Scully's Column: Thoughts on IMG's plans for rugby league

We also know that Leigh will be in the top flight come next season, following their convincing win over surprise Betfred Championship finalists the Batley Bulldogs.

Will this be the last promotion/relegation as we know it? I say this following new RL Commercial partners IMG’s strategic review report and proposed changes from the 2024 season.

IMG, who are a global sports and event management company, have signed a 12- year partnership with our sport to hopefully increase much needed revenues, profile and participation.

Rugby League, as we know it is the greatest sport there is as a product. Unfortunately, off-field we have never matched what happens on-field.

One of the challenges of IMG is to increase all levels of interest in the sport, leading to bigger and better commercial and broadcasting deals, which let’s be honest rule sport these days.

We’ve all seen the innovations in other sports to create new interest, new competition for both players and fans.

Cricket introduced the 100, Golf- the LIV Tour to name a couple, and although as a sport I think we have a product that already excites, do we too have to evolve?

One thing that I believe has held us back is the current promotion/relegation process, often introducing teams to the elite competition who can’t compete, nor add any commercial value to the game in the way it is required.

Whatever peoples opinions on previous efforts, we need expansion.

We can’t just survive on the ‘M62 corridor sport’ reputation that we’ve always had if we want to attract new fans and players to the game.

How we do this? Is it up to the experts?

Is it right to continue with the current format? I believe the current pool of players isn’t good enough to sustain all the current clubs, if we are to take the game to another level.

This has to be a huge part of IMG’s plans, how do we develop more and better players? The whole game-wide plan has to start at grassroots, through community game, scholarship, academy, reserve grade to elite level.

My opinion at the moment, there are not enough playing opportunities for some players, and that too many good players are lost to the sport due to the current ‘scouting’ system.

Our game is ideal for late developers who mature later than others…but unless your face fits at a young age, very few get that opportunity.

Will mergers come into play? Whatever is decided in the next few years by the powers that be, hopefully it will be exciting times - and take our fantastic game to the highs it deserves.

One way of certainty capturing the imagination of a new RL audience would be the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

Only two weeks away before the start of the competition, and hosts England facing a star-studded Samoa at Newcastle United’s St James Park.

This will no doubts be the best and most inclusive RLWC ever staged, with the mens, womens and wheelchair competitions all running simultaneously, with all 61 games being screen live by the BBC across their TV and online platforms.

In the mens competition, I think this will be the most competitive yet. Australia will rightly be favourites at 4/9 with Betfred, followed by NZ at 4/1 then England at 8/1. However, there are a few teams who can’t be overlooked. Tonga, the aforementioned Samoa, Fiji and PNG will all fancy their chances of upsetting the odds towards the knockout stages.

England certainly face a stiff challenge in that opening fixture. They go into the covid-delayed tournament without a number of big names, and namely Saints.

Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley and Mark Percival all miss out through injury, while a few other Betfred Super League stars such as Liam Farrell and Harry Newman.

However, with the patriotic Shaun Wane at the helm, I know come kick off on October 15 England will be up for the challenge!

Back to the domestic game…title sponsors Betfred have already backed the 4-midable Saints to go for a further record-breaking fifth title in 2023 at 9/4.

New boys Leigh not surprisingly rank outsiders at 66/1.