To be fair, whenever the RFL try to give out positives about the game they are shot down in flames by many RL fans. What hope do they have of convincing people out side the sport when so many within it are unconvinced?

There is also the issue that no matter how good the message you want to give out, or how hard you try, you can only work with what the media are willing to give. And in the case of RL that's generally precious little.

This. It really doesn't matter what the RFL say or do, even if they invented a cure for cancer and ended child poverty, there are loads within the game who couldn't wait to slag them off. Even something as genius as getting the sainted Wiggo to defer to ours as a harder sport produces queues of doomsayers itching to list the ways in which the RFL has "failed".

If the RFL invented a cure for cancer they'd be accused of wanting to make radiologists redundant.

Comparing rl/sle to English premier league football serves no purpose at all.
There are a million reasons why both sports are completely different, the main one being,football being based round Manchester,Birmingham and London and rl being based round Huddersfield and Batley.
Maybe Scottish football would be a better setup for rl to compare itself to.

Once again your right in what you say.
The sport has devalued itself to such an extent in the last 3 or 4 seasons that no one want to pay the going rate for the product anymore

we're stepping aside to make way for new blood".

Perhaps all the RFL's defenders are right and there's nobody out there willing to take the job(s) that could do better, but its time we took that chance - they're unlikely to do significantly worse - how could they?

I don't understand what, according to your view, the RFL would actually have to do in order for you to say they've failed (or at least not delivered what you'd expect). Do you really believe the best people are in the job?

On the sponsorship point - one of the major problems is that we have no idea of the value that we are receiving.

We keep hearing this soundbite that the Commercial Revenue will be higher than ever this year - so whilst it may be disappointing not to have a main sponsor, the simple fact is that if there is more overall money coming in, then maybe that should be deemed as success.

Our sponsor portfolio has looked quite impressive in recent years, with partners like Emirates, Gillette, engage, Stobart, Valvoline, DeWalt etc. - but if the income is better now with the current panel, then ultimately that is a success.

We could probably have sold the title sponsor rights to one of the partners for £200k - this may have looked like success, but in reality that may not have been the case after all.

So whilst you may call for people to be judged on their results - well maybe that is exactly what is happening and the results may not be too bad.

Maybe. As long as it works both ways and they're prepared to step aside if not.

The soundbite about biggest commercial income in 2013 is misleading IMO. Its world cup year. Is commercial income excluding internationals bigger than last year? Or the year before?

He calls out the RFL and Super League specifically.

You'd think someone would want the rights, they're not exactly going for an eye-watering sum. I think deep-down the issue is that international RU attracts a certain demographic, which we don't as a club-based game. After all, there's no way that the advertising demographics of Leeds and St. Helens are radically different to Bristol and Gloucester, for example.

One day if I'm ever CEO of the firm I work for, I'll be straight onto Red Hall with a deal...It always annoys me that the RBS give me rubbish interest yet find money to throw at rah-rah (see also O2 in a similar vein).

Heineken reckon they've spent 100 million on Union in 20 years........like RBS, 02 and the others, there must be some form of ROI involved, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

Interstingly, Soc Gen, Landrover and Heineken are all listed as official global partners and ITV are the broadcaster in the UK of RWC 2015, a competition that is 961 days away, whilst our RLWC, which starts in 270 days has bolted on a hotel chain where the players will stay and...er....um....

Can you let us know when you finally discover that Rugby League is a different sport to rugby union?

Both on an off the park..
On the park, TGG knocks spots of most of the Union played, but off the park, the games are lightyears apart.....I compare the 2 games because it helps put into perspective of how badly Rugby League in the NH is administered and make no apologies for doing so.

The soundbite that 2013 will be a more commercially successful year is meaningless given that last year was a ing farce.

Whilst association with a major sponsor may increase the profile of the game, perhaps it's time to recognise that if the RFL believe they can run without being at the behest of a major sponsor, or dependant upon their money, they should be applauded.

A recent newspaper report suggested that RU coaches may have to share (in confiednce) their gameplans with TV pundit prior to kick off, all at the request of their sponsor.

We use to live in a time without sponsors, and if the game's administration feel they can do that again, I'd be more than happy.

Would the RFL have had much input into that? Surely that would be all SKY promoting their product(s)?

Indeed, and remember who Wiggins, effectively, works for....Sky

Surely the majority of advertising is done by the TV channel that is forking out squillions to show games and wants people to tune in? I would rather see the RFL promoting clubs and the game in growth areas such as London. Not much point advertising in Leeds or Hull I wouldn't have thought?

www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/foo ... 08.article turns out it is not just Super League that is struggling to find a title sponsor at the current time.

www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/foo ... 08.article turns out it is not just Super League that is struggling to find a title sponsor at the current time.

I demand that the BBC does an in depth expose of this shocking situation!!!

I'd be on the phone to n power telling them they could sponsor SL for 1/2 the price!

We should sign them up and after 3 months put the prices up.

That'll teach 'em.

I'd suggest that putting up your asking price to10 million from 7 million is hardly on par with giving it away one year then trying to get a million for it 12 months later...

Dont know if its been mentioned... but if we dont have a sponser yet why dont we call it the joining jack super league for this year? would bring in some great publicity and as much money as stobart?!

JoiningJack is an non starter, if I am correctly informed he doesn´t have any trucks, in fact he doesn´t even have a licence. What sort of advertising can you get on a child´s bicycle. It´s a complete non starter.


No disrespect meant to the JJ campaign, it would be better than no sponsor in my opinion.