: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:58 pm  

Although its only April 1st, given the cup draws it is highly probable that between now and Xmas there will only be a further NINE home games !!

With only Widnes and Halifax likely to attract crowds of over 2000 !

In addition, of the nine games, 1 is a 1pm ko (Easter Mon) 2 are on Thurs Evenings and the Toulouse game is 6pm ko Sat 15/8, only 5 more games are due to be played on a Sunday with a regular 3pm ko.

Leigh are not alone in this situation, something needs to be done within the RFL to pad out the season for clubs struggling to survive outside Super League.

: Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:32 pm  

14 clubs 26 games plus the NRC?
The NRC is treated as a pre season friendly comp, 9 league fixtures wont pay bills.

new stadium. : Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:07 pm  

I have suggested amalgamating the national leagues before.

All Lancs and Cumbrian teams would play each other home and away as would those clubs on the wrong side of the pennines. That would give 18 games per team. We would then play 6 other clubs home and away giving a total of 30 games per season.

We could scrap the top 6 playoffs and revert to the top four playing off for the Grand Final.

I think it would be a lot better than the current format and the NRC competition would be a staight knockout like the Challenge Cup.

: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:20 pm  

But would the sponsor of the knockout cup still be willing to stump up the money for a competition with less exposure?