IMG, it might be working?

[Kirmonds pouch]

Just my opinion but I think it is starting to have an effect.

I think the grading process forced the clubs to have a good look at themselves and all seem to have responded to varying degrees.

This is the first season in an age where I think the game has edged slightly forward after years of decline.

My own club Trinity has gone from being an off field embarrassment to something of an example of how to really up your game.

Bothe Leigh and HKR have refused to fade away after a good season or two.

Wigan are strong and when they are so is the game as a rule.

Trinity, Cas and now Hull have picked up some serious investors. Leeds seems to have stabilised, such a massive investment in Headingly was bound to affect them for a bit. Yes I know they only contributed a percentage but all things are relative.

It’s yet to be seen if there is an on field improvement but in most other aspects things seem to have improved. Better pricing, better marketing, better matchday experience seems to be the norm.

Would any of this happened without IMG and grading? Not IMO it wouldn’t. Early days, still some hurdles ahead, but I do think the game is starting to change for the better.

[Hopie]

Off to the merge you go....

[M j M]

55 minutes ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

 Leeds seems to have stabilised, such a massive investment in Headingly was bound to affect them for a bit. Yes I know they only contributed a percentage

They contributed 100%. A chunk of it was paid out of Leeds' own cash reserves and for the rest the club has a bank loan.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Radlinski was recently quoted as saying that they had expected IMG to do more than counting stuff and that although they had promised to “reimagine” RL that hadn’t happened.

The “concrete” outcomes so far have seen Trinity, who won the championship, replacing London, who finished last.

Within weeks of being awarded a licence to play in SL, it became apparent that Salford have no money. 

But never have social media hits been more counted!!! 

Edited December 21, 2024 by Exiled Wiganer

[wakeyranger]

2 hours ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Just my opinion but I think it is starting to have an effect.

I think the grading process forced the clubs to have a good look at themselves and all seem to have responded to varying degrees.

This is the first season in an age where I think the game has edged slightly forward after years of decline.

My own club Trinity has gone from being an off field embarrassment to something of an example of how to really up your game.

Bothe Leigh and HKR have refused to fade away after a good season or two.

Wigan are strong and when they are so is the game as a rule.

Trinity, Cas and now Hull have picked up some serious investors. Leeds seems to have stabilised, such a massive investment in Headingly was bound to affect them for a bit. Yes I know they only contributed a percentage but all things are relative.

It’s yet to be seen if there is an on field improvement but in most other aspects things seem to have improved. Better pricing, better marketing, better matchday experience seems to be the norm.

Would any of this happened without IMG and grading? Not IMO it wouldn’t. Early days, still some hurdles ahead, but I do think the game is starting to change for the better.

I thought this as well. It does seem to have given clubs a bit of a kick up the backside so to speak. That being said though it's easy for us Wakefield fans to say that because of Matt Ellis. Similar at cas due to Jepson. We'll have to see how clubs like Fev, fax etc fair, to really see if the sport as a whole is improving (I feel it will). Still I feel there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic imo.

[JohnM]

1 hour ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Radlinski was recently quoted as saying that they had expected IMG to do more than counting stuff and that although they had promised to “reimagine” RL that hadn’t happened.

The “concrete” outcomes so far have seen Trinity, who won the championship, replacing London, who finished last.

Within weeks of being awarded a licence to play in SL, it became apparent that Salford have no money. 

But never have social media hits been more counted!!! 

I don't think he was quite quoted quite correctly. If I recall it correcty, he did not say that "Re-imagining" had not happened. He seem d to imply it wasn't going as well as he had hoped/expected.

Might it be worth finding out what actually said?

[gingerjon]

Obviously, needs merging with the IMG thread.

Equally obviously: IMG are having a positive impact on rugby league.

Equally equally obviously: there is a long way to go.

Equally equally equally obviously: there are still some blind folk who will never see, but regard their lack of visual capacity as a badge of honour.

[JM2010]

At least this thread can’t be dragged ‘off topic’ down the IMG rabbit hole like all the others 

[eal]

Obligatory mention of promotion/relegation.

[Anita Bath]

A chain is as strong as its weakest link so while we might pat IMG/ourselves on the back for what might be happening at the top lets make part of the judgement on what is happening at the bottom. Unless of course the whole idea was to get rid of the bottom.

[The Future is League]

13 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Radlinski was recently quoted as saying that they had expected IMG to do more than counting stuff and that although they had promised to “reimagine” RL that hadn’t happened.

