We are moving towards having the best of both worlds – Lewis

WHEN you have overseen so much positive change in a sport, seeking continued advancements may seem somewhat gluttonous.

Considering some of the messes the game was in when he took over as Rugby Football League executive chairman in 2002, Richard Lewis could feel content with the healthy view he now sees in front of himself.

But as another Super League campaign gets underway, the former Davis Cup tennis player acknowledges standing still amounts to going backwards and the drive forward continues.

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It might amount to nit-picking, especially when Super League is already deemed one of the fastest, toughest and most exciting competitions in world sport, but he believes there is scope to add even more thrills.

Last season was one of the most competitive in history but it came at a price and Warrington Wolves coach Tony Smith, who stood down as England chief in November, recently urged sides to show more adventure and be less conservative in 2010.

"Those comments were interesting and quite thought-provoking," said Lewis, whose title changed to RFL chairman last year after taking on the Sport England chair.

"I know Tony won't be the only coach who thinks sometimes players are inhibited or scared of making mistakes or errors.

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"Often, tries and try-scoring opportunities are actually created when a move goes wrong or a bad pass ends up creating a gap and I'm sure a lot of people will relate to the point Tony was making.

"Certainly, if we want to go in any direction it probably would be to see more open and less structured play allowing our creative players to show their class and give them licence to demonstrate their skills."

There are plenty of players around capable of doing that with Lewis believing 2010 could be the year for the younger generation.

Super League clubs are slowly being weaned off their reliance on overseas stars – the maximum of non-federation players drops further to six this season – and the opportunity is there for home-grown talent to step up.

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"With the quota rule changing, there will be fewer overseas players around and we're moving towards having the best of both worlds," said Lewis.

"Clubs are having to start looking towards their British youngsters and there is a great opportunity for them to come through and show what they are made of but also they'll be playing with and against some top overseas players.

"After the Four Nations, where we saw the likes of Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond becoming stars on the biggest stage, seeing them and others in action for clubs in Super League is a really exciting prospect.

"That will be one of the talking points this year."

There was an acceptance that the quality of last year's competition "diluted" with the increase from 12 to 14 clubs under the new licence arrangement.

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Lewis said: "Something we always predicted moving from up to 14 clubs was it would take time for the competition to settle down.

"But I think this year will see an increase in the quality and competitiveness again.

"Clearly, the Crusaders have had well-documented problems putting a squad together in the time scale they did but we will see how they shape up and even last year we saw them at the bottom still beating the likes of Wigan and Bradford."

In five years' time, Super League will mark its 20th season and Lewis is clear in what he wants to have achieved by that point.

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"I'd like to see the 14-team structure settle down with all the clubs playing in modern stadiums and I think that is deliverable," he insisted.

"There is pressure on a number of them who all accept they have work to do in order to achieve that but we want to continue growing as a sport.

"I think the 80 minutes is a fantastic spectacle, the players are exciting and are great people who remain humble and not above their station.

"They are a great asset to their sport while the strength of the game in the community will still be there in five years' time, too."

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It is widely believed, however, that Super League will reduce back to a dozen clubs for the next three-year cycle in 2012.

Lewis would not confirm that but said: "Ideally, it wouldn't.

"But all clubs committed to developing new stadiums and increasing their spectator numbers have to understand there is a standard required for Super League. They have to come up to the mark.

"It's a perfectly legitimately question whether 14 clubs will deserve to be in. We will have to wait and see."

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The atrocious winter England has suffered, which has seen clubs both struggle to gain on-field training and stage friendly matches, has raised question marks about whether Super League XV will take time to get in to its stride but Lewis is not unduly worried.

"Funnily enough, it may lead to some more open games and less predictability," he said.

"It's very hard to say at the beginning and we don't know quite what to expect.

"I don't think it will affect them too much but it may give some surprise results in the next few weeks and that's not a bad thing."

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Champions Leeds Rhinos began their title defence with a hard-fought win in Wrexham on Friday night and are tipped to go on and secure a fourth successive Super League crown.

Familiarity breeds contempt, though, and such a monopoly could be viewed as a negative but Lewis said: "I always feel it's irrelevant really.

"Whenever a team is creating history and setting records, trying to get their name in the record books, that in itself is exciting.

"With clubs then challenging and chasing them, it all adds to it. Warrington – a team that had not lifted a trophy for several years – winning the Challenge Cup last season was great to see yet, equally so, Leeds against Saints at Old Trafford for a third year was just as compelling.

"I'm ambivalent. What unfolds, unfolds as long as the sport is watchable."