The Virtual Terrace • Re: New York are bolted on...
Donnyman wrote:
Let's get back on track here in which trolling isn't replied to? (do we all agree?). Your right above but the issue is we are in a transitional phase from the RFL running the game to SL running SL, so it is now up to SL if they want to promote NA and French clubs and they do not. They do not want these clubs pulling players abroad and depressing crowds here.
When you say "selling" TWP, it's worth (now I have my 2019 RL yearbook) noting the lie as regards TWP's ability to draw the fans here. Leigh have been this last couple of years by far and away the biggest drawcard in the Championship followed by Bradford Bulls and Widnes. In contrast Toronto have been responsible for a significant number of below average crowds here.
Once they start losing in Superleague their pulling power will drop even further, hence the SBW stunt. What's notable beyond this is how they seem to be signing up their Championship side not just for 2020 but also 2021 as well. It all smacks of just going through the motions before SL have the power to axe them. For those who wonder why New York and Ottawa seem to have pulled right back from joining last year, this year or even next - well there is no point if TWP are to be axed for 2022 is there. Perhaps league Express and League Weekly should investigate?
Do you have any link to prove or disprove which club(s) were the biggest draw in the Championship last season ?
As for SL clubs not wanting their players to be "taken" by TWP, aside from stoking wage inflation, I dont see TWP as the enemy here.
The biggest threat on UK players moving away from SL is the NRL or Union and apart from on field success, there is little or nothing that the SL clubs can do to prevent this.
On the flip side, we certainly take far more from the NRL in terms of players than they do from SL and surely it's better if clubs are clever in how they manage their players and squads, although it's almost a given that, if a club over here unearths or re homes a gem from down under, they will be on their way back pretty damn quick if a decent offer comes in.
This may be negated slightly with the marque player rule but, we cant kid ourselves that any player would stay in SL if they believed that they could have a chance of success in Australia.
On the TV deal, I think that you are 100% correct, in that Toronto, despite the "dreamers'" regular wet dreams about N. American TV deals etc, they appear not to be wanted by Sky and although this could theoretically change if we were to move to a different broadcaster, I dont believe there will ever be sufficient interest over there to negotiate any TV deal, other than pay per view for some of the locals.
Having said that, I still believe that there would have been some mileage in "promoting" Toulouse, which, although likely to cause competition with Catalan, in terms of 2 clubs fighting over a relatively small number of French SL standard players. This could have increased interest in the game over there, which could only be a good thing in the longer term and a genuine French "derby" game would be a great "draw".
Finally, you seem more clued up on the potential negotiations of SL in terms of negotiating their own deal but, I guess we will have to see what Mr Elstone comes up with.
The next TV deal will be massive, in terms of what may happen to the sport over the next 5-10 years, almost do or die.
Statistics: Posted by wrencat1873 — Sun Dec 29, 2019 1:55 pm