What do Castleford fans think about this

[Tamworth Tiger]

It says in tomorrow's league express Sky are behind the plans for a restructure there apparently not satisfied with the standard of some of the games theve covered this season and have given the clubs two years until the next tv deal to get there house in order or they will stop covering the game

Having read the article it reads to me that they are requiring an improvement in quality, not dictating how that is achieved so it means the games played need to be competitive. The starting point for me would be getting rid of all the loopholes to the salary cap to stop the top teams always being able to stay there with the help of the fiddle factor.

[tigerfeat]

It says in tomorrow's league express Sky are behind the plans for a restructure there apparently not satisfied with the standard of some of the games theve covered this season and have given the clubs two years until the next tv deal to get there house in order or they will stop covering the game

Having read the article it reads to me that they are requiring an improvement in quality, not dictating how that is achieved so it means the games played need to be competitive. The starting point for me would be getting rid of all the loopholes to the salary cap to stop the top teams always being able to stay there with the help of the fiddle factor.

It says in tomorrow's league express Sky are behind the plans for a restructure there apparently not satisfied with the standard of some of the games theve covered this season and have given the clubs two years until the next tv deal to get there house in order or they will stop covering the game

Having read the article it reads to me that they are requiring an improvement in quality, not dictating how that is achieved so it means the games played need to be competitive. The starting point for me would be getting rid of all the loopholes to the salary cap to stop the top teams always being able to stay there with the help of the fiddle factor.

Yes that's right I just read part of the article last night online
I thought while reading it and watching the Leeds game how easy it would be to improve just basic things like not having a video ref who gives the Charnley try a try that was never a try in a million years goodness knows what people from outside the sport thought watching that

[mart0042]

Some good posts.

For me we have to dump SKY. Take the game back into the hands of the fans. We seem to always want to follow the NRL but we don't have the financial clout and can't pay their wages without having benefactors who have worked out how to fiddle the cap.

In football, most teams pay out more than they get in just on wages, nevermind the other stuff needed like grounds, training facilities, coaching, youth work... RL needs to become at least break even.

We need to get our game back. There will be a few years of hurt and there'll be a player drain to the NRL, but there always had been. The best players all want to chance their arm, good on them.

A cap only works when it's straight across the board and real penalties. Imagine getting a 20 point penalty and losing your hard won title from the year before.

A players wage should be equal in line with the years its for, not 1k the first year, 50k the next and 1million the last year.

It's nothing to do world class facilities but the minimum need raising and I'd even accept Cas being given a deadline, then we'll know what we are dealing with. A 10k ground is all we need, 12k at a push, 4k seats, but it's more about good changing facilities. We can do that at WR,

The club's who rent grounds must have a long lease and be able to play when required, not this ridiculous "we can't play at home for 6 weeks, so well just play away",. No you play on the dates or forfeit like teams have to do when they can't raise a side, they can't raise a ground.

[cogito ergo sum]

Dump Sky in favour of another media company or just have no media coverage?

[nottinghamtiger]

It says in tomorrow's league express Sky are behind the plans for a restructure there apparently not satisfied with the standard of some of the games theve covered this season and have given the clubs two years until the next tv deal to get there house in order or they will stop covering the game

Having read the article it reads to me that they are requiring an improvement in quality, not dictating how that is achieved so it means the games played need to be competitive. The starting point for me would be getting rid of all the loopholes to the salary cap to stop the top teams always being able to stay there with the help of the fiddle factor.

They aren’t wrong. The game is boring to watch most of the time. Even close games are usually pretty dull.
I think the main issue is the ruck. Sky have been showing ‘retro’ games after games this season and the difference is massive in terms of how quickly the ball is back in play and consequently the space for the team with the ball to play. The introduction of wrestling and manipulating the ball-carrier has just gone so far now that it has significantly slowed the game down and we spend far too long not playing RL.
It’s got to the point this year where we have the ridiculous situation at almost every tackle that the ball-carrier is slowing the play down to try and get a penalty/6 again by trapping the defender and the defender is trying to slow the game down as much as possible without conceding a penalty. It’s awful to watch.
We’ll get nowhere when the main aim of both teams is to slow the game down as much as possible. One solution might be to introduce a limit of two defenders in the tackle, especially once momentum has stopped. We see an awful lot of tackles where the third man is only involved once the player is already falling or on the ground, and the only reason is to slow the game down.
Another option might be to introduce the rule that players cannot be involved in consecutive tackles outside their own 20, so it’s a disadvantage to commit 3 to the tackle, therefore speeding up the game.

[Spanishtiger]

Some great posts and good ideas here, FWIW I can't be bothered either and would rather watch the cricket than Leeds v Wire or Hull v Hudds

[Tamworth Tiger]

It says in tomorrow's league express Sky are behind the plans for a restructure there apparently not satisfied with the standard of some of the games theve covered this season and have given the clubs two years until the next tv deal to get there house in order or they will stop covering the game

Having read the article it reads to me that they are requiring an improvement in quality, not dictating how that is achieved so it means the games played need to be competitive. The starting point for me would be getting rid of all the loopholes to the salary cap to stop the top teams always being able to stay there with the help of the fiddle factor.

