I'm not sure he has.
He has gone out of his way to say how good Brian Barwick is but fails to mention anyone else in the RFL that to me is telling.
He has avoided saying he likes the 12-12 8-8-8 outright, He has avoided saying he want's 12 teams in SL over 10 or 14 all he is saying is that everyone agreed that change was needed (Everyone is still in agreement over this IMHO) and that it will be sorted post world cup.

I would say he gives away the real issues in the disagreement in the paragraph.
"There may be some areas of corporate governance and representation which need to be separately addressed and improved (from the current system which, ironically, was enthusiastically constructed and endorsed by Super League Clubs only five years ago) and I have no doubt that these can be rationally and sensibly resolved."

I think it's a classic political statement where it's more what he doesn't say than what he does in parts of it.

"The main issues of the day are good and positive only in their substance and outlook......"

Does anyone know what this could possibly mean?

huddersfield wanted a league of 10 too.

so demonuk unanimous decision by all the all the superleague clubs is unanimously wrong!

It might also be the Championship Clubs who want more sponsors now, as well as SL clubs, seeing the Northern Rail Cup has been abolished and the sponsor gone too!

Shouldn't that be aimed at Mr Mcmanus.

I assume you mean Magic Weekend?

Whilst what you say is quite true, one extra match is nothing like the old situation where it it was perfectly possible to have teams, first and second in the league, not even playing a single game against the same teams. It's being disingenuous to equate the two, imo, though I confess, I did once consider that MW was only introduced to give some spurious justification to the play-off system.

Oh dear, crisis, what crisis. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement I thought they were waiting until after the W.C?

Oh dear, crisis, what crisis. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement I thought they were waiting until after the W.C?

I think its interesting that 8 clubs supported the reduction to 12, but no mention of anyone supporting a change in structure.

This should have been kicked into the long grass until after the WC, the RFL trying to bounce clubs into doing this even though they had made clear their issues seems just idiotic. What realistically were they expecting? That clubs who had told them they wouldn’t agree to these changes would simply because they rescheduled a meeting?

Very childish from the clubs that walked out. When reading that I was praying Leeds were not on the toddler list.

These people are meant to be rebuilding our game and yet some of them cannot act in a civil manor. The RFL do need telling that they are not doing a good enough job commercially and there is questions on the way the game is being governed, but one step at a time. Sit down like adults and get a structure in place then raise these other issues and address them in the correct manor.

Disagree, by the sounds of it the clubs are wanting to see how these structures are going to be financed (fair enough). If the RFL aren't providing this then the clubs have every right to walk out.

This is a massive decision for the game, the fact that 6 clubs (six very big clubs) are taking this stance speak volumes. I don't agree with the structure what so ever and don't agree with what other clubs have said that it is too late in the day to change our minds so lets press ahead anyway. That is the WORST way to go about things. I would rather we do this now, maybe disrupt an entire season, rather than press ahead, and after 3 years realise it's not working with the same 8 teams in the top 8, crowds dwindling due to been bored of playing the same teams every week, and teams going bust as SL clubs are paying full time wages, when half their games are played at championship grounds.

The championship teams don't stand a chance of promotion as they're playing with half their money.

Quote ="The Devil's Advocate"Oh dear, crisis, what crisis. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement I thought they were waiting until after the W.C?'" Spot on: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -postponed Seems RFL changed their mind and wanted to force a vote. Very unprofessional.

Quote ="The Devil's Advocate"Oh dear, crisis, what crisis. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -statement I thought they were waiting until after the W.C?'" Spot on: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -postponed Seems RFL changed their mind and wanted to force a vote. Very unprofessional.

Taking a stance and walking out are two completely different things.

By all means the 6 clubs have the right to stand firm on something they believe in, but walking out? C'mon, that solves nothing. As Barwich says that is not the way to vent frustration.

That's the wrong way to do it.

Any new structure will only work in conjunction with a wider commercial strategy. It is painfully evident that some clubs have an issue with the commercial strategy put forward by the RFL (if, of course, one exists at all), or the ability of the RFL to execute that strategy.

It would be wrong of the clubs to approve a system that they didn't feel is commercial viable. The statement from the RFL does little to fill me with confidence that they are willing to address those concerns without resorting to petty shots in the media.

Sad to see 5 of the big guns (and Hull KR) resorting to this.

In contrast, I'm delighted to see 6 clubs (I wish it were more) attempting to force the sport to address the wider issue - namely, the game being run by a bunch of clowns who couldn't market free beer. It's about time people with commercial nous started to get more influence than committee men.

Quote ="RLBandit"About bleedin' time. Don't care if it's forced by the SL clubs, or some other grouping, but the sooner they find a way to sack this lot, the better: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... _directors If you can't take one look at that photo and understand that we have a problem, then there's no hope for you.'" Whilst getting old isn`t a crime, I get your drift.

Quote ="RLBandit"About bleedin' time. Don't care if it's forced by the SL clubs, or some other grouping, but the sooner they find a way to sack this lot, the better: www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/about_t ... _directors If you can't take one look at that photo and understand that we have a problem, then there's no hope for you.'" Whilst getting old isn`t a crime, I get your drift.

Let's see what the end outcome is. I fear there is more a self interest factor involved than people doing it for the good of the game.

exactly. i know adam pearson has been particularly critical of the rfls (lack of) commercial nous since he became involved at hull. i'm sure its the dame with the likes of hudgell, lanegan etc. i believe the sponsorship deal with stobarts and the lack of a headline sponsor last season have been major factors in all of this

Neil Hudgell was on Radio Humberside last week and stated publically that he was in favour of 12 teams in SL and one team promotion/relegation. Didn't like the season split idea though and hasn't been a fan of the way the sport has been governed for quite some time now.

I dont think chairmen are against the drop to 12 teams more the fact they aren't interested in the sky money being distributed the way the RFL want to.

Quote ="Cripesginger"Spot on: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -postponed Seems RFL changed their mind and wanted to force a vote. Very unprofessional.'" i too thought this was being waited with until after the world cup.. all a mess

Quote ="Cripesginger"Spot on: www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/29 ... -postponed Seems RFL changed their mind and wanted to force a vote. Very unprofessional.'" i too thought this was being waited with until after the world cup.. all a mess

The clubs themselves haven't a clue about marketing. If they did then attendances would be considerably more than they are now and interest countrywide would be larger. However the, my club ,sod everyone else, lets not develop the game, thanks for the money, attitude shown by the elitist clubs of soooperdoooper league has done the game no favours at all.
This latest spit the dummy out fiasco really shows that they are utterly clueless and are just incapable of seeing the bigger picture.
Well good luck to them. I hope they get what they deserve.
In the mean time the NRL will flourish and just think that RU cannot believe their luck . RU was elitist which is why the Northern Union came about. It seems have swung the other way.
Keep the blinkers on SL, one day they may come into fashion.

That article is weeks old.

There is a chance the clubs who have walked out feel that if everyone plays happy familes the RFL will promise change and then as they are known for doing they just happen to change their minds at a later date.

With regard to Leeds I have had a feeling GH has had an eye on the RFL top job for a while and he may not want to rock any boats. I could be wrong and if anyone can prove evidence to the contrary I'll hold me hands up.