[quote="Chris71":lq6pdr0a]The question is could the game currently afford to dump SKY? Is it that the the RFL haven't really marketed or sold the game well enough or indeed at all to the other TV and media outlets or is there simply not enough significant interest from other parties willing to pay to screen live games? I can't remember the specifics of the new SKY deal as to if there was a limit to games that could be broadcast outside of SKY but seem to remember TNT Sports and DAZN were in the running for the rights but the RFL chose SKY. That said you'd think that a good marketer would have been able to have sold the rights to broadcast a handful of games to either TNT or DAZN. For me the RFL just don't seem to market themselves well enough and it appears from the outside its more comfortable/easier for them to stay within the norm as in stick with SKY like they have since the inception of SL than push outside of the comfort zone and work hard to secure better.[/quote:lq6pdr0a] I can't imagine the RFL have turned up for negotiations in the past looking organised with a crack team of negotiatiors. I can also see from SKYs point of view that SL has gone for ideas they weren't in favour of previously, under the Super8s system for example they were having to show games involving Championship teams scheduled at short notice. I'm not sure having a 3rd broadcaster is an option because most fans wouldent pay for a 3rd service just to see a handful pf games. I go down the pub for TNT Champions League games rather than subscribe for example.

[quote="bonaire":124iwucc]Super league needs to pull away from the RFL and align themselves to teams in the NRL. That alone would would enhance the game in the UK when you have Aussie fans and media following their UK team Increase the cap substantially so that the UK game has a lot more superstars on view.Thats the way you can really start to market the game when R/L superstars become household names and people start to follow them and the game. The interlink of an Aussie club and a UK club could also be used as an outside quota means of a limited interchange of players during a season. TV will always follow success and trying to get TV deals for a product that lacks an audience and Superstars is the wrong way round. The NRL is a great product but they also spend big on marketing and dont stand still. The RFL have over the years proved to be not fit for purpose so if we now have a sport where most of the S/L teams have wealthy owners it should be time to ditch the RFL and IMG with it.[/quote:124iwucc] For me the problem with the NRL is that when Aussie’s talk about the potential of the game over here they seem to think that there’s huge untapped potential in big cities like London, Birmingham etc and just assume that they’ll be successful like they have in Melbourne growing the game if they put SL teams in big cities. People say ‘marketing’ like it’s a magic wand. Don’t get me wrong I’d trust them to make a better fist of expansion then the RFL, but I don’t think they understand the dominance of football and how difficult it would be. I also think they’d underestimate the tribalism of supporters and try to merge some of the big clubs and think it could be a disaster.

[quote="DSJ1983":2n44gpva]For me the problem with the NRL is that when Aussie’s talk about the potential of the game over here they seem to think that there’s huge untapped potential in big cities like London, Birmingham etc and just assume that they’ll be successful like they have in Melbourne growing the game if they put SL teams in big cities. People say ‘marketing’ like it’s a magic wand. Don’t get me wrong I’d trust them to make a better fist of expansion then the RFL, but I don’t think they understand the dominance of football and how difficult it would be. I [b:2n44gpva]also think they’d underestimate the tribalism of supporters and try to merge some of the big clubs and think it could be a disaster.[/quote:2n44gpva][/b:2n44gpva] Already part of the master plan

[quote="Large Paws":11bfi029][/b] Already part of the master plan[/quote:11bfi029] I’m only speculating but I think any NRL influence in SL would just turbo charge any plans for mergers. They’d look at clubs like Hull and Rovers and think they could make a Brisbane type super club. On paper it makes sense, but we know it would be a disaster.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf"]I fear it may be one of them. If i was to place a bet, i would say it's Wainhouse. Not that he doesn't want to be here but more his attitude. Believing in his own hype shall we say.