Cup Double Header - by Alan

After this week’s announcement of the Challenge Cup semi-final double header at the Macron Stadium in Bolton on 5th August, you could argue some of the ideas we have discussed on the show are actually being put into action.  Not that we would claim any credit of course, it just seems like the argument to develop more ‘big event’ experiences around our major games have gained some traction with those in the corridors of power.

My first reaction was this is a positive move - there is always a fair amount of debate about where and when each semi-final will be and this generally isn’t confirmed until after the quarter finals.  Fans can now plan ahead and importantly get tickets now! The RFL are clearly pushing membership of their ‘Our League’ scheme and a ticket for both games for £21 for members seems like good value to me. The marketing push has started in the right way and we should be aiming to fill all 28,000 seats and gain some longer term benefits too:

• How about you can get £5 entry to any championship or league 1 game until end of the season with a ticket stub for the semi finals?
• Are we thinking about a women’s super league game at the same venue, or a masters or PDRL demo? Because we should have all of the above if we can!
• Could you bundle the semi double header ticket with one to the final?

The aggregated attendance for the semis last year was around 25,000.  One question I have is whether fans will be prepared to pay a bit more for two games, rather than just the usual one with their team in like before. I would hope we will be targeting the quarter final winners will good deals straight way. That’s emails ready to go to either Huddersfield and Catalan fans at 10pm tonight (as I write this!) and after each fixture over the weekend.

Let’s make this fixture a success and considerably better than my last experience at the Reebok, as it was then, when I saw England pounded in the rain by New Zealand in the World Cup semi in 2000.

Alan Cale
SLP

Episode 183 - More Free Pies Than Tries

The new episode of Super League Pod is up! You can listen to it HERE, or HERE if your an Apple Podcasts person, and you can also get it on the League Cast Android app, Podcast Addict or on YouTube.

This week Mark is joined by guest co-host and Hull KR fan Tim. We start off with a catch up on the SLP Shorts Mark has recorded and his memories from another fun Summer Bash weekend.

We cover the news from the last week, including a new signing at Saints, reality TV chat and Origin squad talk, from 24:30. SLP news is sponsored by Little Warden.
If you have a website, then visit LittleWarden.com and see what they can do to help you. They can help you with domain expiration checks, redirects and all sorts of other important background web stuff that they’ll make simple for you. Little Warden – monitoring the tedious!

We recap the big game action from Super League Round 16, with your fan views, in our Super League match reviews from 52:00. Super League Match Reviews are sponsored by Rob's Toy Shop on eBay.
Find a wide range of toys, gifts, rugby league birthday cards and more at Rob’s Toy Shop on eBay. Visit stores.ebay.co.uk/robstoyshop and on any orders over £5 you can earn 5% cash back, and also 1% of your order value will go into the SLP coffers, by putting 'SLPDiscount' at checkout – and if you want to give your 5% to SLP too you can by messaging Rob’s Toy Shop when you make your order. 

We also cover all the other results from the Championship Summer Bash, League 1, Women's Super League, NRL and more, from 104:30.

We then look to the future with our predictions for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, plus games in Super League, the Championship and League 1, from 134:30.

Finally, we finish with some Cup quarter final quizzing. It's been another big weekend! So get listening to your favourite Rugby League podcast!

Please feel free to make a donation to support SLP: paypal.me/superleaguepod
All donations are hugely appreciated, large or small. Remember, anyone who donates £20 or more will now be able to get a free t-shirt as a thank you. Listen to the show wrap up for more details.

Other Results and Predictions are available for sponsorship. Please get in touch by email if you're interested in sponsoring the show. Email us using superleaguepod@gmail.com

SLP Shorts - Magic & America

This week saw us launch something new from Super League Pod, with SLP Shorts.

These are going to be shorter shows released every now and again covering major news stories or hot debate topics, or taking in interviews.

We'll be releasing these as a compliment to the regular weekly shows, and these shorts will look to come in at about the half an hour mark.

The first two SLP Shorts are up now for you to listen to, here are the details:

SLP Short 001 - Talking Magic
Mark is joined by Josh McAllister to discuss a hot rugby league topic of what to do with the Magic Weekend. We discuss where it could be held and how the event should be structured, amongst other things. You can listen here:
Apple podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/slp-short-001-talking-magic/id851882654?i=1000412160504&mt=2
Others https://www.spreaker.com/user/superleaguepod/slp-short-001-talking-magic

SLP Short 002 - Talking Rugby League in America
Mark speaks to Nate Gladdin from the Rugby League in America Podcast ahead of the start of the USA RL domestic season. Find out about who the players and teams to look for are in that competition. We also talk about the prospects of the USA Hawks in the World Cup qualifiers to come later this year. Finally we touch on the prospect of a US franchise entering the game over here. You can listen here:
Apple podcasts https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/slp-short-002-talking-rugby-league-in-america/id851882654?i=1000412383699&mt=2
Others https://www.spreaker.com/user/superleaguepod/slp-short-002-talking-rugby-league-in-am

SLP Episode 182 - The Magic Cottage

The new episode of Super League Pod is up! You can listen to it HERE, or HERE if your an Apple Podcasts person, and you can also get it on the League Cast Android app, Podcast Addict or on YouTube.

