Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

By -
"The more things change the more they stay the same"


The Crusaders fiasco is Gateshead Thunder and Paris St Germain all over again.


I don't understand how a sport with an expansionist agenda, which receives millions of pounds from it's sponsors, can allow a team like the Crusaders to fail on financial grounds yet allow three other teams, recently out of administration to carry on. If this is a three year process why did it all happen at the last minute?





I feel particularly sorry for the loyal Welsh fans and hard working Crusaders players, some of whom have recently signed new contracts. The RFL and the club owners have a lot of questions to answer and Rod Findlay has a track record to defend. Will the Crusaders carry on in the Championship? If they don't, well it says it all 


Where does this leave RL expansion? Will it ever be attempted again?


Where does this leave Welsh RL, the 2011 Four Nations, the 2013 World Cup and international RL?  


Where does it leave the franchise system?


It's a sorry mess

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dickie's Meadow

By -
This week I have been watching, recently departed RFL supremo Richard Lewis, giving interviews in his new role as Wimbledon CEO and have been reflecting on his time in office. There is no doubt that he provided much needed stability when it was very much needed and RFL revenue has increased under him.  Dickie Lewis has presided over the introduction of the licensing process which has resulted in improved facilities and increased professionalism at SL level. He will be remembered for an expansion of the international game throughout the northern hemisphere and I believe this will bear fruit in the future. While the financial situation has improved at the RFL (although in my opinion  it started from a very low base and needs to increase much more) we have witnessed the Crusaders debacle, the Stobart non-sponsorship and now the problems at the Bradford Bulls. London still play in front of very low crowds (3600 v Leeds yesterday) and they along with other clubs are struggling to keep
Read more

My Wife Punches Harder - Top 5 RL Fights

By -
5. Ellery Hanley v Les Boyd Wigan v Warrington in Milwaukee 1987 Unfortunately this incident took place in a showcase match in the USA and was an embarrassment for the RL community. Great fight though! 4.  Mal Maninga v Peter Dutton Brisbane Grand Final 1980 This proves that our "friends in low places" can also mis-behave in prestigious matches and it involves Mal Maninga who has since come close to being made a saint. 3.  Stuart Fielden v Willie Mason Australia v GB  -  Four Nations 2006 This wasn't really a fight but more of a one punch KO. Fielden asked for it, had been asking for it for years but fortunately for him nobody was willing to take him on. Until he met Willie Mason that is and he has never been the same player since. The aura was destroyed. Amazingly, Willie Mason stayed on the pitch despite this and another incident in the same match where he maimed Sean Long. It illustrates how weak and easily intimidated referees are in international
Read more

Drama in Sport

By -
I remember saying to a friend of mine a few years ago that you couldn't beat International RL for drama in sport. I'm deliberately writing this in the middle of the competition and I still think this is true. We could do with some more variety and more unpredictability but for sheer entertainment, International RL is great When, when, when will the English team perform to their true potential. Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis have been stars in NRL this year and there are plenty more like them. Graham, Roby, Westwood, Tomkins etc are great players in SL if they can just do themselves justice on an international stage. Greg Eastwood has been very ordinary all year in SL but he performed well when it counted. Australian administrators please note. I’ve just said that Greg Eastwood performed when it counted i.e. in an international match. They are the pinnacle of any sport and should be treated as such. Anybody who treats a club (or State of Origin) match as the main event is wrong,
Read more