Tigger
Player Valuation: £35m
Hell of a game that, great drop goal to win it
Super League 2025
- Thread starter Sporting Billy
- Start date
All of the top teams are faltering at the moment.
Tigger
Player Valuation: £35m
As a Cas fan it pains me to see Powelly replicating his blueprint that brought us much joy with our nearest neighbours... but I'd like to see them upset the odds and have a grandfinal run.
Walter Ego
Player Valuation: £30m
Ray French died. Sad news. He lived just round the corner from me and I accidentally bumped into him a couple of years back. First time I’d ever met him. I was shocked and blurted out “Bloody hell, Ray French, the voice of Rugby League”. He laughed and said “Not anymore son” and then we had a chat for a bit about all sorts. My neighbour who worked with himteaching for years and other people I knew we had in common. He was so friendly and happy to talk.
I grew up listening to Ray. He was a brilliant commentator. We used to mimick him at school with some of the things he’d say. Sad thing about getting older isn’t it. You see your heroes die.
I grew up listening to Ray. He was a brilliant commentator. We used to mimick him at school with some of the things he’d say. Sad thing about getting older isn’t it. You see your heroes die.
BainesontoastNEW
Player Valuation: £40m
widnesblue
Player Valuation: £20m
So London and Toulouse then? Possibly Bradford replacing Salford then York potentially replacing someone else. Be two years of this, then they’ll go back to 12.
Harryflashman
Player Valuation: £60m
widnesblue
Player Valuation: £20m
Toulouse don’t deserve to be in super league though. They are financially in a bad way, they get to Super League and it will ruin them.
This whole idea from Rugby League fans that Catalans and Toulouse should be in super league because they are French. No, they grow the game in France by having a strong French league. The sport doesn’t grow by having just two French clubs in super league. It grows by having a proper league structure in the country they are based in. For some reason RL fans don’t understand that. Same with London, people want them in because they are based in London. They’ve been trying for 40 plus years and it doesn’t work.
Its so predictable and the same mistakes been made over and over again.
9LeagueTitles5FACups
Player Valuation: £8m
I definitely agree with you on the point you have made regarding the French teams in Super League. Building a league over in France should be prioritised over opening the door for Toulouse to enter Super League, due to the benefits a proper French league could bring about. If you were to have a better French competition than the Super XIII (formerly Elite One Championship) you could have a better pool of players coming over from France, plus the potential for a French TV deal.
Another thing would be to move the dates of the French season to bring it in line with the British and Australian rugby league calendars.
Harryflashman
Player Valuation: £60m
Sorry mate I’m going to have to disagree .
Firstly I’d like to say I assume you’re a Widnes fan and in my opinion the way you were treated by the SL was appalling, an embarrassment to the governing body.
Re French rugby I believe Catalan have been a huge and in my option positive addition to the game . In respect of growing the game youth development saw them produce 14 super league players last year significantly more than the likes of Leigh with 2. The same options were muted against Catalan years ago when they arrived and continue today .
The mentality against Catalan and tolouse from those running the game , I’m not suggesting you by the way rather those in charge , is based in my opinion on pure jealousy. They see money ‘leaving ‘ our rugby and the farcical statement about Leigh ,shocked he picked them , by Nigel wood perfectly illustrate this jealousy . It’s embarrassing and it’s tinpot .
The IMG grading introduced to make the top flight competitive and reward the well run sides have Toulouse what ? I believe it’s 13th but we’ll adjust that ruling that anyone outside the top 12 , shocked they’ve picked 12, will be judge by a special ‘Independent ‘ panel.
I love the sport but it’s run in an absolutely ragtag manner and nothing will convince me otherwise .
It’s obvious we disagree and feel to reply but me not replying isn’t me ignoring you it’s because I’m absolutely drained by SL and this kind of decision and discussing it with others since the announcement.
I’m a saints member as well as an Everton season ticket holder so the running and managing of the sport is something that affects me directly , just like you . So my opinions come from a love of the game .
widnesblue
Player Valuation: £20m
Totally agree. The whole purpose of bringing Catalans in was to help grow the sport in France and improve there national team. Have they done that? No. Apart from been French, what else have they brought to the competition? Not a lot. One club in a country that plays a sport that isn’t a big sport isn’t gonna help grow the game. What it’s done, is drive fans away from the heartlands of the sport. I’ll use Widnes as an example, a true rugby league town of yesteryear. Widnes as a town would easily take 10 coaches to Wembley for a challenge cup final, or a grand final. Probably added 2,000 people onto the gates. They replaced Widnes for Catalans in 2006. The sport declined and drove generations of fans away. The same fans they can’t get back.
