Welcome to the latest edition of Six to Go, looking at some of the things that have caught my eye over the past seven days.
1. Support your team Salford fans.
How can a club in the supposed heartlands of rugby league attract a crowd of only 2,800 to a top division game in a fully professional sport?
This was the crowd at the Salford Red Devils vs Castleford Tigers Super League game last Sunday and, quite frankly, it is pathetic.
Do Salford have fans that care about the club? Do the people of Salford and surrounding areas want a rugby league club? The London Broncos were slammed for their poor attendances last season but at least they had the excuses of playing in a non-traditional area and had a team that was getting hammered every week.
The Red Devils are the complete opposite. They are in the north west of England, they are having a decent season and currently lie seventh in the Super League table having risen as high as third at Easter.
Okay, they were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by Leigh, but they have beaten Wigan Warriors and Huddersfield Giants and have ran Leeds Rhinos and the Tigers close.
At the least they are competitive and have some outstanding talent that has been brought in by Marwan Koukash. They are suffering from a lot of injuries and suspensions at the moment and requested that this Friday’s fixture at Hull FC be postponed – a request that I have never heard before and one that was unsurprisingly turned down as the black and whites are desperate for two points themselves.
Even with this injury crisis they are putting up some strong performances. The players deserve bigger crowds to perform in front of and Koukash also deserves support for what he has done for this club – he has done as he has promised and brought in the best bunch of players that the club has had in a generation and now they are starting to gel and put in some decent performances after suffering 18 months of poor returns on their investment.
Now is the time that the Red Devils’ suppporters need to gather and support their team and owner and ensure that he has the encouragement to continue his involvement with the Red Devils instead of upping sticks and moving to the Gold Coast of Australia with the Titans.
2. Aussies looking for new TV deal
The NRL are looking to open up negotiations on a new TV contract with two years still left to run on it’s existing deal and the figures they are talking about are enormous and puts the profile of rugby league in Australia and New Zealand against it’s profile in the UK into true perspective.
It is not unusual for State of Origin matches to be among the best watched TV broadcasts of the year in Australia and the NRL are looking to take advantage of that popularity – they know that they bring guaranteed TV ratings to a network.
The current five-year NRL TV deal was signed in 2012 and was valued at just over Aus $1 billion. Just three years down the line the NRL are looking at a value of Aus $2 billion for the next TV deal and are also looking at the possibility of splitting the TV rights into clusters in attempt to garnish as much financial value as possible.
This means that the NRL Premiership, State of Origin, Test Matches and the innovative Auckland Nines season opener could all be sold off separately to different buyers over different formats including free-to-air, satellite and on-line.
Aus $2 billion dollars equates to approx. £1 billion, the current UK deal with Sky Sports is worth £182m for eight years and we are totally in bed with Sky, and have no options to open up negotiations with BT Sport, Premier Sports or terrestrial TV channels until 2021 when the landscape of TV rights will have changed out of sight.
Hopefully, the RFL will have someone in charge with some vision and imagination then who will see the added value of a Magic 9’s tournament for instance in future TV deals. It will be interesting to see who buys the TV rights for this year’s Test Series against New Zealand as it will give a small indication as to who the RFL are willing to negotiate with and which channels are interested in broadcasting top quality rugby league.
3. The Wildcats need a new stadium
It looks like the new stadium for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats is in danger of not happening and that will be really bad news for the long term future of one of the game’s foundation clubs.
The Wildcats still play on the original site that they played their first game of rugby league on after the formation of the game back in 1895 and it has not undergone any significant re-development in that time and is still very much an old style rugby league ground.
There is nothing bad about that in my opinion – when it is full it creates a great atmosphere and there are too many grounds now with a sterile atmosphere because they are played in large football stadiums and are only half full – or much less if you are Huddersfield Giants.
But the fact is that the Wildcats no longer own the stadium and it is costing them £250,000 per year to play at their ‘home’ and the club, led by Chairman, Michael Carter, are unwilling to spend money on ground improvements when the best thing for them to do is to have a new stadium built for them.
