Super League 2013

[kinboshi]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/video-what-a-hit-pat-richards-freak-field-goal-for-wigan-in-english-super-league/story-fni3fbgz-1226683896738

In case anyone missed it.

[TightEnd]

This is not meant to be trolling, genuinely

I watched last night, and watch some super league if I am around.

Obv I am a Union man, a game in which there are numerous issues I accept, to watchability and rule interpretation


I think the Super League quality of play, depth of player base is as weak as I have known it. The number of mistakes every game  is huge, the tactical nuances are non-existent in some games, the quality of tactical kicking is appalling

Despite that, the sheer intensity of some of these games makes them very watchable

However, we are hardly in a golden era for Super League are we? It is light years from the skill levels and "product" I watched in the state of origin recently, which was right up there


yes? no?

[BulldozerD]

I'm a league man and I agree Tighty.

The last half a dozen Wakefield games I have watched have been of terrible standard in my opinion and we have won 4 of them. I enjoyed last night's game but agree it wasn't anywhere near "high quality" that the Wigan/Sts games have been in recent years but this is mainly due to the teams which were put out last night. I think there has been a definite midseason "slump" in quality. Some factors may be:

The play-off basis means that Wigan/Leeds etc can field some weaker squads where they have niggling injuries and it doesn't have a detrimental affect on their prospects.
A lot of teams have injuries and thin squads at the moment due to the number of games played.
The movement of players between SL/NRL - our best going there, no chance of SL getting the best from over there.
The weather - its hard enough game as it is without playing in 30c
The refereeing - I don't really like how the game is officiated in the SL. Too many soft/borderline penalties are given and it always favours the team with the ball.

I used to watch every available RL game I could and I hardly watched any of the Challenge Cup games last weekend. However I think Warrington have played some exceptional stuff in recent weeks.

Having said this I will revisit the statement when the season has ended and the play-offs have been done. I've been mainly watching the NRL and imo it is the best sport to watch bar none, including some British guys who are at the very top of the world game.

[kinboshi]

Super League is in a very significant downswing.  Last night's game was a prime example.  Loads of mistakes, a poor St Helens side only just beating a side that didn't know how to pass, tackle or catch.  A very poor advert for the game.

There are many problems with league at the moment, and I used to always say I'd rather watch a poor game of league over a poor game of union/football, etc., but sometimes I question that.

1.  The play-off system.  It's a joke.  A team is the most consistent over 20-odd weeks, finishes top, and then can not play in the Grand Final after only losing one game.  A team that finishes 8th (or 5th as has happened) can become 'Champions' by peaking at the end of the season for just 5 matches.  The play-off system needs adjusting so that finishing 1st or 2nd is rewarded adequately.

2.  Because of that, and the scheduling of the Challenge Cup, we see clubs put out weakened sides to save their players - as Wigan did last night and Warrington, Wigan and others have done previously.  The Challenge Cup should be played earlier in the season to complement the league, not compete with it.

3.  The bigwigs who run the league are idiots.  Lots of stupid rulings in place that are dragging the league down, including stupid rules that don't allow foreign players in a side to play in the U19s (the reserves).  So someone like Gelling (who was awful last night) comes back from injury, can't be registered with a dual-signing allowing him to get some match practice with a lower-league side and he also can't play in the U19s.  So how is he supposed to get match-practice to get back into the 1st team?

4.  The talent drain.  Rugby League's salary cap means that the best players are having their heads turned by the NRL that can pay higher salaries, and also Union (ditto).  Stars of the game like Sam Tomkins have a limited playing career spanning 15 years or so, and quite rightly they need to think about their family, etc., and look after number 1.  So it's inevitable that we'll lose these stars to the NRL or Union.  In fact, we're losing non-stars (such as Joel Tomkins) to Union because they can earn salaries that dwarf those available in league and if they do well, the exposure it far greater for them.  The league and some club owners are happy that the Wigan and Leeds conveyor-belt of new talent will continue to fill the voids that are created.  This only works for so long though, and if Tomkins goes to the NRL and is replaced by Hampshire as the new star, what happens when Hampshire does the same and there isn't a new star waiting in the wings (or at full-back or stand-off )?

5.  Add these things together, and you can see why clubs are struggling with crowd numbers.  I'm reluctant to travel a few hours to a match if I get there and find half the first team are being rested (for whatever reason), or the opposition have written the game off as a loss and so aren't risking any of their 50/50 players.  As they mentioned on Sky last night, Huddersfield are top of the league, but only manage to get 5,000 fans to their games (in a lovely stadium).  Only Wigan, Leeds and Saints regularly get good home attendances and take a lot of fans to away games.  The league say they want to promote the game in London to extend the game beyond the traditional league base - but the running of the Broncos/Quins league club is a joke and they don't give a toss about the fans, so much so that my brother and dad who live about 30 minutes from there and were season ticket holders, have not renewed their season tickets.


The Wigan v London game will be aired on the BBC.  It'll be another crap advert for the game as I expect it'll be very one-sided, and the French/Davies commentary will be utterly terrible as usual.

It's a brilliant sport, but it's in a crisis in this country.

[kinboshi]

http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_12764-rfl-defend-super-league-fixture-changes.html

Sigh.

[Acidmouse]

Sir Kev back last night and he made the difference in the end result. Wakey not a bad team really. A very enjoyable game and huge crowd for them!

[Acidmouse]

Super League is in a very significant downswing.  Last night's game was a prime example.  Loads of mistakes, a poor St Helens side only just beating a side that didn't know how to pass, tackle or catch.  A very poor advert for the game.