This week Mark is joined by guest co-host and Bradford fan Alan, and we start with reliving our experiences from Super League's big weekend out in Newcastle, including an eventful SLP family late night takeaway.

We cover the news from the last week, which starts with the big coaching news out of Wigan, from 15:30. SLP news is sponsored by Little Warden.
If you have a website, then visit LittleWarden.com and see what they can do to help you. They can help you with domain expiration checks, redirects and all sorts of other important background web stuff that they’ll make simple for you. Little Warden – monitoring the tedious!

We recap the big game action from Magic Weekend, with your fan views, in our Super League match reviews from 47:30. Super League Match Reviews are sponsored by Rob's Toy Shop on eBay.
Find a wide range of toys, gifts, rugby league birthday cards and more at Rob’s Toy Shop on eBay. Visit stores.ebay.co.uk/robstoyshop and on any orders over £5 you can earn 5% cash back, and also 1% of your order value will go into the SLP coffers, by putting 'SLPDiscount' at checkout – and if you want to give your 5% to SLP too you can by messaging Rob’s Toy Shop when you make your order. 

We also cover all the other results from the Championship, League 1, Women's Super League, NRL and more, from 133:30.

We then look to the future with our predictions for Round 16 of Super League and the Championship Summer Bash, from 150:30.

Finally, we finish with some Summer Bash quizzing and wrap things up just before the tired hosts drift off. It's been a big weekend! So get listening to your favourite Rugby League podcast!

Please feel free to make a donation to support SLP: paypal.me/superleaguepod
All donations are hugely appreciated, large or small. Remember, anyone who donates £20 or more will now be able to get a free t-shirt as a thank you. Listen to the show wrap up for more details.

Other Results and Predictions are available for sponsorship. Please get in touch by email if you're interested in sponsoring the show. Email us using superleaguepod@gmail.com

Episode 181 - It Doesn't Go Both Ways

The new episode of Super League Pod is up! You can listen to it HERE, or HERE if your an Apple Podcasts person, and you can also get it on the League Cast Android app, Podcast Addict or on YouTube.

This week Mark is joined by regular guest co-host Tim G. We pick up on some bits from the last week first, including a shout out to new RL podcast Rugby League in America.

We cover the news from the last week, which starts with the international scene but moves on to Tomkins, re-signings and injuries, from 15:15. SLP news is sponsored by Little Warden.
If you have a website, then visit LittleWarden.com and see what they can do to help you. They can help you with domain expiration checks, redirects and all sorts of other important background web stuff that they’ll make simple for you. Little Warden – monitoring the tedious!

We recap the big game action from an ill-disciplined Round 6 of the Challenge Cup, with your fan views, in our match reviews from 46:15. Super League Match Reviews are sponsored by Rob's Toy Shop on eBay.
Find a wide range of toys, gifts, rugby league birthday cards and more at Rob’s Toy Shop on eBay. Visit stores.ebay.co.uk/robstoyshop and on any orders over £5 you can earn 5% cash back, and also 1% of your order value will go into the SLP coffers, by putting 'SLPDiscount' at checkout – and if you want to give your 5% to SLP too you can by messaging Rob’s Toy Shop when you make your order. 

We also cover all the other results from the Championship, League 1, Women's Super League, NRL and more, from 120:00.

We then look to the future with our predictions for Round 15 of Super League as it's Magic Weekend time, from 134:00.

Finally, we finish with some quizzing and recommendations, just before Mark loses his train of thought as a long show catches up on him! So get listening to your favourite Rugby League podcast!

Please feel free to make a donation to support SLP: paypal.me/superleaguepod
All donations are hugely appreciated, large or small.

Other Results and Predictions are available for sponsorship. Please get in touch by email if you're interested in sponsoring the show. Email us using superleaguepod@gmail.com

Episode 180 - Mr Darts and the Waterboy

The new episode of Super League Pod is up! You can listen to it HERE, or HERE if your an Apple Podcasts person, and you can also get it on the League Cast Android app or on YouTube.

This week Mark is joined by another new guest co-host, Leeds Rhinos super-fan Rich. After a quick intro to Rich, we run through your feedback, which centres on a more rounded discussion on the Zak Hardaker situation than we were able to have last week.