The club thought that they had a deal agreed with developers and the local council to have this lifeline built for them but it appears that, while the commercial development is in full swing, there is no sign that the commencement of the construction work on the stadium is about to start or is even in the developers thoughts.
The Wildcats are struggling in Super League at the moment – they have lost nine league games on the bounce after winning their opening two fixtures, have had a horrendous injury list and the gates are dwindling with just over 3,000 attending a premier fixture against Wigan Warriors last week.
Even with their injuries some of the performances have been well below what their fans expect – 80-0 at Warrington for example – and the pressure is building on their young coach James Webster. I hope they stick with Webster and I hope they get their new stadium because Super League would be a lot poorer without a foundation club like Wakefield.
4. Send him to Serbia!
I know Shaun Wane isn’t selecting Matty Bowen at the moment, and he will be sent packing at the end of his contract this year as Sam Tomkins is lying in wait ready to take the Wigan no. 1 shirt back, but I don’t think they had to send him all the way to Serbia to try to get him a game!
In all seriousness, it is a shame that Bowen is not in the Wigan side at the moment as I think he is a great talent. While he may not have shown his best form throughout his time at the Warriors there is no doubting his ability.
Wane has been full of praise for the way that Bowen has responded to his time out of the side in favour of young fullback Ryan Hampshire. He has been handing on his experience to the young fullback and has spent time with him at training sessions giving him useful advice.
Bowen loves rugby league and was in Serbia to help promote the game alongside the Australian Embassy in Belgrade. There are a host of new countries who are now playing rugby league and it would be great to get more players involved in their development in the future.
5. Internationals are the future
It looks like it is going to be a great weekend of international rugby league in Australia this weekend. Not only do Australia host New Zealand in their only international of 2015 looking for revenge for their four Nation Final defeat last November but just as importantly and maybe more interestingly is the double clash of the Pacific Nations taking place at the CBUS stadium on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The physical powerhouses of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa converge on the Gold Coast for two games that should see the start of regular international fixtures between these great nations. International rugby league needs to occur on a more regular basis and these nations in particular need to play more international matches.
The countries are rugby mad, rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea, and supporters would flock to their games so I’m just wondering why these games aren’t being held on one of the islands rather than on the coast of Australia?
Maybe it is size of stadiums, finances etc – I’m sure there are valid reasons but it would be great to get these countries involved in regular fixtures against each other and played in their own stadiums in front of their own fans and what about New Zealand or Australia sending a team over to one of the islands for a full Test Match now and again – it would be massive news on any of the islands and the fans would flock to the games and create a great atmosphere and advert for rugby league.
It is also a great way to improve the standard and profile of the national teams and attract new players and sponsors. Surely it is worth a shot?
6. Good luck Lance
Everyone was shocked to hear St. Helens star Lance Hohaia announce his immediate retirement from rugby league this week. Hohaia was out of contract at the end of this year and while he wouldn’t be staying with St. Helens, it was expected that he would continue his career back in the NRL.
The fact that he is retiring due to recurring concussion problems caused by the injuries he received in the grand final is worrying for him and his family and he has probably made the right decision for his long term health. I am not going to make this piece about the events of the grand final as that few minutes should not define what has been an outstanding professional rugby league career.
Hohaia played 185 NRL matches for the New Zealand Warriors and was on the bench in the Grand Final loss to the Sydney Roosters in his debut season in 2002.
He made the first of 28 Test appearances for New Zealand in the same year against Australia and went on to play fullback and score two tries in their legendary 2008 World Cup final defeat of the Aussies at Lang Park, Brisbane.
Hohaia made the move to Super League with St. Helens in 2012 and has made 80 appearances in the Red V. He is a player who is equally effective at fullback, halfback or hooker and has scored 90 career tries. Good luck to Lance in whatever he chooses to do in the future.
A bit of extra time thinking….
Good news in Hull in the last week that young rugby league player and Hull KR fan Connor Lynes is now home from hospital.