The “concrete” outcomes so far have seen Trinity, who won the championship, replacing London, who finished last.

Within weeks of being awarded a licence to play in SL, it became apparent that Salford have no money. 

But never have social media hits been more counted!!! 

How the Red Devils managed to get the pass mark they did when before the gradings a lot of us were aware of their money problems.

[sam4731]

8 hours ago, eal said:

Obligatory mention of promotion/relegation.

Something... something... big screen.

[Wakefield Ram]

16 hours ago, Kirmonds pouch said:

Just my opinion but I think it is starting to have an effect.

I think the grading process forced the clubs to have a good look at themselves and all seem to have responded to varying degrees.

This is the first season in an age where I think the game has edged slightly forward after years of decline.

My own club Trinity has gone from being an off field embarrassment to something of an example of how to really up your game.

Bothe Leigh and HKR have refused to fade away after a good season or two.

Wigan are strong and when they are so is the game as a rule.

Trinity, Cas and now Hull have picked up some serious investors. Leeds seems to have stabilised, such a massive investment in Headingly was bound to affect them for a bit. Yes I know they only contributed a percentage but all things are relative.

It’s yet to be seen if there is an on field improvement but in most other aspects things seem to have improved. Better pricing, better marketing, better matchday experience seems to be the norm.

Would any of this happened without IMG and grading? Not IMO it wouldn’t. Early days, still some hurdles ahead, but I do think the game is starting to change for the better.

And if Matt Ellis hadn't arrived with his money? The "business model" of having hugely wealthy benefactors is a risky one.

I think Trinity being in the Championship was an opportunity to relaunch themselves and was great for the other Championship clubs.

But going forward any wealthy benefactor outside of SL will now have to plan to "invest" (give money away) for at least 3 years with no guarantee of getting promoted. 

Would Matt Ellis have been happy to pay out for the next 3 years in the Championship with no guarantee of promotion? 

[Exiled Wiganer]

14 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Obviously, needs merging with the IMG thread.

Equally obviously: IMG are having a positive impact on rugby league.

Equally equally obviously: there is a long way to go.

Equally equally equally obviously: there are still some blind folk who will never see, but regard their lack of visual capacity as a badge of honour.

You can write directly to Radlinski at Wigan Rugby, the Piedome, to express your disgust. 

[sam4731]

I think IMG have raised the standards for the existing elite. However, they have done that at a detriment to the rest of the game. Yes, we haven't got teams going bust in the top flight like in Union but below that top flight, it may as well be amateur for the pathways into SL now.

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

I think IMG have raised the standards for the existing elite. However, they have done that at a detriment to the rest of the game. Yes, we haven't got teams going bust in the top flight like in Union but below that top flight, it may as well be amateur for the pathways into SL now.

And how is the bankrupt state of the game IMG's fault?

Did buying something better than a UEFA standard big screen make someone go bust?

Or has it shone a light on just how broke much of the game has become over the past decade or so?

[Exiled Wiganer]

“IMG have come on board, they’re our strategic partner and next year will be the first year of the grading process which we’ve all been through. It’s got some fans and it’s had some real negative press as well but I think IMG have said all along that it’s not the solution, it’s part of the process.

“Once the objectives have been achieved, which is to create stronger clubs, then they will talk about the next evolution of the sport. I think something which was perhaps mistaken right at the start of the IMG relationship was using the word ‘reimagination’.

“I think people expected a little bit different but the reality is they’ve encouraged clubs to improve standards and there’s been many examples of investment and infrastructure and digital transformation but perhaps it’s not been the reimagination or the dream we first anticipated and I think they would probably say they’re a little bit behind where they would like to be at this stage. From a product point of view it’s still delivering.”

Radlinski’s words.

The first stage lead to: 

- the winner of the championship replacing the bottom placed club 

- Salford being given a licence: within weeks it became apparent they have no money 

The process to assess clubs in a variety of ways is by no means novel. The game has done this on numerous occasions. There is no sign of increased central funding or sponsorship. 

[gingerjon]

Just now, Exiled Wiganer said:

“IMG have come on board, they’re our strategic partner and next year will be the first year of the grading process which we’ve all been through. It’s got some fans and it’s had some real negative press as well but I think IMG have said all along that it’s not the solution, it’s part of the process.

“Once the objectives have been achieved, which is to create stronger clubs, then they will talk about the next evolution of the sport. I think something which was perhaps mistaken right at the start of the IMG relationship was using the word ‘reimagination’.

