Re: BILKO : Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:28 pm  

I've been holding off commenting on this thread as I didn't want it to seem like a dummy spit after our exit but I do agree with most comments on here.

Ive been a Wigan fan since I was 11, I was a season ticket holder for 14 years until I started a job 4 years ago that heavily involves shift work; as such I missed more games than I could get to. This was gutting at first as I loved going to every game and watching some great encounters.

However, even if I could still get a season ticket I wouldn't. This year I would have actually been able to get a to a few games that I didnt bother with. The quality of most of the opposition is a joke, am I really expected to pay £20 (£30 including travel) to watch Salford or Widnes or Cas make a game out of it for 5mins especially when the results dont matter??

Prior to this year I'd book the evening/day/night off for the bigger games but again this year I've come to realise the games are meaningless. I dont usually go to friendlies because I dont like friendlies, I want games to mean something and I want the players to play like it means something.

This year I've probably watched 3 games on Sky that didnt involve Wigan and next year I wont be re-subscribing to Sky Sports until very late in the season. I do like the Grand Final, its nice to have a big show piece at the end but something has got to be done about the regular season before more people realise its just a load of meaningless games where teams warm up for a small 3 game final series. This season its been more evident than any before, Tony Smiths face when Warrington lose sums it up, he couldnt give a toss. Most losses by the bigger teams have been shrugged aside by their players and coaches as if they didnt matter. Well it does to the fans and it should to the team.

None of my non-rugby friends can believe a team who finishes in the BOTTOM HALF of the table can win the league, its crazy.

I predict in 10 years time the game is not classed as professional and thats a shame because played and run properly it is the best sport in the world.

Now im off to listen to Radiohead and Morrissey.

Re: BILKO : Thu Oct 04, 2012 8:53 am  

This thread summed up in the YEP article?

This thread summed up in the YEP article?

Re: BILKO : Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:03 am  

Sam Buca II wrote: This thread summed up in the YEP article? Good article. Even recommends changing to a top five playoff to raise the standards during the season, as below: The league campaign is a qualifying system for the post-season series. The rules are clear and all Leeds are doing is making the most of those rules. Clearly Rhinos don’t set out to be inconsistent during the weekly rounds, but their season is geared around coming good when it really matters. It’s not Rhinos’ fault that fifth place offers a better prospect of getting to Old Trafford than fourth, for example. The system may be – indeed is – wrong, but Leeds can’t be blamed for taking advantage of its weaknesses. The league rounds would be more relevant if fewer teams qualified for the play-offs. A top-six, or even better five, system would force teams like Rhinos to step up their performances earlier in the year, or risk missing out. It would make for more intense matches throughout the year and during the play-offs as well because the standard would be higher.

Sam Buca II wrote: This thread summed up in the YEP article? Good article. Even recommends changing to a top five playoff to raise the standards during the season, as below: The league campaign is a qualifying system for the post-season series. The rules are clear and all Leeds are doing is making the most of those rules. Clearly Rhinos don’t set out to be inconsistent during the weekly rounds, but their season is geared around coming good when it really matters. It’s not Rhinos’ fault that fifth place offers a better prospect of getting to Old Trafford than fourth, for example. The system may be – indeed is – wrong, but Leeds can’t be blamed for taking advantage of its weaknesses. The league rounds would be more relevant if fewer teams qualified for the play-offs. A top-six, or even better five, system would force teams like Rhinos to step up their performances earlier in the year, or risk missing out. It would make for more intense matches throughout the year and during the play-offs as well because the standard would be higher.

Re: BILKO : Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:14 am  

I dont think anyone is blaming Leeds, they are playing to the system and thats fair enough, they've done a bloody good job.

The fact that over half a league can enter a play-off series with some teams having less than a 50% win ratio is laughable and I cannot think of another sport where this happens

Re: BILKO : Thu Oct 04, 2012 9:18 am  

Dougy wrote:

Friday night was a fantastic game and occasion to be at even if we fell on the wrong side of the score line. Problem is apart from the CC we are only getting that tension in week 3 of the playoffs and the GF when we should be getting it everytime Wigan/Leeds/Saints/Wire play each other in the regular season.

Spot on! Feel exactly that.

Re: BILKO : Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:25 am  

I've read every page of this thread and it has been a brilliant read, not often that you can say that about this site lately! I pretty much agree with all of it. I think the top 6 system that was used a few years ago would be best. Doesn't alienate quite so many teams as a top 5 would yet it still rewards teams for finishing higher up the table. I think the standard would be good enough too, if Huddersfield don't fall downhill now and Hull can fulfil their potential!

[Hillsborough Lad]

Re: BILKO : Fri Oct 05, 2012 4:25 pm  

hula89 wrote:

They feel its unfair though sadly. Example Wigan Warrington saints and Widnes can all stand alone so there wouldn't be a northwest merger. IMO if Leigh merged with Wigan and we moved to LSV it would actually be good as theres a stadium which is an ok size but could be expanded i imagine and it would also free up most of Leigh's team to improve the championship.

But then you've got teams that simply don't cut it Huddersfields crowds are rubbish but who do yo merge them with? They're certainly good enough as a team but the crowds aren't good enough to sustain a top flight team and Leeds won't merge maybe Sheffield would as it moves them to a top flight team but where would they play? Sheffield wouldn't like it. To me the only ones that can work are merging Castleford and Wakey as they're the same town at the end of the day and have average crowds at best and barely break even if at all but they've got a new ground coming and could make one team and if you got all of each teams fans into one it would make a team as followed as Leeds and Wigan nearly.

Hull would work too but why? Both teams crowds are ok anyway but together they would be 20000 which leaves just enough room at the KC for the away fans. And they could make money from the sale of craven park making a good solid base for a club.

Maybe a Cumbrian club? Salford need to be left as is as their new stadium is good but how can we allow them to stay as they are when their crowds are worse than wakey or cas?


It's tough but it needs doing people are going to be upset but its the right thing to do. If I was a wakey or cas fan I'd be up for it. It's better to have a stable club for a while than keep two separate unsustainable clubs.

1999 just called...it wants it's crap idea back.

Re: BILKO : Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:48 pm  

what a bunch of boring poop, it has been a great season and i can't wait for next season and i suspect as soon as withdrawal kicks in some of you moaners will as well.

Re: BILKO : Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:03 pm  

tangerine wrote:

what a bunch of boring poop, it has been a great season and i can't wait for next season and i suspect as soon as withdrawal kicks in some of you moaners will as well.

are you being serious its been the worst standard for a decade!

Re: BILKO : Fri Oct 05, 2012 10:05 pm  

I have just sent the following email to the RFL

"I have been a season ticket holder at Wigan for almost thirty years. For the first time ever I am contemplating not renewing my season ticket.

The reason for this is as follows:

Rugby league is run as a minority sport and is now light years behind rugby union in its profile.

The officiating and disciplinary process has become so incompetent and inconsistent as to make the competition a lottery.

The salary cap has achieved the lowering of playing standards whilst still allowing for lesser clubs to constantly flirt with administration.

The youth system (academy teams) are now being dismantled for reasons i do not understand. This initiative will weaken our sport in the long term.

I do not understand the strategy and direction of the RFL at a time when the whole world is facing austere financial measures.

I do not expect a response to my points as I expect little from an organisation who exhibits no leadership, strategy or vision for the future. "