rugbyam.co.uk/articles/elstone-a ... from-2019/ Back to promotion & relegation (1 up 1 down) in 2019 instead of the Super 8's. Quote New Super League Chief Executive Robert Elstone has announced that the controversial Super 8s format will end this season and that the sport will go back to one up, one down in 2019. Any team that gains promotion or is relegated in the Super 8s format this season will join their respective league ahead of the new structure, making the end of the 2018 season crucial. The Super 8s came in just four years ago but has attracted many critics and Super League clubs have voted overwhlemingly in scrapping the current system to return to a more traditional format from next season. Speaking at his unvieling in Warrington, where he was joined at the top table by Eamon McManus, Ian Lenegan and Simon Moran, Elstone also confirmed that from 2019, the Million Pound Game will be played between the top two teams in the Championship. In his first press conference, the new Chief Executive came across well and reassured non-Super League clubs funding for the rest of the current Sky TV deal which ends in 2021. Elstone, who started his new Super League role earlier this month, has a passion for Rugby League and a wealth of experience gained from several Senior Executive and Board positions across different sporting organisations including most recently, Chief Executive of Everton Football Club. His appointment is Super League’s first major step into a new era. He will have a focus on growth, prosperity and success of the Game’s leading clubs and will aim to improve the promotion, marketing and selling of the best possible competition. '"

rugbyam.co.uk/articles/elstone-a ... from-2019/ Back to promotion & relegation (1 up 1 down) in 2019 instead of the Super 8's. Quote New Super League Chief Executive Robert Elstone has announced that the controversial Super 8s format will end this season and that the sport will go back to one up, one down in 2019. Any team that gains promotion or is relegated in the Super 8s format this season will join their respective league ahead of the new structure, making the end of the 2018 season crucial. The Super 8s came in just four years ago but has attracted many critics and Super League clubs have voted overwhlemingly in scrapping the current system to return to a more traditional format from next season. Speaking at his unvieling in Warrington, where he was joined at the top table by Eamon McManus, Ian Lenegan and Simon Moran, Elstone also confirmed that from 2019, the Million Pound Game will be played between the top two teams in the Championship. In his first press conference, the new Chief Executive came across well and reassured non-Super League clubs funding for the rest of the current Sky TV deal which ends in 2021. Elstone, who started his new Super League role earlier this month, has a passion for Rugby League and a wealth of experience gained from several Senior Executive and Board positions across different sporting organisations including most recently, Chief Executive of Everton Football Club. His appointment is Super League’s first major step into a new era. He will have a focus on growth, prosperity and success of the Game’s leading clubs and will aim to improve the promotion, marketing and selling of the best possible competition. '"

Bit of a side-story to this from the Hull paper: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... 8s-1667763 Quote Super League plans to scrap the Super 8s structure from next year – but are committed to promotion and relegation from the sport. At the unveiling of Robert Elstone as the competition’s new chief executive, a number of chairmen were on hand to reveal the important plans for the future. =#BF0000Wigan owner Ian Lenagan, who revealed Leeds Rhinos are the sole dissenting voice, alongside St Helens chairman Eammon McManus spoke about why the Super 8s – which have been in place since the 2015 campaign – are a flawed concept with ideas in place at the end of the current season.'" This has been brewing for a few seasons this....what is it about Hetherington?

Bit of a side-story to this from the Hull paper: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... 8s-1667763 Quote Super League plans to scrap the Super 8s structure from next year – but are committed to promotion and relegation from the sport. At the unveiling of Robert Elstone as the competition’s new chief executive, a number of chairmen were on hand to reveal the important plans for the future. =#BF0000Wigan owner Ian Lenagan, who revealed Leeds Rhinos are the sole dissenting voice, alongside St Helens chairman Eammon McManus spoke about why the Super 8s – which have been in place since the 2015 campaign – are a flawed concept with ideas in place at the end of the current season.'" This has been brewing for a few seasons this....what is it about Hetherington?

Great news! The chairmen are all in agreement barring Leeds. They all say that the format doesn’t generate enough income which is obviously not good. The format clearly contributes towards that in my view and here’s why.

This season, we will potentially play Warrington 6 times. Home, away, Magic, Challenge Cup, Super 8s, play offs.

I love my rugby league and I love close rivalries but those rivalries get watered down when we play each other so often. This means I’m not bothered if I miss a game against them because we’ll play them again in a few weeks anyway, therefore the gates are down and so is the revenue.

We should play each other home and away and with the potential to meet in cup competitions or a grand final. I’m not sure how we can get to that but having first past the post as champions would help. I’m looking forward to seeing what impact Mr Elstone has on our game.

Let's hope Mr Elstone recommends/insists all Super League teams have to run a reserves side.

Is the negotiations with Eddie Hearn/Matchroom still happening? Or does this change things?

So if it’s a 12 team too flight and you play Home and away that’s 22 games plus magic so a total of 23 games.

Any ideas what is replacing those lost games? Playing some teams once more based on this years league placings? An extended play off series?

SL definitely looks like its heading into a new and refreshing phase: The announcement of a young CEO, the movement of the RFL headquarters away from Red Hall to the Etihad Campus, the 'three musketeer' club chairmen Lenaghan, McManus & Moran spearheading the crusade against the 'Yorkshire Old Farts' regiment.

New and improved TV deal next?

Perhaps we could try a fourteen team super league with a six team knock out play off for some kind of grand final trophy oh wait.......

It's all going off https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/06/12/ ... ue-format/ Quote Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington has issued the following statement following a press conference and statement earlier today from new New Super League Chief Executive, Robert Elstone. Today’s announcement regarding plans for next season appear to be an absurd grab for power for the game by a small group of men who think they own the game. Leeds Rhinos are not party to this and are totally against the creation of a separate Super League executive. Super League clubs voted 7 to 5 at our last meeting on some key issues related to promotion and relegation. The game is in need of strong leadership from Brian Barwick and his Board of Directors at the Rugby Football League, the games governing body, and this announcement should bring a response from everyone connected with the game.'"

It's all going off https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/06/12/ ... ue-format/ Quote Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington has issued the following statement following a press conference and statement earlier today from new New Super League Chief Executive, Robert Elstone. Today’s announcement regarding plans for next season appear to be an absurd grab for power for the game by a small group of men who think they own the game. Leeds Rhinos are not party to this and are totally against the creation of a separate Super League executive. Super League clubs voted 7 to 5 at our last meeting on some key issues related to promotion and relegation. The game is in need of strong leadership from Brian Barwick and his Board of Directors at the Rugby Football League, the games governing body, and this announcement should bring a response from everyone connected with the game.'"

Quote MattyB="MattyB"It's all going off https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/06/12/ ... ue-format/ '" Sounds like a man under pressure.

Quote MattyB="MattyB"It's all going off https://www.therhinos.co.uk/2018/06/12/ ... ue-format/ '" Sounds like a man under pressure.

Do we need to replace those lost games?

Hetherington's just used to having things his own way and is spitting his dummy out.

What a stupid time to release a statement like that. The social media reaction gives an indication of how little people care for his opinion.