At the start of the season, like the past couple of seasons I was concerned about the lack of depth and quality in the squad and thought that the best we could hope for with what we had was mid-table. It’s funny how the season goes - about half way through I was genuinely looking over my shoulder at relegation sneaking up on us and I was seriously concerned about the future of the club. In the end we have (or are going to at any rate) finish just about where I thought we would but I’m a lot happier now about the future of the club than I have been for about 2 or 3 years. I think we might have turned the ship around and now be heading (albeit slowly at the moment) in the right direction.
What I will say is that, as a fan, I’m looking forward to the games next season, which I couldn’t say for the past two or three years. I think it has been hard going this season but I think there may be better days ahead based on what has happened in the past couple of months on and off the pitch.
Been a roller-coaster again....started well ...lost to barrow at home ...went on a horrific run...ditched finnegan ..Ryan did no better ..brought jk in few wins against crap opposition...but big performances against batley n fev ...Sunday went belly up ...not even sure we'll get a win now in games left ...standard for us of late...but light in the tunnel being jk most certainly isn't a yes man and I'd hope he has final say in any player decision in or out...reportedlya vastly improved budget...ngl would be nice to have a good recruitment drive for a change
Start of season was good, awful middle, decent since JK came in.
We will finish 7th-9th which isn't as bad as it was looking in May, but not great either.
However, I feel there is a bit more optimism and I feel like we have a coach who, with the right signings and retentions, will move us up to 4th to 6th which I would take next year.
Hopefully Season Tickets will be well pitched as I feel people are a bit more engaged and have a bit more passion back since JK came in.
In terms of the squad: Fleming, Fozard and Bent have been the best additions: Edge has improved.
However, results overall are much of a muchness with last year, suggesting the limitations of the nucleus of the squad.
Starting to wonder what the point is.Toulouse will be far too strong for anyone next year and then there's Featherstone Rovers.The team relegated from SL in 2023 will then be too strong in the 2024 championship.If, in the unlikely event we do eventually get promoted,we will just be making up the numbers in SL.
I think licensing will come back eventually
@sinbad You are right that if teams in the Championship like Leigh, Toulouse and Featherstone can outspend everyone else to bring in "quality" players on full-time contracts, this considerably reduces the chances of other clubs winning promotion in the current set-up. It also makes it difficult, if not impossible, for a part-time promoted club being able to compete in SL.
That does not detract from a club competing to win a play-off position. Perhaps it would be better if the spending cap was reduced in the Championship to reflect the spending levels of most clubs; and thereby creating a more even playing field for clubs aiming for promotion to SL. Perhaps also, a two up and two down system, with the club finishing top in the Championship given automatic promotion and the clubs finishing 2-5 in a play-off for the second spot.
My guess is that Championship clubs will be fighting for a place in a two Division SL in 2024, with uncertainty over those clubs that miss out.
Just completed my IMG questionnaire, will be interesting what they come up with.
The massive disparity of funding makes the present Championship a farce as a genuine test for promotion. It doesn't even make it attractive as a simple competition because the big spender will win. Even then without massive backing it will be hard for the promoted team to stay up. The only alternative would be the franchise system.
To his credit Degsy has bitten that bullet. He got burnt once and has now got a SL side ready to go, but it has cost him personally big time.
Can't see many more backers on the horizon over the Mersey!!
The two leagues of 10 will only improve things if the funding is levelled out considerably, but I really can't see Saints/Wigan/Leeds approving that tbh!!
If the 10x10 goes through which is very likely then there will still be a big difference from SL1 &SL2 funding but maybe not as much as currently
from the questions asked it looks like they are looking at completely reformatting to a city league.
leeds
hull
london
newcastle
york
manchester (wigan)
Liverpool (saints)
Glasgow/Edinburgh
dublin
Catalans
@mckeeverviking
You may well be right!
As long as we have a comp that is pretty tight and thus relies on the rugby rather than on the size of somebody's wallet, I'm happy!
I kind of thought they might go with something like those City-based teams but I also suspect it will be a closed shop/franchise league. Otherwise, what happens if Dublin get relegated after Year 1 and someone like Leigh or Featherstone get promoted. Over time it will revert to what it is now. And I assume they know that and will want to avoid that happening.
As proven by other expansion teams e.g PSG, London, Celtics, once they're gone, they're gone. And that's the end of it.
What would be best for the game to expand would be for a lot of the World Cup money going into funding domestic leagues in Ireland, Scotland, Wales & maybe Soain. They should promote at grassroots and let the game build naturally in areas so the interest is there. Playing rugby league at schools across the country is important. The game is a great spectacle if you are invested in the sport.
… They should promote at grassroots and let the game build naturally in areas so the interest is there. Playing rugby league at schools across the country is important…
How I wish the powers that be would take that message on board McK !!
As part of my response to the IMG survey I have made the point that our version of rugby should be represented internationally through the '7's' section. It is very big in the Olympic popularity stakes and a lack of representation will be seen as such if we try to expand into the UK southland cities particularly.
Maybe RL could compete in a play-off league with RU to represent our country?
I hope that IMG appreciate the impact that that possibility can have on youngsters interested in the game.
Licensing was the worst thing that happened to the game, even though we benefitted from it.
RL is littered with vanity projects like Toronto and this IMG thing is another.
There was far less wrong with the structure before licensing than now. Teams stayed up mainly if they got promoted. If the club didn't have facilities for promotion then they were denied it: e.g. Hunslet.
RL is constantly chasing this golden goose which doesn't exist.