[quote="Chris71":lq6pdr0a]The question is could the game currently afford to dump SKY? Is it that the the RFL haven't really marketed or sold the game well enough or indeed at all to the other TV and media outlets or is there simply not enough significant interest from other parties willing to pay to screen live games? I can't remember the specifics of the new SKY deal as to if there was a limit to games that could be broadcast outside of SKY but seem to remember TNT Sports and DAZN were in the running for the rights but the RFL chose SKY. That said you'd think that a good marketer would have been able to have sold the rights to broadcast a handful of games to either TNT or DAZN. For me the RFL just don't seem to market themselves well enough and it appears from the outside its more comfortable/easier for them to stay within the norm as in stick with SKY like they have since the inception of SL than push outside of the comfort zone and work hard to secure better.[/quote:lq6pdr0a] I can't imagine the RFL have turned up for negotiations in the past looking organised with a crack team of negotiatiors. I can also see from SKYs point of view that SL has gone for ideas they weren't in favour of previously, under the Super8s system for example they were having to show games involving Championship teams scheduled at short notice. I'm not sure having a 3rd broadcaster is an option because most fans wouldent pay for a 3rd service just to see a handful pf games. I go down the pub for TNT Champions League games rather than subscribe for example.

[quote="bonaire":124iwucc]Super league needs to pull away from the RFL and align themselves to teams in the NRL. That alone would would enhance the game in the UK when you have Aussie fans and media following their UK team Increase the cap substantially so that the UK game has a lot more superstars on view.Thats the way you can really start to market the game when R/L superstars become household names and people start to follow them and the game. The interlink of an Aussie club and a UK club could also be used as an outside quota means of a limited interchange of players during a season. TV will always follow success and trying to get TV deals for a product that lacks an audience and Superstars is the wrong way round. The NRL is a great product but they also spend big on marketing and dont stand still. The RFL have over the years proved to be not fit for purpose so if we now have a sport where most of the S/L teams have wealthy owners it should be time to ditch the RFL and IMG with it.[/quote:124iwucc] For me the problem with the NRL is that when Aussie’s talk about the potential of the game over here they seem to think that there’s huge untapped potential in big cities like London, Birmingham etc and just assume that they’ll be successful like they have in Melbourne growing the game if they put SL teams in big cities. People say ‘marketing’ like it’s a magic wand. Don’t get me wrong I’d trust them to make a better fist of expansion then the RFL, but I don’t think they understand the dominance of football and how difficult it would be. I also think they’d underestimate the tribalism of supporters and try to merge some of the big clubs and think it could be a disaster.

[quote="DSJ1983":2n44gpva]For me the problem with the NRL is that when Aussie’s talk about the potential of the game over here they seem to think that there’s huge untapped potential in big cities like London, Birmingham etc and just assume that they’ll be successful like they have in Melbourne growing the game if they put SL teams in big cities. People say ‘marketing’ like it’s a magic wand. Don’t get me wrong I’d trust them to make a better fist of expansion then the RFL, but I don’t think they understand the dominance of football and how difficult it would be. I [b:2n44gpva]also think they’d underestimate the tribalism of supporters and try to merge some of the big clubs and think it could be a disaster.[/quote:2n44gpva][/b:2n44gpva] Already part of the master plan

[quote="Large Paws":11bfi029][/b] Already part of the master plan[/quote:11bfi029] I’m only speculating but I think any NRL influence in SL would just turbo charge any plans for mergers. They’d look at clubs like Hull and Rovers and think they could make a Brisbane type super club. On paper it makes sense, but we know it would be a disaster.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf"]I fear it may be one of them. If i was to place a bet, i would say it's Wainhouse. Not that he doesn't want to be here but more his attitude. Believing in his own hype shall we say.

[quote="RockNRolla"] I heard Wainhouse was fuming not to get a squad jersey this year

[quote="Blackandwhitebigdog":3r6yn9q1]I heard Wainhouse was fuming not to get a squad jersey this year [/quote:3r6yn9q1] Is this the same source who told you that Cross was a done deal?

Read on Twitter this morning from a Cas fan that he's heard Staveley is going for a trial with them on Monday. Seems a weird situation to go for a trial the week then season starts. If anything hopefully it's just a short term loan with us been able to recall at any point.

[quote="Blackandwhitebigdog"] Nor should he have, only players who’ve played first team got a squad number, also Kirby missed out on one initially despite playing first team last season.

[quote="FC Callum":2vl8w3ke] Nor should he have, only players who’ve played first team got a squad number, also Kirby missed out on one initially despite playing first team last season. [/quote:2vl8w3ke] Some of the younger lads were at the player signing event when people collected their passes. They all had a squad number on their training gear and were signing autographs, some of them with their numbers underneath. Edit: Just realised I'm wrong with this. Kirby is pictured wearing training gear with the number 59 on but named as being number 32 on the team sheet. Apologies.

