Bit of a long one this - sorry
Firstly has anyone any idea when this will be decided ?
but there are more questions than answers - we know that SL is going to 14 teams, some selected by dubious methods , but is that for 1 year then reviewed or longer
Is it the IMG ratings again for top 12 and the next 2 random again ?
anyway moving on, what happens to the teams below ?
Which will in all probability include widnes
1st question is how many games do we want to play ?
let’s say 24 - 12 home , 12 away
Heard there are 2 options left - east/ west divide or 1 league
you have to look at the options in 2 ways, firstly from the Widnes perspective and secondly the competitions profile ( looking at tv deals for instance)
option 1 east/west
widnes - no good at all, we would probably have
worky, Whitehaven, barrow, Rochdale, swinton, Oldham (?), crusaders, hurricanes , salfraud and London (?)
travel distances large and the crowds the away teams will be small - Oldham and salfraud probably the best
finance - 10 teams ( London could move across dependant on Toulouse situation)
so 9 home games with little away support
so not good at all but we would be at the top of that league
competion perspective
that league make up brings 6 teams in from the lower league, potentially a very unbalanced league
and what happens about playoffs ?
the east division would love it, all those local derbies and travel distances way less
other option - 1 league of 20/21 teams
each team to play each other once - fixtures decided by league position where team 1 plays 2 at home, 3 away, 4 at home etc
and then the same down the league
then the extra 4/5 games made up of playing the 2 teams above you and the 2 teams below, with it being the reverse fixture of what you have played
not perfect but would make for a more competitive league with potential for a tv deal
thoughts ?
Just 2 points from me
1. Why on earth do people think there is the possibility of a TV deal for 2nd Class RL? No chance. It's been over 15 years since sky showed the Championship on a Thursday night. Premier Sport had a brief dabble a few years back, but there's no mileage in it.
2. It's not & never been the away teams responsibility to boost attendances. If Midlands Hurricanes brought 1 man and his dog, that's nothing to do with them, it would be our problem to get bums on seats.
Just my opinion, which counts for nothing.
Paulie xx
You can bet your bottom dollar it'll be option one. Some nice tasty dery games for the Yorkshire clubs whilst we watch annihilations of lesser teams at the DCBL.
it's a travesty that the championship is going to be torn apart. Such a competitive league. I've enjoyed our time here much more than the SL years.
I can see a lot of teams being interested in geographical conferences so as to cut down on travel costs.
Toulouse need binning off, as do Les Cats from the SL. Rugby League can't afford them anymore. Plus, they bring next to nothing to the party, particularly Toulouse.
Could get an inter-conference/Origin type game. Wouldn't strictly be War of the Roses but maybe a new angle to pursue.
Drop the Magic Weekend equivalent as well, Tragic more like.
I do think it might be a tad boring until the play-offs but, on the upside, we might have a chance of making them.
Regarding a TV deal for second tier clubs…
would there be any scope for a Scrumdown / Rugby League Raw type highlights shows? I used to love Rugby League Raw back in the day - the David Hulme team talk at Fev was legendary! I got the impression it was a big hit with Rugby League fans across the board as well.
I agree with what people above have said re. broadcasters having no appetite for Second Division RL, but could we perhaps tempt C4 or BBC with a highlights show?
Regarding a TV deal for second tier clubs…
would there be any scope for a Scrumdown / Rugby League Raw type highlights shows? I used to love Rugby League Raw back in the day - the David Hulme team talk at Fev was legendary! I got the impression it was a big hit with Rugby League fans across the board as well.
I agree with what people above have said re. broadcasters having no appetite for Second Division RL, but could we perhaps tempt C4 or BBC with a highlights show?
It's the expense of creating decent footage. C4, BBC, Netflix, Amazon Prime ain't going to pay money for 2nd/3rd class RL on footage akin to a £250 'Are You Being Framed' video.
Clubs put their 'highlights' videos on YouTube, for free. If there was a way to make that pay, then maybe that might be a more viable option.
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts Spot on Super League will struggle for a TV deal when Sky pull the plug sooner or later lower divisions have three hopes of a tv deal, Bob been the final one. The magic Weekend is loved by the clubs, the clubs, the fans but more importantly Sky see it as there creme de la creme coverage of Rugby League and I doubt Sky are happy over it been binned.
Toulouse will be in SL next season on IMG ratings alone, London are also a shoe in with Hetherington down South, the last spot will go to Fat Nige's boys with him going back to carry on his duties there.
