Wasn't Lewis iirc

That'd be just over half the CEO's of the SL Clubs then, including the unbiased Widnes (who play at Stobart Stadium

)

I love reading a good rant from someone unaware of all the facts.

Also, why RL fans continue to compare the sport's advertising versus that of RU I don't know. The demographics & exposure of each sport are completely different.

because the RFU dont have blinkers on for a start...
utterly disgraceful descion from the RFL to allow no money to change hands for a sponsorship deal.....

what facts are them then?? the fact that the rfl allowed a sponsorship to happen with no monetry value, then wondering why most of our clubs are potless..... there facts........

The fact that the SL chairmen voted in favour of the Stobart deal. I think the final vote was 9 in favour, 5 against. The two Hull clubs were against for what it's worth.

Don't let that stop you from ranting about the RFL though.

As for your comment prior to that about the RFU not having blinkers, how is that relevant to what I put? You don't know what a demographic is, do you?

They're different sports, the levels of exposure are different, the people who follow the sports are different, it's played professional in different regions, do I need to go on? There are problems with RL of course, but by comparing RL to RU you're always fighting a losing battle.

I agree on these points. The biggest problem is image, RU is a sport that is and has traditionally being the toff rugby where as RL has and still is classed as a Northern working mans game.

The RFL need to promote the sport in a different way I feel to entice some of the RU money. RU will probably always be the better off relation purely and simply because of the people involved and its circle of friends so to speak.

Until the RFL improve the image that comes across to people outside the game it will always struggle to attract media attention and with it lucrative sponsorship. Not having any sort of proper terestrial TV coverage also I feel does it no favours.

The RFL put two sponsorship options to the SL clubs. The [iclubs[/i voted (by a narrow majority) for the Stobart deal. And as the clubs - not the RFL - own the naming rights for SL, the RFL had zero choice in the matter.

But hey - don't let the facts get in the way of another anti-RFL rant.

it went through by only one or two votes didnt it? i seem to remember catalans vote was crucial in the end

[url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12198/8432383/Super-League-XVIII-is-comingthis is about as good as a SL advert gets[/url

That advert is tremendous.

Fantastic



The RFL have got the 'Rugby League of the Extraordinary' adverts running this weekend on ITV, at half-time during the FA Cup games. I thought the viral ad from afew months ago was brilliant.

Both positive steps in the right direction.

That's a good advert. IMO the RL fans from other sports/'celebrities' are a bit underused in getting it promoted/respected, so the Wiggins link is a good move. There are quite a few others out there, but for some reason it still seems to be this 'best kept secret in British sport' attitude when you hear anyone talking about it. Man Utd always seem to have several players who are fans and are amongst the most famous people on the planet, yet the most we seem to get is the odd tweet, a Clare Balding comment during Challenge Cup coverage, or whats-her-chops on SL Show (the latter two being largely redundant as they are overwhelmingly preaching to the converted).

I think that what is needed is to try and get people talking in a positive light about RL on non-RL specific sports programming if possible, or even just snippets of famous faces talking about RL in the ad breaks of coverage of their own sports. That's going to be the best way of reaching people who don't already watch the sport, and hopefully get them curious and willing to give it a go. It's clear that plenty of people within sport have an interest in most sports in general and RL in particular in some cases, and fans similarly tend to follow multiple sports, so the game needs to exploit this and tap into followers of other sports and get RL on their list of favourite sports.

Exactly the kind of thing that is needed.

And another thing that could maybe be done, how about the Millennium Magic weekend be broadcast on Sky 3 instead of the sports channels for just that weekend (or even just a couple of the games)? That way, all the people with freeview/basic Sky get a free taster of what is supposed to be one of the highlights of the RL calender and might be interested enough to go and see a few more games or take out a sports subscription.

That advert is class.

love the idea about showing a couple of games, even if its not Magic Weekend, its a few free games for people to watch who arent into it.

so, we start SL with no main sponsor, well done Mr Nigel Wood.....

I heard last week on the radio that foxy bingo had a greed a deal. What happened to that one? Was it just an offer to change number 13 from lucky 13 to Superleague 13 in thier games?

They're the official bingo partner of Super League, whatever 1 of them is.

They are a partner, so it's not the "Foxy Bingo SL", even Sky still haven't got a major broadcast partner, no idea what the suits at Red Hall do for their money. Having said that, the rest of the game's administration is equally as bad.

What baffles me is...we are constantly told that RL has a more 'downmarket' audience than RU, but in this economic downturn it is generally the downmarket retailers who are performing well.

so why hasn't the RFL attracted a budget supermarket, retailer or booze brand etc?

because they are a bunch of idiots?

Because the RFL want to protect the game and not be sponsored by a brand that can create problems or making the sport look like a joke and unprofessional. That's why they opted for Stobart instead of betfair or another gambling company iirc.

Foxy Bingo = Gambling
Tetley's = Beer

so your observation is wrong.

Think the RFL are doing a good enough job at present making the sport look a joke TBH.

The fact they have no main sponsor with the season just 2 days away is just unbelieveable and totally unacceptable.