Oldham Super League bid

[Bedford Roughyed]

3 hours ago, The Art of Hand and Foot said:

Dont know if anyone else has seen this? Really interesting thoughts from kriss radlinsky. I honestly think the rush to a 14 team superleague will backfire. 

With such levels of planning, how much thought is going into what will become of the Championship?

[Anita Bath]

9 hours ago, Bedford Roughyed said:

With such levels of planning, how much thought is going into what will become of the Championship?

Well if the non super league clubs are waiting for the super league clubs to decide it, then we can all pack up and go home and find something else to do with our sundays.

The meeting this week needs to be the start (not the end - no back of a fag packet idea) of a carefully thought through plan for part time rugby league and if SL clubs dont like it then we should go it alone. We wont miss the central funding will we.

And leave them with the challenge cup….they have done everything to make it into a competition for the few so let it be a 12/14 team competition.

A new competition could be developed for Part time and community clubs with an open draw.

[Bedford Roughyed]

21 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

The meeting this week needs to be the start (not the end - no back of a fag packet idea) of a carefully thought through plan for part time rugby league and if SL clubs dont like it then we should go it alone.

Hilariously the strategic review being led by Woods hasn't concluded yet, but they voted for 14 teams anyway....

[Death to the Rah Rah's]

On 17/07/2025 at 10:04, ManchesterYed said:

totally agree, crowds have been really poor imo considering the money spent. My thoughts are from someone close to the community game is people of Oldham are not interested in watching washed up old SL players after one more pay day no matter where they finish in the champ, go get the best young players from SL clubs and build something. New players every week players getting released, people don't want to see it in the champ. 

I had a similar conversation with a club official of a pro club the other week.  No doubt for a number of reasons the professional RL clubs in my area don't seem to get many supporters from the community game and it feels the usual long-running tension that exists in rugby league between the professional and community game, especially outside the Super League heartlands would need a huge marketing budget and someone with plenty of drive to change perceptions.

Saturday and Sunday junior and open age community fixtures often clash with professional club matches on weekends, especially junior fixtures in the Championship and League One. Many parents, coaches, and volunteers spend their entire Saturday supporting or running teams, and simply don’t have the energy or availability for another day of rugby on Sunday.

I can't speak for areas outside of West Cumbria, but up here in the 'proper north' we have a really strong local culture in the community game, it isn't usual for open age games to get 400+ crowds, and the fact that some youth matches are drawing 200+ supporters is both incredible and telling. It shows how a strong local identity and rivalries are when rooted in community pride. This in itself raises issues for the professional sides, if the atmosphere, connection, and quality of the community game feels more alive, then what’s the incentive to go to a low-energy pro match?

I've often wondered what would happen if either the pro or community game returned to winter, there could be a year-round rugby league calendar, which could, in theory, increase cross-pollination of fans and players between the two levels.

But as those of us who played in winter will recall, it has many challenges:

• Poor weather - reduced participation (especially for kids) but could open age community move to winter and leave the kids in summer?

• Harder on volunteers and pitch availability.

• Inconsistent training - lower enjoyment and retention.

And realistically, winter rugby would likely be a step backwards for participation numbers, especially with competing sports like football.

The reality is this probably isn't just a marketing issue alone, but more a cultural one. If pro clubs want support from the community game, they need to embed themselves within it, not just advertise to it to win a legion of new fans.

 

[jroyales]

I've been advocating a "Second Great Schism" for years. SL will always look after SL and they don't give a damn for the rest of our great game.

As mentioned surely now is the time for the championship and league one and the amateur game to break away and look after itself. What a great competition it would be - promotion and relegation on merit with all the excitement it brings, its own cup competitions, even resurrect Lancs v Yorks v Cumbrian competitions, etc.. All it needs is a common sense approach, like I have already said SL will only, and as always, just looked after their own interest.

MAKE THE BREAK NOW!!

[jroyales]

In addition to SL looking after itself, how much do championship and league 1 clubs get from Sky i.e. how much does SL give to the rest of RL?

MAKE THE BREAK NOW!! 

NOWT TO LOSE - BUT SO MUCH TO WIN.

Edited August 5 by jroyales
Missed an important point.

[Blind side johnny]

30 minutes ago, jroyales said:

In addition to SL looking after itself, how much do championship and league 1 clubs get from Sky i.e. how much does SL give to the rest of RL?

