Rowley

Name me a professional team sport in this country or perhaps the world that is sustainable without wealthy owners or handouts for the vast majority of the participants. Rugby League is sadly at the bottom of the pile and unless Leeds are going to play themselves every week you won’t have professional RL game in the country if it was conditional that teams are 100% self funding from revenue streams other than handouts.

I had the pleasure of watching South Sydney Rabbitohs v Auckland Warriors earlier this month at the Olympic Stadium and though it wasn’t the best of games, the week’s build up on TV and bill boards for all of the Sydney teams was brilliant, finally the match day experience didn’t disappoint. We can learn a lot about how the NRL market their game but that has come from years of fine tuning the end product. Of course SL is light years behind but we have to start somewhere and it begins with the RFL/IMG negotiating increased visibility of the sport. Without the broadcasters invested and funding it properly we will not overcome the barriers to participation for both playing and attending games. We walked one afternoon from Coogie to North Bondi and we came across a youth RL training evening on a local playing field. There must have been 60 kids ranging from U11s down to U4s or so and 15 coaches all enjoying playing the game. That in itself is not remarkable but that apparently is mirrored right across Sydney and up the Queensland coast. There are literally thousands of young RL players in the pyramid and it’s no wonder they produce the players they do.

On another occasion I got chatting to a West Tigers fan and he said that unless you’re making an impact in Australia by the time you’re 21 then the chances of you breaking through are limited. NRL clubs have to be ruthless and to emphasise the point there’s probably 5-6 props at Wests (mostly South Pacific Islanders) that will drift away into the lower leagues.

We have a long way to go to make our sport sustainable but change has to happen now if we’re going to save it

I was making the connection between Rowley and the club’s finances. I may have waffled on a bit so apologies😂. Believe me there is no one happier than me right now that he staying as today has been an emotional rollercoaster👹

In another slightly odd/bizarre goings-on between Salford and Hull FC,sort of
The Airlie Birds have announced the Loan signing of former Red Devil
Ed Chamberlain, Hmmm perhaps that'll solve their problems An injury prone 34 year old winger.

just shows what a poison chalice Dull FC are. no doubt rumours will start again when Leeds need a new coach. In the meantime, time to show him support and get stadium sorted out asap.

Better reporting

c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1226306747?-44757:31536