IMG Grading System (Many Merged Threads)

[binosh]

IMG have stated they have only received £450k so far, could it be that the £450k was only payable when grading officially came into play? I.e the first payment has now been received  and is payable every year of grading? 

Who knows, it could be a one off and reports are all wrong or it could be payable every year and IMG have been “smart” with their wording.

It is what it is, it’s been agreed to so let’s just crack on with it, hopefully phase 2 sees some more tangible benefits for the good for the game.

[JohnM]

Well, yes, it COULD be that it doubles every year, or triples every week. 

But I agree ...let's just get on with debating factual matters.

[LeeF]

Interestingly IMG also managed to get the current TV deal improved despite it being reduced from the previous ones. Another tangible contribution that sone seem quiet on

 

[GeordieSaint]

I like what Dwyer has said…

“IMG don’t run the sport. They make recommendations that RFL Commercial and the clubs choose to take forward if they want to.”

I hope that is understood by all. As it could not be any clearer. 

[Barley Mow]

4 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

I like what Dwyer has said…

“IMG don’t run the sport. They make recommendations that RFL Commercial and the clubs choose to take forward if they want to.”

I hope that is understood by all. As it could not be any clearer. 

Am I right in thinking that RL Commercial is essentially a joint venture between the RFL and IMG?

[phiggins]

1 minute ago, Barley Mow said:

Am I right in thinking that RL Commercial is essentially a joint venture between the RFL and IMG?

Don’t think so. It’s a joint venture between the RFL and Super League. Wasn’t it setup after the farcical attempt at a split and appointment of Elstone by SL?

[phiggins]

1 hour ago, LeeF said:

Interestingly IMG also managed to get the current TV deal improved despite it being reduced from the previous ones. Another tangible contribution that sone seem quiet on

 

I think that, unfortunately, the biggest issue that we have is not IMG, and it isn’t the clubs. It’s RL commercial. Why was Rhodri Jones talking about a refocus on ROI the other week, rather than pointing out this tangible benefit.

They have a key role, sat between IMG and clubs, but I fear they’re not up to it. 

[Dave T]

33 minutes ago, Barley Mow said:

Am I right in thinking that RL Commercial is essentially a joint venture between the RFL and IMG?

 

30 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Don’t think so. It’s a joint venture between the RFL and Super League. Wasn’t it setup after the farcical attempt at a split and appointment of Elstone by SL?

I think it was part of the restructure triggered by the IMG partnership, and IMG have a guy on the board, as well as the RFL board. So they have an involvement, not sure how the formal jv/partnership is structured though.

[Dave T]

26 minutes ago, phiggins said:

I think that, unfortunately, the biggest issue that we have is not IMG, and it isn’t the clubs. It’s RL commercial. Why was Rhodri Jones talking about a refocus on ROI the other week, rather than pointing out this tangible benefit.

They have a key role, sat between IMG and clubs, but I fear they’re not up to it. 

I think the problem is that we are just seeing more of the same, which is no surprise as we announced an inside man as MD.

I'm not somebody who always believes we need to look externally, but Jones just seems so utterly impressive as a leader.

[Archie Gordon]

1 hour ago, LeeF said:

Interestingly IMG also managed to get the current TV deal improved despite it being reduced from the previous ones. Another tangible contribution that sone seem quiet on

 

In fairness, isn't that how all negotiations work.

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, LeeF said:

Interestingly IMG also managed to get the current TV deal improved despite it being reduced from the previous ones. Another tangible contribution that sone seem quiet on

 

This one made me smile. It's no more than PR this, of course the end of the negotiation should see a better deal than the start.

[Dave T]

Just now, Archie Gordon said:

In fairness, isn't that how all negotiations work.

Beat me to it by seconds. Exactly right.

[gingerjon]

10 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

In fairness, isn't that how all negotiations work.

It's an example of a successful negotiation.

Not all negotiations are successful.

For example, there was one around the same time for TV coverage of the Championship.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, LeeF said:

Interestingly IMG also managed to get the current TV deal improved despite it being reduced from the previous ones. Another tangible contribution that sone seem quiet on

 

Interesting in there that they are really clear that the RFL need to sort themselves out and invest in their priority areas (for e.g. London) rather than lip service or leaving to clubs who can't possibly do it.

[Archie Gordon]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

It's an example of a successful negotiation.

Not all negotiations are successful.

For example, there was one around the same time for TV coverage of the Championship.

Possibly it was successful. There's no way of knowing.

But it is unremarkable to state that the agreement reached was better than the initial offer. That shouldn't ever be the yardstick.

