LET me extend my wholehearted congratulations to the England football team and their morale-boosting performances culminating in just falling short in extra-time of a World Cup final berth.
The scenes have been magnificent and demonstrate just what grip football has on the sporting landscape, not just here but virtually everywhere around the globe.
We have had some wonderful football events at Odsal during the Three Lions campaign, with everyone present here having an exciting time.
England will be back from this setback in their future campaigns, led no doubt by their inspirational coach Gareth Southgate. Congratulations.
In rugby league, our season, the first phase at least, is heading for a memorable finale of its own.
As predicted some weeks ago, there is a real scramble in Super League to avoid the bottom four positions, and as importantly six clubs are still hard at it, trying to make the top four spots of the Championship division.
From what I can see, the competition structure is delivering everything that it was designed to do, with tension and drama everywhere.
While the next three weeks will be captivating I think the best is yet to come.
I confidently predict that the middle eights will be terrific, and the most entertaining since they were introduced, and that the Super League clubs will definitely not be getting it their own way. Far from it.
Another week of total silence from the Super League clubs, and no sign of the exciting proposal for the future promised by those Super League chairman and Robert Elstone six weeks ago.
Of course, the Super League clubs have chosen not to engage directly with the Championship and League One clubs as to discussions over the future of rugby league in this country.
Obviously they are happy to meet among themselves, plotting what may be in their own best interests; they are also happy to meet the RFL to pressure them into giving the power away but they are apparently not prepared to meet with the Championship and League One clubs who they wish to subjugate.
Obviously Championship and League One clubs haven’t heard a peep because the Super League executive doesn’t have a better plan……not for the whole game they don’t.
They do undoubtedly have ideas about protecting their own members and making promotion to Super League an impossibility for Championship clubs, on the irreversible road to licensing but it’s not a plan for anyone but themselves.
Not even their own fans whom have roundly rejected both licensing and loop, or should they more precisely be known as “loopy” fixtures.
Picture the scenario of these chairmen sitting around in violent agreement with each other, unanimously concluding that too much jeopardy is bad for business, that they must of course have the final say on who gets to Super League and who gets turned away and of course who gets what funding.
That is why the RFL Board has and must retain control of the key decisions for the sport.
While the views of Championship and League One clubs continue to be disregarded and the clubs shown a complete lack of courtesy, we are not totally in the dark.
At least we have the public utterances of the new Super League CEO Robert Elstone to rely upon, such as they are.
Apparently according to one of his recent media interviews, the cash grab for Championship and League One distributions before the end of 2021 is now recognised as a non-starter.
If that is Robert Elstone’s intervention then well done son.
Some serious and patently obvious thinking unlike the profoundly dumb plan set out by Ian Lenagan.
But there was more good stuff in the interview. Rugby League is not football, and it needs to work together. Well AMEN. I couldn’t agree more. That’s exactly what we have been asking for.
But then the interview went a little off kilter. Firstly, Elstone said the reaction to the press conference unveiling him as CEO showed the sport at its worst.
I would contradict that. It was the press conference that brought discredit on the sport, not the reaction.
It was either classless or incompetent for a very senior executive to make decrees that were outside of his span of control.
Then Elstone questioned whether Championship club Rochdale Hornets were worth any more, or, by implication, in fact much less than say Rochdale Mayfield? Quite what that has got to do with someone with the title Super League CEO is a mystery.
I thought the whole justification for spending this enormous amount for an executive just for Super League was so he or she could concentrate singularly upon Super League, and grow their business and values.
Not sure therefore why asking whether Rochdale Hornets provided value for money fell into this brief.
That must be under the “Any other Duty” line of the job description, if indeed the Super League chairmen have actually got round to producing one. If so, perhaps we can all see it to understand the plan.
I realise I am making a trivial and indeed churlish point. It’s better we hear less from the Super League CEO about Rochdale and more about the plan to address the vast number of empty seats at some Super League club games, despite years of Super League money.
Or perhaps his view of the lip-service paid to reserve team rugby league or dual registration or the absence or lack of academy and high performance investment by some clubs.
I truly have nothing against Robert Elstone. I am sure his impressive CV would have made him a top candidate for the CEO role at the RFL, legitimately running the whole of game, with a mandate from the whole game, taking the whole game forward.
It’s not the person who is at fault here, it is the role and all the unchartered consequences arising from its creation, and it’s also the fault of those who appointed him, although in my opinion by taking the position Elstone has shown questionable judgement.
Back to structure and whatever the privy council of Super League chairmen may agree for their mutual benefit around their private and secretive meetings, there is no possibility of Championship and League One clubs agreeing to any changes for 2019, in the absence of compelling and persuasive evidence.
The Championship and League One clubs in our open forum were unanimous in that position.
Every club has commenced planning for next year, and have their season ticket permutations done and their recruitment decisions in full swing.
It is the stiff of the keystone cops to think you just change things at short notice.
No wonder our fans are bewildered by the selfishness on display. Long live vested self-interest. Not.
Finally (I can hear the sighs of relief), we journey down the M62 tomorrow to do battle with our neighbours the Hunslet Hawks.
They sit third equal in the table and pose a serious threat to our quest for promotion.
I know we will have a decent travelling turnout exceeding 1,000 supporters to rival the local fans, and we’ll need every bit of our support.
This game will undoubtedly be played like their grand final.
Expect another tough physical encounter. Remember kick-off is at the earlier time of 1pm at South Leeds Stadium.
Thank you for your continued support of the Bulls. It’s appreciated by the club, staff and players.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel