The Greatest Game

Finally the BBC have announced that they are to show the Super League Show nationwide.

The public’s television broadcaster, whose coverage of league extends to Ray ‘why don’t they kick every penalty?’ French and Jonathan ’shut up Ray’ Davies mispronouncing names and having a liberal grasp of the rules (not to mention this claimof the Beeb comparing league -  Challenge Cup final 2007 attendance: 84,241 - to shinty - Challenge Cup final 2007 attendance: undisclosed), seems to have recognised the fact that rugby league coverage on Sky Sports attracts viewing figures second only to football and are fitting in with the ever-growing support for the sport.

Does it go far enough? Where does the line get drawn when the superb online community for the sport turn from respectable campaigners to serial whingers? Indeed, the BBC’s nationwide coverage consisting of a repeat showing of the Super League Show in the graveyard shift of 12.30am on a Monday morning is not perfect, and frankly bizarre given that the repeat will be after the matches the show previews.

Perhaps it is important to highlight Sky Sports News’ Sunday evening 9.30pm highlights round-up of all Super League matches from the weekend including an analysis from the significantly-better-dressed-than-Harry-Gration Tony Rea. It is hard to see the benefit of nationwide BBC coverage at 12.30am when fans with the most basic digital television package can access all the action from the weekend’s top flight games. The sceptic inside every league fan has to wonder if this is a BBC ruse to claim a lack of interest in the show from outside the north by putting it on at a time most people cannot realistically watch. Hopefully the BBC’s viewing figures take into account those with recording devices, only time will tell.

As a sideline to the news, BBC Sports Editor Roger Mosey uses the opportunity to promote the BBC’s increased coverage of league this season.

Avoiding any talk of the broadcaster’s lack of interest in the rugby league world cup (and not mentioning the future of the superb Rugby League Raw), Mosey advertises the BBC’s coverage of the Challenge Cup and the new coverage of one England international. He also claims that the broadcaster will be experimenting with different timeslots for its Challenge Cup coverage, with 5.30pm quoted as the likely time. Thankfully, he acknowledges that the change in coverage is a “modest increase” and it is nice to see that the broadcaster is starting to respond to the sport - a sport whose online community upset the status quo of venomous anti-league national rags when the Beeb put the Team of the Year prize at the 2006 Sports Personality of the Year awards up to the public vote, a sport which, despite what its (largely jealous union) critics claim, is played across the country and across the globe, is on the big screen in every pub that has one in my Birmingham village every weekend and is growing at a rapid rate.

The people are talking, and it seems that the BBC are finally listening.

Super League Show logo and St Helens images from BBC.co.uk
England RL badge image from the Times RL blog (usage policy)

The cold winter months may not be over but finally the rugby league season is fully underway to warm the cockles. Rugby league media may be prone to comments such as ‘the closest season yet’ but the first full weekend programme hints at that bold statement becoming fact.

In fact, at the Super League launch, the RFL were keen to throw out facts about last season being the tightest table since its inception in 1996, St Helens topped the table with the fewest number of points, and Warrington Wolves missed out on the playoffs despite being just six wins off top spot.

This season though sees a predictably unpredictable Super League, as well as across the league programme with a number of matches over the weekend regarded as shock results.

In the Super League, Hull KR toppled Saints 24-22 in controversial circumstances and Wakefield pipped Bradford Bulls 26-24. Both Saints and Bradford are expected to be in the running this year, but Wakefield and Hull KR - who finished 8th and 11th respectively last term - have recruited well and are expected to challenge. There is no one to take their place towards the bottom end of the table though, with Castleford likely to replace relegated Salford at the bottom and Catalans Dragons and Harlequins still languishing somewhere in the lower regions come September. It really is unpredictable - how predictable!

But outside Super League, there were a number of surprise results in the Northern Rail Cup as Batley edged out expected play off contenders Dewsbury 19-18 and Leigh beat last season’s grand finalists Widnes 15-8. As for big scores, this season’s expected National League 2 all-conquerors Gateshead smashed Hunslet 58-6 and Halifax and Keighley traded point after point as ‘Fax grabbed an epic 64-40 victory.

A great season ahead, predictable unpredictability - here we go!