When do we find out the SL teams for next season based on IMG ratings?

[LeeF]

8 hours ago, Wakefield Ram said:

IMG are not independent. They just play along to keep the bigger more influential clubs happy in the hope of a better pay day. They have zero interest in long term future of the game. If they don't make any money they will be off.

What a mess of contradiction. 

They are independent. 

All clubs have influence. They all get the final say on decisions. 

IMG do have an interest in the long term future of the sport. That’s how they are paid. 

The more the sport earns by year 12 of the current agreement the more IMG earn (as does the sport; as do the clubs)

[Gooleboy]

1 hour ago, JohnM said:

In general terms, and accepting there doesn't seem to be this particular element in the "Re-imagining Rugby League" rankings, I'd say, just like Toronto, they helped to break down the "Northern Parochial Sport" barrier that has penned in  the game ever since the invention of the motor car and live television.

If TO win the GF they deserve to go up, they will have done it fair and square as it should be. But like last time, some on here keep saying what they will bring, but can't explain what it is, like it's some magical stardust.

[HawkMan]

From IMG Web page;

They are servicing a 900 million pound TV deal with EFL. That and other sports they cover put their RL operation into perspective. RL aint going to make or break IMG or affect their reputation in any way. Perhaps the junior office staff are handling the RL stuff !

• Announced in April, EFL production partner IMG will produce 866 matches per season for Sky Sports’ streaming service with the remaining balance produced by Sky for their main channel output
• IMG will produce a further 832 matches (1,698 in total) which will be utilised outside of the UK by EFL rights holders Pitch International and Relevent Sports, who will distribute the premium broadcast feed across the world  

 

 

 

https://www.img.com/sports/our-news/efl-fans-to-enjoy-enhanced-broadcast-experience-after-transformative-production-deal-with-img

Edited July 21 by HawkMan

[JohnM]

Or perhaps, and you may not like this, they actually know what they are doing.  But remember this. Keep saying it to yourselves, "Re-imagining Rugby League"  is an RFL project, in strategic partnership. Matt Dwyer is hardly "junior office staff.". 

Although, even if IMG had deployed " junior office staff" on the project, they'd do a better job than some of our pro and semi pro clubs. 

https://www.sportspromedia.com/insights/analysis/rugby-super-league-rfl-img-promotion-relegation-interview-rhodri-jones-dwyer/

[Trojan Horse]

9 hours ago, Eddie said:

Unless they win the championship, in which case it’s dead right. 

It’s not decided on the field alone anymore. It’s not right or a given for the team winning the championship to be in SL. 
 

The 12 teams who have the most IMG points will be in SL as per the agreed format. Whether that’s Trinity, Toulouse or Other. And whoever it is or whether they finish top doesn’t matter as it will still be right and true to the format that they have won promotion.
 

 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

12 hours ago, binosh said:

IMG are picking the teams, not Sky, to IMG fans matter. Far too long have clubs had the attitude of just taking Skys money and that’s why the game is in a hole now. Rugby League teams can’t afford 2 french teams at the top level unless it goes back to 14 teams. 

If you think clubs can do without paying fans you are sorely mistaken.

The IMG criteria favour sponsors and the media rather than 'normal' fans attending games

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

1 hour ago, HawkMan said:

From IMG Web page;

They are servicing a 900 million pound TV deal with EFL. That and other sports they cover put their RL operation into perspective. RL aint going to make or break IMG or effect their reputation in any way. Perhaps the junior office staff are handling the RL stuff !

• Announced in April, EFL production partner IMG will produce 866 matches per season for Sky Sports’ streaming service with the remaining balance produced by Sky for their main channel output
• IMG will produce a further 832 matches (1,698 in total) which will be utilised outside of the UK by EFL rights holders Pitch International and Relevent Sports, who will distribute the premium broadcast feed across the world  

 

 

 

https://www.img.com/sports/our-news/efl-fans-to-enjoy-enhanced-broadcast-experience-after-transformative-production-deal-with-img

Judging by the scoring systems I'm pretty sure you're correct 

[The Blues Ox]

16 hours ago, phiggins said:

Yes, both Wakefield and Cas will see an increase to their stadium scores and likely increases to finance scores. Those, and Leigh have all said they expect a score above 14. 
 

What is unknown is what Toulouse have been able to do to improve their financial scores

And 15 is the benchmark for a Grade A club. To imagine that Cas would be just 1 point off that is quite frankly laughable and might be a case for at least having a think about replanning the Grade rankings.

14 hours ago, sam4731 said:

I'd love to know what people are imagining that Leigh, Cas or Wakey will bring to SL over TO.

I imagine that all 3 of those teams have produced more players that play in SL than Toulouse(over an equal amount of time) despite Toulouse having this huge catchment area that scores them more points on the IMG rankings. I might be wrong over that but I doubt it and in my eyes that is a pretty huge thing to consider.

[Hello]

6 hours ago, Eddie said:

There is definite potential and like many in this forum I desperately want to see TO do well, but there’s also zero evidence to suggest their crowds would be better than Leigh’s, even if they had an extended period in SL. 

We haven't got the evidence because they've never had that chance.  Catalan are a case in point with increased crowds.  Maybe they wouldn't gain decent crowds over time, maybe they would.  They certainly have a seed and a decent population.  I would say it's got be worth a go.

[sam4731]

1 hour ago, The Blues Ox said:

And 15 is the benchmark for a Grade A club. To imagine that Cas would be just 1 point off that is quite frankly laughable and might be a case for at least having a think about replanning the Grade rankings.

I imagine that all 3 of those teams have produced more players that play in SL than Toulouse(over an equal amount of time) despite Toulouse having this huge catchment area that scores them more points on the IMG rankings. I might be wrong over that but I doubt it and in my eyes that is a pretty huge thing to consider.

