Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:33 pm  

William Eve wrote:

Six years ago, anyone equipped with more than one brain cell could see that expanding SL to 14 teams would be a recipe for disaster. Where were the players of requisite quality to furnish all those teams? There weren't enough players for 12 teams and there's even less now.

The franchising and the accompanying 8-team play off system merely underlined the absurdity of it all as it ring-fenced the rewarding of mediocrity, rendered the regular season as meaningless and sentenced the competition into a period of spiralling decline.

I remain hopeful the new structure from next season will turn things around to some degree given time but that's by no means a given. Perhaps irreversible damage has already been done? I'd also have preferred a 10 team SL, the return of the Top 5 play off system and a bare minimum of 2 up, 2 down P&R.

I daresay the moron supporters of the rhinos who are seriously lacking in the IQ department will have enjoyed last night's 46-6 win played out primarily in 1st gear and occasional 2nd gear mode. Unfortunately, the dire playing standards required to win most SL games these days do the victors no favours in the long run either.

I find it hard to argue with any of that.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:58 pm  

RhinoLaney wrote:

Sad night.
The Stadium is falling apart, The Team has fallen apart, the once great Bradford Bulls are no more.
Fair play to the supporters who are still turning out to be fair.
Couldn't think of anything worse than watching my Rugby League up at Odsal but people still do.
I don't think I've ever been as bored at a RL game as I was last night, and we was winning?

Didn't you see the International Space Station pass over just after 9pm? Best 10 minutes of the night!

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:11 pm  

It's a good job we didn't lose because I reckon a lot of people on here would've thrown themselves off the nearest bridge.
It's sad what's happened to Bradford, but it's the result of years of poor management. It's nothing to do with the structure of the competition. In fact the quality of the competition IMO has nothing to do with the structure or lack of P & R. The fact is 5 or 6 of the teams aren't up to standard on the pitch or off it. London, Wakey, and Bradford are a shambles. However, most of the other clubs are making progress in some areas. But, there's no quick solution. People talk about P & R making games more intense and more exciting. But, CC games for example are knock out games and the majority of those are 5hite. There's no P & R in the NRL, and the intensity doesn't suffer much in that league. The best way to improve the competition and to raise intensity is to improve the quality of the teams involved in it. Games aren't intense because quite a few of the teams aren't up to much. If every team was as good as Saints, Wigan or Leeds then the intensity of the competition would increase with or without relegation.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:29 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

It's a good job we didn't lose because I reckon a lot of people on here would've thrown themselves off the nearest bridge.
It's sad what's happened to Bradford, but it's the result of years of poor management. It's nothing to do with the structure of the competition. In fact the quality of the competition IMO has nothing to do with the structure or lack of P & R. The fact is 5 or 6 of the teams aren't up to standard on the pitch or off it. London, Wakey, and Bradford are a shambles. However, most of the other clubs are making progress in some areas. But, there's no quick solution. People talk about P & R making games more intense and more exciting. But, CC games for example are knock out games and the majority of those are 5hite. There's no P & R in the NRL, and the intensity doesn't suffer much in that league. The best way to improve the competition and to raise intensity is to improve the quality of the teams involved in it. Games aren't intense because quite a few of the teams aren't up to much. If every team was as good as Saints, Wigan or Leeds then the intensity of the competition would increase with or without relegation.

Agree entirely with this.

Also unless we raise the cap we are going to keep losing quality players, and until we take action to remove the dross clubs, they are not going to raise the cap.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 3:47 pm  

I think that the game is caught on the horns of a dilemma ref the salary cap. If the powers that be don’t increase it we will see top talent leech away to the NRL or worse RU. If they do increase the cap then I have no doubts that there will be an even greater polarisation of the teams in Super League. I reckon that there are a good few who cannot spend up to the current cap let alone an increased cap. What the sport needs is more money coming in, but I’m beggared if I can see where it will come from.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:42 pm  

TOMCAT wrote:

I think that the game is caught on the horns of a dilemma ref the salary cap. If the powers that be don’t increase it we will see top talent leech away to the NRL or worse RU. If they do increase the cap then I have no doubts that there will be an even greater polarisation of the teams in Super League. I reckon that there are a good few who cannot spend up to the current cap let alone an increased cap. What the sport needs is more money coming in, but I’m beggared if I can see where it will come from.

That, IMO, boils down to the clubs; it is up to them to improve their own revenue streams. At the moment, too many are reliant on central funding, which has diminished in recent years. Whilst central funding has its place, it is the responsibility of the clubs to market their games, attract commercial partners and generate more match day and more match day revenue.

One of the billboards above Odsal last night was advertising the date of the 2012 Grand Final. Only the Bulls commercial team can explain why they couldn't sell that space in 2013 or 2014. Unfortunately however, it's easier to blame the RFL.

Ian Lenaghan hits out at the RFL for a lack on blue chip sponsors in the game and claims he can do much better, yet I can't find a single blue chip brand on the current Wigan shirt - that's a mentality that is rife throughout the sport.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:52 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

If ever there was ever a case for a reduction of the league to ten teams this was it. Leeds ran in tries at will until they lost interest and concentration. The Bradford defence was - in a word - pathetic, when Danny McGuire can waltz through you it shows you have some defensive issues.

Gaskill scored a freaky try, that apart Bradford seldom really threaten Leeds from a structured play. As soon as Leeds upped the anti again they scored at will.

For Leeds Moon was my MOM with Burrow a close second. Hopefully Stevie Ward's injury isn't as serious as it appeared. As for Aichurch I am struggling to fathom what he is bringing to the party?

For Bradford both Kearney and Gale had strong games but as for the rest - what a depressing vision.

Bradford need putting out of their misery. The pre-match entertainment is dull and in need of a re-work. What is the point of having a rapper when the tannoy system is so bad? The team is poor, the facilities are embarrassing - large areas of unsafe terracing taped off. The newish stand looks like the rest of the ground, tired and in need of some TLC.

£20 to stand and watch sub standard fare in sub standard facilities is not what elite sport should be offering

Personally I think achurch is going well at the moment, 100 plus meters in his last two starts hasn't missed a tackle and is looking dangerous running out wide and gaining in confidence.

Singleton was excellent his best game to date this season, the lad has been quiet of late but that IMO is largely down to mc giving him limited mins.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:55 pm  

bramleyrhino wrote:

That, IMO, boils down to the clubs; it is up to them to improve their own revenue streams. At the moment, too many are reliant on central funding, which has diminished in recent years. Whilst central funding has its place, it is the responsibility of the clubs to market their games, attract commercial partners and generate more match day and more match day revenue.

One of the billboards above Odsal last night was advertising the date of the 2012 Grand Final. Only the Bulls commercial team can explain why they couldn't sell that space in 2013 or 2014. Unfortunately however, it's easier to blame the RFL.

Ian Lenaghan hits out at the RFL for a lack on blue chip sponsors in the game and claims he can do much better, yet I can't find a single blue chip brand on the current Wigan shirt - that's a mentality that is rife throughout the sport.

This.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:30 pm  

As for Aichurch I am struggling to fathom what he is bringing to the party?

Really, what games have you been watching. Been outstanding last few games, albeit against week opposition, but some times that's just what a player needs to get the confidence going.

Re: Thoughts on last night : Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:24 pm  

rollin thunder wrote:

As for Aichurch I am struggling to fathom what he is bringing to the party?

Really, what games have you been watching. Been outstanding last few games, albeit against week opposition, but some times that's just what a player needs to get the confidence going.

Agree with this entirely. He looks a different beast as a wide running second row. But I think we all knew that anyway.