“I think people expected a little bit different but the reality is they’ve encouraged clubs to improve standards and there’s been many examples of investment and infrastructure and digital transformation but perhaps it’s not been the reimagination or the dream we first anticipated and I think they would probably say they’re a little bit behind where they would like to be at this stage. From a product point of view it’s still delivering.”

Radlinski’s words.

The first stage lead to: 

- the winner of the championship replacing the bottom placed club 

- Salford being given a licence: within weeks it became apparent they have no money 

The process to assess clubs in a variety of ways is by no means novel. The game has done this on numerous occasions. There is no sign of increased central funding or sponsorship. 

Good to see Radlinski being so positive about the process.

[sam4731]

2 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

And how is the bankrupt state of the game IMG's fault?

Did buying something better than a UEFA standard big screen make someone go bust?

Or has it shone a light on just how broke much of the game has become over the past decade or so?

I agree that standards needed to be raised but that should have been across the game. The problem is that IMG have had to pander to the top clubs to avoid a veto, so the rules were always going to favour them.

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, sam4731 said:

I agree that standards needed to be raised but that should have been across the game. The problem is that IMG have had to pander to the top clubs to avoid a veto, so the rules were always going to favour them.

Not sure I understand how they have had to pander to the top clubs nor how the grading doesn't provide a framework for raising standards across the game?

[sam4731]

18 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Not sure I understand how they have had to pander to the top clubs nor how the grading doesn't provide a framework for raising standards across the game?

Clubs had unlimited powers of veto (hence why we still have loop fixtures and MGC WKND) so any grading criteria had to be palatable to a majority of clubs. Someone will say that most clubs outside SL also voted in favour but I'm sure there was a negotiation in which SL demanded a lot more but this was seen as a compromise.

The gradings have provided a framework for how to improve standards but I'm sure a lot of clubs have probably hit their ceiling (without serious investment) this season in a bid to get their grading as high as possible. Therefore I don't expect many clubs to move next year so the whole system becomes pointless.

[JohnM]

Exiled Wigner wrote, "they had promised to “reimagine” RL that hadn’t happened."

Radlinski  said, it seems, "I think something which was perhaps mistaken right at the start of the IMG relationship was using the word ‘reimagination’.

Exiled Wiganer wrote "promised"

Radlinski said, "I think"

Exiled Wiganer wrote " they had expected IMG to do more than counting stuff"

Radlinski said, "the reality is they’ve encouraged clubs to improve standards and there’s been many examples of investment and infrastructure and digital transformation"

Such misrepresentation of a largely positive view of the project doesn't just weaken Exiled Wiganer's argument, it totally invalidates it. 

[JohnM]

42 minutes ago, sam4731 said:

Clubs had unlimited powers of veto (hence why we still have loop fixtures and MGC WKND) so any grading criteria had to be palatable to a majority of clubs. Someone will say that most clubs outside SL also voted in favour but I'm sure there was a negotiation in which SL demanded a lot more but this was seen as a compromise.

The gradings have provided a framework for how to improve standards but I'm sure a lot of clubs have probably hit their ceiling (without serious investment) this season in a bid to get their grading as high as possible. Therefore I don't expect many clubs to move next year so the whole system becomes pointless.

I don't expect many clubs to move next year so the whole system becomes pointless.

That's exactly the long-term strategic thinbking our sport so desperately needs

[sam4731]

11 minutes ago, JohnM said:

I don't expect many clubs to move next year so the whole system becomes pointless.

That's exactly the long-term strategic thinbking our sport so desperately needs

I'm not sure what you're implying there. I'm not in charge of developing the sport. The reality is what it is. My opinion counts for nowt when it comes to action.

[Kirmonds pouch]

6 hours ago, The Future is League said:

How the Red Devils managed to get the pass mark they did when before the gradings a lot of us were aware of their money problems.

I’ll take exception to that. Clearly Salford lied initially. Clearly it was spotted very quickly. Ie they knew they couldn’t get away with it as in the past. This time strong sanctions were imposed.

Say what you like about Michael Carter, he will have been totally dispassionate and thorough. Something that was rarely the case when the RFL took the lead.

What he and the others have recommended looks brutal and it is. Salford are drinking in the last chance saloon and at last I think they realise it.

To me such realism is down to IMG. You don’t have to like all there policies but when it comes to financial proprietary they know there stuff and have no issues imposing it without emotion. People don’t like that last bit because it interferes with their own prejudices and bias. I say good, about time.