[urlhttp://www.superleaguefans.com/rugby-league/05/03/2012/rfl-appoints-marketing-guru.html[/url

Well then....March 5th 2012 this was the statement released.




....fast forward 14 months and we have seen a decline in attendances for SL (13%), a decline in CC attendances (15%), no interest from Major sponsors, embarrasing crowds at Internationals in Autumn 2012, even more embarrassing crowds at the 2 game exiles series in 2012....a standard 60k over 2 days for Magic weekend even though it was played on most fans doorstep (compared to cardiff/edinburgh), failed to fill Wembley, failed to fill Old Trafford....oh... and a funky cartoon series that is pretty much only of interest to RL fans.

Nigel went on record as saying


How's the sports profile Nige????


the farce continues...


Sorry....but having your owner employ a legendary coach and buy hundreds of millions of quids worth of talent, ensuring the team will compete for honours and eventually win the premiership has a damn sight more to do with the Ethiad being full than any "marketing ploy".


Please god....can somebody explain why this guy is still stealing a salary? Is he waiting for another Billionaire Oil baron to come along....because I think he might have been slightly over ambitious with the "work we did in my time at City" claims

Give the Warder the job!

I knew your positive thread the other day was too good to be true! Worth noting that I have travelled back and forth over the Pennines on the train last week, Deansgate, Oxford Road, Piccadilly, Stalybridge and no doubt other stations all had track side posters advertising the Magic Weekend. Good work like that goes unmentioned on here sadly!

they haven't really pushed on with the 'Extraordinairy' concept since last year.

It was a good idea last year, but they haven't followed it up or made the most of it.

They are, and will and hopefully will do more.

It is the same concept as Sky are using to promote Sky Sports in Pubs in RL areas for instance, but i agree that it needs to be pushed more.

I think they have to be honest, the posters around Manchester are using the extraordinary stuff, clubs used it for Good Friday and some have used it for quite a few games. The England, SL, Championships and Challenge Cup website etc are all in line with the extraordinary brand too. I think it would be a good idea to run the advert again a few times on Granada pushing ticket sales for the magic weekend.

Give him time FFS.

Magic Weekend, The Tetley's Challenge Cup, The Kingstone Press Championships and England RL are all using the Extraordinary Rugby concept this year.

Its a huge job, the bloke needs time, certainly a lot longer than 14 months. Plus, all the events noted by the OP happened way before the slightly odd 14 month deadline he has appeared to set.

How are the World Cup ticket sales going?

The OP some years ago developed and posted a 20 point marketing plan designed to bring success to London rugby league. (A plan he still hangs his hat on some years later) His 2 notable drivers within the plan were (1) posters in Twickenham station and (2) flowers on the roundabout just outside the Stoop.

Given the above it would seem somewhat peculiar that he hasn't applauded the RFL's poster initiative you've brought to our attention.

Urban myth...but don't let that stop you....
What I actually I suggested was sponsoring the entire station in the same way Surrey Cricket do the Vauxhall station....given the hundreds of thousands that use it weekly, I stand by it!

Interested to know exactly how much time someone needs in a Marketing Role before questions about productivity can be asked?

Personally, the Autumn international series would have been a good indicator of this guys ability to attract fans and raise the profile of the game.
4,014 in Wrexham and 2 slightly better (but not by much) crowds in the heartlands was a ing disgrace....he had 7 months to get it right and yet attracted nobody...not even at stupidly cheap prices.



Yes...how are they going? It's gone pretty quite on that front...as it has with "sponsors/partners"...in fact, scratch that, just partners

Maybe we need to look at marketers from the smaller sports where they have to get the crowds in to fund their teams.

Or smaller businesses.

Those uses to working with tiny marketing budgets or better earn it.

City and premier league football clubs certainly dont.

Rugby league clubs are small businesses.

And small businesses need creative in house marketers.

Personally the extraordinary campaign looks like they spent a good chunk of money with a design agency and the big thing for me is that you cant really tell its rugby league.

The roll out is connected but uninspiring.

Wheres the guerilla marketing - wheres the viral stuff and weres the good Pr.

The most memorable Rl advert for me was the wiggo and tomkins one.

Personally i like marketers to do it not project manage the buying of services.

And I like marketers who can sell.

Earn your wages.

All of your post was IMHO spot on, but the last 2 comments were the 2 that need to be repeated....repeatedly



I like the fact that again people jump to the defence of the RFL for yet another error in their judgement.....these people are the ones also defending the RLWC organisation, the selling of TV rights to access TV, the "apparent" drop in attendances in SL and CC so far this year and the lack of any tangible financial sponsorship to replace Engage.....no doubt when the scenario of 2 x 12 becoming 3 x 8 mid season is announced they will all be reaching for the Kleenex...