[quote="Hasbag":nkrbjb0x]Read on Twitter this morning from a Cas fan that he's heard Staveley is going for a trial with them on Monday. Seems a weird situation to go for a trial the week then season starts. If anything hopefully it's just a short term loan with us been able to recall at any point.[/quote:nkrbjb0x] I did try to tell you a couple of times what his future or otherwise at the club was, without divulging confidences of course.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf":3i6gj7f5]I did try to tell you a couple of times what his future or otherwise at the club was, without divulging confidences of course.[/quote:3i6gj7f5] It’s on totalrl com that he’s going to Cas on trial

Very strange move, if he goes the club need to be honest with the reasons we have released him, I'm not buying he wouldn't get games for Hull either, a fit Staveley would be close to our 17. We had a thin squad and that's him and Abdul potentially gone.

[quote="Dave K.":395gb9zp]Very strange move, if he goes the club need to be honest with the reasons we have released him, I'm not buying he wouldn't get games for Hull either, a fit Staveley would be close to our 17. We had a thin squad and that's him and Abdul potentially gone.[/quote:395gb9zp] Agreed. I'll stick with what I said the other day though, we need players who want to play for the club. Two sides to every story, and I'm fairly sure the care he'll have received during his injury will have been a contributing factor. A few quotes online from a relative saying he was a forgotten man. But equally, it's a new start for everyone now and if the fit isn't right for both parties then we're better off parting ways now. Real shame though as from the outside, that's one of our better talents on the way out.

It's a surprise move. I thought Staveley looked good in his brief appearances but if he wants away then bye bye. His dad has been a critic of the club, back end of last year he said "Got decent coaching in place, just get him fit and hopefully see what happens. Still some in that place who steal a wage, or not fit for purpose. I’d never say that about a player but back room part of the regime definitely." It leaves us short though, as has been said this will be two players gone and not yet replaced.

[quote="ComeOnYouUll":2ry1tdan]It's a surprise move. I thought Staveley looked good in his brief appearances but if he wants away then bye bye. His dad has been a critic of the club, back end of last year he said "Got decent coaching in place, just get him fit and hopefully see what happens. Still some in that place who steal a wage, or not fit for purpose. I’d never say that about a player but back room part of the regime definitely." It leaves us short though, as has been said this will be two players gone and not yet replaced.[/quote:2ry1tdan] Opens the door for Kirby and Jebson to step up, but currently would have had Staveley well ahead of both. Wonder what it means for his younger brother too who signed for the academy last year.

He looked a good young player in the games he had last year but Cartwright is seeing a hell of a lot more than we all are. Looks like he could be a big loss but Cartwright's judgement means a lot more than any of ours, and hopefully a decision he doesn't come to regret.

Also his younger brother has just signed for us too. Something must have gone on.

With this new Dec 1st rule this type of thing was always going to happen. See the Rovers/Wakefield situation with the two young outside backs, can see the logic of letting someone go a year early if you know they’ve already sorted their future elsewhere. I know players always got tapped up but with the deadline in May there was always time for the dust to settle and get the season started to see where everyone stood before most of the decisions had been made. Myler has hinted it could work in our favour too, hope so as this leaves us short.

[quote="DSJ1983":1nfknw1f]With this new Dec 1st rule this type of thing was always going to happen. See the Rovers/Wakefield situation with the two young outside backs, can see the logic of letting someone go a year early if you know they’ve already sorted their future elsewhere. I know players always got tapped up but with the deadline in May there was always time for the dust to settle and get the season started to see where everyone stood before most of the decisions had been made. Myler has hinted it could work in our favour too, hope so as this leaves us short.[/quote:1nfknw1f] Problem is if you release all of the players early who have signed elsewhere you would not have enough players. He shouldn't be released without a replacement lined up, leaves our pack looking short, we aren't talking about an academy player, he would be close to our 17 IMO.

The deadline thing is also for players signing for next year, which if that's the case then fair enough, but this sounds like we could be releasing him immediately and leaving ourselves a player down (and one of the most promising looking ones) for the upcoming season. That's 2 players down so far in 2025!

[quote="Dave K.":37m4yyos]Problem is if you release all of the players early who have signed elsewhere you would not have enough players. He shouldn't be released without a replacement lined up, leaves our pack looking short, we aren't talking about an academy player, he would be close to our 17 IMO.[/quote:37m4yyos] Agree. It’s up to us now to maybe work the rule work in our favour and get someone in. Can’t see anyone of note who’d fit the bill though. I reckon it was all in the plan with Byrne, but they didn’t account for Wire and the fact that Wigan are the last club that will be bullied into doing something they don’t want.

Was hoping out days of chopping and changing too much, we're coming to an end. Still hoping the Staveley rumours aren't true.

[quote="Dave K.":2jlwnj3e]Was hoping out days of chopping and changing too much, we're coming to an end. Still hoping the Staveley rumours aren't true.[/quote:2jlwnj3e] The writing has been on the wall. His old man was saying he’s the forgotten man and that there’s people at the club stealing a living as far back as November. He’s obviously unhappy for whatever reason, it’s a shame as he might be a top player but if he wants to move on maybe best for both in the long run.

His dad has shared the LE story on twitter, so he's as good as gone. Seems an odd one from us, looked handy in tje 2/3 games he played before his ACL