I think Leigh would surprise quite a few SL sides if they were to get the nod .
I don't.Leigh would be going up with a majority squad of second division players who won't have played for a year once the new season begins.Even the ordinaries such as HKR and Wakefield will be too strong for them.The SL clubs have the benefit of a full season behind them at a higher standard.Leigh, or whoever it is, may well get up to speed mid season with new signings but by then it's too late.
I think with Leigh, Degsy may just be able to make the chequebook stretch a bit further which may give them half a chance.
But odds on whoever comes up will be relegated.
I think it will be Bradford.
I think Newcastle will come up to our league and will do reasonably well.
I think Leigh would surprise quite a few SL sides if they were to get the nod .
I don’t.Leigh would be going up with a majority squad of second division players who won’t have played for a year once the new season begins.Even the ordinaries such as HKR and Wakefield will be too strong for them.The SL clubs have the benefit of a full season behind them at a higher standard.Leigh, or whoever it is, may well get up to speed mid season with new signings but by then it’s too late.
I disagree!
Expansion zzzzzzzzzz.Fulham played their first game near 40 years ago and still can’t attract any interest above 600 or so locals in whichever district of the capital they are currently playing.Kent Invicta,Nottingham, Mansfield, Scarborough, PSG, Carlisle.There’s a pattern.
I agree and I’m sure there are others as well like Bridgend.
To me the people running the game seem to think that setting up a team in a new geographical area (or continent) is expansion when in fact it’s the opposite. Without a grassroots to support the new teams it just means that the limited number of professional players are spread even thinner with the shortfall of numbers being made up by players who reduce the quality of the game and cause spectators to lose interest and drift away.
Forgot about Bridgend.They came about after it went tits up at Cardiff.One game I remember was when Kent Invicta moved to Southend and they had a home game on a bitterly cold night in February.I picked up the paper next morning and the gate announced was in two figures.89 or something.
Great points, Sheffield would also fall into the category of failure. What has always interested me is why did RFL position expansion so geographically far from the heartlands. If you are a business and wanting to expand and all your shops are based in Liverpool, you don’t expand to London, you expand to the surrounding areas.
Why didn’t they try to expand to Crewe, Chester, Stoke even Liverpool ( although Liverpool would never take off)
Newcastle it is - got it right on this one. Look forward to the Newcastle games in 2021.
I note that one of the criterion for selection was "Delivering the broader goals of the sport as set out in the RFL’s Strategy Reset document". Does anyone know what these broader goals are?
Great points, Sheffield would also fall into the category of failure. What has always interested me is why did RFL position expansion so geographically far from the heartlands. If you are a business and wanting to expand and all your shops are based in Liverpool, you don’t expand to London, you expand to the surrounding areas. Why didn’t they try to expand to Crewe, Chester, Stoke even Liverpool ( although Liverpool would never take off)
..... or even trying to re-build/promote the game in Cumbria.
Exactly, RL is losing fans, RL in Manchester region (Rich, Swin and Oldh) have all lost thousands of fans since the 60s. Yet Cumbria you have three clubs, with decent potential in terms of fans and RFL as not once done anything for region.
Well done to Newcastle .. but I’ll have nightmares after seeing Denis Betts back in our stadium.
Well done to Newcastle .. but I’ll have nightmares after seeing Denis Betts back in our stadium.
I think his nightmares are going to be a lot worse
Newcastle v Widnes
First game of the new season given the connections between the two clubs. Betts, Finnigan, O'Carroll, Beswick. There are probably a few more as well.
They have signed Wilde and Johnson as well. Adam Lawton was with them last season, not sure if he's there for 2021 as well?
They have a pretty good squad and could be well set to climb the Championship. We could have our own Magic Weekend!
Newcastle it is – got it right on this one. Look forward to the Newcastle games in 2021. I note that one of the criterion for selection was “Delivering the broader goals of the sport as set out in the RFL’s Strategy Reset document”. Does anyone know what these broader goals are?
well done frank, let’s see if you get the next 2 right, announcement been brought forward to Monday 15th for the ‘lucky team’ should be a good atmosphere when Newcastle visit, doubt they bring many but possibly more than london[/quote
I was thinking more that the RFL got it right, but thanks anyway!!!
I reckon that there will be a good following when we go to Newcastle. It will be interesting to see what following Newcastle can bring here.
Betts talked sense when he was interviewed about the promotion of Newcastle and their approach. He pointed out that it was not expansion in the area, but development as the game has been played in the North East for a number of years. He also said that their emphasis is on growing the game from grass roots level in the area and developing players through their academy. I think even the SL clubs, with few exceptions, are having to bring through their younger players as a result of the financial situation. This can only be good for the game in the long run.
I wonder whether he has changed his tactics. If not we will know exactly where the kick-offs will be placed and a game plan of five drives up the middle and a kick straight to the full back.