Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:18 pm  

Halifax1989 wrote:

Stupid question I guess? But why are us RL fans so obsessed with expanding the game far and wide? Were so concerned with pushing the game to Wales, London and now Canada. For me, I'm proud to love a sport that is so strong in Halifax, Batley, Wigan, Hull, Castleford etc. If it doesn't catch on outside of Northern England and Australia then fair enough, we'll keep it to ourselves!

Is there anyone else that feels this way or am I just weird??

There's been a lot of guff on here since the Toronto announcement so I'll try and answer your question fairly.

There are two main reasons I want to see our sport expand and grow.

The first is I want a genuinely competitive international game, the only way to do this is to expand player pools and give more players opportunities to play at a higher level. Now we could suggest that a SL club pick up a Canadian kid, but the kids aren't even playing rugby league because it has no presence there. A club will change this. (Just using Canda as an example btw same could go for a million other places).

My second reason is because I truly believe if we don't push forward, the sport will die on its feet. Some of the great clubs of the past which you speak of simply don't want to or cannot grow to a level where it is worth them being in the top league. Take featherstone as an example it's not their fault that geographically they are never going to attract big crowds when competing with a handful of other clubs in the immediate area.
If an expansion club can feasibly attract a decent crowd at home, are financially stable and looking to compete, while also giving access to new punters, players and other revenue steams then they deserve a chance to grow and do this. Hell a lot of Super League clubs haven't even managed what I've just listed over the last 10+ years.

I'd add that I am not just advocating we throw a dart into a world map and see if it sticks. I like the Toronto idea because there is a clear vision and good set of people behind it and opens a completely new market. I'd like to see us look at Sheffield and Cumbria because it would allow a pathway to two new areas whilst staying within somewhere where we have a presence. But I don't think neither of the clubs in Cumbria or Sheffield have the infrastructure robe a sound option. Similarly Wales and London have produced a great deal of SL players but would need the right people behind the scenes to be financially viable.

Finally I've got nothing against the clubs you mentioned as liking, I miss going to Odsal and and am looking forward to Catalan trying to climb mount pleasant in the cup, and great many good SL players have cut their teeth in the Championship, but their are a great many of these clubs I wouldn't see the point of in SL.

The more I think about it the more I wish we'd stuck with liscencing and done it properly.

Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:21 pm  

None of the places it is played and loved in this country has any kind if cultural relevance whatsoever. Even within this region, never mind nationally or internationally. Expansion beyond this region helps.

Sydney does. Success in Australia, and many of the places within its sphere of influence.

T'ronto does too. Not in the same way, because North America is full of cities on that scale. But nationally within Canada it definitely does.

I am also happy with what I have. Even post relegation. I love the history, I love the culture but more than any of that I love the game. Reliance on us, because of who and where we are, will not save it.

Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:35 pm  

Halifax1989 wrote:

This is just my point. I feel like the correct answer is yes. But actually, if I really think about it, Im quite happy watching Fax v Braford, Leigh, Dewsbury etc. Clubs with history, support, rivalry.

thats fine.

But oddly it was more fans of the Fax's, Leigh's and Dewsbury's who were vehemently against a structure where those smaller clubs played each other and other clubs elsewhere were the place the newer clubs from bigger cities would join.

It was far more the fans of the Leigh's, Fax's and Dewsburys who demanded that a club like Toronto go through their leagues.

Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:37 pm  

Wildthing wrote:

Get your tin hat on asking that on the VT!

Fully agreed Wildthing, it's very brave of Halifax1989 to do so !

Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:31 pm  

I did brace myself!

Re: Why expansion : Thu Apr 28, 2016 11:03 pm  

bramleyrhino wrote:

Because ultimately, professional sport is increasingly commercial and if we are going to continue to improve standards, improve stadia, retain our best players and improve the coaching and facilities that will provide new ones, the sport needs to generate revenue. If it doesn't, it stagnates at best, and withers and dies at worst - at least in a professional form.

More of that revenue needs to come from the commercial sector and, like it or not, places like Batley, Castleford and Whitehaven are not the sort of places that have enormous commercial appeal to many, many organisations out there.

Absolutely. There are many models of sport expanding in the last 20 years. Catalans is highly successful. Transport is no longer a barrier. Bring on the expansion [ well managed ].

Adapt or die.

Re: Why expansion : Fri Apr 29, 2016 12:44 am  

Snowman123 wrote:

Adapt or die.

Yep. And what many people appear to forget is that we almost did die thanks to our backward, short-termist attitudes.
We're still recovering from that period in our sports history.
Sadly I still regularly see those same attitudes at all levels of RL.

Re: Why expansion : Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:08 am  

or



?

Tough choice.

Re: Why expansion : Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:29 am  

The pictures say it all.

If you want to start something good, don't waste time with old ideas. Go to new places, with different thinking/perspectives, start winning and attracting winners and then bring it home. Moving at the pace of the old Clubs / towns which have lost their meaning is a sure way to die.

What better for our boys to aspire to. Overseas games - new culture. Stuck in the mud - no way, Jose.

Re: Why expansion : Fri Apr 29, 2016 3:02 am  

As a small positive, how great for opposing players to get to travel to Canada? If I were a part time player I'd jump at the chance.