I think people will be pleasantly surprised by how many fans we take to this game.
it could, and should, open the eyes of the wider RL world that Widnes can offer a lot.
1) Absolutely! I've not heard one fan who's in favour of what's been shoved at us by the RFL! We play neither the 'Yeds nor you, both of whom would've brought a decent following, putting a few bob in the till!
Said it before, but the Championship as a whole, is a millstone around the RFL's neck!
Spelly.
You got this the wrong way round, Spelly - it is the RFL which is a millstone round the sport's neck!
Its a fix and even the RFL cant argue. They had the 3 extra teams hand picked last season at the last minute via a 'special panel with special criteria' to suit. Now they have tweaked the IMG criteria to favour London.
For me despite what they say, in this country winning still matters. London are full time and should win by a mile but I would love it if we could pull off a Warrington in the cup standard performance against London in the grand final (they lost to Bradford in the cup) so that level of performance in a one off final just may be good enough.
Imagine they then still put London in, left us in the Championship after just beating them with 4 times as many fans as them attending the final and also relegate Huddersfield.
I think if London win they swap with Hudds, in the unlikely event they dont, i think they go to 15 teams to save face.
Its a fix and even the RFL cant argue. They had the 3 extra teams hand picked last season at the last minute via a 'special panel with special criteria' to suit. Now they have tweaked the IMG criteria to favour London.
For me despite what they say, in this country winning still matters. London are full time and should win by a mile but I would love it if we could pull off a Warrington in the cup standard performance against London in the grand final (they lost to Bradford in the cup) so that level of performance in a one off final just may be good enough.
Imagine they then still put London in, left us in the Championship after just beating them with 4 times as many fans as them attending the final and also relegate Huddersfield.
I think if London win they swap with Hudds, in the unlikely event they dont, i think they go to 15 teams to save face.
It's not about fans wins etc etc ,only one thing counts re SL ..money.
London will go onto SL based on who owns them and how much money they bring to the table. York became flavour of the month based 0on ownership and similarly the revival of Wakefield ......Huddersfield?well the owner is not or cannot put enough in for them to stay maybes, we will see..
if Widnes or any other club found owners with as much or more cash than the people i/c Leigh,York,etc etc then they would be catapulted into SL
BTW which SL clubs don't have substantial money from owners behind them?
It is obvious that London were promised promotion to SL. The RFL also changed the criteria on the IMG ratings regarding finance and performance to ensure this too. Otherwise, they would not have got the Australian investment. The RFL is corrupt and looks after self-interests, rather than the game as a whole. I cannot see that changing anytime soon.
Whether or not London can generate any interest in the game in London remains to be seen. They have not managed it over the past 46 years, but good luck to them.
I thought big Nige was supposed to be producing a long-term strategy for the game. Where is that? I guess everything is on hold until the next Sky deal (if any) is agreed and/or NRL bail the UK game out with a take-over.
In the meantime, we are left with the incompetents running the game and will probably lose a few more Clubs and go into the 2027 season with no idea about the future structure of the sport, or even the fixtures, which this year seem to have been done on the back of a fag packet.
@owl Isn't that the problem? The game is dependent on individuals willing and able to put money into a Club to keep them afloat That cannot be sustainable in the long-run, with Clubs folding if that support is withdrawn. Just how long will these individuals be prepared to "invest" £1m-£2m a year to cover losses?
For the game to be sustainable in the long-run, the RFL and Clubs need to promote the game in the UK to try and generate more interest and increase the fan base. Clubs also need to live with their means, which I guess will be dependant on the size and distribution of any tv rights deal and other investment in the game.
The present structure encourages teams to live beyond their means in the hope of securing and retaining a SL place. A recipe for a financial disaster.
@owl Isn't that the problem? The game is dependent on individuals willing and able to put money into a Club to keep them afloat That cannot be sustainable in the long-run, with Clubs folding if that support is withdrawn. Just how long will these individuals be prepared to "invest" £1m-£2m a year to cover losses?
For the game to be sustainable in the long-run, the RFL and Clubs need to promote the game in the UK to try and generate more interest and increase the fan base. Clubs also need to live with their means, which I guess will be dependant on the size and distribution of any tv rights deal and other investment in the game.
The present structure encourages teams to live beyond their means in the hope of securing and retaining a SL place. A recipe for a financial disaster.
Exactly.....however as long as there are 10 plus money men its not a problem....
We will end up with a full time SL run by money. and below that a proper semi pro league not the silly arrangement where clubs aspire to getting into the top league by means not involving a large amount being invested..... its not on The financial gap is in reality too large even there are people who think it isn't.
You can buy your way into SL as we have seen...it's the only way in .
Widnes?...get the money and your in.
Have the present board got the means..no but they are going a good job running a club in the Championship which is probably not going to collapse
Do the people mentioned have enough money to get the club catapulted to SL..I doubt it.
A reasonable team on the field in the Championship is enough for me....if someone with megabucks comes along OK. The last thing I want is an in-between situation of an overspending club in the Championship
Its a fix and even the RFL cant argue. They had the 3 extra teams hand picked last season at the last minute via a 'special panel with special criteria' to suit. Now they have tweaked the IMG criteria to favour London.
Imagine they then still put London in, left us in the Championship after just beating them with 4 times as many fans as them attending the final and also relegate Huddersfield..
I think there will be a lot more than 4 times the number of Widnes fans there, you’re saying if London take 200 fans, Widnes would only take 800. I think there will be at least 3,000 Widnes fans there.
1) you would have loved to be in the final ?
2) it is a second rate cup competition that allows lower clubs to have a chance of winning a cupbut there are no bonus points in the scam gradings scheme
again I ask how can London get a better rating than Huddersfield - they put their crowds out, sadly about 4500 - London never do
difficult counting the dogs and the rats I suppose
1) Course I would, but............
2) It's (at best) second rate! It was a disaster at Wembley, playing it after the "main" game, and this term, we've only just learned of the venue! Sooooooooooooooooooooo unprofessional!
The comp doesn't even has a sponsor, reflecting how second rate it is!
And it now means we'll have to re-schedule our trip to the Smoke, as we were due there on the same weekend as when they'll be locking horns with you.
I say again, that in my opinion there'll be no 1895 Cup next season, and beyond.
Spelly.
The 1895 sun decks cup ?
I thought Beaumont and Co had dropped / withdrawn their sponsorship, but................
I've been wrong many times in the past mate, and.........
No doubt will be many times in the future! 🤣
Anyway bought my ticket for the final and staying in the Premier Inn for the night near the ground. Anyone else staying at the Hotel give me a buzz and a few pints will be good. Trying to bring my friend and my best mate got a ticket with his daughter but lives in Warrington. I live 1 hour from London so have to stay somewhere.
Anyway bought my ticket for the final and staying in the Premier Inn for the night near the ground. Anyone else staying at the Hotel give me a buzz and a few pints will be good. Trying to bring my friend and my best mate got a ticket with his daughter but lives in Warrington. I live 1 hour from London so have to stay somewhere.