Championship structure

[doc]

8 hours ago, Griff said:

I don't think a 21 team division is definite at all.

Could be 21, could be 20, could be 19.

We could always say to Fev and Salford "we can't wait any longer, come back next year."  But maybe they wouldn't come back.  Maybe they'd disappear into the annals of history.  Would that be a good thing?

The Circle of Clubs works equally well for 20 or 19.  No need to change the underlying system but the clubs would shift around.   Personally, I don't think that waiting a couple of weeks will do much harm.  The clubs need to stick together and support each other.

 

This should be the new name for the Championship!

 

[dufftown1]

4 hours ago, Griff said:

A 21 (maybe fewer) club division was pretty much forced on the Championship clubs.   It wasn't a decision they took.

Im not blaming the championship clubs. The game as a whole doesnt seem to have any joined up thinking. Just seems like everything is seen as a series of unrelated decisions

[lucky 7]

15 hours ago, Martyn Sadler said:

The best way to be popular is always to do nothing.

That might explain why we haven't won an ashes series since 1970, and a world cup since 1972, by doing nothing, and have just been whitewashed again in a ashes series by doing nothing.

[Martyn Sadler]

8 hours ago, lucky 7 said:

That might explain why we haven't won an ashes series since 1970, and a world cup since 1972, by doing nothing, and have just been whitewashed again in a ashes series by doing nothing.

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Most complaints about the RFL focus on the endless number of changes the RFL has made since those days.

The RFL has done anything but nothing, which doesn't necessarily mean that doing nothing would have been the right thing.

[lucky 7]

23 minutes ago, Martyn Sadler said:

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Most complaints about the RFL focus on the endless number of changes the RFL has made since those days.

The RFL has done anything but nothing, which doesn't necessarily mean that doing nothing would have been the right thing.

I was just quoting your words.

Do you expect more changes now that Nigel Wood is running the show, and who do you think any changes will benefit, the game as a whole in the UK or certain clubs or club?

Do you expect changes to the Super League criteria once the season has started?

[dufftown1]

4 hours ago, Martyn Sadler said:

You can't have your cake and eat it.

Most complaints about the RFL focus on the endless number of changes the RFL has made since those days.

The RFL has done anything but nothing, which doesn't necessarily mean that doing nothing would have been the right thing.

Martyn, the RFL are clearly doing things. So is that they arent able or that they arent willing to explain why? 

The answer of 'The clubs decided' seems like an avoidance of responsibility. 

Why dont we have an explanation of the current strategy we are pursuing, why and what we expect to get out of it?

[Billy King's Boots]

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.

Just have 20 weeks of 'Club Call' and have done with it.

Edited November 14 by Billy King's Boots

[Griff]

12 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.

Just have 20 weeks of 'Club Call' and have done with it.

Sick of waiting for what?

The fixtures aren't normally out this early in any year.

[Just Browny]

22 hours ago, Martyn Sadler said:

 

 

 

The RFL has done anything but nothing, which doesn't necessarily mean that doing nothing would have been the right thing.

Is this from Nigel's forthcoming letter to Sport England?

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

1 hour ago, Griff said:

Sick of waiting for what?

The fixtures aren't normally out this early in any year.

For the 2025 season they were released on 26th November and we knew the release date for some time before. Now for 2026.....

Edited November 15 by Les Tonks Sidestep

[Charlie]

14 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.

Just have 20 weeks of 'Club Call' and have done with it.

Pretty sure other champ clubs would want these 2 playing as they have 2 if the bigger fan bases 

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

15 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.

Just have 20 weeks of 'Club Call' and have done with it.

I assume you'd have told Fev the same for the 2019 season when they only had about half a match day squad signed on in the previous November?

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

For the 2025 season they were released on 26th November and we knew the release date for some time before. Now for 2026.....

So you're advocating dumping two clubs so folk can make entries in their new diaries a few weeks earlier ?

Come. come, Les.

[Simon Hall]

I’d put money on both Fev and Salford taking to the field for the first game of the 2026 season. Stuff like this always gets sorted somehow and the game can’t afford to lose two clubs, especially those with decent fan bases. 

York got sorted in similar circumstances and we’d been dogger for years. 

[Fevrover]

18 minutes ago, Simon Hall said:

I’d put money on both Fev and Salford taking to the field for the first game of the 2026 season. Stuff like this always gets sorted somehow and the game can’t afford to lose two clubs, especially those with decent fan bases. 

York got sorted in similar circumstances and we’d been dogger for years. 

Hope you're right.

[marklaspalmas]

18 hours ago, Billy King's Boots said:

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.

Just have 20 weeks of 'Club Call' and have done with it.

What club do you support, mate?

[Expatknight]

9 hours ago, Fevrover said:

Hope you're right.

Couldn’t imagine Rugby League with Fev, it will all be sorted sooner rather than later. On a bit of a different tack, I don’t think London will have it all their own way next season, Fax have made some good signings and have an excellent coach who could go a long way, Oldham won’t be too shabby either plus the usual suspects who hit above their weight season in season out - Batley for one, if Fordy can instill in them the same mantra he brought to the Knights, and one team that might surprise a few is Newcastle, don’t laugh, they will be a totally different prospect this coming season.

[Fevrover]

8 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

What club do you support, mate?

I thought the same - probably Hkr lol.

[sheddingswasus]

10 hours ago, marklaspalmas said:

What club do you support, mate?

Rochdale I think

[LeeF]

On 15/11/2025 at 12:46, marklaspalmas said:

What club do you support, mate?

At a guess either Cas or Swinton

[Griff]

Worth remembering that very few clubs have never been in financial troubĺe.

[The Phantom Horseman]

On 14/11/2025 at 18:20, Billy King's Boots said:

I'm sick of waiting and pretty close to not caring less.

Tell Salford and Fev they've missed the boat.
 

To be fair, those 41 season tickets aren't going to sell themselves
https://www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/article/1466/club-statement-from-chairman-andy-mazey

[dkw]

12 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

To be fair, those 41 season tickets aren't going to sell themselves
https://www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/article/1466/club-statement-from-chairman-andy-mazey

Quote

Whatever the views are of the IMG grading process, the RFL, or the current position of the sport, ultimately the overriding message is we need more people doing more for the club.

Oh dear, as one of the biggest naysayers over IMG its interesting to see him continually blaming the IMG process and using it as a crutch. 

 

And yet he also says this:-

Quote

The detailed IMG grading piece we published earlier this week hopefully makes it absolutely clear of the need for considerably more engagement, support and growth across all areas. 

So its a terrible process, yet also highlights what needs to be done by his club and fans....well how about that then.

[Twickbronc]

On 15/11/2025 at 19:47, Expatknight said:

Couldn’t imagine Rugby League with Fev, it will all be sorted sooner rather than later. On a bit of a different tack, I don’t think London will have it all their own way next season, Fax have made some good signings and have an excellent coach who could go a long way, Oldham won’t be too shabby either plus the usual suspects who hit above their weight season in season out - Batley for one, if Fordy can instill in them the same mantra he brought to the Knights, and one team that might surprise a few is Newcastle, don’t laugh, they will be a totally different prospect this coming season.

How is Newcastle's squad looking?

[Expatknight]

44 minutes ago, Twickbronc said:

How is Newcastle's squad looking?

A bit like the Knights squad last season