The RFL don't half like to tinker, when it's not needed. This Super8s and middle 8s was working (on the whole) imo. You have more competitive games than the extra games in the past , where top played 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 from the previous season. For me, it's change for change's sake. Leave it alone.
On Wires71's point about the game being more boring. SPOT ON. We've become sterile, as a sport, in the last decade. Eddie and Stevo screaming like banshees, whenever even a low grade skirmish breaks out "there's kids watching this. They don't want to see this" WRONG. Kids love stuff like that. Why do you think WWF is so popular? Umpteen on reports/referrals for Tuesdays at RFL HQ Teams playing drab "low risk" NRL style rugby Endless kicking Bang average half backs throughout the competition.
We need a few clubs to play more "off the cuff" rugby, rather than the robotics we've been fed for the last few years
The RFL don't half like to tinker, when it's not needed. This Super8s and middle 8s was working (on the whole) imo. You have more competitive games than the extra games in the past , where top played 2,4,6,8,10 and 12 from the previous season. For me, it's change for change's sake. Leave it alone.
This tinkering is nothing to do with the RFL - the SL clubs (or most of them) have decided the Super 8s format presents too much of a risk to their ongoing presence at the top table. Without consulting the RFL or the rest of the sport.
On Wires71's point about the game being more boring. SPOT ON. We've become sterile, as a sport, in the last decade. Eddie and Stevo screaming like banshees, whenever even a low grade skirmish breaks out "there's kids watching this. They don't want to see this" WRONG. Kids love stuff like that. Why do you think WWF is so popular? Umpteen on reports/referrals for Tuesdays at RFL HQ Teams playing drab "low risk" NRL style rugby Endless kicking Bang average half backs throughout the competition.
We need a few clubs to play more "off the cuff" rugby, rather than the robotics we've been fed for the last few years
All of this. Starts with the coverage for me. Eddie constantly bringing the slightest thing to the attention of the viewer. Cummings constantly highlighting what the ref has done wrong. Barry and Terry constantly telling Eddie that the tackle he's screaming to be given a red card is just part of the game. Clarke reeling off stats like:
"4 years ago Warrington played this fixture with a 78.765% completion rate and if we go of these first 3 sets of the game, then they're on course to match that, which will be create a 3:1 chance that they will win this game by 14 points. This is due to the fact that Wakefield took 1 hour to get here, which going off last years fuel prices, has cost hem an extra £20. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep up with that kind of inflation whilst dealing with this Warrington attack."
NO ONE CARES PHIL. No one cares what you think you saw Eddie or what the gravy is like this week in your local. just say what happening on the pitch FFS.
After that the next thing is the reffing. They're too pally with the players for me. scrap the squad numbers, get given the shirt number on the day and refs start calling players by their number. Arguing, moaning, diving to the floor whilst getting up and complaining earns a penalty againsts you. Players need to accept the decision and get on with it.
All of this. Starts with the coverage for me. Eddie constantly bringing the slightest thing to the attention of the viewer. Cummings constantly highlighting what the ref has done wrong. Barry and Terry constantly telling Eddie that the tackle he's screaming to be given a red card is just part of the game. Clarke reeling off stats like:
"4 years ago Warrington played this fixture with a 78.765% completion rate and if we go of these first 3 sets of the game, then they're on course to match that, which will be create a 3:1 chance that they will win this game by 14 points. This is due to the fact that Wakefield took 1 hour to get here, which going off last years fuel prices, has cost hem an extra £20. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep up with that kind of inflation whilst dealing with this Warrington attack."
NO ONE CARES PHIL. No one cares what you think you saw Eddie or what the gravy is like this week in your local. just say what happening on the pitch FFS.
After that the next thing is the reffing. They're too pally with the players for me. scrap the squad numbers, get given the shirt number on the day and refs start calling players by their number. Arguing, moaning, diving to the floor whilst getting up and complaining earns a penalty againsts you. Players need to accept the decision and get on with it.
This too. The focus on the refereeing decisions is boring. Waiting an eternity for the video ref is boring. Commentate on the game, skills, tactics.
The the ref coaching "Benny get on side", "Kev get off him". WTF?
Trouble is the game is run by people such as Brian Barwick. He is probably good at negotiating TV deals from his experience but doesn't have the Rugby League soul. He's probably only heard of RL since 2013.
The game isn't about sanitised viewing from a comfy seat enjoying a costa. It's being packed like sardines in the the old Knowsley Road on a Friday night, with the cracking excitement, local rivalry, palpable tension, crude language, air of menace, blind loyalty, thinking that this is the time we will end the hoodoo and your voice hoarse from singing.
Whilst I admit that the game has changed, levels of support/interest/professionalism/funding/player resources/the advent of the internal combustion engine and the M62, anyone promoting a play off system whilst denouncing FPP to decide our sport's Champion team by using the "that's how we have (nearly) always done things" must also do the same?
In my experience they invariably don't, which I think is simplistic and slightly unfair....for a pointer look at the league structure and fixtures when we last won the big prize and tell me how this 'fits' in with the concept of 12 fully professional teams that play each other home and away, ignoring the magic weekend skew.
I don't have an answer btw and by and large get the fact that our paymasters need to control what is their big event, but, think that the game in general undervaluing the LLS isn't a great starting point.
... think that the game in general undervaluing the LLS isn't a great starting point.
Agreed. About 75% of the games played over the course of the season are almost meaningless. I often find myself forgetting to look at the latest SL scores/results over a weekend because they just aren't that meaningful.
, think that the game in general undervaluing the LLS isn't a great starting point.
After the Wire vs Wigan CC game Tomkins gave the game away. He said "there was only 1 trophy left to play for now" referring to the GF. He then corrected himself and said "1 major trophy".
After the Wire vs Wigan CC game Tomkins gave the game away. He said "there was only 1 trophy left to play for now" referring to the GF. He then corrected himself and said "1 major trophy".
and isn't that the problem?
We might all subscribe to that view, certainly Wigan, Leeds and St's do, as it sets them as teams apart, whereas, ourselves in 2011 and last year's Castleford might have been 'guilty' or accused of bigging-up the 'lesser' trophy?
My point is that whatever the format it should be fair and by that I mean balanced, easy to follow and transparent, given a significance based on more than, well we've always done it this way and 'proper' Championship teams save a little in their tanks for the business end and hopefully under the floodlights in October.
We shouldn't necessarily depend upon it, but, we are additionally hampered by a lack enthusiasm from our antipodean counterparts for the WCC We've virtually aligned our league seasons to our detriment apart from nicer weather and avoiding clashes with soccer IMO.
Association Football might not be a good comparison but would a situation of LLS are the Champions going to a top 4 play off to decide who represents SL v Australian's Champions work better, a bit Champion's League ish? SKY will still get their showcase end of season finale and the LLS gets some respect.