Revamp Rugby League

Rugby League in England is going through a tough time. Meanwhile, in Australia and New Zealand the game is resurgent. At the NRL level, games are sold out, and amongst youth, youngsters are on waiting lists trying to get into teams, and clubs are crying out for coaches.

Looking at the game in the North of England, there is a lot of history and passion there, no doubt about it. Moving to playing during the summer has been a big benefit. Games are now played in pleasant conditions, fans want to watch and players are not having to wade through ankle deep mud. Whoever came up with the idea was a genius.

I read somewhere that the NRL is making a takeover bid for Super League in England. As part of that, the games would have to move back to winter. Don't do it England, because if you do, you'll be consigned to the minors forever  (or is that miners...boom boom). The NRL see the competition on the TV and want to close it down, simple as that.

Better still, I have a few tentative suggestions for bringing life back to games in England:

1. Play over four, 20 minute quarters.

2. Introduce 2 point drop goals from anywhere (not the NRL two pointer from beyond the 40m line).

3. Scrap the 40:20 rule (largely due to the above, and what is explained below).

4. Only insist that the sixth play-the-ball must use the ball if play has not progressed 20 metres (this is like NFL, where you keep possession if you make yardage). If the team with the ball makes 20 metres, the referee calls tackle restart. 

5. Have two referees and scrap video referral.

6. Stop being ridiculous about how you define a knock-on. 

7. Score tries 5 points, conversion 1 point, penalties and drop goals 2 points.

8. Start the game and second half with a place kick-off, not drop-kick, and quarters restart from where play ended at quarter time.

9. Allow unlimited interchange, but have 5 players on the bench.

10. As a curtain-raiser, play women's Rugby League Nines.

11. Have a player draft, centralise player salaries with the cap at one million pounds per team. The local team becomes a licensee promoting the game.

12. Get rid of the 10 player overseas quota. This is nonsense as you can have an Englishman move to Australia at a young age, learn the game there, then return in their late 20's and be considered an import. Just scrap it, and have anyone of any nationality legally living in the UK able to play. 

13. Extra time is 10 minutes, with only a try immediately ending the match, otherwise the match ends in a draw if the score is still locked after extra time with no tries.

14. Scrap yellow cards. 13 players are on the field the whole time, but anyone sent from the field is excluded for the rest of the match. Teams only go to less than 13 when they run out of players on the bench.

Think about it; these suggestions would open up the game, reward effort both defensively and on attack, and make the contest fairer.

LIV Golf Could End Soon

Reports are coming in that the Saudi backed golf tour, LIV Golf, could have the plug pulled on it. It makes sense as Saudi Arabia has suffered a severe hit to its revenues. They can still ship oil out through their Red Sea port, but the capacity there is limited, so the double-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz must end soon.

Saudi Arabia spend a lot on sports in an attempt to soften their image worldwide. They invest in major soccer teams, boxing, motor sports, sailing, the list is endless. 

What will happen to the golfers now playing on the LIV tour? My guess is most of them will find a way back into the PGA. That's because the PGA really does need them for their talent. If they try to ban them, then that leaves a player pool wandering around the place who may form into another tour and, perhaps, outdo the PGA. It's an old quandary any business faces; don't leave assets out there that someone else may operate better.

Professional sport across the world is about to have a serious haircut if this conflict goes on much longer. That's because it isn't just Saudi Arabia sports washing, add the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to the list as well. Take away that money and the value of many pro sports franchises starts to plummet.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/16/liv-and-let-die-golf-rebels-count-cost-saudi-cutbacks

A slowdown in Saudi Arabia’s lavish spending on sport, which is conservatively estimated to have cost the kingdom more than $10bn in the past five years, had been expected, but its Public Investment Fund’s withdrawal of financial support for the rebel tour – which was first mooted to LIV execs on Monday – has caused shockwaves throughout the wider industry.

Significantly, the possibility of PIF’s withdrawal was not even addressed in an email sent by the LIV chief executive, Scott O’Neil, to his staff on Wednesday evening, which has left many of them more fearful for their jobs. Such concerns are not limited to golf, with other sports administrators fearful that similar cuts in Saudi’s budget could be coming their way.

NBA: Memphis Grizzlies Progress to Western Conference Semi-finals

The Memphis Grizzlies have defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs 4-2. The sixth and final score was 114-106, with the Grizzlies putting in a stunning effort in the final quarter. They'd been behind all game, but made the shots count when it really mattered.

All right, now Grizzlies fans can start dreaming. They've never won an NBA title, but this year could be it. Up next are the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are not at their best, so the series is winnable. 

Bury FC May Disappear

On the list of things you couldn't make up if you tried; Bury FC are close to being expelled from the English Football League (Association Football or Soccer for those who don't know). They play in League One, the third tier of the English football system. The problem they face is that the new owner, who bought the club for 1 pound sterling (US$1.22) late last year, has not been able to satisfy the EFL that he has the finances to run a fully professional club for the coming season. That season kicks off this weekend.

Read about it here: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/bury-suspend-efl-league-one-match-mk-dons

Apparently owner Steve Dale has put the club up for sale. I suggest an offer of a fiver, bearing in mind the new owner is acquiring the accumulated debts, which include unpaid player wages, transfer fees and the like. Their home ground is owned by the club, which I understand has a mortgage against it. The real cost then is more likely in the millions of pounds, but given they're in League One after being promoted from League Two last year, the prospect is they may keep on winning. That's right ambitious folk amongst you, they're two steps off English Premier League. Got your attention?

Update: The Chairman of Bury FC has put out the following statement in reply to the EFL: https://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/statement-from-chairman/

I think the key to this matter is contained in the third to last paragraph (starting with the words "Then the EFL meeting last night and subsequent statement..."). The way I read this is that the EFL want to see funds in the bank, and this must happen before they release 500k+ to Bury.

Garbine Muguruza

Watching Wimbledon, I admire the mental toughness of Gabine Muguruza. When down or things are not working out she has the capacity to self-correct and get back on track. She did this against both Angelique Kerber and Svetlana Kuznetsova. She is clearly playing to a game plan and it's good she keeps to that plan.

[Phew, she won Wimbledon, I'm back to predicting well after my failure in picking the Cavs to win the NBA Playoffs]

Lexi Thompson and that Golf Ball

Lexi Thompson was penalised at the recent ANA Inspiration golf tournament. She moved her ball and for that she received a 2-shot penalty followed by a further 2-shots for signing an incorrect scorecard.

We are hearing sympathy from fellow players and a call to change the rules. I don't agree, the rules should stay exactly the way they are. I say this carefully, and here's why: golfers score themselves. So with that luxury and in order to balance things up, anyone can call foul on a shot. That's fair. Golfers honour the code.

Think about the the possible repercussions of a rule change. If only a select few can challenge, then self-scoring may lead to collusion between groups of players. Not every player is closely scrutinised, the game relies on their honesty. Consider situations where you're doing a round together with a friend on the tour, he's about to miss the cut, while you may challenge for the lead. On the back nine you may agree to cheat, so you can gain on the leaders and your mate may miss the cut. See?

If you're going to restrict who may challenge, then you need all scoring in the professional game to be refereed and scored, with only the referee able to say what the score was; then challenges may be restricted to rival players and other referees. That's like tennis, where they have an umpire, and linesmen, overall tournament referee and challenges from players.

So long as the golfers score themselves, then I say no way to professional golfers being scrutinised less. There is too much at stake for that to happen.