We cover the news from the last week, which includes some big name re-signings and some bad injury news in Super League and beyond, from 26:45. SLP news is sponsored by Little Warden.
If you have a website, then visit LittleWarden.com and see what they can do to help you. They can help you with domain expiration checks, redirects and all sorts of other important background web stuff that they’ll make simple for you. Little Warden – monitoring the tedious!

We recap the big game action from Round 14 of Super League, with your fan views and all the important stats, in our match reviews from 48:30. Super League Match Reviews are sponsored by Rob's Toy Shop on eBay.
Find a wide range of toys, gifts, rugby league birthday cards and more at Rob’s Toy Shop on eBay. Visit stores.ebay.co.uk/robstoyshop and on any orders over £5 you can earn 5% cash back, and also 1% of your order value will go into the SLP coffers, by putting 'SLPDiscount' at checkout – and if you want to give your 5% to SLP too you can by messaging Rob’s Toy Shop when you make your order. 

We also cover all the other results from the Championship, League 1, Women's Super League, NRL, the French cup, and even U9s action, from 116:00. Other Results are sponsored by Master of Shaves.
Master of Shaves is a small family run business that sells high quality traditional wet shaving products and specialises in Straight Razors. Visit their website masterofshaves.com and Super League Pod listeners can get 10% off their order by using the voucher code ‘SLP’ at checkout.

We then look to the future with our predictions for Round 6 of the Challenge Cup as the big boys join the competition, from 132:45. Predictions are sponsored by Payroll Central UK Limited.
Payroll Central is a family run business based in Derbyshire, offering an outsourced payroll service for businesses across the UK. Unlike many accountants who offer payroll as a side service, they are fully qualified payroll specialists who provide payroll services for businesses in every sector. Visit payroll-central.co.uk and if you mention Super League Pod when you contact them you can get one month’s free payroll service and a 10% discount on their normal prices.

Finally, we finish with a quiz from Mark and a quiz about Rich, before a Visit York tourism advert in the recommendations. So get listening to your favourite Rugby League podcast!

Please feel free to make a donation to support SLP: paypal.me/superleaguepod
All donations are hugely appreciated, large or small.

Guest Blog: West Wales Raiders vs the Toronto Wolfpack

This week, London-based SLP listener David Cantrell sent in an email that neatly covers where we are and where we want to get to with Rugby League expansion. In the wake of West Wales suffering a record loss and ahead of the Wolfpack's first game on Canadian soil this year, it was as pertinent a time as any to take a look at expansion, so we're sharing his email for you all in this post:

Now we've got a really good view of the whole spectrum of models for growing rugby league in non-traditional markets! Most of the expansion clubs are working with a combination of local and imported players. Toronto are working entirely with imported players, and can spend enough money on imports to do well. The West Wales Raiders are working entirely with local players and getting twatted every week.

There's been some criticism online for the Wolfpack for doing it like they are, which I think is misguided. In Canada, rugby league is basically starting from zero, and there isn't all that much of an existing rugby union market either. They need to convince people who already have plenty of other sports available to them that rugby league - indeed, rugby in general - is worth paying attention to. And to do that they need a marketable product that is fun to watch. Only once they've got that can they hope to convince enough people to actually take the game up in the local amateur clubs (there are a few), so that they can then in a few years start bringing through local talent in to the professional team.

West Wales Raiders have a much easier job of drawing on local talent as there are so many thousands of union players in their area who are at least aware that League exists, who will have heard of some of the great Welsh players, that can code-switch, and who already know that playing rugby is a good fun way to spend your Saturday afternoon. In fact, they've said that they're looking to recruit lads who have found that they can't make the grade with the Scarlets and Ospreys. I expect that provided the club owners don't give up earlier than this happens, West Wales will start to produce good local players, and get good results using them, at about the same time that the Wolfpack start to bring through Canadian players in significant numbers. Different local market conditions just mean that they have to get there by different routes.

It's also worth taking a look at the Wolfpack's marketing, I'm going to be looking out for it when I'm over there for the Broncos away fixture. Much of it is of course invisible to us over here, but one thing did catch my eye on their website. Rugby Ontario - the provincial rugby union organisation - are running a big promotional event in Toronto on the 8th of June. The Wolfpack are the headline sponsor: http://www.rugbyontario.com/news-detail/10038569/

So the Wolfpack are eyeing up local union talent and fans as well, something that I've always said they should do - the Canadian national union side is really quite good, and they have no local professional competition so players all have to emigrate if they want to make their living from the game they love. They're ripe for the picking, and it appears that the local union authorities are ok with that. Both league and union are very minor sports in Canada, and they'd both be happy with more rugby balls in kids' hands, no matter which code they play. They'd both prefer you to play rugby than CFL or ice hockey.