NRL commence SL takeover discussions

[The Daddy]

I see both potential positives and negatives of an NRL takeover. (Not sure if it would be a full takeover or just acquiring a share of ownership rights)

Where that leaves the IMG situation who knows. But I would be highly in favour of adopting the NRLs model where licensing and grants are issued to clubs that bring added commercial value to the competition. Also, I'd be in favour of giving newly promoted clubs a 2-3 year period to build the club before entering SL. The current and previous incarnations are unworkable.

I would also be in favour of any ownership model that takes power away from the clubs because they've proven that they can't make decisions without thinking about the wider interests of RL in the UK.

Let's see how this pans out. 

 

Edited August 20 by The Daddy

[DlEHARD]

I would love to see it happen. Better than letting the sport whither on the vine.

Guarantee London. Promote Toulouse. 

[The Daddy]

A negative is that it would give the NRL global autonomy of RL worldwide including the international calendar. 

[JM2010]

1 minute ago, The Daddy said:

A negative is that it would give the NRL global autonomy of RL worldwide including the international calendar. 

They already do anyway 

[bromleybulldog]

3 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

A negative is that it would give the NRL global autonomy of RL worldwide including the international calendar. 

They already seem to have total control of the international calendar, such as it is. We are allowed to play when they want, against whoever they decide to send to us.

 Sorry Jm2010, you beat me to it!

Edited August 20 by bromleybulldog

[JM2010]

1 minute ago, bromleybulldog said:

They already seem to have total control of the international calendar, such as it is. We are allowed to play when they want, against whoever they decide to send to us.

 Sorry Jm2010, you beat me to it!

You said it better than me

[The Daddy]

1 minute ago, bromleybulldog said:

They already seem to have total control of the international calendar, such as it is. We are allowed to play when they want, against whoever they decide to send to us.

They don't have control over nations like Tonga and as a result the recent test series against them went ahead. Would that still happen under circumstances where the NRL was running SL? 

Their attempt to try and scupper the NZ v England test match in Denver a few years ago is another example. Under NRL ownership would that match have taken place? I doubt it. 

[ATLANTISMAN]

It's all diplomatic 

NRL are going to go alone with invitations and new franchises 

[Pigeon Lofter]

17 minutes ago, ATLANTISMAN said:

NRL are going to go alone with invitations and new franchises 

...which might be the only way finally cast off the M62 shackles which holds the sport back and always will.

 

[Archie Gordon]

39 minutes ago, DlEHARD said:

...

Guarantee London. Promote Toulouse. 

If we are moving to licences, I agree that would be nice; but not the Broncos, and possibly not TO without some indication that they can build a fanbase.

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, The Daddy said:

I see both potential positives and negatives of an NRL takeover. (Not sure if it would be a full takeover or just acquiring a share of ownership rights)

Where that leaves the IMG situation who knows. But I would be highly in favour of adopting the NRLs model where licensing and grants are issued to clubs that bring added commercial value to the competition. Also, I'd be in favour of giving newly promoted clubs a 2-3 year period to build the club before entering SL. The current and previous incarnations are unworkable.

I would also be in favour of any ownership model that takes power away from the clubs because they've proven that they can't make decisions without thinking about the wider interests of RL in the UK.

Let's see how this pans out. 

 

Do bear in mind that the article also states that the NRL has been having talks with individual clubs as well as RFL/RFL Commercial and, unless it’s been updated, there isn’t a single direct quote about takeover or buying SL.

Edited August 20 by gingerjon

[Damien]

43 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

A negative is that it would give the NRL global autonomy of RL worldwide including the international calendar. 

And the difference is what? 

[The Daddy]

1 minute ago, gingerjon said:

Do bear in mind that the article also states that the NRL has been having talks with individual clubs as well as the NRL and, unless it’s been updated, there isn’t a single direct quote about takeover or buying SL.

True, true. It's just speculation.

[Dave T]

I enjoy some of the comments on social media. The likes of Gledhill championing this claiming that they would act in the interests of the game rather than choosing favourites etc. They will be very disappointed if something like this ever came off and the best clubs are the clubs currently classed as the top clubs. 

