I don’t know why folk have an issue with IMG. They are only doing what they are paid to do, and that is to do the things the RFL has never had the bottle to do.

Unfortunately with these things you often have to go backwards before going forwards. Much of what IMG are doing will not bare fruit for years but imo it needed doing.

Hats off to the RFL who’ve realised how limited they are and how inept most club owners are. We are saving ourselves from ourselves.

Final say from me on this subject… it’s less an “emperor’s new clothes” and more a “what have the Roman’s ever done for us” type discussion…

I just did a bit of reading on IMG… and realised that they are giants in the world of sports and event management… just understanding that when they were acquired by Endeavour in 2013 it was a deal worth $2.4 billion… since then they have grown the business and it’s influence, exponentially.
Whatever RL is paying is (by comparison) a pittance… a drop in their corporate ocean.

In coaching parlance… I think we have to trust the process… IGM are a behemoth who (by all reasonable evidence) know what they are doing.

I totally agree.

Can’t get my head around why so many people seem to be so critical of them.

We have already seen their influence in SL with all games being shown on tv a significantly improved digital profile. Despite increased access to games on tv attendances are up, Magic Weekend (whilst not glamorous in Leeds) appears to have been a strong financial success.

I understand followers of clubs who probably have no chance of making SL being critical of them, however the tail has been wagging the dog for too long.

Radical changes were needed and IMG are making them. Obviously there is a financial incentive for them to make this happen but that’s business.

We need the best clubs in the top division of the sport. We get the best run clubs in there the on field improvements will follow.

If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you always got.

IMG are breaking that trend and so far so good in my opinion.

I think you're right in something had to be done. If you're in the top 12 you're happy, if not you'll feel cheated. Let's not forget we're not confirmed as in yet, and if you're out by 0.125 of a point you'll feel cheated.There may be some surprises when the top 12 are announced and an established super league side not making the cut would be interesting.

There is a current SL club widely tipped (if not more "expected") to drop from SL this year.

I'm not going to fall into the trap of naming them directly, so I'll call them "Tastleford Cigers".

Yes I agree.
We've been stagnating a long time. Our club is embracing it and will reap the rewards.