Yes but it's cyclical isn't it. They have produced more SL players because they have been in SL. Being in SL means a stronger academy. A stronger academy means more junior clubs in the area to provide pathways to producing the players.

The reason that Rotheram haven't produced many (if any) SL players is because they don't have a SL team, not because they're not very good at producing talent.

[JohnM]

2 hours ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

The IMG criteria favour sponsors and the media rather than 'normal' fans attending games

¿???

[Eddie]

4 hours ago, Trojan Horse said:

It’s not decided on the field alone anymore. It’s not right or a given for the team winning the championship to be in SL. 
 

The 12 teams who have the most IMG points will be in SL as per the agreed format. Whether that’s Trinity, Toulouse or Other. And whoever it is or whether they finish top doesn’t matter as it will still be right and true to the format that they have won promotion.
 

 

Yes I know, but I don’t have to think it’s a good way to do it, it’s not sport. 

[Wakefield Ram]

RL must be the only sport that actively wants to be as parochial as possible. If we want to attract the best players, we need to offer them opportunities to play abroad, play internationals, but no let's just have teams on M62 so some clubs might get a few more away supporters. 

So much for IMG "re-imagining RL". I didn't realise IMG criteria included being within 20 miles of the M62. I mean what could an internationally known large city in the South of France possibly offer SL.....?

Edited July 21 by Wakefield Ram

[Archie Gordon]

42 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

... I mean what could an internationally known large city in the South of France possibly offer SL.....?

About the same as a world famous capital city?

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

Yes I know, but I don’t have to think it’s a good way to do it, it’s not sport. 

It isn't sport, it's a commercial business. The sport isn't strong enough to risk its entire commercial income on the whims of 1 championship grand final or one team having a bad year.

What the gradings show is that, in reality, we have just about 7 Super League appropriate clubs. "Sport" hasn't delivered any more.

[Tommygilf]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

RL must be the only sport that actively wants to be as parochial as possible. If we want to attract the best players, we need to offer them opportunities to play abroad, play internationals, but no let's just have teams on M62 so some clubs might get a few more away supporters. 

I think this sort of mentality you describe has hampered the game for as long as it has existed sadly. Those who have pioneered have been the exceptions that prove the rule.

It's also worrying that people can't see how the world is going and how if you were a young decent rugby player now, a substandard wage at a M62 super league club isn't as attractive as it was 40 years ago when that was the only option. 

[Wakefield Ram]

25 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

About the same as a world famous capital city?

Toulouse is a rugby city. London isn't. But hey let's just stick to the M62. The whole of the England squad could walk down Oxford Street in London and no one would know who they were. 

So as a talented young rugby player, if you want to earn more, travel more,play internationals in front of capacity crowds, go on Lions Tours to Australia, NZ and South Africa, play RU.

If you want to earn less, travel up and down the M62, play at Leigh, Wigan, Cas etc every year for the whole of your career, play RL. Oh you might get a trip to Catalans once a year. Or if you're really good, go and play in the NRL.

[Archie Gordon]

Just now, Wakefield Ram said:

Toulouse is a rugby city. ...

We're dealing with RL here.

 

[binosh]

1 hour ago, Wakefield Ram said:

RL must be the only sport that actively wants to be as parochial as possible. If we want to attract the best players, we need to offer them opportunities to play abroad, play internationals, but no let's just have teams on M62 so some clubs might get a few more away supporters. 

So much for IMG "re-imagining RL". I didn't realise IMG criteria included being within 20 miles of the M62. I mean what could an internationally known large city in the South of France possibly offer SL.....?

Boring, lazy comment trotted out everytime we discuss french teams, just stick 5 or 6 french teams in if it’s just about players getting a nice lifestyle and see how quickly Sky pull the funding. Better still just stick Cornwall in with Midlands and tell Wakefield, Featherstone, Oldham etc not to bother for being too close to a Motorway.

[Tommygilf]

Just now, binosh said:

Boring, lazy comment trotted out everytime we discuss french teams, just stick 5 or 6 french teams in if it’s just about players getting a nice lifestyle and see how quickly Sky pull the funding. Better still just stick Cornwall in with Midlands and tell Wakefield, Featherstone, Oldham etc not to bother for being too close to a Motorway.

IMG aren't advocating that you see, that's why Cornwall, Midlands aren't very highly rated.

What it is saying is that a lot of those other teams aren't very good either, providing them KPIs to work towards to improve their performance levels and value to the league, and letting them decide if they want to do that or not.

[binosh]

1 minute ago, Tommygilf said:

IMG aren't advocating that you see, that's why Cornwall, Midlands aren't very highly rated.

What it is saying is that a lot of those other teams aren't very good either, providing them KPIs to work towards to improve their performance levels and value to the league, and letting them decide if they want to do that or not.

Exactly. However Wakefield Rams comment wasn’t saying that it was a flippant remark about the M62

[Tommygilf]

8 minutes ago, binosh said:

Exactly. However Wakefield Rams comment wasn’t saying that it was a flippant remark about the M62

I don't think it was mate, it was just a reality check. The sport needs more than just the M62 for it's professional options to remain attractive, even to just young lads in the local area.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Toulouse is a rugby city however Stade Toulousian are just to strong for a second team.

Carcassonne would be the place iMHO

[The Daddy]

2 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

Toulouse is a rugby city however Stade Toulousian are just to strong for a second team.

Carcassonne would be the place iMHO

Ifs and buts. Carcassonne had an opportunity to apply to enter the UK league system and didn't. So this is really pointless 

[ATLANTISMAN]

2 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

Ifs and buts. Carcassonne had an opportunity to apply to enter the UK league system and didn't. So this is really pointless 

No they didn't officially it was all talk the RFL were told it would be a massive blow to French Elite 1