But if the game expands to new areas then surely the opportunity for growth is increased?

Classic Nigel Wood syndrome here. Select an American way of running pro sport and do it in a half d bungling way that doesn't work in Britain!

Bluseox, pah!

Certainly grew in Wrexham eh? Would have done for you guys if done properly, but, unfortunately, you're left with the mess you have now!


PS good luck for the coming season!

Absolutely correct, that is why any expansion needs to be done properly, and be properly funded, however an equal amount of thought and attention eeds to be given to growing the game in the heartlands

Doubled edged sword.

Its not just about catchment area for sponsors and fans, its the catchment area for players playing at a level that is suitable for a top quality competition or at bare minimum having the platform to get to it.
If you want the overall quality of the game to improve we have to improve the area from which we get the players which i think you can only do by expanding into new areas with pro teams.

Aye indeed!

He had some good points though. As well as some bad ones.

The fact that he didn't know where the money was going to come from was the downfall of his points though unfortunately. This is the reason we need to expand. If you cover more areas, you get more deals through sponsorship and TV deals not to mention government grants.

When he's receded us to the north of England, he'll be wondering why we aren't getting any cash. A Saudi Prince is not a financial strategy and is akin to a daft blonde woman answering the question of what she wants to do with her life with "I want to be a footballer's wife!"

And yet the ' Sugar Daddy ' principle is an RFL favourite, depending who you are and what day of the month it is, Leigh were criticised for having one, Fax criticised for not having one

Any links to this? (Not come across it).

Interestingly enough it has grown and expanded. I know of people who watch and play the game who previously didn't. Also know of people who have gained coaching quals as a result of the move. Not as much growth as there could've been but some small seeds planted that hopefully will grow. And whilst in no way condoning the shambolic events of Crusaders, Wales now has two semi pro teams.

The question has to be, could we have achieved two semi pro clubs by investing in setting up two semi pro clubs? , or has that happened purely because it was a top tier club that was the catalyst? , if it is the latter then maybe the expansion of the game will have to happen in the haphazard ' stick a pin in and hope ' way it was tried with Bridgend and Wrexham ?

SL should not exand into non heartland areas again unless the RFL has the money to guarantee seed funding for at least 10 years or gets a guarantee of funding from the expansion club with moneys being deposited with the RFL. Crusaders was a farce from day one and followed the same pattern as Gateshead and Paris.

That is exactly what i have suggested in the past, expect Smokey on shortly to explain why you are being completely unreasonable

It would rule many out, just as it has done in football.

No i wont, I have said numerous times a guarantee would be useful, and it would help make the process clear and show anyone interested what they need to do.

I simply said that your demand that they pay this guarantee up front, in a cash bond is stupid, counter-productive and would mean clubs who were otherwise able to function perfectly well as SL clubs, couldnt purely on the basis they didnt have a ridiculously large cash amount up front to leave sitting in a bank account.

Though I do wonder whether you would be demanding that Leigh pay £10m in to an RFL account should they be promoted, and how this stupidly large cash payment they would need to pay, tallys with your constant, unending bleating that the criteria put in place actually stops people investing in to championship clubs? Are you saying that a prospective investor in Leigh is put off by the fact they need to meet some fairly low standards in youth development, attendances, marketing, facilities etc, to be promoted? but would be perfectly fine in having to leave £10m in an account with the RFL for years to be promoted?

Or is this just another example of your 'im not against expansion as long as we make it impossible for expansion to actually happen to anybody but my club' standpoint?

Not that many, thats why football has such better attendances than any other sport.

You get what you pay for. Right now we pay relatively low prices overtime that is translating to relatively low quality, we are getting further away from the NRL and a fair amount of our best players are playing either RU or NRL. If we want a high quality sport, in high quality facilities then we as fans of the game are the only ones who can pay for it.

Some people have other priorities in life rather than paying out all their spare cash just to watch Rugby and line the pockets of players, like paying the gas bill etc. Twenty pounds to watch a game of SL is more than enough in my opinion. If everyone reverted to a part time situation this would help relieve the strain on club finances and you would probably get better crowds by being able to charge more reasonable prices on the gate.

Tah dah! And as if by magic

Just checked the Harlequins RU website and their ticket prices start from £20 for adults.

You can watch Premierleague matches for as little as £17 at Blackburn (adult) or £20 at Wigan. Appreciate prices will be higher at the likes of Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal etc but as you can't buy single match tickets on spec for these grounds not able to readily see what they are.

At Cas you pay £20 to stand up and an additional £5 to upgrade to seating.

Would be interesting to know how much it costs to watch an NRL game - suspect not much if any more than it costs at Superleague.

So it looks like going to Superleague isn't particularly cheaper than the other sports. They just derive more income from other sources such as sponsorship and TV revenue.

£36 cheapest at Chelsea this year. If you can get them - should be easier now!

I'll let someone else deal with this ridiculous suggestion...

We all have priorities, and we have options, there is a semi-pro game which charges less, there is an amateur game which charges nothing. If you want to pay nothing or next to nothing these are your options.

You can buy tickets from £17 at blackburn, you can also pay upto £43. Plus Blackburn are playing in front of an average of 23k, Castleford are playing in front of 7k.

Well, I dont mind highlighting where you are wrong.

It was jb that posted the idea, highlight his post and dissect it

NRL membership prices for all clubs:

1. Gold Coast
Adult $615-210
Child $350-130
Family (2+2) $1600-550
Concession $510-180
Non Ticketed $50

2. Brisbane
Adult $495-195
Child $245-130
Family (2+2) $1240-700
Concession $400-190
Non Ticketed $30

3. Cowboys
Adult $535-148
Child $355-67
Family (2+2) $1,258-376
Concession (none for best seats) $130-103
Non Ticketed $N/A

4. Sharks
Adult $(1000) 450-240
Child $315-165
Family (2+2) $1150-550
Concession $-165
Non Ticketed $70

5. Eels
Adult $(1,155) 575 (330)-175
Child $470 (260)-105
Family (2+2) $870-440
Concession $470-105
Non Ticketed $75


6. Dragons
Adult $(1,340) 480-150
Child $225-105
Family (2+2) (no family deals best two categories) $735-360
Concession (no concession best packages) $ 225-105
Non Ticketed $66

7. Melbourne
Adult $(2,200) 450-190
Child $200-35
Family (2+2) $920-380
Concession $390-125
Non Ticketed $N/A

8. Manly
Adult $420-160
Child $250-65
Family (2+2) $1210-430
Concession $345-110
Non Ticketed $60

9. Wests
Adult $(995) 390-220
Child $225-95
Family (2+2) $890-485
Concession $285-165
Non Ticketed $60

10.Raiders
Adult $365-230
Child $265-170
Family (2+2) $825-505
Concession $265-170
Non Ticketed $70

11.Souths
Adult $339-220
Child $190-70
Family (2+2) $865-510 (GA up to 4kids)
Concession $222-150
Non Ticketed $90

12. Warriors
Adult $340-142
Child $145-71
Family (2+3) $750-355
Concession N/A
Non Ticketed $35

13. Penrith
Adult $300-180
Child $200-80
Family (2+2) $620-360
Concession $200-80
Non Ticketed $N/A

14. Knights
Adult $380-135
Child $190-60
Family (2+2) $810-270
Concession $280-100
Non Ticketed $75

15. Roosters
Adult $(2,490) 325-99
Child $240-99
Family (2+2) $850-299
Concession $240-99
Non Ticketed $35

16. Bulldogs
Adult $330-99
Child $125-40
Family (2+2) $785-240
Concession $210-70
Non Ticketed $N/A