IMG Grading System (Many Merged Threads)

[marklaspalmas]

15 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

I agree on the TV deal, though the message from Sky in that will be important too - presuming that is where the vast majority of the TV deal will come from.

I'm not sure what IMG are exactly supposed to do with the clubs/RFL vis a vis the RL media. They have media teams, they have CEOs, other than giving them a script its not entirely clear what else is worth doing?

And that is before we get to half the problems coming from the clubs themselves!!!

I think you've answered it. Not exactly a script, but yes, the clubs need teaching about how to put out and maintain a positive narrative in the media. Who better than a 400k p.a. consultancy group to take charge of this?

[Archie Gordon]

I'm no fan of IMG but all the cards they had in the TV negotiations have been burned by the uprising. We must look like crazies to Sky a year out from a new deal. I'm struggling to think of anything at all I've ever been involved that looks as leaderless as UK RL does now. There are currently no adults in our room. 

[Tommygilf]

21 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

I think you've answered it. Not exactly a script, but yes, the clubs need teaching about how to put out and maintain a positive narrative in the media. Who better than a 400k p.a. consultancy group to take charge of this?

Bit of a problem when some of the clubs (or at least the key figures in some of the clubs) are the ones pushing certain narratives.

IMG have definitely helped clubs with digital output and formats though.

£400k per annum actually isn't that much per club either.

Edited May 3 by Tommygilf

[Damien]

10 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

I think you've answered it. Not exactly a script, but yes, the clubs need teaching about how to put out and maintain a positive narrative in the media. Who better than a 400k p.a. consultancy group to take charge of this?

I think at this stage clubs do know.  The trouble is there are too many egos and agendas at play so people like Beaumont just ignore it and do their own thing.

[marklaspalmas]

6 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Bit of a problem when some of the clubs (or at least the key figures in some of the clubs) are the ones pushing certain narratives.

IMG have definitely helped clubs with digital output and formats though.

£400k per annum actually isn't that much per club either.

Fair play, yes, it must be like herding cats.

Getting all the clubs (at least publicly) to more or less 'sing from the same hymn sheet' should be an absolute priority 

[marklaspalmas]

2 minutes ago, Damien said:

I think at this stage clubs do know.  The trouble is there are too many egos and agendas at play so people like Beaumont just ignore it and do their own thing.

Yeah. Who has the authority to clamp down on that type of utter unprofessionalism?

[Tommygilf]

1 minute ago, marklaspalmas said:

Fair play, yes, it must be like herding cats.

Getting all the clubs (at least publicly) to more or less 'sing from the same hymn sheet' should be an absolute priority 

It should, but assuming it won't happen, controlling and directing the narrative after that is imperative. That wouldn't leave a vacuum for Leopard tweet Man and Pie boy for example to go unchallenged or indeed seem important at all. I'd add players to that, such as Keary.

[marklaspalmas]

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/img-push-back-on-rebel-clubs-catalans-stance-as-clear-message-sent

Perhaps this is IMG trying to take control of the narrative.

If I was going to be harsh, it looks like them wading into the petty bickering between clubs.

[Harry Stottle]

On 03/05/2025 at 19:46, Damien said:

I think at this stage clubs do know.  The trouble is there are too many egos and agendas at play so people like Beaumont just ignore it and do their own thing.

So wouldn't that be 9 or 8 if Catalan aren't included people like Beaumont with egos who we are led to believe voted, Wigan, Warrington and Huddersfield we are told didn't vote, they abstained.

Edited May 8 by Harry Stottle

[Dave T]

24 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/img-push-back-on-rebel-clubs-catalans-stance-as-clear-message-sent

Perhaps this is IMG trying to take control of the narrative.

If I was going to be harsh, it looks like them wading into the petty bickering between clubs.

I'm glad they have come out and said that - however I don't know in what capacity Dwyer was making those comments. I'd rather we hear from the IMG reps on the RLCom board tbh. 

[Harry Stottle]

18 minutes ago, marklaspalmas said:

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/img-push-back-on-rebel-clubs-catalans-stance-as-clear-message-sent

Perhaps this is IMG trying to take control of the narrative.

If I was going to be harsh, it looks like them wading into the petty bickering between clubs.