MAKE THE BREAK NOW!! 

NOWT TO LOSE - BUT SO MUCH TO WIN.

A simple question: where will you get the referees and touch-judges from?

[jroyales]

Why is that a problem?

[Death to the Rah Rah's]

4 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

A simple question: where will you get the referees and touch-judges from?

Struggling to get them now - I think there's only 4 or 5 regular referees in my part of Cumbria, not that I'm advocating a breakaway, just highlighting the point 

 

[Blind side johnny]

3 hours ago, jroyales said:

Why is that a problem?

They are registered and authorised by the RFL so, yes, it would be a problem. As would pensions, insurance, accreditation etc. I see the attraction but don't overlook the host of issues that would need to be addressed.

[jroyales]

They need to be addressed, and soon, we can't carry on the way SL i.e. controls Rugby League.

It would be interesting to canvas all clubs outside of sooperdooperleeg.

[RoytonRoughyed83]

There's a ranking on bids for Super League on Love Rugby League, generally quite a positive read, the only just says maybe it's to soon given we were 26th IMG Ranked and could go with 1 more year in the Championship 

Edited August 5 by RoytonRoughyed83

[The Phantom Horseman]

18 minutes ago, Blind side johnny said:

They are registered and authorised by the RFL so, yes, it would be a problem. As would pensions, insurance, accreditation etc. I see the attraction but don't overlook the host of issues that would need to be addressed.

Yes, that would be a major problem, and there would be lots of other potential issues. For example, the loan system would presumably break down if there were two completely separate governing bodies, and most championship/L1 clubs would have struggled to field teams without it at some point in the last couple of years (I think York are the only champ team not to use it this year).

Also you have to wonder how many of the more ambitious Championship owners would be interested in ploughing money into their club knowing there was no prospect of them ever getting to the top level. The same comment applies to sponsorship as all the non-SL clubs would no longer be "2nd tier" or "3rd tier" clubs but "non-league clubs", and good luck getting the RL media, who only really talk about the Championship in relation to SL matters as it is, to have any interest at all.

And of course broadcast money would go from the current fairly modest levels to zero. The value of the Championship in terms of broadcast media has been tested on the open market and there's no interest in paying for it even now.

 

[RoytonRoughyed83]

8 hours ago, jroyales said:

I've been advocating a "Second Great Schism" for years. SL will always look after SL and they don't give a damn for the rest of our great game.

As mentioned surely now is the time for the championship and league one and the amateur game to break away and look after itself. What a great competition it would be - promotion and relegation on merit with all the excitement it brings, its own cup competitions, even resurrect Lancs v Yorks v Cumbrian competitions, etc.. All it needs is a common sense approach, like I have already said SL will only, and as always, just looked after their own interest.

MAKE THE BREAK NOW!!

The only way there is going to be a second schism is if it's to join NRL

[jroyales]

Anything surely is better than carrying on with this slow death of our game because sl want it all their own way.

A compromise would be allowing teams outside of sl decide their own future and let them decide their own.

 

[Anita Bath]

5 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

They are registered and authorised by the RFL so, yes, it would be a problem. As would pensions, insurance, accreditation etc. I see the attraction but don't overlook the host of issues that would need to be addressed.

Sure, but SL/RFL would suddenly have a surplus of registered officials many of who would never have refereed in SL.  No reason why they wouldnt be willing to enter into an arrangement to keep their full slate of officials gainfully employed.

[jroyales]

Common rugby league sense says something has to change taking power away from the Trump like sooperdooperleeg.

Rugby League has for many years kept its head in the sand now surely is the time, before sl makes yet another change that doesn't consider Rugby League as a whole rather than the closed shop it is now.

Sadly, nothing will happen because of the "what if" mentality. Aren't we glad this mentality didn't persist back in 1895!

[Stevos Barber]

I might be a Jermiah here but, as much as I want to see us in Super League, I honestly think we should pull away unless Bill's pockets are extremely deep. We would have to sign a good half a squad's worth of current Super League players to be competitive and there is absolutely no guarantee that the Oldham public will turn out in large numbers, especially if we are getting beaten regularly. We'll get best part of b*gger all in funding and I can't see it being sustainable.  We could well end up being the next Salford. 