Some may recall that Connor suffered a blood clot on his brain after a game for his youth side Lambwath Lions a couple of months ago. He was found unconscious on the floor of his bedroom the next morning and was rushed straight to hospital were the blood clot was diagnosed and emergency surgery took place to remove the clot.
The rugby league family responded brilliantly and the Lynes family has been overwhelmed by the messages of support received from around the world. Connor is back home with his family now after spending a few weeks in hospital in Leeds receiving fantastic medical care and we all hope that he returns to full health and that he get’s the opportunity to step back on the pitch again and play the greatest game.
Congratulations to Eorl Crabtree on signing a new two year deal with the Giants. The deal takes him to the end of 2017 when he will be 34 years old. That’s young for a prop now as we can still see Jamie Peacock, Kylie Leuluai and Adrian Morley running around and performing well in Super League at a more advanced age.
The Steve Prescott Garden of Remembrance, opened at St. Helens Langtree Park last week, is a fantastic idea and another fitting tribute to the man himself and gives supporters of the club a place to go to pay respect to their loved ones.
A few rumours flying about this week again:
Newcastle Knights veteran Kurt Gidley is definitely coming to Super League next year – we just don’t know where yet.
St Helens have just re-signed Shannon McDonnell until the end of 2016 so it appears unlikely he will be headed to Langtree Park and a few on social media are mentioning the Rhinos but I don’t know where he would fit in there. I guess he won’t come cheap so it is likely he will head to one of the big boys.
Former New Zealand international prop Sam Rapira is another player definitely coming to Super League and it looks increasingly likely it will be with the Leeds Rhinos.
Former Australian international prop David Shillington has been hawked around both Hull clubs in the last few weeks but it appears he is set to stay in Australia and sign for the Dragons.
Many Sea Eagles want to bring Premiership winning coach and club legend Des Hasler BACK to the club from Canterbury Bulldogs. Hasler left in acrimonious circumstances after the 2011 grand final win and his return would see an end to the reign of another club legend Geoff Toovey.
The Sea Eagles are currently struggling on the field and with player retention. They have lost star forwards Anthony Watmough (Eels) and Glenn Stewart (Rabbitohs) and have recently announced the departures of star halves Daly Cherry-Evans (Titans) and Kieran Foran (Eels) at the end of the year.
A few clubs have sounded out New Zealand international Kevin Locke about a return to the NRL. But the fact is that he earns too much money at Salford Red Devils for them to compete.
Could Chris Sandow be on the move? His contract with the Parramatta Eels is up at the end of the year and club legend Brett Kenny is one former player who think’s the club should not renew his contract. The Eels have signed Kieran Foran from Manly for next year and also have former Broncos half Corey Norman on their books, so Sandow’s position could only be as back up if he re-signs.
Manly are a possibility as they need halves and there were big rumours last year that Sandow was coming to Super League. Undoubtedly, his style of play would make him a star performer in Super League. Any takers?
You can follow me on Twitter @sharpster69.
duecer
Guest
Salford may have been it's own distinct city once, but since the early 70's has been in one of the boroughs of Greater Manchester and is closer to Old Trafford than Old Trafford is to the Manchester City arena, so you could argue that the boundaries have shifted over the years.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yep. Tests are the future.
Russell Johnson
Guest
lester Salford is the heartlands because: they have been around as long as most other teams, were early, though not amongst the original, secessionists and are very close to most of the other clubs in Lancs as was, and Salford is not Manchester! There you go a cultural, history, geograpy and ticking off lesson in all in one sentence! ;-)
Russell Johnson
Guest
Johnno I have only seen evidence of two SRD fans who need to take a good look at themselves. The rest are very supportive of the Doc. The problem of the crowds is multi-layered and there is no easy solution but if anyone can do it I would put money on MK, if he's round long enough! His treatment by other fans in general and pundits in particular borders on lunacy of the worst kind and I wouldn't blame him for moving to Oz and away from the nasties. I have been shamed by my sport's attitude towards someone who loves League, wants it to be the top sport and is willing to sell it well.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Andy, I'm not altogether convinced by these themes when it comes to the RFL and Sky - I do think the that the deal is too long but the rest come from an atmosphere that belittles whatever they do.