The claims of favouritism will just start up again. 

[Agbrigg]

8 minutes ago, Pigeon Lofter said:

...which might be the only way finally cast off the M62 shackles which holds the sport back and always will.

 

I do not accept that. If the people of Towns and Cities up and down the UK wanted top RL sides,I am sure those horrible M62 clubs would not stop them. The real truth is, very few outside the traditional areas don't and never will give a toss about RL. There are numerous examples of sides that have never taken off, but not one example of a side that has managed to establish itself as a top flight team over a sustained period. The best example are Sheffield and London. They have been going many years now but couldn't muster 5000 supporters between them. No doubt all the stary eyed expansionists will trot out reasons and excuses why they have not become power houses of the game. Dream all you want , but RL will always be what it is. 

I will add ,I am totally in favour of expansion and would love RL to be a major sport in all areas of the UK. But good luck dreaming, if people in these places wanted it, there would be far more clubs around after 130 years.

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I enjoy some of the comments on social media. The likes of Gledhill championing this claiming that they would act in the interests of the game rather than choosing favourites etc. They will be very disappointed if something like this ever came off and the best clubs are the clubs currently classed as the top clubs. 

The claims of favouritism will just start up again. 

I'm certain that anything like the NRL having control will mean favouritism and picking and choosing teams on a scale that we've never seen before in this country. Some people championing this need to be careful what they wish for.

[The Daddy]

7 minutes ago, Damien said:

I'm certain that anything like the NRL having control will mean favouritism and picking and choosing teams on a scale that we've never seen before in this country. Some people championing this need to be careful what they wish for.

Do you have any examples of when this has happened previously?

[sam4731]

SL will be a reserve grade NRL comp within 5 years.

[The Daddy]

Just now, sam4731 said:

SL will be a reserve grade NRL comp within 5 years.

So an improvement then from where it is now lol  

[Damien]

21 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

Do you have any examples of when this has happened previously?

Why would I have when the NRL haven't taken over a league before. You knew that though.

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

11 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

SL will be a reserve grade NRL comp within 5 years.

As @LeeF has posted elsewhere 'DR on steroids"

[The Daddy]

19 minutes ago, Damien said:

Why would I have when the NRL haven't taken over a league before. You knew that though.

So you don't have any examples then. Cool. 

[sam4731]

20 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

So an improvement then from where it is now lol  

"I won't be satisfied until I see the optimum quality of rugby on the pitch, even if that means that all meaning is lost from matches."

Ask any Rangers or Celtic fan if they'd like the Premier League to takeover Scottish football for a better quality competition.

Sport is more than just about what's going on, on the pitch. In fact I'd say most people enjoy sport because of the history, rivalries and emotions of what they watch, rather than the intricacies of tactics, player quality etc.

So what if Saints don't have the best players in the world. I want to watch Saints vs Wigan, not the Merseyside Rabbitohs vs the Manchester Warriors.

[Wakefield Ram]

22 minutes ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

As @LeeF has posted elsewhere 'DR on steroids"

SL are happy with this arrangement with Championship clubs 

[Damien]

42 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

So you don't have any examples then. Cool. 

We only have to look at how Rugby League in Australia operates and how clubs have been kicked out in the past. Their approach is an entirely different model than we see in the UK and operates in a very favourable landscape.

If anything like this happens then the NRL won't be interested in spending millions building up clubs or a rising tide approach. They aren't just going to pump money in and keep things broadly similar to what they are with P&R. They will be interested in the elite. Anything else would be far too costly and they would never get a return. I could very much see a 10 team SL on the cards and they wouldn't give a hoot about the lower leagues or the better Championship teams. In my opinion it will be a competition along the same lines of the SL breakaway in Australia. The trouble is the game in the UK doesn't have the foundations or support for such an approach.

Frankly I think what they would do is little different that the big clubs could do anyway if they wanted and I don't think it will happen for those reasons. There is nothing in it for a Wigan or Leeds ceding control and revenue to the NRL.