In the Merry go Round that is the Rugby League decision (sic) making body who can predict what will happen in 2 or three years? Better, perhaps, to have a couple of seasons in the Championship,  making playoffs , winning the Title, the  1895 cup and be ready for the next lots of clubs to go into administration. 

Just me being pessimistic perhaps. 

[jroyales]

Take away Bill Quinn and we are one of them.

[Oldham Valderama]

2 hours ago, Stevos Barber said:

I might be a Jermiah here but, as much as I want to see us in Super League, I honestly think we should pull away unless Bill's pockets are extremely deep. We would have to sign a good half a squad's worth of current Super League players to be competitive and there is absolutely no guarantee that the Oldham public will turn out in large numbers, especially if we are getting beaten regularly. We'll get best part of b*gger all in funding and I can't see it being sustainable.  We could well end up being the next Salford. 

In the Merry go Round that is the Rugby League decision (sic) making body who can predict what will happen in 2 or three years? Better, perhaps, to have a couple of seasons in the Championship,  making playoffs , winning the Title, the  1895 cup and be ready for the next lots of clubs to go into administration. 

Just me being pessimistic perhaps. 

Totally agree, same thoughts I've been expressing for a few weeks now since the 14 team debacle raised its ugly head. If the proposed 14 teams in SL was for 2027 and not 2026 then I can see the logic of Oldham having a proper push for inclusion as its another 12 months in the championship to get prepared. I just feel 2026 is a bit too soon and without any funding (which is so unfair it beggars belief) I'd rather BQ keep as much of his lolly as possible rather than spaff it all on those SL players none of the top teams want anymore.

Pretty sure like you suggest the RFL will probably change the goalposts again at some point soon as they could not organise the proverbial pee up in a brewery so IF the championship can be made into a viable and competitive competition lets stay there for another season or two, get the club on a really solid foundation and then see what transpires. SL have not had a consistent plan since its inception, no reason to think what currently has been decided will fair any better. 

[Bert Street]

15 minutes ago, Oldham Valderama said:

Totally agree, same thoughts I've been expressing for a few weeks now since the 14 team debacle raised its ugly head. If the proposed 14 teams in SL was for 2027 and not 2026 then I can see the logic of Oldham having a proper push for inclusion as its another 12 months in the championship to get prepared. I just feel 2026 is a bit too soon and without any funding (which is so unfair it beggars belief) I'd rather BQ keep as much of his lolly as possible rather than spaff it all on those SL players none of the top teams want anymore.

Pretty sure like you suggest the RFL will probably change the goalposts again at some point soon as they could not organise the proverbial pee up in a brewery so IF the championship can be made into a viable and competitive competition lets stay there for another season or two, get the club on a really solid foundation and then see what transpires. SL have not had a consistent plan since its inception, no reason to think what currently has been decided will fair any better. 

I just want us to have a viable club which represents the town in a stable environment.

Have never liked Super League nor all the other 'elite' money hoovering leagues in other sports.

That said, Super League would like nothing more than a breakaway by lower leagues. Stick around and be a thorn in their side.

[Happyed]

The concern is SL becomes a closed shop after the 14 next season. You can reasonably assume thats what the new clubs would ask for to give them time to consolidate- where does that then leave Oldham ?

 

as others have said- they’ve should’ve delayed until 2027 and based it on league position 

Edited August 6 by Happyed

[Bert Street]

10 minutes ago, Happyed said:

The concern is SL becomes a closed shop after the 14 next season. You can reasonably assume thats what the new clubs would ask for to give them time to consolidate- where does that then leave Oldham ?

 

as others have said- they’ve should’ve delayed until 2027 and based it on league position 

Worry not.

The phrase 'long term' and the word ' strategic' are strangers to this country's  RL administrators.

Just like Mary Poppins, the wind will change.

[LittleboroRoughyed]

The thing that intrigues me is what happens if the new tv deal doesn’t generate sufficient additional income then the SL clubs will have to share a small pot with 2 additional clubs from 2027.

They’ll soon re-introduce relegation, via on field performance or IMG or similar, as the owners won’t want to be increasing their annual losses 

[shrewsbury roughyed]

1 hour ago, Bert Street said:

Worry not.

The phrase 'long term' and the word ' strategic' are strangers to this country's  RL administrators.

Just like Mary Poppins, the wind will change.

We’d be better off if Mary Poppins was organising it. Or even Julie Andrews.