Always reminds me of nice but dim off Harry Enfield, and acts like him as well 

In fairness, did you hear Smith shouting at him during the captain's challenge? "are you stupid?!" 

just_browny: Wires71: just_browny: Wires71: matt_wire: What are sky banging on with all this euphemistic talk about "changes in the game"? Just say what the hell is happening?  The complete board of the RFL has been ousted (long overdue) and the relationship between the SL and RFL is under review. There is also the NRL takeover potential.  Do you think Nigel Wood is the right person to lead that review? Eamonn McManus seems to, which is an even more shocking indictment than a quick read through Wood's previous record in senior positions in the game. I'm not sure they had many alternatives for an emergency, temporary appointment and he seems to have the backing of the clubs. The statement from McManus pulls no punches.  It read like all of McManus's rants to me; a childish tantrum. Good article by Aaron Bower (who I don't always love) puts things into perspective: For the third time in less than a decade, there will a review of the professional game. In 2017, the clubs decided it was time for change and they paid the governing body’s CEO, Nigel Wood, more than £300,000 to leave early. They brought in Robert Elstone and went through a review of the game. By 2021, he had gone. The following year, the clubs unanimously approved a 12-year strategic partnership with IMG, which included, naturally, a review of how rugby league was operating. IMG, which is paid about £400,000, may now be pushed out after the clubs – yes, them again – decided they wanted more change at the RFL. Their plan? Oust the chair, Simon Johnson, and bring back Wood – now in control at Bradford – on an interim basis to lead … a strategic review. Can you spot a theme? After eight years and seemingly endless reviews, the clubs, who now hold the power after giving themselves the right to bring back Wood, seem to be throwing the cards up in the air and seeing how they land. The optics surrounding Wood’s return are terrible enough. You do not have to delve far to find a quote from an owner demanding it was time for change when he was on his way out, only to be lauding his return now as gamechanging. The St Helens owner, Eamonn McManus, said in 2018: “No one can credibly say that Super League and the game of rugby league in this country has in any way strengthened or improved over the last decade; quite the contrary I’m afraid.” Now he says: “There could be no better qualified or motivated person than Nigel Wood to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.” It feels a move of pure regression. But the problems run much deeper than one man. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/22/from-one-crisis-to-another- Good post. The really annoying thing is everyone can see it but the clubs. Me me me me. Yes I get owners invest a lot of money but it’s them that are killing the sport by running it in their own self interests. Before our game kicked off Carney, Sculthorpe and Wilkin agreed Wood is a step backwards. It was said Wire, Wigan and Huddersfield did vote for Wood and Steve Mascord tweeted that the NRL don’t want anything to do with us while he is involved. Also speculation that the clubs who wanted Wood involved are doing it because they don’t want the NRL to take over. Us fans will not know the truth in any of this but we need one body in charge and stop the clubs having the power.

just_browny: Wires71: just_browny: Wires71: matt_wire: What are sky banging on with all this euphemistic talk about "changes in the game"? Just say what the hell is happening?  The complete board of the RFL has been ousted (long overdue) and the relationship between the SL and RFL is under review. There is also the NRL takeover potential.  Do you think Nigel Wood is the right person to lead that review? Eamonn McManus seems to, which is an even more shocking indictment than a quick read through Wood's previous record in senior positions in the game. I'm not sure they had many alternatives for an emergency, temporary appointment and he seems to have the backing of the clubs. The statement from McManus pulls no punches.  It read like all of McManus's rants to me; a childish tantrum. Good article by Aaron Bower (who I don't always love) puts things into perspective: For the third time in less than a decade, there will a review of the professional game. In 2017, the clubs decided it was time for change and they paid the governing body’s CEO, Nigel Wood, more than £300,000 to leave early. They brought in Robert Elstone and went through a review of the game. By 2021, he had gone. The following year, the clubs unanimously approved a 12-year strategic partnership with IMG, which included, naturally, a review of how rugby league was operating. IMG, which is paid about £400,000, may now be pushed out after the clubs – yes, them again – decided they wanted more change at the RFL. Their plan? Oust the chair, Simon Johnson, and bring back Wood – now in control at Bradford – on an interim basis to lead … a strategic review. Can you spot a theme? After eight years and seemingly endless reviews, the clubs, who now hold the power after giving themselves the right to bring back Wood, seem to be throwing the cards up in the air and seeing how they land. The optics surrounding Wood’s return are terrible enough. You do not have to delve far to find a quote from an owner demanding it was time for change when he was on his way out, only to be lauding his return now as gamechanging. The St Helens owner, Eamonn McManus, said in 2018: “No one can credibly say that Super League and the game of rugby league in this country has in any way strengthened or improved over the last decade; quite the contrary I’m afraid.” Now he says: “There could be no better qualified or motivated person than Nigel Wood to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.” It feels a move of pure regression. But the problems run much deeper than one man. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/22/from-one-crisis-to-another- Good post. The really annoying thing is everyone can see it but the clubs. Me me me me. Yes I get owners invest a lot of money but it’s them that are killing the sport by running it in their own self interests. Before our game kicked off Carney, Sculthorpe and Wilkin agreed Wood is a step backwards. It was said Wire, Wigan and Huddersfield did vote for Wood and Steve Mascord tweeted that the NRL don’t want anything to do with us while he is involved. Also speculation that the clubs who wanted Wood involved are doing it because they don’t want the NRL to take over. Us fans will not know the truth in any of this but we need one body in charge and stop the clubs having the power.

Strange how Mr McManus’ rants always coincide with Saints doing badly. 

Warrington didn't vote against the appointment of Nigel Wood. 

RL will always be small-time because we act like this.   I've just accepted it.   Linking up with the NRL may well have diluted some of our top-talent pool, but this could have worked both ways and we could have taken some of their outstanding juniors on a sort of dual-registration basis, and more importantly tapped into their experience of coaching structures.   


Nigel Wood for me, even just visually, reinforces the stereotype of the ageing tubby Northern guy who likes his M62 bubble.   I can see why Peter V'Landys seemingly doesn't have any respect for him.   Time to put pride to bed and actually start learning from those with experience of expanding a sport.    Doubt it will happen though...