David Smith

Good thing it is only early days. Really missing from forwards, very sideways in the first half, left too much to do in the second. Disappointing I've got to put up with cocky Knights fans for the rest of the season now, and they sure are coming out of the woodwork..

@TrainLinkNorth #centralcoastnewcastleline

#HunterLine Trains are not running btwn Fassifern & Cardiff due to urgent overhead wiring repairs at Cockle Creek A reduced train service will run btwn Newcastle & Cardiff, and limited replacement buses are now running btwn Fassifern & Cardiff in both directions

#HunterLine Trains are not running btwn Fassifern & Cardiff due to urgent overhead wiring repairs at Cockle Creek A reduced train service will run btwn Newcastle & Cardiff, and limited replacement buses are now running btwn Fassifern & Cardiff in both directions

@TrainLinkNorth Station master at Cardiff just told us to get the bus because because trains aren't running.. So hopefully the confusion can clear up a little. Thanks

@TrainLinkNorth Edit* Trains are NOT running between Cardiff and Newcastle..

⚠️#CentralCoastNewcastleLine Trains are not running between Fassifern and Cardiff due to urgent overhead wiring repairs at Cockle Creek Replacement buses are being arranged but none are available ATM Allow extra travel time, listen to announcements and check information screens

Hate to bring it up, but can someone remind me of why Lachlan Galvin wanted to leave the Tigers again? Interesting.....

Australia 4-0 I reckon...

@crowdiegal Already seen that one with Reed Mahoney I think...

#NRL You can tell the off season is low on NRL news when Reece Walsh not being in the Broncos calendar is somehow news. Now next we probably get the player who departed to a new club appearing in old club's calendar. You can almost predict some of the BS.

@PhilGould15 Great informative detail. Now get Claude to do the whole thing again, but as Trump....

