TWO Leeds sides in there? Can't see Hunslet getting the nod.

No Manchester mentioned. I feel that Sky and the RFL will do everything in their power to get a representative from the twin cities of Manchester / Salford. Maybe, as a condition of the grant of a licence, they might demand that Salford rename themselves to reflect that they represent (?) the larger conurbation.

I agree that certain clubs, including the ones you mentioned, will never get the leg up into SL unless and until P&R is restored, although I don't honestly think that a breakaway is the answer for a number of reasons.

I agree. What it needs is the clubs outside of SL collectively making noises about the ridiculous franchise system. It seems as though the clubs just accepted it with little or no opposition.

why do they accept it though?.
could it be that the rfl and people like hetherington keep dangling another carrot infront of the directors of our clubs.

Franchise D Day cant come soon enough for me, another chance to highlight what a bunch of imbeciles run the game, I hope they kick out a Club and refuse Widnes, this should cause a real stink and find then someone might really start challenging this process and showing it for the absolutely atrocious undermining of the sports integrity.

Fans should definitely start making their feelings known by protest, Sky cameras, Grand Finals etc.

Funny thing is after being in the very nice stadium at Bramhall Lane today (far too big for the Eagles come on) based on the RFL's obsession with stadiums this means that Sheffield Eagles must now have the best stadium in RL so should be shoe horn into SL as they are an 'expansion' club are they not?

Oh but it didn't work out last time they were in SL did it even after winning the Challenge Cup in 1998?
But thats confined to the history books where the RFL never look its all in the past so maybe they will let them back in???

Franchises

Im definitely of the camp that this isnt a Halifax thing, this isnt about Widnes, Wakefield, Castleford, Crusaders or Catalans. This is about Rugby League having integrity and dignity as a sport, if your good enough, you go up, if you finish bottom you go down...
Wood and Lewis are complete and utter berks for going away from this, when they move on, someone will have to clear up their mess, and try to figure out just how much money we wasted on it, were not big enough to carry a European League, and were not big enough to be a truly national game, this should have been built up over decades from bottom up, not top down you absolute cretins (Wood and Lewis) How dare they continue to treat Rugby fans with such continued contempt.
If clubs mismanage their own finances (Which Franchising wont effect or solve in reality) then thats their perogative.
The 'Give us back our game' campaign should start herewith.

You are right the game is not big enough look at the crowd for the Leeds v Saints CC semi final only 15K for two of the biggest clubs in the game and a real 50/50 game which it was as it turned out and a very good one too.
No wonder they had the cameras facing the stands that were full not the empty one!!!