Promotion And Relegation To Return To Super League From 2015

Which two will be relegated in 2014?

Today the Rugby Football League (RFL) have announced that the clubs have agreed to the return of promotion and relegation in the Super League 2015.

As of next season the top two divisions, Super League and the Championship, will contain twelve sides splitting into three groups of 8. Therefore this season the bottom two sides will be relegated to set up the new format.

Further details of the restructuring will be revealed later this month.

So a radical new league structure that I am sure will cause a huge amount of debate from the fans. Honestly I think many will view this negatively. The idea is somewhat confusing but this is how it appears it will work.

It is believed that all of the sides in both the Super League and Championship will play each other in the traditional home and away before the league breaks into three groups of eight. Once this has happened every team will play every other in its league of eight once, with teams in the top and bottom group retaining their points from the first part of the season and those in the middle group starting from zero.

How this will then affect play-offs I do not know. It is to be revealed in the coming weeks.

Got it? Well as I said I am sure many will just see this as another poor decision from the RFL. On twitter many people have been very strong with their comments, many along the lines of the RFL is destroying the game. However many said that when the Super League began and suddenly teams such as Leeds became Leeds Rhinos but on the whole that has been a success.

Super League chairman Brian Barwick said:

"I would like to thank the clubs for their contribution to what was a very fruitful and positive meeting. The clubs were unanimous in their view that Super League should become a 12-team competition from 2015 and that there should be meaningful movement between Super League and the Championship. There was a full and frank debate about the competition structures and a commitment to support the proposed format. The Super League clubs' decision will now go before the RFL's independent board of directors for ratification next week."

The licensing idea taken from the Australian model has not worked. Period. Personally I am very happy with the return of promotion and relegation as believe it is an essential part of British sport.

However I feel the format which should have been chosen was four divisions of ten. A Super League 1&2 and Championship 1&2.  Having spoken will many in the game only 12 months ago I know that this was the preferred option.

I really hope that this new format works even if my head says it will not. For the sake of the game I think it needs to work or it will be more wasted years where greater and greater damage is being done.

Rugby League is a game which has been mishandled and mislead for many a year. We are currently facing a second consecutive year without a title sponsor. Which when the consider the quality of the game is staggering. I have to agree with Salford owner Marwan Koukash comments last week that clearly things are not working and the game is not growing the way it should be. The potential for Rugby League is huge and it is a crying shame that not more people are aware of the game nationwide. Unfortunately certain people like the way things are and like the fact it is seen as a 'northern game' played along the M62 corridor.   

Ultimately the return of promotion and relegation is without doubt a positive for the game even if I am apprehensive about the way it will be implemented. I look forward to hearing further information from the RFL as to how the new format will work. 

Saints Go Marching On

'You shall not pass'- St Helens stand firm yet again as they win at Warrington

Last night St Helens recorded their second consecutive win as their upturn in fortunes continued under interim duo Mike Rush and Kieron Cunningham. Another impressive display earned Rush's side a 28-10 victory over the Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Two wins in a row since Simmons departure

After thumping current champions the Leeds Rhinos 40-6 last week, St Helens form continued as they made it two wins from two since the departure of  previous Head Coach Royce Simmons (right) as they beat current table toppers Warrington.

This rejuvenated St Helens side raced into a 22-0 lead in only 23 minutes as Warrington were stunned by the aggressive and intense forward play of St Helens. Wolves coach Tony Smith must have wonder was was happening to his team. A brace from Paul Wellens, and tries from Ade Gardener and Francis Meli and conversions from Jonny Lomax put Saints in a commanding position and leaving the Wolves a mountain to climb. Warrington seems to be panicking as they continued to make mistakes and handling errors. Their mistakes presented more chances for Saints who continued to push forward. St Helens had many more chances for points however failed to take them, notably when Sia Sollila crossed however failed to control the ball and apply adequate downward pressure.

Hodgson gave Warrington hope at the break

This could have been a turning point and when Brett Hodgson scored just before the break, Warrington had hope. Hodgson converted the try to make it 22-6 at the break. It seemed that maybe just maybe the comeback was on. This was even more so when Joel Monaghan crossed 6 minutes after the break and Warrington were well and truly back in the game.  However the Warrington onslaught which was expected any really came as St Helens defended resiliently and only a few times did Warrington truly trouble them. The points were sealed as Solliola scored Saints' five try of the game. Solliola powerfully smashed his way through despite the attempts of Warrington pair Chris riley and Chris Hill. Lomax converted and the game was over and Warrington were condemned to their first defeat since June of last year. Warrington did have the final say with a try on the hooter as Ryan Atkins scored. This defeat costing the Wolves top spot as Huddersfield returned to the summit of the Stobart Super League table after beating Leeds at Headingley 22-12.

On this form St Helens are very dangerous and I expect their rise up the table to continue. For Tony Smiths' Warrington I think they will bounce back, no doubt, and do not envy Widnes who whom they meet on Thursday. This one could be a long night for Widnes and a difficult watch for coach Denis Betts. 

