LEIGH LEOPARDS owner Derek Beaumont is well known for his outspoken nature.
As owner of Leigh since 2014, Beaumont has experienced the rollercoaster ride of being an owner – from relegation to promotion, from winning silverware to almost quitting the sport, the charismatic Leigh man has been there and done it.
So when asked about what he would do instantly if he was in charge of the sport from tomorrow, Beaumont didn’t hold back.
Included in the proposals were a new subscriber platform as well as on-field changed that would see a rugby league game akin to that of an American Football spectacle.
“The first thing I would do is go and have a chat with Sky and then I would know one million percent where we will be in 2027,” Beaumont told League Express.
“I’d most certainly all ideas from all people and be like a sponge before exiting the IMG system and recover the £450,000 per year we give to them.
“I would invest money into the Super League Plus platform and get a studio. I’d bring massive content to that that really grows it and sees it as our future.
“That £45k that all clubs are giving towards IMG, let’s all continue to do that but put it towards Super League Plus.”
On the field, Beaumont would also change things.
“I’d make some changes to some of the rules – not massively on how the game is played. But I don’t like the micro analysis of games afterwards.
“Having players banned one week and then not the next for the same infringement, there needs to be more consistency to help support referees better.
“I would look at digitalising things going forward. The ten-metre rule for defences is a big frustration for fans but it is hard for refs.
“I had a go at making the ten metres in the Lanzarote camp and I was horrendous – I even ended up facing the wrong way!
“We’ve all got GPS on and everyone likes playing computer games so get a chip in the ball and a laser sets the ten metres each time.
“If you haven’t got back ten metres and make a tackle, an alarm tells the ref and then there’s no arguing it.
“I would make it more fun at the beginning of games. We decide who kicks off with the tossing of a coin, get all the team going up against each other with rock, paper, scissors on the big screen.
“Make it a vibrant feel and then get serious with the game. We need different ideas.”