Maybe those who have reservations about French teams could possibly already have been privy to Matt Dywers intentions in that he thinks the RFL should be financing the Sport in France, Matt Dwyer said, I quote:-

"We can’t expect to have one team develop a whole market in isolation. We need to be able to support the growth of the French leagues, Catalans and everything around it"

So who's the 'We' in as support the growth of the French Leagues, Catalan and everything around it? Which I take as being support of a financial nature!

[Harry Stottle]

11 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I'm glad they have come out and said that - however I don't know in what capacity Dwyer was making those comments. I'd rather we hear from the IMG reps on the RLCom board tbh. 

We don't hear from the IMG reps Dave, if they are asked any questions they refer the query to be posed to RL Commercial.

 

[gingerjon]

56 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

We don't hear from the IMG reps Dave, if they are asked any questions they refer the query to be posed to RL Commercial.

 

That makes sense as they sit on the RL Commercial board.

[Harry Stottle]

4 hours ago, gingerjon said:

That makes sense as they sit on the RL Commercial board.

Aye but they hide away, "don't talk to us".

Like when Mr Sadler of this parish as requested interviews, or to appear on the TRL podcast they shy away.

[JohnM]

IMG, like other professional and competent organisations, take great care to avoid breaching confidentiality agreements. Why would they submit to being asked "Have you stopped beating your wife" by a devoted opponent of the whole scheme?

[Liverpool Rover]

7 hours ago, Dave T said:

I'm glad they have come out and said that - however I don't know in what capacity Dwyer was making those comments. I'd rather we hear from the IMG reps on the RLCom board tbh. 

I’ve seen on one of the Facebook RL pages that Championship clubs voted against having French teams in Super League so if that’s true it could be to do with that.

[Tommygilf]

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Rover said:

I’ve seen on one of the Facebook RL pages that Championship clubs voted against having French teams in Super League so if that’s true it could be to do with that.

I saw that, Rugby League Daily? It very much seems to be a Mick Gledhill style account that sadly, though perhaps in this case that may help...

[Liverpool Rover]

2 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

I saw that, Rugby League Daily? It very much seems to be a Mick Gledhill style account that sadly, though perhaps in this case that may help...

Rugby League Fan Page I think it was called

[RigbyLuger]

Why he's still accredited by the RFL is a mystery!

[M j M]

42 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Why he's still accredited by the RFL is a mystery!

Who is The Tryline? They seem to be a bit of an a-hole. 

 

[RigbyLuger]

12 minutes ago, M j M said:

Who is The Tryline? They seem to be a bit of an a-hole. 

 

Another faceless account!

[Charlie Rickard]

Hi everyone,

I’m a student from Leeds Beckett University currently doing my final research project (dissertation) on rugby league, focusing on fan perspectives of the new IMG grading system. I’m basically trying to gauge what fans think of the changes, how different fans might view the system differently, how it might affect the game and what it means for the future of rugby league. As part of this I’ve made a fan survey (attached to this post and takes around 10-15 mins to complete). Any responses are massively appreciated, and will go towards having some solid research looking at what fans actually make of the new system and the changes that have been made.

Thanks.

https://forms.office.com/e/mTwziGEiNg

 

 

[17 stone giant]

I was wondering what had happened to this thread. Welcome back, old friend.

[Wakefield Ram]

On 06/06/2025 at 13:12, RigbyLuger said:

Why he's still accredited by the RFL is a mystery!

Dewsbury's playing surface doesn't meet minimum standards?

Well it looks pretty good to me and it was good enough for Huddersfield v Wigan SL match. 

This statement is rubbish. 

[The Phantom Horseman]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

Dewsbury's playing surface doesn't meet minimum standards?

Well it looks pretty good to me and it was good enough for Huddersfield v Wigan SL match. 

This statement is rubbish. 

I think in that tweet he was referring to an old "Framing the future" document he found, and it's referring to pich dimensions

However, I suspect most of them actually do meet current minimum standards (which is 88m x 55m). I suspect those minimum standards may have been only added in relatively recent years (ie 21st century), but I'm not sure. Does anyone know when? I presume it was as an acknowldgement that certain grounds were never going to be full size. Obviously, Odsal is another pitch that only narrowly meets the current, very low minimum standards, never mind maximum ones, and indeed had to have special dispensation a few years ago when the width briefly dipped well below the 55m minimum.