Mailbox: How about a conference system for Super League
Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com
Dear James,
We are again in a situation where the RL are debating the way we should move our game forward.
I have my opinions, I think the current situation with middle 8s isn’t ideal but has prompted teams to try harder with the promise of Super League, Doncaster, Featherstone and Halifax being just a few.
Unfortunately the RFL seems to be more interested in Toronto, Toulouse and New York!
So where from here!?
Well I have an idea but it’s not perfect but it allows all to be happy.
I would adopt the NFL format with 4 initial leagues splitting the regions.
Please bare in mind this is for both equality and travel purposes!
If Season kicks off in Feb then Thursday trips from day Hull to St Helens aren’t overly welcome so what if early season games were sectioned.
Imagine 4 leagues of 5 or 6 that could include Championship teams. So we would have a central league with Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield and Keighley, then an East with Hull FC, KR, Castleford, Wakefield and York and a Lancashire league with the obvious.
Add to that the continental league with Catalans, Toronto, Toulouse and New York!
Now we would play the teams in our own league home and away but would play other teams in a varying way year to year!
Top teams in each league to the play offs, the best of the rest get a play off to join them and then it’s knockout from there on in!!
I know it’s not perfect but it gives all teams a chance, makes for less traveling therefore more away fans and eliminates that daft league leaders shield!
Now feel free to insult me!
Scott Montgomery
Editor: Certainly a bold suggestion from Scott! The conference system could work, though I would question whether there are enough strong teams to make this happen. Clearly the current set up with a mix of big spending franchises and the traditional clubs isn’t working, and it’s going to be hard to find a “fits all” solution which is perhaps why the bigger clubs are pushing for the best solution for them – as they are in pole position to push the game forward.
Mailbox gives you the chance to get your voice heard and start the debate with the rugby league audience. Want to be featured? Email the editor: james@loverugbyleague.com