Not seen a thread on it so what are people's thoughts on the #Asktherfl session? www.therfl.co.uk/policyreview My view is that it sums up the lack of direction and positive action needed to save rl in this country. An hour of incompetent babbling. Plenty of fancy words, no sensible ideas. Tony Smith offered more in a 5 minute press conference. The picture at the top of the link pretty much sums the pair of them up.

Not seen a thread on it so what are people's thoughts on the #Asktherfl session? www.therfl.co.uk/policyreview My view is that it sums up the lack of direction and positive action needed to save rl in this country. An hour of incompetent babbling. Plenty of fancy words, no sensible ideas. Tony Smith offered more in a 5 minute press conference. The picture at the top of the link pretty much sums the pair of them up.

Dispiriting.

I hope to god there is some machiavellian politicking going on

Given that most of the questions related to something which is currently at the consultation stage (the new structure suggestions) I'm not entirely sure what people were expecting?

I suppose the RFL should have just kept schtum and then have fans complain about being kept in the dark and the lack of communication coming out instead.

Damned if they did, damned if they didn't.

Still, gives the keyboard sports administrators a change to whinge about something for a change...

Does anyone know when the final vote/decision will actually be made regarding the restructure?

It seemed like almost every question was regarding option 3 (the 3 leagues of 8 teams), and that proposal certainly seems to have been discussed on here far more than the others. I still think that if this boils down to a vote from the current SL chairmen then option 3 won't be happening.

So why open a Q&A session about something you have no detail on? It makes no sense. Why publicise an idea that hasnt yet been fully investigated never mind decided upon? What benefit did the expect to receive from it?

Its not even what they didnt say which was dispiriting, but what they did aswell. They have basically come out and said we prefer this option, we have absolutely no idea how it will work, if it will work, if it is practical, if its even a possibility but we want it even if it results in a lowering of standards on and off the field.

But that was Tony Smith's point. Why are they holding this Q&A session? They should have confidence in their own conviction, and make an announcement when they have made a decision. Consult with fans/players/coaches by all means, but not via a 1hr long public twitter forum. It is nothing but a gimmick.


I'm not one to jump on everything rugby league does and shout it down, but I'm seriously worried about the direction of rugby league with Nigel Wood and Ralph Rimmer at the top of the organisation

It may or may not be a gimmick but since I am a stakeholder in the game of rugby league, being a season ticket holder who also pays to go to other matches, then I don't want the governing body just dictating to me about what is going to happen to the sport I pay my hard earned cash to support. I at least want the chance to ask questions and clarify what the plans are or find out whether more is to be discussed.

It was informative, albeit cloaked in the usual Nigel Wood council-speak. For example, I now know that they are aware and considering that should option 3 be chosen they will raise the salary cap for the top four teams in order that they are able to compete. Of course how they will know which are going to be the top four teams and how those top four teams will be able to recruit in time for it to make a difference to their promotion chances is another matter but at least I now know that this particular element of the proposed option 3 is under consideration. Given that the vote on the review will only take place towards/at the end of the season then there is still a lot to be discussed. But I would much rather be involved in the discussion as a fan than be left out in the cold.

Good leadership considers all views and then makes a firm decision, regardless of who is upset as a result. To decide is to divide. Good leadership doesn't equate to a dictatorship.

This is what I found most worrying about it. On the face of it, it was a good idea, but they've basically admitted that little to no thought at this stage has actually gone into what the various potential consequences and problems might be in bringing about these changes.

We also know they do not have a clue how clubs will practically sell season tickets, we know they have no idea how to stop the age old issue of clubs prioritising safety against relegation usurping youth development and infrastructure in priority and we know they have pretty much given up trying to force clubs to invest in their facilities and bring them up to the modern standard.

Now you all know what a RL Council or APC ( Championship clubs ) meeting is like



It was the same when they introduced the salary cap into the NL s ,lots of questions and no answers

God help us, we're Doomed, doomed, doomed I tell ya, DOOMED

This was idiotic in the extreme. It seems like the RFL's agenda is just to try and appease as many people as possible rather than actually implementing sensible ideas and structures to take the sport forward.

I had no idea that was coming, not that I could've done anything about it thanks to work



To be honest, if they didn't appear to consult fans, people would lambast them for being out of touch; whereas any attempt to canvas fans also gets them lambasted for not taking an authoritative role. So lose lose. I don't see how that would placate either side though, it was just weak and shows how little they are willing to present to the public in terms of firm details (if indeed they are close to any). How are people supposed to have reasonably formed opinions without details?

Not that many fans would develop reasonable opinions anyway

They did well typing when no laptop was plugged into the docking station.

I thought they gave some pretty decent answers to be fair. What answers weren't people happy with?