The trouble with the RFL/SLE was that they were so embroiled with going to 14 teams (and getting Bradford in) that the Championship became an after thought. Double standards with regards to allowing Fax & Salford to come back into the league, but wouldn't allow Fev. Then we have the NWC fiasco, who I my opinion should have been stepped down for 2026, results wiped, and then let them re-apply for a licence in 2027. Then we have the 1895 malarkey were we didn't know where the final was to be held, or even when it was to be held. Below SL (which is no great shakes, itself) is an absolute sh!tshow.
Paulie xx
@farnworth-viking actually the football was good on sat att 623 dj in concourse, good atmosphere was a decent afternoon for£10
I want to hear the RFL's plan for next years Championship now. They owe the division and the clubs in it an apology.
The clubs voted for it to be like this.
@jdgsport It is true that the clubs voted for this structure, but what alternative did they have bearing in mind that the season was about to start.
The RFL should learn from that and should already have plans in place for 2027. I think they have already said that they will retain the number of SL Clubs at 14 and the teams in SL will be based on IMG gradings.
Why should they change their plans just to accommodate London or any SL team falling out the top 14? If so, why not go for 16 clubs in SL? My view is that by hook or by crook, London will be in the top 14 of IMG gradings.
What is needed is some clarification and honesty from the RFL about the future of the Championship. If the plan is for the Championship to become a feeder league for the SL clubs, then why don't the RFL say so. It cannot be a feeder league and also accommodate promotion to SL.
There also needs to be some clarification and honesty about promotion prospects for those clubs like Widnes, who have SL ambitions. Is there any prospect of Widnes, Oldham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Barrow or any other Championship club having the opportunity of promotion within the next five years, whether through IMG gradings or preferably by on field performance?
As has been said by many on here, it does appear that the RFL has no interest in the Championship or rugby league in general, outside SL and an annual game in Las Vegas. Perhaps they should ignore the hype from the Sky commentators and recognise that the game actually exists outside SL.
@pauliewalnuts You are being unkind over the location for the 1895 final. Would you rather they had set it in, say, Hull, early on? Delaying the choice of venue made every sense once it was clear Wembley wasn't on. They did us a favour, choosing nearby Warrington once the finalists were known and ensuring that at least there would be a decent crowd. It's called making the best of a bad job.
@pauliewalnuts You are being unkind over the location for the 1895 final. Would you rather they had set it in, say, Hull, early on? Delaying the choice of venue made every sense once it was clear Wembley wasn't on. They did us a favour, choosing nearby Warrington once the finalists were known and ensuring that at least there would be a decent crowd. It's called making the best of a bad job.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy it's at Wire (though it should have been at Wembley, 1st game) rather than Hull as you say, but the lack of planning by the RFL, re; venue & date isn't a good look. RL Commercial have been selling tickets for Wembley, GF etc for 12 months before those events. People can 'pencil in' these events, box off their transport, hotels etc, whereas our challenge cup equivalent is treated like an open age community event. You can make the best of a GOOD JOB, too.
Paulie xx
We can debate the administrative failures of RL governance over and over but in all the years I’ve watched the game there has been no improvement. If the RL can’t come to an agreement which allows the NRL to bring administrative and commercial dynamism to the British game then it’s pretty much doomed.
@jdgsport if the clubs voted for it to be like this then they owe the fans an apology. They must have been mis sold the idea if thats the case.
Months on end with no home game, then 3 home games now in 16 days costing a family of 4 £216 to attend. £24 to watch drubbings of between 50 - 0 and 100 - 0 on a dirty seat with zero atmosphere generated by 10 to 20 away fans, thats not me exaggerating the point either, I counted about 40 Rochdale fans for the semi final at our place in block B.
(* I dont blame the rfl for the dirty seats I must be fair on that one)
We can debate the administrative failures of RL governance over and over but in all the years I’ve watched the game there has been no improvement. If the RL can’t come to an agreement which allows the NRL to bring administrative and commercial dynamism to the British game then it’s pretty much doomed.
i don’t think the NRL is the answer, their motivation will always be the NRL there may be some coincidental benefit to our game, but they are not interested in anything that doesn’t improved money for the the NRL