since.

Totally agree about the bust bit but there is a demand for the game in York whereas there isn’t in wales