Russell Johnson
Guest
Fiddelsticks, Sadly your views have been the dominant ones for a while and why TV deals apart RL is not preeminent sport it should be. And what an insult to those guys who did the business in those tests at the weekend. I think you undersetimate, to put it as diplomatically as I can, the feelings stirred by where you, your family and your ancestors are from when it comes to people you don't share these things with! I do hope it's changing with the changes in the make up of the IRLF we have missed the boat the train and the plane come to that far too often in the past - and liking things the way they've been as long as you can remember is simply to forget that your back yard is limited and limits you even if it's you favourite place in the whole world! :-) And if it is because they're not being picked to play for the roos long may it continue, who needs 14 Kangaroo teams?
fiddlesticks
Guest
they only play for their heritage because they cant make the australian side, islander sides full of heritage players is not the way to go
duecer
Guest
The trouble with Salford is that is has lost around a third of it's manufacturing industry since the mid 60's, thus reducing the traditional RL stock. The opening of the university in1967 would not have helped either, nor would the rise and rise of Man U and more recently City,
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
Thanks for your comments Johnno.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
SA, The RFL are just so in bed with Sky that they would not even contemplate breaking this deal whilst the current people are in charge - they should have been reaching out to BT, Premier, terrestrial TV when this last deal was negotiated 2 years ago - and 8 years for a TV contract is ridiculous - the landscape has changed so much in the last 2 years alone so heaven knows what it will look like in 6 years - it was an amazingly short sighted grab the money when you can deal by the RFL.
KENNETH CATTLE
Guest
WAKEFIELD HAS GREAT POTENTIAL - IS THERE SOMEONE OUT THERE GOING TO BUY THEM. DO IT NOW!
woodart
Guest
good interesting article, sad to hear about foundation clubs hitting hard times, but professional sport is a hard taskmaster, many american pro teams have had to up sticks across country to survive and I predict many sydney clubs will have to move to survive. the pacific island games should have been played in the largest(by a large margin) pacific island city on earth(auckland), they would have sold out eden park. and yes internationals ARE the future, learn from rugby, the All Blacks play 10 or so tests all around the planet every year, and they all sell out , the adidas payout to the NZ rugby union would make the nrl drool with envy. last time the All Blacks played in milan italy(sellout) some italian firm payed the NZ rugby union a huge amount(millions) to make and sell 1000 $2000 dollar All Black watches, these sold out in 2 days so they made and sold another 1000 watches. state of origin and nrl club comp,,,,, a market of 20 million tops, got to look outward.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Could the Super League risk breaking the TV deal if they were able to secure a much better deal elsewhere? I'm sure they would have to cop a fine or something like that but with a much better deal that allows them more control over their sport, perhaps part of any extra money could be used to pay it off? It may very well be a case of breaking the egg in order to get to the omelette. And yes, internationals are the future.
Renegade
Guest
All of England has a higher interest in football than anything else however rugby league would be the next love behind football for both of those cities.