I asked Claude AI to research all available information on R360. For those sports fans who are not sure what R360 is, or what it means for Rugby or Rugby League. Claude Ai has provided the following guide. NB: Claude can make mistakes. All care taken, but please check these details through your own research. R360: THE COMPLETE GUIDE What You Need to Know About the Proposed Breakaway Competition WHAT IS R360? R360 (Rugby 360) is a proposed global franchise rugby union competition scheduled to launch October 2026. Think Formula 1 meets rugby - a travelling “Grand Prix” style circuit visiting major cities worldwide. The Format: - 12 franchise teams (8 men’s, 4 women’s initially) - 16-game season across iconic venues: Tottenham Stadium, Nou Camp, São Paulo - Franchise cities: London, Miami, Tokyo, Dubai, Boston, Cape Town, Lisbon, Madrid - 3-month condensed season (April-June, August-September windows) - Teams registered under UAE Rugby Federation WHO’S BEHIND IT? - Mike Tindall - 2003 Rugby World Cup winner (England), public face - Stuart Hooper - Former Bath Director of Rugby - Mark Spoors - Executive at Wasserman (US sports marketing agency) - John Loffhagen - Former LIV Golf lawyer - Chris Webb - Former Wallabies GM - recruitment role - Leigh Hinton - Head of Recruitment Financial Backers: - 885 Capital (Dubai) - Founded by Sudeep Ramnani & Jai Mahtani - Portfolio: Professional Fighters League (PFL), Baller League, Blue Crow Sports - Background: Fintech, sports betting (SportyBet - Africa’s largest sportsbook) - Martin Gilbert - Chairman of Revolut - Albachiara - Swiss sports investment advisory - Oakvale Capital - London-based sports/gaming finance specialist Funding secured through 2028 - reported to need £225-300 million AUD annually to operate THE PLAYER PROPOSITION What R360 Promises: - Salaries up to £750,000-£1 million+ per season (some offers reportedly $12M over 3 years) - Only 16 games vs 25-30+ in traditional club rugby - Players choose where they live - no forced relocation - Retain intellectual property (IP) rights - “Full release” for international Test matches - Player draft in July 2026 - Free-to-air broadcast (not behind a pay-wall) - Tax advantages through UAE registration Approximately 200 players have signed pre-contracts THE OPPOSITION International Rugby Unions (8 Major Nations) England, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, Italy issued a joint statement October 7, 2025: “Any player participating in R360 will be ineligible for international selection. R360 has given us no indication as to how it plans to manage player welfare; how players would fulfil their aspirations of representing their countries, and how the competition would coexist with international and domestic calendars.” Translation: Play R360 = Miss 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia Notable absences: Wales, Argentina, Fiji have not signed the ban statement. NRL Response (October 2025) 10-YEAR BAN for any player who joins R360 - Same ban applies to accredited agents who broker deals International Rugby Players Association (IRPA) “Players are encouraged to speak to their player association or legal advisor before signing any contract. The competition does not currently have World Rugby regulatory approval.” THE CHALLENGES & RED FLAGS 🚩 No World Rugby Approval - R360 Withdrew the initial application in 2025 when asked for more details. - Earliest ratification: June 2026 - Operating as “rebel” unsanctioned league 🚩 No Physical Infrastructure - Zero training facilities anywhere in the world - No medical/rehab centres - just promises - No team bases - players gather in hotels before tournaments - No permanent coaching staff announced - Team camp model - assemble, compete, disperse 🚩 No Broadcast Deal - TNT Sports President Andrew Georgiou: “They’re delusional … commercially unsustainable. What it will do is further complicate what is already a well-functioning rugby ecosystem.” - Claims of “free-to-air”, but no broadcaster announced - No confirmed streaming platform 🚩 Questionable Financial Projections - R360 forecasts: £275M revenue Year 1, £540M by Year 5 - Sports investors’ response: “Crazy to think they can do this” - Few sports start-ups exceed £100M annually - Needs ~£300M AUD annually just to operate For context: - Six Nations TV revenue: £206M AUD - Super Rugby Pacific: £123M AUD - URC: £106M AUD - English Premiership: £67M AUD R360 needs to exceed established competitions with zero history or fan loyalty 🚩 Zero Player Development Investment No evidence of: - Academy systems - Youth development programs - Educational support for players - Community rugby investment - Coaching education - Pathways infrastructure The R360 model: Buy finished products, contribute nothing to their development 🚩 Player Welfare Concerns Unanswered - Constant global travel across time zones - No consistent medical monitoring - No permanent strength/conditioning programs - Unknown family accommodation arrangements - World Rugby requested details on “player welfare, medical governance, venue logistics” - R360 withdrew application rather than provide them. 🚩 Tax Avoidance Structure - Teams registered in UAE (no income tax) - Players choose residence (likely tax havens) - Playing globally while avoiding typical tax obligations - Raises ethical questions about ecosystem contribution THE BUSINESS MODEL REALITY What 885 Capital Actually Does Their portfolio reveals the pattern: - PFL (MMA) - Combat sports entertainment - Baller League - Influencer-driven modified football with “socially viral moments” - Blue Crow Sports - Football clubs focused on talent trading - SportyBet - Africa’s largest sports betting platform Investment philosophy: “Tradition without evolution becomes stagnation” - focus on entertainment, viral content, disruption Key quote from founder Sudeep Ramnani: “We’re looking for formats that condense the game into short, socially viral moments” This is sports entertainment venture capital, not rugby infrastructure development WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Broadcasting Executives Andrew Georgiou (TNT Sports): *“If these folks believe they are going to grow revenue by putting this thing on, I think they’re delusional. I really do. The fact that it’s being likened to LIV Golf is a perfect comparison to what this is really going to be: commercially unsustainable.” Rugby Unions (Joint Statement) “The R360 model appears designed to generate profits and return them to a very small elite, potentially hollowing out the investment that national unions and existing leagues make in community rugby, player development, and participation pathways. Undermining that ecosystem could be enormously harmful to the health of our sport.” THE TIMING QUESTION October 2026 launch