Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:46 am  

hatty wrote:

I'm all for change but only if the change is for the better and I can't really see where the improvement will come with this merry-go-round. The system isn't new therefore the RL haven't dreamt it up themselves and lets face they never introduce anything new its always hand me downs from the NRL or manipulated from other sports. I won't condemn it entirely but nor will I greet it with open arms. One thing it has guaranteed is that after 35yrs as a Wigan supporter my season ticket won't be renewed as I don't pay super league prices to potentially watch my team play championship opposition at the back end of the season.

This is the attitude that completely baffles me. So you're expecting Wigan to finish in the bottom 4 next season then, because that's the only way we'll face Champs opposition next year? If anything you'll get more value from a season ticket because you'll get to see 3 or 4 games against Leeds/Saints/Warrington/Hudds etc in place of the London and Bradford games.

But if you prefer watching us beat Bradford 84-6 as opposed to a close game against top 8 opposition in a more meaningful league system then you go ahead and get rid of you're season ticket.

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:08 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

This is the attitude that completely baffles me. So you're expecting Wigan to finish in the bottom 4 next season then, because that's the only way we'll face Champs opposition next year? If anything you'll get more value from a season ticket because you'll get to see 3 or 4 games against Leeds/Saints/Warrington/Hudds etc in place of the London and Bradford games.

But if you prefer watching us beat Bradford 84-6 as opposed to a close game against top 8 opposition in a more meaningful league system then you go ahead and get rid of you're season ticket.

And your reply is exactly as I would have expected. Of course I don't expect Wigan to be in the bottom four. I don't like the concept of this proposal, a proposal that has already failed in football. I used to look forward to playing saints twice in a season, they were the games that I really couldn't wait to arrive but this new concept means we could be playing them five or six times in a season, that's what I don't like and no its not born out of fear its born out of monotony. We are slowly turning super league into the Scottish premiership. I don't consider it a meaningful league I consider it a pointless league, a league that will have the same teams competing in the same top eight positions every season, all it does is to give the championship sides more opportunity to enter super league end of. I will hold back on purchasing a season ticket next season because I won't pay for something that I don't agree with.

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 1:23 pm  

Why we can't just have a 12 team league with 22/23 games I don't know.

Why do we have to do the top 8, bottom 4, top 4, bottom 4 nonsense?

Some teams in the top 8 will have more home games than others, then of course the top 4 Championship sides are playing against full-time opposition with more money to spend on the salary cap in a bid to be promoted to a league that they don't have the money/time to prepare for.

Not exactly a fair system that gives every one the same chance is it really?

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:11 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

Why we can't just have a 12 team league with 22/23 games I don't know.

Why do we have to do the top 8, bottom 4, top 4, bottom 4 nonsense?

Some teams in the top 8 will have more home games than others, then of course the top 4 Championship sides are playing against full-time opposition with more money to spend on the salary cap in a bid to be promoted to a league that they don't have the money/time to prepare for.

Not exactly a fair system that gives every one the same chance is it really?

I couldn't agree more

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 3:15 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

My concerns are commercial.
How is a club going to sell season tickets for a competition when almost a quarter of it will be played not knowing who or when you are playing?
How are the RFL going to schedule the last seven games when the likes of Wigan, Huddersfield, Hull and Leeds groundshare?
What about fans (I'm talking about ME and I suspect many others) who book their holidays around their clubs fixtures?

I asked Gary Hetherington these questions at a Wigan v Leeds U19 game last year when this system was first mooted.. He wouldn't or couldn't give me any answers.

IF fans decide to stop buying season tickets and go on a pay by match system then I suspect attendances will be hard hit.

There wasn't much wrong with the old top 5 system, which really rewarded the team that finished as League Leaders. There was never enough talent available for a viable top 8.

A few good points there, I suppose we’ll have to wait and see if the answers are forthcoming, or maybe in the end someone at the RFL HQ my just take the phone off the hook. Only time will tell, so I’ll hold on before passing judgement.

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 5:32 pm  

hatty wrote:

And your reply is exactly as I would have expected. Of course I don't expect Wigan to be in the bottom four. I don't like the concept of this proposal, a proposal that has already failed in football. I used to look forward to playing saints twice in a season, they were the games that I really couldn't wait to arrive but this new concept means we could be playing them five or six times in a season, that's what I don't like and no its not born out of fear its born out of monotony. We are slowly turning super league into the Scottish premiership. I don't consider it a meaningful league I consider it a pointless league, a league that will have the same teams competing in the same top eight positions every season, all it does is to give the championship sides more opportunity to enter super league end of. I will hold back on purchasing a season ticket next season because I won't pay for something that I don't agree with.

But everything that you disagree with has been a problem under the current system also, why is it taking the move to the next structure to decide everything is pointless? We played Saints 6 times in 2011 and 4 times in 2012 under the current system, why weren't you jacking in your season ticket then? This year we have had the most competitive race for the top 4 and top 8, with only 2 whipping boys who are gone next season.

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 6:12 pm  

Leeds and Salford have introduced their season ticket packages which will cover all pre and post split games bar a potential final 1 v 4, 2 v 3 playoff.

Don't really see how the new system will hit season ticket sales if all clubs do the same (as I'm sure they will).

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:05 pm  

WARRIORCRAIG wrote:

But everything that you disagree with has been a problem under the current system also, why is it taking the move to the next structure to decide everything is pointless? We played Saints 6 times in 2011 and 4 times in 2012 under the current system, why weren't you jacking in your season ticket then? This year we have had the most competitive race for the top 4 and top 8, with only 2 whipping boys who are gone next season.

If this has been the most competitive (which it has) then why change it now? My argument is that since 1996 rugby league has constantly been chopped and changed to apparently better the league, yet we still have the same teams winning year in year out, we will again change the format and we will still have the same teams winning it, so my point is..... Why change it?

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:10 pm  

If Wigan hadn't won eight consecutive challenge cups and five successive doubles, would we be playing summer rugby? I know it doesn't relate to the post but I'm just after people's initial response.

Re: The reaction to the new structure... : Fri Jul 25, 2014 8:29 pm  

No...