[Chris22]

I think the bigger story today are Matt Dwyer's comments about Grade A teams.

The criteria are explicit. They say that a side with a "grade A" score is guaranteed a place in the top flight for as long as it maintains that score.

Dwyer now says that is not the case. We were told that if a club got to that grade a threshold they would be in Super League. Guaranteed. Now it looks like the goalposts have been moved.

Why would you invest as a Championship club if the criteria are simply shifted to fit around what the RFL / Super League clubs want at any specific time?

[Archie Gordon]

3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Interesting in there that they are really clear that the RFL need to sort themselves out and invest in their priority areas (for e.g. London) rather than lip service or leaving to clubs who can't possibly do it.

Dwyer is always very clear that London needs to have some investment. He always then slides into a long mumble with nothing to show for it. I'm not necessarily blaming him but it is clear that London is not something he's given much thought.

[JohnM]

4 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I think the problem is that we are just seeing more of the same, which is no surprise as we announced an inside man as MD.

I'm not somebody who always believes we need to look externally, but Jones just seems so utterly impressive as a leader.

Yes. My version of a leader is someone marching purposefully forward, carrying the flag and the hopes and dreams of our sport and rousing the clubs and the fans to action. 

It may well be that Jones is the brains of the operation, and could indeed be the real power behind the throne, but we need someone on that throne with power of position, power to reward, power of expertise, power of personality, power of coerciveness, power of knowlege, power of experience and power from integrity. ...or at least a winning combination of most of those. That's where Mo scored so highly.

I doubt there is anyone like that inside the game. Utopian dream maybe. 

[gingerjon]

3 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

it is unremarkable to state that the agreement reached was better than the initial offer.

No, it is remarkable.

We had nothing more to offer. It appears that there were no rival bids and we had no more 'content' to create.

And yet the offer rose - seemingly only after IMG got involved. Left to the RFL and the 'do things as we have always done' it would not have risen.

That is not something to be downplayed.

[gingerjon]

3 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

Dwyer is always very clear that London needs to have some investment. He always then slides into a long mumble with nothing to show for it. I'm not necessarily blaming him but it is clear that London is not something he's given much thought.

He's been told by rugby league people that it's a priority.

It's on the rugby league people to act on that.

So far they have failed to do so.

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, Chris22 said:

I think the bigger story today are Matt Dwyer's comments about Grade A teams.

The criteria are explicit. They say that a side with a "grade A" score is guaranteed a place in the top flight for as long as it maintains that score.

Dwyer now says that is not the case. We were told that if a club got to that grade a threshold they would be in Super League. Guaranteed. Now it looks like the goalposts have been moved.

Why would you invest as a Championship club if the criteria are simply shifted to fit around what the RFL / Super League clubs want at any specific time?

Rhodri Jones pretty much said as much in April/May this year. Some people chose to ignore his comments and claim it was semantics when I pointed this exact point out.

[Dave T]

5 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Yes. My version of a leader is someone marching purposefully forward, carrying the flag and the hopes and dreams of our sport and rousing the clubs and the fans to action. 

It may well be that Jones is the brains of the operation, and could indeed be the real power behind the throne, but we need someone on that throne with power of position, power to reward, power of expertise, power of personality, power of coerciveness, power of knowlege, power of experience and power from integrity. ...or at least a winning combination of most of those. That's where Mo scored so highly.

I doubt there is anyone like that inside the game. Utopian dream maybe. 

I think Lindsay had the mouth, not always able to back it up, but at least we knew what he stood for.and was driving forward. 

Lewis was imo the best leader we have had in my lifetime. A bit quieter, but very clear and with a vision.

[Damien]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

Rhodri Jones pretty much said as much in April/May this year. Some people chose to ignore his comments and claim it was semantics when I pointed this exact point out.

Yeah, this has been pointed out various times over the last few months on this thread.

[Dave T]

The biggest thing that's confused me.in all of this is that I thought Dwyer had moved to Australia.

What kind of voodoo is being used to.conduct these interviews?

[JohnM]

A reminder of who is in charge. A quote from League Express, an organ not fully bought into "Re-imagining Rugby League" but who fairly reports Dwyer's words.

"Matt Dwyer, the IMG executive running the rugby league partnership, insists his company is not the key decision-maker but are merely advisors to those in charge.

“IMG doesn’t run the sport. We don’t make the decisions, but what we do is we do the recommendations.  Now, some of those recommendations, we then execute for them, because that’s services and the life that we have in our sport."

For the avoidance of doubt: “IMG doesn’t run the sport."