I sense a parting of the ways similar to when the EPL split from the football league.

I could - and have - ranted many a time about specifics concerning the RFL. However, my opinion is that marketing/profile (in the broadest sense) of the game is essentially the most significant failing. A pretty significant part of marketing is the image you present to outside world. Image matters, and that photo is a great (if - in isolation - insignificant) example of how not to present yourselves if you're trying to give the impression of a dynamic team with whom your brand (should you wish to sponsor the sport) would be in great hands. I'm not suggesting that the individuals need to be replaced by twenty-somethings straight from the cast of Friends - an image expert would be able to do wonders with the cast as it stands. However, it seems highly unlikely that the RFL would recognize any image issue in that picture (you obviously don't).



It does indeed seem petty to care about things like that. In an ideal world - it really shouldn't matter one jot what the heck they look like in a photo. Seriously, it shouldn't, I totally agree. But we live in a world where if you want to be commercially successful, you need real expertise in image and brand management. Before you say "so are you such a big expert then?", the answer is quite obviously "no". But even I can see that photo screams "small time". Of course it's not about one insignificant photo - if the game was being marketed well, one slightly dodgy photo wouldn't make a blind bit of difference to anything - the point is that the game is not being marketed well, and images like that give (me at a least) an insight into how much or little they understand about image and branding.

Judging by Sinfield's opinion [url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos/leeds-rhinos-sinfield-gives-his-backing-to-overhaul-of-super-league-1-5843113HERE[/url, I'm guessing the Leeds club are happy with the RFL restructuring proposals.

Let's hope so. Time to stop the tail wagging the dog. Let a breakaway, *led by commercial experts* lead the way. The holdouts will scream that the game is about to be destroyed and then end up joining the successful breakaway themselves within a few seasons. Basically, whoever makes the money ends up winning the argument. Let the RFL run a semi-pro competition, it's the right level for them ( and I mean that with no disrespect to the semi-pro game nor the RFL - it would genuinely be a good solution ).

Commercially it certainly worked for the EPL.The key factor is the Sky money.If a breakaway did happen then it will only work if Sky go with the breakaway group.

I couldn't see Sky sticking around with the left-behinds. Abandon us altogether? technically possible I suppose - though in practice a breakaway wouldn't happen unless they'd already lined up the broadcaster in the first place.

For someone as cynical as yourself, you seem to be very hung up on a couple of pieces of PR bluff from Sinfield and Hetherington

A break away from 14, does not leave a lot left?



Even a league of 10 would be pushing it, in terms of a commercially viable group.

I'm sure there will be other who would join the break away group and not just the 7 mentioned. If it did come down to it and the money was in place for the break away group then there will be more wanting to get on board.

The plot thickens!



[url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_13490-rfl-resources-drained-by-micro-managing-clubs-in-licensing-system.htmlLicensing to be scrapped?[/url



Please let it be so

Are that 7 united in anything more than frustration? Do they have a common position or do they just oppose/have reservations about the RFL's approach?



There's no compelling reason for a split - they (SL clubs) have already got the money and power. Dumping the RFL maybe gives them the freedom to appoint their own people, but agreeing on the way forward will be no easier and they lose a convenient blame magnet.

We've known that for a while, haven't we? The Bradford decision made it inevitable and it's been official since the options were narrowed down to two (1 up, 1 down and the 2x12 then 3x8 thing).