They're already in.

Yes, would be great for all three clubs to apply just so that the RFL can turn round and say how crap their application was and generally hold them to ridicule.

We shouldn't play along with the silly pretence just in the hope that one day in the distant future the RFL might consider expanding SL (because that's THE ONLY way a Champs club will get in) and might look back at who did the most ass kissing.


Wakefield are a nothing club - they went bust and the RFL didn't kick them out. They preferred their application to Halifax. When an "iconic" club like Bradford does the same it doesn't take a MacDonalds trainee to suss out what's going to happenn next.

Just had a heads up about a "major announcement" after today's game at Fev. I hope we haven't been fooled into joining in with this pantomime.

I cant see how we (fev or Leigh) can not apply because we actually make it far too easy for RFL in not applying.

What I think the Championship clubs should do however is formally request an " independant" person agreeable to the Championship clubs(not chosen by RFL) to represent the fairness of the application and decision making process. If the RFL choose not to allow this representation then even they might realise they may be in danger of loosing govt grants for running a closed shop.....if they dont the actual process is flawed publically before it comences.

At least the" independant" could discuss the outcome with the Championship clubs with a degree of honesty because obviously some or all of us will be disapointed with the outcome .

Anything that the RFL may say about the outcome without an independant being involved just isnt worth saying to be frank because all of us could probably write it now in advance........after a closely contested due dilligence process we have decided ....blah blah blah..munch munch munch....pass me the Tandouri chicken starters Blake matey and a couple of plates of bargies. Give me that Halifax application so that I can wipe this sauce off my tie Blakey!

So thats your answer Championship Chairman ....put rivalries aside and agree on one common goal ....an" independant" and trust that person to represent Championship interests in the "fair and equitable" process. ......time to go watch the FAX!

Interceptor, explain to me how anybody, ' independant ' or not put a ' weighting ' on the gross financial missmanagement that Bradford have done, how do you judge that against any positives the Championship clubs have?

It is impossible

Leigh have a superb stadium, Fax have a good stadium and a successful recent playing performance, Fev have been overall the best club for several years

So does any of that ' balance ' up what Bradford have done? , how many ' points ' do Bradford get for Odsal? , their ' Iconic ' stadium tge RFL paid 1.2 million for?

Its a complete farce

Have they?

Yes, they probably have.

If we got rid of the playoffs then they would have won the league 3 times, much as it sticks in the throat.

I do, neither have any fans plus Sheffield have been tried before and it didn't work.

At the moment the champions are the team that wins the grand finale. A good coach will make decisions about his team based on this; he may take a gamble, put out a weaker team against one team to give players a rest or not risk players who are nearly fit in a game that if it was a cup game he might.
Featherstone have done well but until you get the main prise for winning the league you cannot say that Fev. have been the best club overall the team with the most silverware has been the best club.
That’s like saying the person that has past the start finish line in front of everybody else, more in a 15000m race is the winner, not the person that ran the race tactically correct, tucked in behind the front group, saved their energy for the last lap and sprinted past everybody in the last 100m to cross the finish line in first place is the winner.
Halifax might start to win the league when and if the rules change, and you are crowned champions for winning the league.

so you don't want to win the league & save yourself for the GF by playing one home tie & if you win your straight into the final? bollox

What I said was, that it is winning the grand finale that counts and you can afford to take calculated chances with games that may or may not pay off. Success is measured, in this league by winning the grand final not winning the league. If winning the league was the ultimate prize a coach may do things different. So by definition the best team is the one that has won most grand finals. Then the team that has made most grand final appearances.
Yes you would prefer to only have one game to reach the final. That is the bonus for winning the league or finishing second not the main prize .

Yes of course it will, we are 'pawns' on their murky chessboard, there is no way Fat Controller would relegate Bradford Bulls and let one of us in, but we have no choice we have to play their game as otherwsie they would be able to say 'well we had to let the Buls stay in SL as nobody else put their hat in the ring' plus he is a vindictiVe g*t he would hold it against you next time the Franchises come round.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The fat lad(y) hasn't sung yet. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ford-bulls

The fat lad(y) hasn't sung yet. www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ford-bulls

Telling the RFL to get lost will work against the current suitable clubs when a real upportunity presents itself - who knows when another club will fall over? I don't think the current clubs have a choice apart from submitting a bid.

This may just be the view from a numbnut on the VT but sadly it is also the thinking at RFL headquarters and unfortunately amongst SL Chairmen..

This is the problem. This is why Bradford have been allowed to do what they've done.

In the previous round of licensing Widnes were told that, having gone into administration and effectively expunged their financial history they could not then draw upon their more positive history (cup kings, decent attendances, etc ...) to obtain a license. This is EXACTLY what Bradford have done (or will be allowed to do).

That is the inequity and injustice that the game faces from those running it. One of those voiciforous Chairmen made his feelings clear at the time. Now he's sat at the top table his silence is deafening. The people that matter are so insular - so club orientated. So much so that we haven't a hope in hell of getting within a million light years of the Aussies or of the game flourishing over here.