Thread by @StuGlendinning

Tragedies in modern era #RugbyLeague:
1. The splitting of @SuperLeague clubs from the @TheRFL (which - unbelievably - was supported by the RFL).
2. The abolition of @TOwolfpack (by the short- term self-interested @SuperLeague clubs).
3. Replacing the calm, sensible . . .

Richard Lewis (whom managed to unify the RFL with the amateur game) with Nigel Wood (who supported the splitting of the game with the aforementioned @SuperLeague split).
4. The appointment of Rob Elstone as CEO of the @SuperLeague. Aside from axing @TOwolfpack, his other . .

. . big decision was moving the Magic Weekend from the highly popular Newcastle to Liverpool (only for it to be moved back a year later). Fortunately his plan to sell future TV and sponsorship revenues (the private equity deal) was scuppered
5. Paying a salary of in excess of . .

£400k for the CEO of the @SuperLeague. If they'd advertised the role with a sal of, say, £150k, they would have had numerous stellar candidates.
6. The decision by the ARLC and NZRL for the @Kangaroos and @NZRL_Kiwis not to play in the @RLWC2021.
7. The abolition, at short . .

notice, of elite Academy's and linking Academy funding to the @SuperLeague. Predictably, even though it takes years to build an excellent Academy, funding for the @WidnesRL Academy was under-pressure as soon as the Vikings were relegated. That Academy (like others) is . .

permanently lost to the sport now!
8. The loss of virtually all #RugbyLeague journalists in the UK national press - meaning the sport gets much less coverage than ever - making it harder to attract blue-chip sponsors.
9. The sale of Central Park with @wigan no longer owning . .

their stadium.
10. Ditto @hullfcofficial, @SalfordDevil, @WidnesRL (& probably others?). Selling your stadium for a short term cash fix is inexcusable and leaves the team permanently poorer.
11. @WidnesRL going bust . . not once, but twice!
12. Tinkering with structures and . .

. . rules - including that ridiculous promotion/relegation play-off structure that was, disappointingly supported by the current CEO of the @TheRFL, that needed to be explained over and over to understand it. Predictably it was eventually axed.
13. The loss of the 4 yearly . .

GB Lions tour to Australia (it was so fantastic to see the hoardes if British Rugby League fans in Sydney or Brisbane). What a loss to the fans 😢

What have I missed?

Even when I started this tweet, I had no idea what a sad lament it would be.

14. @OfficialBullsRL selling their stadium (with thanks to @craigowatto)
15. The loss of Peter Deakin from @OfficialBullsRL

16. The introduction of the salary cap (with thanks to @RannyDobinson) - probably a controversial one. In fairness, it was probably introduced with the best of intentions (even out competition & to stop clubs going bust) - but it didn't work . . . and has stopped clubs signing .

big name Aussies, so has simply taken glamour out of the game (something RL can ill- afford) and made it less attractive to TV and sponsors.

17. The French Rugby League giving away (or selling) the ownership rights to the term 'Rugby World Cup'.
18. Re-introducing promotion and relegation. Controversial one this (I am sure most RL fans will disagree) . . . but the sport having made the incredibly tough decision to . .

abolish promotion and relegation as part of licensing, incredibly they re-introduced it. I believe the game needs a v strong London team capable of regularly winning trophies. I am sure there are people out there that can invest the £50m+ it would probably need, but no-one will

invest whilst there is insecurity of tenure in the @SuperLeague. Promotion and relegation kills investment and long term planning. Sad but, I think true.