clashes with: - WXV global women’s series - Potential overlap with Rugby Championship - 2027 Rugby World Cup preparation - Creates direct conflict with current international calendar WHERE R360 FITS IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LANDSCAPE The Pattern of Sports Disruption Successful precedents: - IPL (Cricket): Filled a void in cricket’s calendar, complemented existing structure - UFC/PFL (MMA): Built infrastructure, invested in fighter development - Premier League (1992): Reformed existing clubs, maintained promotion/relegation Failed/struggling precedents: - World 12s Rugby: Backed by Kieran Read, failed to launch (2022) - XFL (American Football): Multiple attempts, limited sustainability - Grand Slam Track: Required bailout after first season, cancelled LA event R360’s closest analogy: LIV Golf - Significant funding (R360 has less) - Elite player recruitment (R360 targeting a similar approach) - Opposition from establishment (identical) - Infrastructure approach (LIV uses existing courses; R360 rents stadiums) - Long-term viability questions (LIV losing billions annually despite Saudi backing) The Fundamental Difference Traditional leagues invest in: - Youth academies and pathways - Medical and sports science facilities - Community programs - Local club infrastructure - Coach and referee development - Multi-generational fan engagement R360’s model: - Acquire elite talent from systems that developed them - Operate nomadic exhibition circuit - Maximize short-term returns for investors - Extract value, contribute minimal infrastructure - 3-year funding window with profitability target ## THE REAL QUESTIONS TO ASK 1. Where will players train? Answer: Unclear - periodic team camps only. 2. What happens to injury rehabilitation? Answer: No dedicated facilities announced. 3. How do you build fan loyalty without home venues? Answer: You probably do not. 4. What is the exit strategy for investors? Answer: Likely 3-to-5-year return expectation. 5. What happens if broadcast revenue does not materialize? Answer: Same as Grand Slam Track - bailout or collapse. 6. Who develops the next generation if top talent leaves? Answer: The clubs/unions R360 is raiding. 7. Why won’t World Rugby approve it? Answer: Withdrew application rather than answer welfare questions. 8. If it’s legitimate, why hide behind UAE registration? Answer: Tax optimization. BOTTOM LINE: WHAT TO MAKE OF IT ALL Do not Overreact - This is not the death of rugby or rugby league - No World Rugby approval limits legitimacy Do not completely dismiss it either - £200M+ funding is real. Is it enough? - 200 pre-contracts show player interest. - 885 Capital has a track record in sports disruption. - Late-career players may take the money - Could impact specific clubs/competitions The Likely Scenario Base Case: R360 launches in some form October 2026 with 4-6 teams featuring: - Late-career international players (30+) - Fringe international players - Elite NRL players willing to sacrifice - Operates for 2-3 seasons - Struggles to achieve profitability - Either: - Collapses due to financial losses - Gets absorbed into reformed club structure - Continues as niche exhibition circuit with lower costs Best Case (for R360): - Becomes profitable travelling exhibition circuit - Coexists with traditional rugby as separate entertainment product - Creates pathway for post-international career earnings - Eventually gets World Rugby approval with modifications Worst Case (for rugby): - Drains talent from Tier 2 nations who cannot afford to match salaries - Weakens domestic competitions without replacing infrastructure - Creates player confusion and contract disputes - Collapses messily, leaving players stranded WHAT IT MEANS FOR RUGBY’S FUTURE The Core Issue Rugby faces genuine challenges: - Domestic clubs struggling financially - Declining participation in some regions - Competition for young athletes from other sports - Need for innovation in presentation and access The Ecosystem Argument Rugby unions argue (correctly) that international rugby funds everything: - Test matches generate revenue - Revenue funds domestic competitions - Domestic competitions fund academies - Academies develop future Test players - Cycle repeats R360 breaks this cycle by: - Taking finished products (top players) - Contributing nothing to their development - Extracting value without replacement - Potentially destabilizing the whole ecosystem The Innovation Argument R360 backers argue (with some merit): - Traditional rugby resistant to change - Club game losing money and relevance - Need to reach younger, global audiences - Players deserve better compensation - Innovation requires disruption But disruption without infrastructure is not innovation - it’s extraction THE VERDICT R360 represents a significant but manageable challenge to rugby’s existing structures, not an existential threat. It’s not substantial enough to: - Replace the existing rugby ecosystem - Operate sustainably without major infrastructure investment - Overcome coordinated opposition from all major unions - Build the fan loyalty needed for long-term viability From a Rugby League perspective, 360 is more a distraction than a genuine threat. Signing a few high profile NRL starts is simply for publicity. The most likely outcome: A boutique exhibition circuit that operates on the margins for 2-4 years before either folding, scaling down dramatically, or being absorbed into a reformed traditional structure. The bigger story: R360 highlights real problems in rugby’s financial model and player compensation that need addressing. Whether this specific venture succeeds or fails, the questions it raises about sustainability, innovation, and player value won’t go away. FOR FANS, PLAYERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS If you’re a fan: - Don’t panic about your team losing all its stars - Do recognize rugby needs innovation - Support clubs/unions that invest in community and development If you’re a player: - Talk to your player association and legal advisors - Understand the career trade-offs clearly - Don’t sign anything without independent legal review - Remember: your country/club invested years developing you If you’re involved in rugby: - Take the challenge seriously without overreacting - Use it as catalyst to address real structural issues - Invest in things R360 can’t: community, infrastructure, pathways - Focus on what makes traditional rugby valuable: history, rivalry, belonging CONCLUSION The sporting landscape is always evolving. R360 is one chapter in that story - significant enough to pay attention to, but not the whole book. The fundamentals of rugby - skill, courage, teamwork, community - will outlast any single commercial venture, regardless of how much money backs it.

