Leeds Rhinos’ Ian Blease the latest to call out loop fixtures as pundit calls it a ‘mess’

Leeds Rhinos Sporting Director Ian Blease is another key figure in the game to call out the current fixture scheduling, and wants to see the removal of loop fixtures going forward. 

Last Friday, his Rhinos side defeated Leigh Leopards in a 48-30 thriller. However, that was the first game played between the sides in over 12 months, due to the absurdity of the fixture list.  

“I’m not a fan of loop fixtures” said Blease on The Bench Podcast with Jenna and Jon. “I know commercially that has to make sense for the clubs, but I’m not a fan, the fans are not fans of them, so I think it’s probably a time to look at a more compelling fixture list.” 

With some teams sharing grounds with football clubs, amendments will have to be made, but Blease is not the first person within the game to call out loop fixtures. Salford’s assistant coach Krisnan Inu said in a recent press conference that he “thinks it’s stupid” that we have the current system in place. 

“There are requests upon availability of grounds from club, we have some here with the cricket, you would have to speak to the guys, but it doesn’t make any sense,” argued Blease.

Jon Wilkin points to Super League loop fixture issues

Compare the lack of meetings between Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards to Blease’s former side Salford. They have already played St Helens three times this year. 

Saints have picked up three easy wins over them this season, and currently sit in fifth with a +272 points difference. Incredibly, 182 of that points differential was accumulated in those three games and the Red Vee’s mammoth points difference could be the difference between reaching the playoffs and not, especially when fellow playoff hopefuls Hull FC and Warrington Wolves only get to play Salford twice.

On the podcast, Jon Wilkin backed Blease’s argument, with the former St Helens man also confused by the current setup.

“It’s a mess,” said Wilkin. “We look at the league table, it is almost irrelevant. It doesn’t mean anything. Warrington, on average, have played teams that are fifth in the league. From now until the end of the year they will play an average of seventh. The difference there might be six-to-eight points.” 

Blease’s Rhinos have the toughest remainder of the season, with their upcoming opponents having an average league position of sixth. They will have to keep performing to a high level if they want to keep their spot in the top four.