Mailbox: Rugby league is a laughing stock in the world of sport

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

In the relatively few years (about 15) I’ve been following rugby league, I’ve gradually and grudgingly become used to the constant tinkering with the rules, odd initiatives such as the announcement of (this year alone) two refs, the Golden Point if scores are level at full-time and so on.

However, this business of making the cup-holders pay half a million just to defend their trophy makes me sick to the pit of my stomach.

How can such a ploy have any justification at all? What is it going to look like to the (non RL) public? What will it look like to other comparable sports?

The words ‘laughing stock’ immediately spring to mind. And they didn’t even have the good decency to wait ’til April 1st before issuing the proclamation.

Sam Clarke

Editor’s comment: The constant chopping and changing of rugby league both on and off the pitch is frustrating, especially when it comes to attracting casual fans. If you last watched a game a few years ago, then there will be a number of changes to pick up, and the intricacies of the game aren’t straight forward to understand for new fans as it is. The sport is obsessed with expanding, yet continues to make a fool of itself when it doesn’t need to – the Catalans situation being a prime example.

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