Toosmooth, what do you do for a living by the way?

We have a condensed and crazy season here due to COVID. Nothing else could have been done.

I'm not sure how cancelling the season could have been viable in a practical sense. How would you square your liabilities (Leeds' new stadium debts, wages) with no income? Also what about the reputational damage with broadcasters when other sports have carried on? What about the loss of interest from the fan base? Loss of talent to the NRL potentially, or RU? Maybe further losses of youth players in particular, which God knows the club has worked hard to re-establish over the last 3-4 years.

I can agree that this season has descended into farce, but for completely understandable reasons and everyone's just doing their best in a terrible situation.

The main threat to the sport has and always will be you and I, the supporters. While the sport is well supported, everything flows from that: sponsorship, TV deals, media interest, better player pool... Collectively the fan base needs to look in the mirror and take some accountability.

That isn't to say all is rosy in the exectuives' garden because it's not: the sport lacks leadership in my view and has been hijacked by vested interests and small minded club rivalries. All sports are riddled with egos and politics of course, but RL cannot afford it.

This season is now a tactical proposition: you cannot play your first grade squad every fixture (although I think we have a run after the cup Semi until Hull). Clubs with deeper squads should have an advantage, and yes some fixtures will be thrown but clubs will make their own decisions on selections and take those chances.

As for living with this virus; probably easier to say that if you or your loved ones aren't at risk. There look also to be some long-term health effects from many who have contracted it and "recovered" - it's not straightforward at all. Having said that, it's a natural pathogen and there are times where you have to accept that living carries risk.

that will let you watch sts matches

Thanks. But not other clubs as well then?

Come on man you honestly believe this sport could survive without the TV money coming in? There was no alternative but to try and fulfil the fixtures. The clubs are just trying to survive if you see that as a farce fine.

Seth as Doc says the Saints code will only allow you to watch Saints mstches live. You will need a Leeds code.

Thanks Marty. On the other point, i agree theres no other way than to continue, however challenging, for the points mentioned but also the damage done to the development of players not playing for what would have been around 10 months

There is no other way but it doesn't give the sport increased credibility - in fact quite the opposite.

Increased or decreased credibility with who?

I seems to be only the actual fans of the game that are constantly moaning about it and doing the sport down.

Unprecedented times, nothing about this season will be 100% perfect or fair for that matter but the sport is trying to get through it as best as it can.

I don't disagree - but other sports at the elite level i.e. TV money reliant sports - I don't mean Champion 1&2 soccer - have had the same issues/challenges but don't seem to have had to change the format by which the season is decided? That is what I mean by credibility.

Did the Championship and PL finish their seasons and have play offs as they were intended - did snooker change the world championship - did cricket change the international 5 day, 50 over or 20 over competitions. Other than no crowds everything was as it was intended.

Did those other sports restart at the same point as us? (As in just short of halfway through the season?)

Credibility hasn’t been lost within the wider sporting community most of them wont have a clue about the change in format (but that’s another discussion)

Also do you not think cancelling the season might have lost us even more credibility when other sports haven’t cancelled their top tier leagues?

Trouble is Marty, that too many people, and I am including you here due to the comment, automatically believe what the Chairman says, rather than what in reality can happen. Don't believe it all, and look at other things said, and you can balance this properly. There very much was an alternative. The problem is, that the so called clubs you think might have gone out of business, will in all likely always be the perennial club always fighting closure. The clubs paramount to the competition would have continued as normal.

You missed my point - other elite leagues have continued as originally intended without crowds which is what RL should have done. Ensure each team plays each other twice so 20 games - start a fresh cancel everything pre-Covid including Toronto. Cancel the CC - it is not a big income generator especially as there will be no crowd at Wembley apart from Ralf and his mates. Have a 5 team play off and a GF.

The competition then has integrity and balance.

So basically you want to cancel the season forfeit the sky money and if some clubs go bust then its tough and their own fault? How is that a better alternative to trying to get through this season?

You’re then left with a SL next year a few clubs down, how do you replace them?

That isn't what I said. Only part of that is what I said. You are just sticking to your own fixed view of believing what your told, rather than balancing it. I don't believe your version of outcomes, and mine, are in anyway similar.

Why do you know more or have a better view of the financial situation than the people running the clubs?

Why should I believe you over them?

Do you seriously think clubs wouldn’t be financially crippled by cancelling the season?

I don't and I don't anywhere say I do.

What I dont do though is spin something to give a false impression.

There is a differende there, which I kepp repeating. Pointeless I know, when posters ONLY want to believe what they are told by the club.

Quote ="Gotcha"I don't and I don't anywhere say I do. What I dont do though is spin something to give a false impression. There is a differende there, which I kepp repeating. Pointeless I know, when posters ONLY want to believe what they are told by the club.'" 'The Club' I'm looking at a wider picture than just the Leeds Rhinos here Gotcha, I think that Leeds would survive the season without any Sky money, but there are others that are not in the same financial position as us. You might not say you think you know better but it is heavily implied in your postings on here. Take this https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/ ... act-461078 What do you know that Simon Middleton doesn't?

Quote ="Gotcha"I don't and I don't anywhere say I do. What I dont do though is spin something to give a false impression. There is a differende there, which I kepp repeating. Pointeless I know, when posters ONLY want to believe what they are told by the club.'" 'The Club' I'm looking at a wider picture than just the Leeds Rhinos here Gotcha, I think that Leeds would survive the season without any Sky money, but there are others that are not in the same financial position as us. You might not say you think you know better but it is heavily implied in your postings on here. Take this https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/ ... act-461078 What do you know that Simon Middleton doesn't?

Im sorry Gotcha but your talking nonsense. Clubs would go to the wall without the TV money, jobs would be lost on a big scale, players at clubs that survive wouldnt play for a year mininum, junior recruitment and retention would be slashed on an even bigger scale than it already has.

If thats your alternative to finishing the season then that is absolutely ridiculous.

Im not talking about Leeds were in debt on a big scale but we own facilities and our stadium. Other clubs most certainly do not. Weve been hit hard financially by this pandemic no doubt about it but other clubs dont have our resources.

Anyway back to the game Team sheet is in

It's going to be like watching a bunch of strangers playing in a Leeds kit

Well I'm really looking forward to seeing how they get on, not really fussed on the result

The conditions are going to be shocking.

Well I got most of this selection wrong! O'Connor to hooker is interesting. We are in for a very tough night I feel. Good luck to them though and I'm sure they'll do their absolute best.

Also - wouldn't surprise me if this means Walker doesn't play against Wigan and we retain Myler at 1. If walker gets through tonight, maybe he gets a bench spot at the weekend - but playing FB on the back foot against a physical side like Cats, a few days out from a big semi and after a long layoff with injury... probably be wrong again!

Anyone else’s connection on our league web site dodgy?