Rugby league really has been treading water for 18 years... Elstone can help make it the awesome sport that we all love

ROBERT ELSTONE taking charge as Super League’s new chief executive caused a stir this week – and not because of his appointment.

The debate is over whether or not the current Super 8s format is scrapped, with clubs issuing statements pushing contrasting arguments.

There will always be conflict where there’s self-interest.

The worst kind of self-interest is when it’s hidden behind claims of thinking of others, and there’s too much of that within the game.

The best way to move forward is collectively, with an understanding that everyone will probably have to sacrifice a bit along the way for the game to grow as a whole. Having spoken to Robert at the recent Hull Kr-castleford game, I’m positive he’s the right man for the job.

He understands what the issues are, and combined with his experience of working in the richest sporting league in the world at Everton, that should allow him to be successful.

The best statement I heard him make was about rugby league as a product – when played at its best it’s an outstanding sport.

That hasn’t happened often enough in Super League in recent years and a big part of his job is making sure that changes. When rugby league is at its best we won’t have a problem getting more people turning up or watching on TV.

But as St Helens chairman Eamonn Mcmanus said midweek, rugby league has basically been treading water for 18 years.

Because we haven’t necessarily got worse there’s been this illusion that things are OK, but other competitions, such as the NRL and rugby union’s Premiership, have easily overtaken us in that time.

That needs to change and I hope Robert can be the man to do it. The sport really needs to get some of its glamour back there hasn’t been too much of that in recent years and that will be one of Robert’s key issues.