Rugby league’s problem is, when they broke away from Union in 1895, they never set up league structures in places like Wales or a France. Yes, there was a lot of political reasons behind it but they’ve missed the boat. It’s only ever going to be a regional sport across the M62 and until they realise that. They are gonna keep having the same issues.
Also doesn’t help that there biggest selling point, the on field product is absolutely crap.
Rugby league’s problem is, when they broke away from Union in 1895, they never set up league structures in places like Wales or a France. Yes, there was a lot of political reasons behind it but they’ve missed the boat. It’s only ever going to be a regional sport across the M62 and until they realise that. They are gonna keep having the same issues.
Also doesn’t help that there biggest selling point, the on field product is absolutely crap.
Harryflashman
Player Valuation: £60m
You’ve drawn me into a reply mate .
I totally understand your position and your allegiances .
Who takes 2000 these days ? Saints on occasion but not so much this year , Huddersfield regularly take double digits . I could list others as well . The Wigan saints game obviously gets a crowd but otherwise it’s nowhere near and certainly nothing like you’ll remember from the heyday . To lay the blame at Catalans door seems less than fair , again I understand your viewpoint and why you’ve got it but I’m not blaming them for where we are .
One of the best attended away games is probably the trip to Perpignan and that’s why wood was on the bench moaning about it as it’s taking money away and he did so by fabricating figures .
The main issue for me as regards the product , or one of them at least , is the head contact rules and the chronic refereeing around it . Rules which seem to change subject to interpretation. It’s deeply damaging to the game .
Also We’re going to go to 14 and then increase the quota numbers , I can’t help but feel that’s a recipe for disaster .
widnesblue
Player Valuation: £20m
You make good points and respect your opinion. I’m not against expansion, I’m just against expansion at replacing heartland clubs. Obviously there is two sides to the discussion and both make valid points and ideas.
Have Catalans been a success? To a degree. But the whole purpose was to grow the French international side and they haven’t. It’s great that they are bringing youth players through, but they don’t exactly go on and become great players. Catalans should be producing more talent than anyone else because they haven’t got anyone else to compete with. Also, they haven’t had the risk of losing there super league place. If they finished bottom, the RFL would of moved the goal posts for them.
You say you support Saints, but in the 19 years they’ve been in super league, they wouldn’t have brought a 100 fans over. Therefor saints are losing out on money from away fans, local pubs are losing out on money from away fans.
widnesblue
Player Valuation: £20m
What I meant about the 2,000 fans, was them going on days out to Wembley or Old Trafford for the grand final and challenge cup. You’d also have fans from Oldham, Swindon, Rochdale and Yorkshire clubs travelling to those games because it was a good day out. They’d also take fans to international games. The RFL destroyed those clubs by giving them no hope of reaching Super League. The sport ends up losing out on fans. Them venues look empty on the telly, it makes the sport look small time. It’s not going to gain new fans the sport or people investing money because you’ve got your two biggest events empty.
14 teams is gonna be a struggle. It all depends on who they bring in I suppose. If it’s London and Toulouse then clubs will be losing out on away fans. 3 clubs bringing no away fans is bad.
Harryflashman
Player Valuation: £60m
See honestly they bring very few over but as I say Huddersfield brought double digits this year and understandably given the circumstances but so did Salford .
Catalan have one a challenge cup and been to two grand finals , given the history at the top of the sport it’d be difficult to describe that as anything but a success .
I regularly watch saints away and I’ll admit they take a few and spend some money but are we suggesting Nigel wood is concerned for the infrastructure of the Wakefield area ? Because I’ll be honest I suggest he isn’t .
those at the top of the sport they’re behaving like children because loads goes to Catalan and has a brilliant few days and they are jealous . They think that money should be at magic , well make more of an effort because Elland road come on .
If clubs want to make money do what KR have done , even Leigh and make it an experience . Instead they want to do nothing and demand fans pay for warm beer and cold pies . The lack of effort from 90% of the clubs is the problem and it manifests itself in jealousy.
I went to Wakefield this year , they’re doing well and have been great to watch at times with some good players . In a big improvement to last time I was up there was actually toilets , not real ones obviously but portaloos . 5 for the away fans but yeah Catalan are the problem.
I keep saying I think Widnes were treated harshly and I feel for you but do you think shoehorning Bradford for big Nige and Oldham into super league circumventing the very IMG designed to structure the leagues is the answer ? Oldham were averaging 6/700 a couple of years ago , admittedly now it’s 2000 , short term at least but how many will travel , . York have at that average of 2000 for years and seem ambitious so maybe they’ll bring something.
The game is in trouble , I think we can both agree on that, and for me the only viable plan to grow and not stagnate at very best is expansion . For me that would be driven by the NRL but with wood in charge it feels like a pipe dream.
I don’t have any answers but more teams from the corridor appears to have been our plan forever and frankly it hasn’t and isn’t working .
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