I’ve just looked and apparently there were 4,116 at the London match yesterday, which is surprising, I didn’t think they had that many fans, and I wouldn’t have thought that many Oldham fans would have gone to it.
I’ve just looked and apparently there were 4,116 at the London match yesterday, which is surprising, I didn’t think they had that many fans, and I wouldn’t have thought that many Oldham fans would have gone to it.
My mate from the 'Yeds rang me on his way home, and he reckoned they took about a couple of hundred with 'em.
Also he said there were plenty of kids there in the crowd.
As far as the result is concerned "It was game over after twenty minutes!"
Spelly.
Having London in the Championship this year has been a ridiculous farce. A full-time team, with the level of investment they had and an ex-NRL coach, should never have been allowed to compete in a league of part-time players, with clubs operating on a fraction of their budget. Where was the salary cap this year?
I would be surprised if the Australian investors had not been given a guarantee of promotion to the SL in 2027; and I am equally surprised that London were not chosen above York and Toulouse for the two additional slots for 2026. I guess someone thought that promoting a team from 10th position in the Championship would have been questioned.
I actually believe that a successful London team would bring more to the game than Catalan and Toulouse. Maybe they will be able to build-up some local support with a prolonged stay in SL and continued investment. We will have to see. My guess is that if they are not promoted - and I am certain that they will be - the investors will walk away.
As for the Championship Grand Final - and there's a misnomer for you - I hope that Doncaster can give London a run for the money and it is an open and entertaining game. What an opportunity to show those at the RFL that there is a game outside SL. You never know, they may even mention the game on Sky.
It will be interesting to see what the RFL can come up with for 2027, never mind a plan for the next 10 years. They couldn't make a bigger mess of the Championship. Could they?
Maybe they will be able to build-up some local support with a prolonged stay in SL ....
I'm sure you already know the answer to that one Frank.
Maybe they will be able to build-up some local support with a prolonged stay in SL ....
I'm sure you already know the answer to that one Frank.
I am forever the optimist. My guess is that with the Australian investment, a permanent ground and some success in SL, there is a possibility of building some level of local support, despite the long history of failure. It is perhaps more to do with a tv rights deal.
It is clear now ...London will be in SL 2027 or any NRL deal is off.
Looks like it mate, but..........
Who's gonna be sacrificed for it?
I've read somewhere (poss on here?) that "SL will remain at fourteen clubs in 2027" although I confess that I've seen nowt in the "official" capacity.
As I've mentioned before, it won't be the (Vegas bound) Bulls, so...................
Dewsbury heading Hudds? Cas?
Time (as always) will tell!
Spelly.
London's inclusion as part of any NRL deal was always obvious.
The sensible options for the SL are (1) relegate Bradford to maintain 14, or (2) also promote the next best IMG rated club to establish 16 (or Doncaster, if they beat London next week). Sensible doesn't always come into it though. And however many clubs end up in SL next year, I hope they are all getting their fair share, otherwise it's another year of inequality.
London's inclusion does mean that IMG rating is no longer the benchmark for SL qualification. Mind you it wasn't anyway really was it? Don't forget Nigel's 'special' committee. Hopefully, also in the NRL's blueprint for SL is severing ties with IMG.
Maybe they will be able to build-up some local support with a prolonged stay in SL ....
I'm sure you already know the answer to that one Frank.
I am forever the optimist. My guess is that with the Australian investment, a permanent ground and some success in SL, there is a possibility of building some level of local support, despite the long history of failure. It is perhaps more to do with a tv rights deal.
They're called the Broncos because they were owned by Brisbane Broncos, and that never worked, either. I'd expect them to do okay on the pitch, but Huddersfield sized crowds. It's easy to judge the attendance, as The Cherry Red only holds 9,300.
Paulie xx
London's inclusion as part of any NRL deal was always obvious.
The sensible options for the SL are (1) relegate Bradford to maintain 14, or (2) also promote the next best IMG rated club to establish 16 (or Doncaster, if they beat London next week). Sensible doesn't always come into it though. And however many clubs end up in SL next year, I hope they are all getting their fair share, otherwise it's another year of inequality.
London's inclusion does mean that IMG rating is no longer the benchmark for SL qualification. Mind you it wasn't anyway really was it? Don't forget Nigel's 'special' committee. Hopefully, also in the NRL's blueprint for SL is severing ties with IMG.
I think I'd rather SL severed ties with big Nige.
Just what has he done for the game? Answers on a postcard please. Any with a Bradford postcode will be ignored, just like his long awaited long-term strategy for the game.
Oh yes, he saw Bradford promoted, finish bottom of the league despite full funding and still retain their place in SL, because someone had the idea of putting their name down to play in Vegas. Maybe an independent audit of their 2025 IMG score is needed to highlight just how they managed to increase their score.
The RFL seem to have managed to make a pig's ear of their own plan to get London promoted through the IMG gradings. Of course, London should (and will) be promoted to SL. It should be at the expense of the lowest place team in SL itself or the IMG Spreadsheet League. My guess, is that the RFL will do exactly what the NRL tell them to do.
You never know, one day they may even bring in promotion and relegation through performance on the pitch. Now there's a novel idea.