This year's Super League is looking fantastic as so many great games have already been seen and we are only a couple of months into the season. With so much to come it is all set up for another enthralling year of Rugby League

 Fridays Nights Results in Full:

Castleford	34 - 30 (18 - 16)	Hull K R
Tries: Griffin, Youngquest 2, Owen, Dixon, Orr		Tries: Welham 3, Hodgson, Withers
Goals: Dixon 5		Goals: Dobson 5

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Hull	24 - 18 (12 - 6)	Bradford
Tries: Horne 2, Manu, Briscoe		Tries: Lulia, Pryce, Bateman
Goals: Tickle 4		Goals: Sammut 3

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Leeds	12 - 22 (6 - 12)	Huddersfield
Tries: Hardaker, Leuluai		Tries: Crabtree, Chan, Eden, McGillvary
Goals: Sinfield 2		Goals: Brough 3

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Salford	20 - 40 (8 - 30)	Wigan
Tries: Holdsworth, Williams, Patten, James		Tries: Goulding 2, Charnley, Tomkins 2, Carmont, Farrell, Russell
Goals: Holdsworth 2		Goals: Charnley 4

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Warrington	16 - 28 (6 - 22)	St Helens
Tries: Hodgson, Monaghan, Atkins		Tries: Gardner, Wellens 2, Meli, Soliola
Goals: Hodgson 2		Goals: Lomax 4

Rhinos Win The World Club Challenge

Leeds Rhinos became the first British team since 2008 to win the World Club Challenge with a magnificent 26-12 victory over Australian Champions the Manly Sea Eagles at Headingley last night.

Hall crossing for a try 

A performance of class, passion and dedication earned the Rhinos the crown. Two stunning tries by Leeds winger Ryan Hall (left), one of which he ran the length of the field, made for a terrific night witnessed by a crowd over 21,000.

Leeds came out firing in the first half and went in at the break with a 16-6 lead after tries from Hall (2) and Kallum Watkins. Brett Steward crossed for the Sea-eagles. However the second half was a very different affair. Manly dominated for long period and put Leeds under significant pressure. Leeds' defence was asked questioned, although they had the answers time after time lead by their leader and captain Jamie Peacock who produced a terrific performance.

However Leeds' discipline in the second half was poor as they gave away penalty after penalty and Manly broke through with a try from Daly Cherry-Evans. The score was now 16-12. It seemed now it would be one-way traffic all the way to the end. Leeds' got lucky in periods with the video referees disallowing a Manly try by Steve Matai in the second half for an obstruction on Leeds centre Kallum Watkins. It started to feel as if it was going to be Leeds' night. You can see it on the Manly players faces and they were beat when Rob Burrow broke the tiring Manly defensive line to set up Jamie Jones-Bishop to score in the corner. That was the game. Right at the end Carl Ablett got on the end of a Kevin Sinfield grubber to ensure the victory by a 14 point margin.

This was Leeds third World Club Challenge triumph equally Bardford and Wigan's tally. It was an awesome atmosphere at Headingley and one that I think drove the players on to victory. You could argue that due to it being early season for Manly were rusty but then showed Leeds' could only beat the team put in front of them which they did.

Leeds and Coach Brian McDermott will now be hoping for a successful year and he must be eyeing both Challenge Cup success, after being beaten finalists last year, and retaining the Super League crown however the competition will be as fierce as ever.

Eastmond Heads To Bath As League Continues To Lose Its Stars

Eastmond on his way to bath 

With the recent announcement that Kyle Eastmond is leaving St Helens to join Bath it is a sad day for the game. One of the future stars in Rugby League will have left at the age of 21. He has conquered nothing in Rugby League with no winners medals.

'One that left earlier'
Ashton proved great success in Union

I could understand if he had won everything and wanted a new challenge like Jason Robinson did. I do believe that losing these players at an increasingly early age should worry the RFL. Before it was the older players Robinson, Andy Farrell and Henry Paul but recently Chris Ashton and now Eastmond both in their early 20's. Lee Smith also left and although he came back it is worrying how many good young players are being tempted. Maybe it is the money, Rugby Union has far greater financial power. Maybe its the prospect of playing in competitions such as the Heineken Cup or on the International stage in the Six Nations or in World Cup's in front of 80/90 thousand. League lacks these competitions competitiveness. 

Despite New Zealand's recent triumphs in League, which has been great to see, it is still only them and Australia. England are a far away third and after that you really are struggling. Union is now thought of by the world when people say Rugby. The Rugby Football League (RFL) were slow to react and Union stole a march and the initiative. As a result League has been left behind. The game itself is great  and as a spectacle is second to none. It has a host of famous fans from others sports including the likes of Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney. The newer rules introduced are good e.g. the idea of the 40/20 in 1999. 

Forward thinking- Video Technology 

It move to a summer sport has been a success and it has always been trying to improve e.g one of the first sports to use video technology in 1996, another major success. This has since been copied by Union as well as many other sports. It is a different game to Union as has pace, freedom and constant play. However the people who run Union have got the marketing side right. I know there is an argument for the coverage Union gets over League for many reasons such as background and snobbery however for me the RFL could and should have done more. In Union players have higher profiles due to the marketing and they have spread the game worldwide. Though still true that there is only 9 genuine teams. Although they have developing sides and the game is very strong in France (unlike League) and South Africa where League is non-exsistent. Having been left behind it is very tough for League to compete. The losing of stars also doesn't help. If Sam Tomkins of Wigan was now to leave it would be a disaster. The RFL must act as otherwise the game will go into further decline. It can not survive in England with many of the teams coming from only two counties. 

For too long people in the North of England want the game to be kept in the M62 corridor. They like it as 'their game' that no one really knows about. However this attitude for me must change if the sport is to get national recognition and international success.

Many will argue that it is flattering that other sports come and take the players and that the system of youth development is so good these players will be replaced and the game continued. For example I hear Jonny Lomax is to replace Eastmond. He is another young up and coming star. However despite the fact that I agree with this view I do not think it is healthy for the game. 

I do not really understand Eastmond's decision as he could have achieved so much and I would liked him to have seen the Australian NRL as a bigger challenge then going to Union. Union domestic game is poor as the only care is for the Heineken Cup and so for me the International pull and money may have done it. I wish him all the best however feel it is a mistake that he will later regret.