Kiwis#1
Guest
I'm not sure it rated higher than the cricket World Cup final. It's been a long time since Salford had decent crowd support. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Didnt Hasler extend his contract till the end of 2017? He gets everything he wants at the Dogs. Can't see him leaving anytime soon.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
Oops, the other thing about lester's post, and I am merely discussing not shouting down at all if thats not clear: that they've rejigged the rules several times these past years trying to find a balance. The most recent one: Now players can play origin AND for 2nd tier nations like the PI. Just not england or NZ. But as it stands, more players are wanting to play for NZ, and to be honest its only been 1 or 2 over the years who have taken the money and ran --- but that all stopped when the ARLC began paying NZ test players more money. I must admit, I did suggest that. Ok, and the other thing is, origin is great, we all love it, but over the past 5-10 years --- not every single one of the worlds best players have played in it. That used to be the case. Now our eyes have widened to bigger things we're starting to realize theirs still value in international competition. If we remember back in the 80s and 90s tests had no trouble standing next to origin. In actual fact they don't overlap, they don't clash, played at different times of the year. Eligibility is no longer a great issue, and tests are heating up again. The players who do play for origin and PI will be few. And over time it won't matter as tests gain more money across the board.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
How such a quality piece is overlooked by most is beyond me. I beg to differ lester, because much has changed this past year concerning tests and origin. The thinking is both can prosper, and tests have certainly taken on more meaning after we got flogged recently. A lot of people are scratching their heads and getting fired up. Talk on radio and tv, heightened interest in who's coaching, whos in, who's out, who played their last game, ect. This is great stuff. The next match will be a hotly contested one, and its gaining increased importance....see my point 5! Cool stuff. 1 please support your team 2 I'd wager the nrl deal will surpass the afl deal during the life of the agreement, if not, then upon signing it in 2017 or sooner (whenever they sign it). The NRL and rugby league in general has so much more. Its seems the networks are just waiting for RL to decide what its going to do, so they know how to approach the auction for the rights. 3 Thats hard for them. Hopefully a better situation can be had. 4 Cant form an opinion due to lack of knowledge overall 5 Internationals are hotting up. In the next rights deal they'll have world club challenge added for its true value (currently bundled in i think), 9s added plus they are looking at some kind of mid-world cup cycle international 9s tournament Im hearing.....then consider the work being done in the pacific and in europe; the RLIF is online with a full time CEO/staff....and the meeting in brisbane the other day seemed to tentatively hash out a commitment to a long term schedule and an acknowledgement for one set of rules world wide, seeing to the next world cup, and placing more significance on following the RLIF than dragging it along for the ride. Its been a significant time for international football. Probably a defining moment this year since they have taken on a far greater importance. In retrospect I think the aussies are going to wonder why they abandoned the end of year test proposals earlier on (the tour sounded so good). Also, by the time the next rights come round, they seem to want to make more room for tests. The fact that the test match recently was the highest rating sport of any code this year across the 5 capital cities (we always forget Hobart here) highlights the growing hunger for test footy. 6 Good luck
lester
Guest
Since when is Salford in the heartland? The way i remember it over there, Manchester and Liverpool were always been the exception along the M62, with both cities traditionally having more interest in Football than any form of Rugby. Also Internationals have no hope of increased prominence whilst Origin eligibility continues to require players declaring for Australia. Players are giving up on potentially representing P.I nations because they want to pull on a origin top which I think is ridiculous these days as it's not unusual to hear of Kiwi's raised in Australia who consider themselves both new Zealanders and Queenslanders/New South Welshmen. Plus ARL should recognise that having a strong international game is good for them and the sport in general. The rules should allow players who've spent most of their life here to play for their state but also their country of heritage. I.E Uate can play for NSW and FIji, but Sam Burgess and probably Tamou should not be eligible.
Johnno
Guest
To the roar, and to Andy keep these good articles coming, this is some good stuff from the UK and good value. The SL is going through some exciting times, not of least marquee stuff is being talked about again, thank Koukash for that pressure. He's giving so much cash to he super league via salford and publicity, if Salford fans don't pay him any respect, he should buy Bradford or the London Broncos, or Leeds. I reckon Lance Hohaia should look at his legal options,and consider suing Wigan, for ending his career if it can be proven. He was \ hit on the footy field very hard, 2 hits to the head street-fight style. Dave Collier RLIF ceo is talking about planning a new international futures schedule, so it's happening the aussies v kiwis game rated well. The pacifc islands double-header didn't get a big crowd, but only coz it was played on the Gold Coast, for those that know it's the sporting graveyard capitial of OZ, teams have always gone broke up there, Titans struggling, and crowds are always crap there over the years for all sports. Sad the decline of Wakefield an iconic club.