Personally I didn't really like this one either but the club kept this one for more than 10 years....

@RodderzNow Looks like people like that have either really short memories or haven't been around that long... Because, what about this logo? Our last premiership winning logo....

These clowns .

@RodderzNow 😄😄

@dee_jay81 😂😂😂😂😂 dad joke at its best !!!

Even though there is no rain on the forecast for tomorrow's #NRLGF, I've been told that even in the event of heavy rain, the pre-match entertainment will still go on..... Because Teddy Swims..... #NRLStormBroncos

@trevajct It's crazy that they charge a subscription fee for this kind of analysis. I normally like Riccio, but this is really just a thanks captain obvious article.

Lol I could have written this at the start of the season, or even end of last season. It's not rocket science. We will have forwards coming through soon the ranks very soon.

@RodderzNow @BuzzRothfield Self reflection usually comes a little longer after the event Phil. Like when you deleted your 'Lachlan Galvin rating' post. After some self reflection, you deleted the post. But it was 2 days after you posted it. Give him time to reflect. He doesn't work to your timetable..

@BuzzRothfield is a 🤡 . That is all .

Hey Canterbury, here's an idea... How about we try and complete a fucking set yeah!??!! Would be really good if that would happen!

I don't understand it. Why are we talking about anything to do with Wests Tigers or their fans during the second week of the finals? It just feels totally unnatural to even think about them at this time of year. It's kind of like talking about Santa at Easter.... @FOXNRL #nrl

@NRL_Bulldogs A good win against a poor CRO and comeback wins against CBR and SYD were the only wins against teams that finished in the 8 in that first 16 rounds. Don't get me wrong, super proud of the season they have had, but important to find a little perspective in all the hysteria.

Sure, @NRL_Bulldogs were top of the table at round 16, but were they really 'on their way to a premiership' as some claim? Look at the facts of who they'd played and beaten (GCT x 2, PAR x2, STH x2 NEW x1) then look where those teams finished, oh and then BYE x3

@NRL_Bulldogs Not an excuse or anything for recent form, just facts. Oh, and I could have won so many bets with mates around my 'Canterbury will be leading the comp at Easter' line that I peddled all off season. It was a connected squad with a soft draw, not a premiership tilt.

If Montoya is back, then if I were the coach, it would be: Tracey, Kiraz, Xerri, Burton, Montoya. But, I think it will be: Tracey, Rinikama, Kiraz, Xerri, Montoya. But, if I was the coach, then they wouldn't be in the finals anyway. So you do what you think is best Cam.