Widnes will be left in limbo with only two decent games a year against Oldham, Paulie you are correct about it's up to the home team to put bums on seats but don't forget it's not just the opposing fans that put extra bums on seats it is the quality of the team you play, just look back to the Wire game for example.
exactly - the lower the standard of team you play the less crowd interest, and appreciate its not up to the home club to attract away fans - but it all has an impact on revenue
if they go down the geographical route, we will struggle to hold on to the current 2600 as opposition are no big draws, and also maybe only 9 home games, so ST ticket prices would need to drop
each team needs a guaranteed 12 home games a season otherwise it makes things extremely difficult financially, factor in the massive travel costs, and it is not rocket science to work out we will be in a really bad place
tv coverage - you never know
onwards and upwards
There were very brief (and probably unsubstantiated) rumours about DAZN being interested in the rl package including championship which I wouldn’t argue at but not heard anything since that
It's a crying shame that the Championship is going to be pulled apart for these ridiculous SL plans.
I will sit tight and wait for the next lot of rule changes in a few years time. Hopefully in the meantime we can become one of the strongest sides wherever we end up. It's no wonder this sport isn't taken too seriously by most people. A fine mess, as usual.
exactly - the lower the standard of team you play the less crowd interest, and appreciate its not up to the home club to attract away fans - but it all has an impact on revenue
if they go down the geographical route, we will struggle to hold on to the current 2600 as opposition are no big draws, and also maybe only 9 home games, so ST ticket prices would need to drop
each team needs a guaranteed 12 home games a season otherwise it makes things extremely difficult financially, factor in the massive travel costs, and it is not rocket science to work out we will be in a really bad place
tv coverage - you never know
onwards and upwards
The inpact on revenue can't be denied. You know that if you are at home in SL to Wigan Wire or Sts then you know they will fill the West Stand (at least). In the Champ (Champ West) you have no idea who will come along, only Salford & Oldham would bring more than 50 fans.... that's if they're playing well, or still here.
Paulie xx
Paulie I think you are missing the point that you made about it not been the away teams job to put bums on seats, what we are saying is that playing better teams increases the home fans attendance ie playing a big teams will pull in the fans unlike playing your lower teams like Swinton or Crusaders. If it goes zonal then the interest by fans will drop off rapidly.exactly - the lower the standard of team you play the less crowd interest, and appreciate its not up to the home club to attract away fans - but it all has an impact on revenue
if they go down the geographical route, we will struggle to hold on to the current 2600 as opposition are no big draws, and also maybe only 9 home games, so ST ticket prices would need to drop
each team needs a guaranteed 12 home games a season otherwise it makes things extremely difficult financially, factor in the massive travel costs, and it is not rocket science to work out we will be in a really bad place
tv coverage - you never know
onwards and upwards
The inpact on revenue can't be denied. You know that if you are at home in SL to Wigan Wire or Sts then you know they will fill the West Stand (at least). In the Champ (Champ West) you have no idea who will come along, only Salford & Oldham would bring more than 50 fans.... that's if they're playing well, or still here.
Paulie xx
Paulie I think you are missing the point that you made about it not been the away teams job to put bums on seats, what we are saying is that playing better teams increases the home fans attendance ie playing a big teams will pull in the fans unlike playing your lower teams like Swinton or Crusaders. If it goes zonal then the interest by fans will drop off rapidly.exactly - the lower the standard of team you play the less crowd interest, and appreciate its not up to the home club to attract away fans - but it all has an impact on revenue
if they go down the geographical route, we will struggle to hold on to the current 2600 as opposition are no big draws, and also maybe only 9 home games, so ST ticket prices would need to drop
each team needs a guaranteed 12 home games a season otherwise it makes things extremely difficult financially, factor in the massive travel costs, and it is not rocket science to work out we will be in a really bad place
tv coverage - you never know
onwards and upwards
The inpact on revenue can't be denied. You know that if you are at home in SL to Wigan Wire or Sts then you know they will fill the West Stand (at least). In the Champ (Champ West) you have no idea who will come along, only Salford & Oldham would bring more than 50 fans.... that's if they're playing well, or still here.
Paulie xx
No, I get that, and without doubt, if the Game went Zonal then there would inevitably be a 'fall off' of ST sales, as regular members won't have their appetite wet when the fixtures are released. But that's when it becomes the responsibility of the Club to try to pull those people back in, and more, by attractive pricing, a better matchday experience, and WINNING & ATTRACTIVE RUGBY. Folk won't walk up and pay £24 to watch us play Midlands Hurricanes, with due respect to them. IMO it becomes a £15 sport, and £2 for kids (which some think it should be now).
Paulie xx
@pauliewalnuts The last time we had decent half time entertainment was this.
Ok great, I think we agree - but also if we are in the west conference or whatever it will be called, do you not think the standard would be somewhat less than the Yorkers league ?
and whenever some convoluted plan is made for playoffs I feel we would not be as good as the other side
I just think it will end up being a farce, which sums up the RFL
a complete joke