Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Fri May 11, 2018 7:18 pm  

wiganermike wrote:

1) Surely this is mitigation of a disadvantage rather than gaining an advantage as no other club would routinely have to face a transatlantic flight prior to a game. The others only have to do the trip once (or the odd ones do it twice if in the same 8s group). If alternating home and away Toronto could face as many as 23 flights pre split plus up to 7 post split.

2) What has Derek Beaumont been doing then? Leigh also had a parachute payment this year (not meaning to pick on Leigh btw). A club backer doesn't need to be as rich as Argyle is, if they can fund full cap, they can compete financially. Ok most of the division aren't on the same financial footing but at least one team is capable of matching their cap spend. That one competitor could yet steal a march and grab promotion ahead of them. Part time Fev don't look like they will be shaken off too easily either despite the difference in finances.

Toronto have been in the UK for the first half of the season, and won't have had issues (more than any other club) around travel fatigue or time differences. For the second half of the season, all their games in Canada will be against teams that have had to travel across the Atlantic from a different time zone. Feels like a big advantage to me.

Fair comment around Leigh, but having a rich backer on its own doesn't mean that you can spend up to the full cap. Sustainability rules mean that you can only spend 50% of "relevant income" on salaries. With all the free tickets, relatively cheap season season tickets, and limited merchandise sales, how can they be paying for the players they've recruited using 50% of their income? It's possible they have some dispensation, but again that would be granting a massive advantage to them.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Fri May 11, 2018 10:12 pm  

HXSparky wrote:

Toronto have been in the UK for the first half of the season, and won't have had issues (more than any other club) around travel fatigue or time differences. For the second half of the season, all their games in Canada will be against teams that have had to travel across the Atlantic from a different time zone. Feels like a big advantage to me.

Fair comment around Leigh, but having a rich backer on its own doesn't mean that you can spend up to the full cap. Sustainability rules mean that you can only spend 50% of "relevant income" on salaries. With all the free tickets, relatively cheap season season tickets, and limited merchandise sales, how can they be paying for the players they've recruited using 50% of their income? It's possible they have some dispensation, but again that would be granting a massive advantage to them.

The half and half fixture list for this season does seem to work more in their favour you are correct, whilst it was due in part to the redevelopment of Lamport Stadium the RFL should really have insisted on them finding an alternative venue that was playable in Canada and stuck to the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away that was used last season. I think in the future the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away would be the fairest way to proceed with them or any other proposed NA clubs. Following a standard pattern of fixture alternating I think would disadvantage them too much while as you say having half and half blocks disadvantages the opponents.

Regarding Leigh, having Derek Beaumont backing them does mean they can spend the cap. It was him that got the RFL to equalise the caps between SL and Championship so that he could compete on an equal footing after the first qualifiers campaign by spending his money. I assume that money put in by the club owner (at any club) is able to be counted as relevant income (they all put money in to their club). Otherwise a club like Salford with poor crowds and lacking match day income from food etc. would probably be spending the same as Fev, Fax, Dewsbury and co.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Fri May 11, 2018 10:46 pm  

wiganermike wrote:

The half and half fixture list for this season does seem to work more in their favour you are correct, whilst it was due in part to the redevelopment of Lamport Stadium the RFL should really have insisted on them finding an alternative venue that was playable in Canada and stuck to the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away that was used last season. I think in the future the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away would be the fairest way to proceed with them or any other proposed NA clubs. Following a standard pattern of fixture alternating I think would disadvantage them too much while as you say having half and half blocks disadvantages the opponents.

Regarding Leigh, having Derek Beaumont backing them does mean they can spend the cap. It was him that got the RFL to equalise the caps between SL and Championship so that he could compete on an equal footing after the first qualifiers campaign by spending his money. I assume that money put in by the club owner (at any club) is able to be counted as relevant income (they all put money in to their club). Otherwise a club like Salford with poor crowds and lacking match day income from food etc. would probably be spending the same as Fev, Fax, Dewsbury and co.

The "relevant income" scenario is complex, but I don't believe that Director loans are included. Donations probably are, which is possibly a way round it (albeit it's a one-way street for the cash). Decent point about Salford, but I guess they have some corporate deals that will bring in some income, plus their marketing will bring in some cash as well.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Mon May 14, 2018 5:26 pm  

wiganermike wrote:

I think in the future the pattern of 4 game blocks alternating home and away would be the fairest way to proceed with them or any other proposed NA clubs..

Have to disagree....home and away is what they should be made to do, regardless. If they don't like it, then tough, but why should they get 4 home games with no travel when facing a team fresh off the plane? It's their choice to play in a UK comp and they should be made to fit in with our schedule......I can understand the need for them missing 2 home games in Feb, but thereafter the weather in Canada is fine in March......
...if they are given a block of 3 and then 4 in the 8's it will be a farce IMHO.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Sun May 20, 2018 6:51 pm  

Another great win for London today, their incredible points difference moves them up to 2nd.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Sun May 20, 2018 7:23 pm  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Another great win for London today, their incredible points difference moves them up to 2nd.

I'm sure they'll enjoy it whilst they temporarily can. .

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Sun May 20, 2018 8:17 pm  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Another great win for London today, their incredible points difference moves them up to 2nd.

Do they play Sheffield every week?

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Sun May 20, 2018 8:32 pm  

Alan wrote:

Do they play Sheffield every week?

If Only The +/- is a handy buffer though.....it's anyone's guess who will be joining Toronto in the Qualifiers, but I suspect that unless London wi the next 2 games they won't be part of the mix!

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Sun May 20, 2018 11:57 pm  

Lovable London are a mixed bag. They could well be the third team to get promoted, after tremendous Toronto and terrific Toulouse, if three out of silly Salford, witless Widnes, hopeful Hull KR, and hapless Huddersfield get relegated.

Re: Could Toronto, London and Toulouse all get promoted? : Mon May 21, 2018 5:35 am  

Call Me God wrote:

If Only The +/- is a handy buffer though.....it's anyone's guess who will be joining Toronto in the Qualifiers, but I suspect that unless London wi the next 2 games they won't be part of the mix!

Leigh still have to play Toronto twice, if they don’t win at least one of those games they won’t make the top 4. Toronto, Toulouse, London and Featherstone is how I expect it to be.