I thought we did.

indeed, you have it one.

If SL clubs decided to keep all the income from their TV deal, and all the money from any international TV deal (which they could demand otherwise they wouldnt release their players) then there would be no income the RFL could realistically give to the lower leagues

the RFL would be able to distribute sport england funding to amateur clubs but they are restricted to doing this for lower league clubs.

you would be mistaken

Why don't they then? Because the RFL won't then let them play the sport under their auspices. They'd have to break away.

Why do lower league fans think that the lower leagues constitute the 'game as a whole', and that they should get preferential treatment despite being by far the least important part of the sporting pyramid (amateur, semi-pro, elite)?

What an arrogant t*at







Thank Christ your not in charge at Red Hall.

they did

So why don't they keep all of the money - if they've "broken away"?

its not really arrogant is it.

The lower leagues provide none of the visibility, money or players that they sport needs to exist.

It is the least important part of the game, and whilst the game would suffer if any part of it were to disappear. We would suffer a huge amount more if we lost the money and visibility of Super League or the players and youth development and community involvement of the amateur game than if we were to lose the lower leagues

because the game was re-united so they are back under the RFLs banner.

And they dont keep all the money because they would need to break away again to do so and contributing what they do to the lower leagues isnt a bad thing.

What, so the Championship and Championship One are more important than Super League and the amateur game?

I never said that - anywhere. But neither are they worthless. BskyB wouldn't be broadcasting if they were.

Also i apologise for calling you what i did. Heat of the moment. Sorry.

I never said they were worthless at all. But the attitude of some Championship fans is that they should get preferential treatment 'for the sake of the game' despite the fact that they contribute less to the game as a whole than Super League and the amateur game. Case in point the Widnes (I think) poster than I originally quoted.

Storm in a teacup this. Ainscough was always likely to be called back at some point. The surprise is that a player of his calibre was allowed to be part of the dual-reg system in the the first instance.

If the rules had have been more restrictive and provided more safeguards for the Champ/C1 clubs then there's no chance he, and probably a number of other good youngsters, would have been included in the scheme.

So the lower league clubs can either accept mediocre/raw talent that the SL clubs are unlikely to want or else take good 'uns who might be recalled.

As an aside, how about this for a suggestion - lower league clubs who choose not to use their quota spot to be allowed a fifth dual reg or loan player. The idea of providing an opportunity for a young Brit at the expense of some Aussie journeyman appeals to me.

Nobody ' contributes ' to the game any more than anybody else

Everybody is in it for themselves , be it SL club , Championship club , amatuer club or the RFL

If you believe different you are an idiot

I think we will agree to differ on this one. Most sports, RL included, are not in the rudest financial health. Cost savings are paramount and if SL clubs can subsidise players yet still have complete control they will. The players welfare comes second, and the well-being of the championship club does not even register.

Why was Hetherington so keen to convert championship sides into feeder clubs (swelled by SL youth/ fringe players/those returning from injury)? Was it in firm belief that it would improve the RL community or was it a means of subsidising his running costs? (whilst also trying to pry the supporters and sponsors off the championship side/s) I think the latter.

Incidentally, this isn't a dig against super league, just what I believe is reality, which is, that as a business SL don't give a monkeys about anyone else. Some clubs cannot think strategically and for the good of the game because they are so rooted in the problems of the "now".

he was on wigans academy books.

Reading his post rich, he might well be in charge @ Red Hall!

so leeds won't be signing any more players from whitehaven, doncaster featherstone or york then will they?? idiot

well said that man

Obviously not JM. Nor will Salford sign future England internationals from Widnes

.

What is this ‘preferential treatment’ that the Championship fans are demanding?


Who has said it is?


A few posters on here don’t really amount to much. Certainly not enough to condemn the thousands who do not use message boards such as this.

The Championships imo, are an important part of the game and do contribute to its well being.

It does contribute to player development, via its own youth development and now also by giving SL youngsters a tougher opportunity to hone their skills in the Championships via Dual-Reg deals.

It provides a continual career path for older players that would help make it a more attractive long term career to get involved in.

It contributes several thousand extra fans and interest in the game, who will also want to watch SL games on Sky as a result. Thus adding to the overall viewing figures.

It also inspires local youngsters to play the game in their area and helps keep youngsters coming through those local amateur sides and school teams. Not all youngsters who come through SL clubs academies are from the town of that SL club. Many will be from Championship club areas. It’s not only players either, but coaches, physios, trainers, and officials etc…

The Championship is now also broadcast to the nation, thus helping to showcase the game and spread interest in it even more. It’s certainly more exposure for RL, that’s for sure.

SL is not the be-all-and-end-all of the sport – it just isn’t. It is certainly its pinnacle and generates the greatest interest, but it seems somewhat arrogant and wrong-headed to write off the Championships' worth the way you and Smokey do.

There was a cracking game on Sky between Leigh and Barrow last night. It was a bit scrappy in parts, but there was still a lot of skill, big hit’s and enthusiasm, and it turned out to be a real thriller.

It’s also not totally unreasonable for fans of Championship clubs to ask for a little piece of the pie, given what they DO actually contribute to the sport. No-one is seriously asking for anything like what SL clubs get, and we’re certainly not asking for any [i‘preferential treatment’[/i.

The game would be poorer, if the Championships didn't exist - a lot poorer imo.


Oh. and JC is actually a Leyther, and not a Widnes fan.

nice one pepe.a proper rugby league man,not just a troll

Smokeys assessment is bang on.

Which one ? , because at the moment he's not got a good record