Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"Here we go again
Apologies for my USA geography, Brooklyn Kings are the New York side in their Northern conference
'"
Fair play.
Not quite sure your point though? Brooklyn are pretty much a community club. A new pro club would only enhance them. I doubt the Kings have any desire to go pro anytime soon. There's also the White Plains Wombats in New York State.
There was also the New York Knights, but they don't seem to be involved this year which is a shame as they've been around for about 20 years. Hopefully a pro team being in the area can reignite the community club scene and bring back other former local clubs such as the New Jersey Turnpike Titans and Southampton Dragons. That's 5 teams in the New York metro area, without even thinking about the the ones just up the coast. Plenty of chance to improve the community scene and give a huge shot to the USARL.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
You say that "we" have decided that The Challenge Cup is a British only competition - no "we" havent, after all Catalan will still be competing, plus of course Red Star and they are a long way from the UK.'"
No I didn't.
I said, [i"I've no issue with them deciding the Challenge Cup is a British only competition, but make it clear."[/i
That doesn't mean they have. It's a hypothetical situation based on their actions to dissuade any competitive foreign clubs from entering. I'm fully aware that there are foreign clubs in the comp, but it was a rugby battle fit Catalans to defend their own trophy.
I certainly didn't say "we" so not sure why you're making a deal about highlighting that?
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
I am aware that some clubs dont run their own academies, more is the pity and it should be a pre requisite for ALL top flight clubs.'"
But it's not, so you need to hold the current clubs to that standard before banging on about how the New clubs should. It's incredibly hypocritical otherwise.
How players are developed is up for debate anyway. The American development system for professional sport is incredibly different to ours. Why should we expect it to be the same? They might do it better in the end.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
You say that competing in the Challenge Cup isn't a problem for the overseas clubs and yet, if we preclude them from the comp or blow our brains out when one of them makes the final, this is to the detriment of the game in both financial terms as well as damaging the games image.'"
That's contradictory. You're saying it's damaging that they're precluded and also damaging that they're included (incase they get to the final)? Sorry, not letting you get away with that one. Can't have it both ways.
I don't think it's damaging to the image if they do get to the final by the way. Not at all. Catalans getting to (and winning) was tremendous for the game.
The reason it was damaging financially was because of the people at the RFL bring unable to sell tickets to a showpiece event.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
Again regarding academies, you say "how they choose is their own prerogative". ?? really is this how a pro sport should be "run". ??.'"
The issue of player development is that of the governing body. The governing body in this country puts it onto (some of) the clubs. In some cases, these are regional academies instead.
In America, do the clubs run academies? Or are they produced elsewhere? There's more then one way to skin a cat.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
You "assume" that should 4 current SL clubs be replaced by overseas sides, that they will continue to run their own academy and reserve sides and question whether I am aware of the academy league.
On the basis that there are 12 SL clubs and only 12 current academy sides, including 3 championship academies), it's reasonable to assume that there would indeed be a reduction in academy sides if there were 4 current sides replaced.'"
I have no idea how you've come to that conclusion? Widnes were relegated but still run one. Bradford still do. London did when not in Super League. Newcastle do. There used to be a Cumbria academy (IIRC, ran by the RFL). If the money if still available, I see no reason why these couldn't continue as has demonstrably been happening. I wouldn't say it's reasonable to assume at all.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
It's quite increddible that you say that the new clubs are "providing opportunities for these players", when the reality is that they are diluting the talent pool.
You know that there is a finite amount of players, hence certain clubs demanding a reduction to the numbers of clubs in the top flight but, it seems that if they have a North American post code, suddenly there are as many players as required.
Those very people who were complaining of lower standards in SL suddenly dont mind so much ??'"
What's incredible about it? It's factually correct. What you have said does not sure the absolute fact (not opinion) that having an extra team in a new area provides more opportunities to players (not just to play altogether, but to actually play somewhere new).
There are a finite number of players we can produce in the game. We are not at it yet.
And I'm pretty sure it's disingenuous to suggest that the same people that were arguing for reducing teams are also arguing to include NA teams. Have you ever considered these might be different sets of people?
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
Finally the million dollar issue.
You say that "we'll lose no money as we havent invested any"
Whilst I accept that there "could" be some additional opportunities with sponsorship etc, I guess this depends on who is sponsoring the clubs.
Unless we can harness worldwide sponsors, something that the game has abjectly failed to do since Adam was a young boy, I believe that you are crossing you fingers and if this project goes pear shaped, the domestic game will be utterly screwed.
Maybe 7 full time sides and the rest probably semi pro.'"
Why would the game be screwed? If these teams are as fragile as you suggest, we ain't gonna see 5 of them at once in the top tier. They'd surely go bust within the 4 years it would take to promote them all (and assume none get relegated).
In the meantime, I'm pretty sure with the extra Sky money from these teams not accepting it that we'd be able to support more of the Championship.
It's hyperbole at its worst.
Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873"
"We" should have put Toronto and Toulouse in the top flight in the last re structure and the very fact that we didn't / couldn't tells you that there were/are no extra funds to cover their inclusion and/ or despite your own optimism, our primary broadcaster wasn't sufficiently interested by the "sparkle" offered by Toronto.'"
Rubbish. It tells you that they tried to please the traditionalist by reintroducing P&R with no exceptions and forced every single be club to start at the bottom regardless of where they're from.
My word, can you imagine the outrage if they just put them in the top league? Meltdown would be incredible. The league have made it quite clear they don't want to do that anymore.