There are many problems with league at the moment, and I used to always say I'd rather watch a poor game of league over a poor game of union/football, etc., but sometimes I question that.

1.  The play-off system.  It's a joke.  A team is the most consistent over 20-odd weeks, finishes top, and then can not play in the Grand Final after only losing one game.  A team that finishes 8th (or 5th as has happened) can become 'Champions' by peaking at the end of the season for just 5 matches.  The play-off system needs adjusting so that finishing 1st or 2nd is rewarded adequately.

2.  Because of that, and the scheduling of the Challenge Cup, we see clubs put out weakened sides to save their players - as Wigan did last night and Warrington, Wigan and others have done previously.  The Challenge Cup should be played earlier in the season to complement the league, not compete with it.

3.  The bigwigs who run the league are idiots.  Lots of stupid rulings in place that are dragging the league down, including stupid rules that don't allow foreign players in a side to play in the U19s (the reserves).  So someone like Gelling (who was awful last night) comes back from injury, can't be registered with a dual-signing allowing him to get some match practice with a lower-league side and he also can't play in the U19s.  So how is he supposed to get match-practice to get back into the 1st team?

4.  The talent drain.  Rugby League's salary cap means that the best players are having their heads turned by the NRL that can pay higher salaries, and also Union (ditto).  Stars of the game like Sam Tomkins have a limited playing career spanning 15 years or so, and quite rightly they need to think about their family, etc., and look after number 1.  So it's inevitable that we'll lose these stars to the NRL or Union.  In fact, we're losing non-stars (such as Joel Tomkins) to Union because they can earn salaries that dwarf those available in league and if they do well, the exposure it far greater for them.  The league and some club owners are happy that the Wigan and Leeds conveyor-belt of new talent will continue to fill the voids that are created.  This only works for so long though, and if Tomkins goes to the NRL and is replaced by Hampshire as the new star, what happens when Hampshire does the same and there isn't a new star waiting in the wings (or at full-back or stand-off )?

5.  Add these things together, and you can see why clubs are struggling with crowd numbers.  I'm reluctant to travel a few hours to a match if I get there and find half the first team are being rested (for whatever reason), or the opposition have written the game off as a loss and so aren't risking any of their 50/50 players.  As they mentioned on Sky last night, Huddersfield are top of the league, but only manage to get 5,000 fans to their games (in a lovely stadium).  Only Wigan, Leeds and Saints regularly get good home attendances and take a lot of fans to away games.  The league say they want to promote the game in London to extend the game beyond the traditional league base - but the running of the Broncos/Quins league club is a joke and they don't give a toss about the fans, so much so that my brother and dad who live about 30 minutes from there and were season ticket holders, have not renewed their season tickets.


The Wigan v London game will be aired on the BBC.  It'll be another crap advert for the game as I expect it'll be very one-sided, and the French/Davies commentary will be utterly terrible as usual.

It's a brilliant sport, but it's in a crisis in this country.

Yeah good post.  The league season is a joke, hence why a poor Leeds team have won it the last two seasons. This should never happen.

Sometimes a sport has to accept what it is and build from within and solidify its core, none of this branching out to places where RL aint played or watched, whats the point? While the big teams flourish most of the SL teams just don't have a backing or support to really compete.

Leeds had over 18,000 last week vs Wakefield and over 14,000 for the away game last night. You have more Leeds people going to see the rugby team team than the football team. This has been built up not by just success on the field but the amazing community programe the club has developed over a long long time. Something other clubs could/should copy.

Cut the SL to 10, get promotion/relegation in, change the playoffs so its fair. Make the salary cap higher, so the big clubs can keep the top stars.

[kinboshi]

What a finish!

[Acidmouse]

Speaking to a few Leeds players this week they seem more then a little up for the London game tonight, a tribute to Murray, more and more players back, not letting go of 4th place. I am hoping for a 30+ points win.

[kinboshi]

Speaking to a few Leeds players this week they seem more then a little up for the London game tonight, a tribute to Murray, more and more players back, not letting go of 4th place. I am hoping for a 30+ points win.

Should win by 30 points comfortably if you've got anything close to your strongest team out.  London are worse than bad.

[Acidmouse]

Speaking to a few Leeds players this week they seem more then a little up for the London game tonight, a tribute to Murray, more and more players back, not letting go of 4th place. I am hoping for a 30+ points win.

Should win by 30 points comfortably if you've got anything close to your strongest team out.  London are worse than bad.

Yeah they stunk vs Wigan it was embarrassing. Leeds starting to hit form at the right time....

[Acidmouse]

Looking forward to Wigan vs Hudds tonight, fully expect tight game with Wigan edging it. Leeds at Salford I am pinning my bet on a Salford surprise win at 8/1

[kinboshi]

No O'Loughlin for Wigan, and that reduces any confidence I had for this game. Not a one man team, butewithout Lockers the team plays at a lower level. No Smith either, but less important than O'Loughlin.

Could be very close, and should be a decent match.

[Acidmouse]

happy Warr only confirmed what I thought when they scrapped past a Leeds second team last month, not that great a team. Coupled with Wigan in freefall my only worry is Hudds.

Leeds hitting form at the right time and if we can get Mcguire, JJB, Moo, Bailey back before the playoffs we are in a position to win it again. If we finish 4th and play Hudds first it would be a good test for Leeds and Hudds. But I have a sneaky feeling 3rd aint out of reach, we play Wigan away last game of the season I believe it might be 3/4th place clincher.

Leeds Vs Hull tonight, think its important to continue our momentum and win this! come on Rhinos.

[Acidmouse]

Hull KR 8/1 yes pls.