They aren’t wrong. The game is boring to watch most of the time. Even close games are usually pretty dull.
I think the main issue is the ruck. Sky have been showing ‘retro’ games after games this season and the difference is massive in terms of how quickly the ball is back in play and consequently the space for the team with the ball to play. The introduction of wrestling and manipulating the ball-carrier has just gone so far now that it has significantly slowed the game down and we spend far too long not playing RL.
It’s got to the point this year where we have the ridiculous situation at almost every tackle that the ball-carrier is slowing the play down to try and get a penalty/6 again by trapping the defender and the defender is trying to slow the game down as much as possible without conceding a penalty. It’s awful to watch.
We’ll get nowhere when the main aim of both teams is to slow the game down as much as possible. One solution might be to introduce a limit of two defenders in the tackle, especially once momentum has stopped. We see an awful lot of tackles where the third man is only involved once the player is already falling or on the ground, and the only reason is to slow the game down.
Another option might be to introduce the rule that players cannot be involved in consecutive tackles outside their own 20, so it’s a disadvantage to commit 3 to the tackle, therefore speeding up the game.

You’re spot on. A lot of that was evident in last night’s game, which admittedly had an exciting finish but contained a lot of unattractive and repetitive rugby

[cogito ergo sum]

If anyone thinks our game is predicable and boring, anyone watch South Africa v Lions?

[tigerfeat]

If anyone thinks our game is predicable and boring, anyone watch South Africa v Lions?

You've got the nail on the head sky should be inquiring into that bore fest ...kick and hope should be the motto of that garbage it seemed to last about two and a half hours from start to finish as well

[Year of the Tiger]

If anyone thinks our game is predicable and boring, anyone watch South Africa v Lions?

You've got the nail on the head sky should be inquiring into that bore fest ...kick and hope should be the motto of that garbage it seemed to last about two and a half hours from start to finish as well

This^^^

The commentators are absolutely drooling over it though. They make everything sound as its a magnificent spectacle.
RL commentators are too critical I feel and downplay things and concentrate on any negative aspect. This wouldn't happen with kick and clap commentators.

[cogito ergo sum]

Try watching a RU match by fast-forwarding through the periods of inactivity, the four or five attempts to have a scrum, the formation and discussions before a line out. You can get through it in half an hour. At least our game has 80 minutes of ball play.

[Oldcasman]

To be honest I would love the to step back 40 / 50 years when the game was great to watch and not the 5 drives and a kick which we get now for most of the game.

[cogito ergo sum]

To be honest I would love the to step back 40 / 50 years when the game was great to watch and not the 5 drives and a kick which we get now for most of the game.

I’m not sure. I started watching when there was unlimited tackles, and they changed to a limited tackle (4 originally) rule to liven the game up by encouraging a bit more adventure.

[Tamworth Tiger]

If anyone thinks our game is predicable and boring, anyone watch South Africa v Lions?

You've got the nail on the head sky should be inquiring into that bore fest ...kick and hope should be the motto of that garbage it seemed to last about two and a half hours from start to finish as well

I agree with all that but the difference is that they not only have a thriving international game which we don’t but they have a thriving grass roots base which will always watch at least internationals on TV . In addition it is a sport followed and invested in by people with money and influence. I could go on, but the point is that even if we can agree we have the product, no one wants it because they largely don’t know about it. The NRL are deluded because it’s the Casinos that the clubs run which bring in the bread and butter money.While they keep their heads in the sand, Aussie Rules and Soccer are spreading in Aus. They will realise eventually that they need the international game as much as we do, but until the whole sport starts working together Rugby League is sleepwalking into oblivion

[cogito ergo sum]

You are correct. RU is a truly international sport. Domestically there are clubs in almost every town and city, so we will never compete for the affections of everyone in the country.
All this considered, it did not make that particular match any more interesting. If that had been an ordinary club game, we’d have turned the tele over.

[Tamworth Tiger]

I agree, just pointing out why Sky will never criticise RU about the quality of their product

[Bish Bash]

I know covid has cocked up the fixtures but from next year…..
Games on a Friday night, Sat night & Sunday afternoon only. Grow some balls and don’t let sky dictate, bag em off at next contract round.
No loop fixtures, 14 team league with relegation dog fight. Wish the championship was stronger so those coming up had more of a chance to stay up.
Challenge Cup July.
Magic Weekend somewhere.
Grand final.

Sort out the play the ball, less video ref and bring back Tiger Tot & Mr Perfect.

Minimum standard for stadia and if you don’t meet it you are out. If that’s us so be it. Licencing reappearing is too much but come on Cas, the old girl needs updating.

How many meetings are needed to get back to where we were 20 years ago.

It’s like a bloody scratched record at the powers that be.

Spot on mate

[FIat Capper]

Bearing in mind that outside of the Covid situation, and in particular the isolation issues, Cas are rarely outside of the play-offs and certainly not outside of the top 10. How would that fit the desire for a 10 team SL top division? We're also not the wort supported team and whilst the old lass is dated, she generates an atmosphere that comes through on TV and sounds exciting. Does the TV audience really have any thought on what WR looks like or what facilities it has?

The Hudds and Salford games highlight the impact of Covid but do not necessarily represent the product accurately. Are Sky telling the RFL they want a better product or one that is less predictable with more teams winning the GF?

[Tamworth Tiger]

I don’t think Sky are that bothered about the state of our ground, they’ve been here often enough and everyone loves the atmosphere.
I genuinely believe that if the club invested in some decent toilets and probably bigger dressing rooms a lot of the immediate criticisms would go away even though it’s not a long term solution

[Horsifer]

I don’t think Sky are that bothered about the state of our ground, they’ve been here often enough and everyone loves the atmosphere.
I genuinely believe that if the club invested in some decent toilets and probably bigger dressing rooms a lot of the immediate criticisms would go away even though it’s not a long term solution

I'm with you on this one. I have no desire to move away from Wheldon Road. Yes the toilets and player facilities need upgrading, without doubt, but the atmosphere created there will never be replicated at a new ground. #letsstaydarn'tlane