Rugby League Backchat : Wed Apr 25, 2018 9:44 pm  

Carl Hall is on this week's edition of Rugby League Backchat. It's available on the FreeSports Channel. It can be found on Freeview Channel 95 or on Sky Channel 424. It's due to be shown at 7pm on Thursday 26th April.

There will be a discussion about the RL structure and how it might affect League One clubs.

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:19 am  

Lets hope he comes across better than he does with his dug out drivel

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:24 pm  

Keith Lard's Dog wrote:

Lets hope he comes across better than he does with his dug out drivel

Well I will be glued to it and lapping up every word

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:58 pm  

Think we should hold a sweep stake on how many times he pulls a stupid face and says "are well"

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 4:32 pm  

Keith Lard's Dog wrote:

Think we should hold a sweep stake on how many times he pulls a stupid face and says "are well"

Or scratches his head and ear

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:26 pm  

You've missed out how everyone in rugby league is his best friend who phones him everyday! in what other profession can you under achieve and miss targets yet still have a meal ticket for life? the mind boggles

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Thu Apr 26, 2018 9:25 pm  

Interesting programme...

They talked about the possibilities of an RFL restructure with the suggestion put forward that the RFL may want to increase the central funding of 20 teams with cut backs for the rest.

We presently get £75k from the RFL and our current budget is £200k.

As the RFL has been keen to accommodate new teams like Coventry and Hemel, I don't see how a restructure of this nature would be consistent with helping spread RL to these areas. Quite a number of teams would be cut adrift under this proposal and that could well include us. Of course, it's just speculation at the moment.

It is crazy that no one knows for certain what the structure of the leagues will be for next season although I presume that as more time passes, it becomes harder to make any changes to the present system.

I was reading an article earlier today suggesting that Catalan Dragons must know they will be in Super League next year (in whatever form it takes) as they are already planning to sign Sam Tomkins from Wigan. They wouldn't be able to afford him if they were in the Championship and it is unlikely that he'd want to play in that league either.

Personally, I'm quite happy for the league structure to stay as it is, with the current promotion and relegation. I wouldn't like to see a 20 team elite group, and I certainly wouldn't want to go back to a licensing system.

Maybe the RFL will enlighten us on their plans in the not too distant future.

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:16 am  

Double Movement wrote:

Interesting programme...

They talked about the possibilities of an RFL restructure with the suggestion put forward that the RFL may want to increase the central funding of 20 teams with cut backs for the rest.

We presently get £75k from the RFL and our current budget is £200k.

As the RFL has been keen to accommodate new teams like Coventry and Hemel, I don't see how a restructure of this nature would be consistent with helping spread RL to these areas. Quite a number of teams would be cut adrift under this proposal and that could well include us. Of course, it's just speculation at the moment.

It is crazy that no one knows for certain what the structure of the leagues will be for next season although I presume that as more time passes, it becomes harder to make any changes to the present system.

I was reading an article earlier today suggesting that Catalan Dragons must know they will be in Super League next year (in whatever form it takes) as they are already planning to sign Sam Tomkins from Wigan. They wouldn't be able to afford him if they were in the Championship and it is unlikely that he'd want to play in that league either.

Personally, I'm quite happy for the league structure to stay as it is, with the current promotion and relegation. I wouldn't like to see a 20 team elite group, and I certainly wouldn't want to go back to a licensing system.

Maybe the RFL will enlighten us on their plans in the not too distant future.

And the thorny issue of merges and no Cumbrian team unless that happens. All comes back to money and keeping the cream of that cash going to the well established clubs in an effort to stop the NRL running away with the game. It was insightful and Carl Hall came across well. I strongly recommend folk to give it a viewing.

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:51 am  

I agree Moonshine , Carl came across very well with some good points and views on the sport in general.
I only wish he would be more like this on the dug out , instead of acting the tool.

Re: Rugby League Backchat : Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:19 am  

Moonshine wrote:

And the thorny issue of merges and no Cumbrian team unless that happens. All comes back to money and keeping the cream of that cash going to the well established clubs in an effort to stop the NRL running away with the game. It was insightful and Carl Hall came across well. I strongly recommend folk to give it a viewing.

Yes, there are various repeat showings coming up on Freesports. It's well worth a watch.

We recall all the merger issues suggested when Super League first started. Suggesting that Workington and Whitehaven merge is probably similar to suggesting the Dons merge with Sheffield. It's very hard for fans to accept no matter what sort of business case might be put forward.

The issue for me is that if the RFL presently give sides in our league around £75k but chose to give the big boys an extra £75k instead, it might lead to the best Super League players not going down under, but it certainly wouldn't guarantee it. It would certainly rip the heart and soul out of rugby at our level. The gap between the elite 20 and the rest would be even greater than the current gap between Super League and the Championship.

As mentioned on the TV programme, the better solution is to try to bring more money into the sport generally through sponsorship and better TV rights deals, rather than squeeze those at the bottom. This is the way to try to create a win-win situation.

League One is doing very well at the moment with the likes of York and the Dons working hard to try to improve crowds, along with the added interest of having Bradford in the league too. The standard of rugby in this league is good amongst the top eight sides. I'm sure that without central funding from the RFL, and the hope of getting promoted to a higher division, this league would see clubs folding and the standards drop. Players would be lost from the game and as many good players graduate from playing at our level, this would be to the detriment of the Super League clubs too. Investing £75k in the lower leagues seems like much better value for money for the game of rugby league generally, than giving this amount to the big boys in an attempt to stave off competition from abroad.