I don't think the RFL would have the nadgers for that AH.

I'll lash my pants if Wakefield dont get a licence. Basically because their moderators are self manipulators.

who would quins play at MM?

Ambitious. That's what I'd like to see. (But realistic ?)

Not read all the replies so don't know if this has been mentioned. If the licence applications are due in next year, how can the RFL be certain that all current SL teams will not meet this criteria by that time? Or is it already predetermined that one current SL team is going to be sacrificed for yet another RFL experiment? Expansion is and has to be the future of the game but at what price. Widnes on the last application springs to mind. Even if the application are due in by the end of this year it still seems a bit presumptious that the RFL know at least one current SL club will not meet it?

Just kick Cas out and have done with it ....

It'll be wakefield I reckon, and to be honest, i'll be glad to see the back of the f*ckers.

If the article said at least 1, that means it'll be 1 team MAX.

The rfl always over-exagerate things and never really fully follow through with it.

they've said at least 1 to put the sh*tter up a few teams, but really it'll be no more than 1 team, if anyone loses their place at all.

As I understand it, Toulouse haven't met the playing qualification yet and unless they make the Championship Grand Final this season they won't.




Again as I understand it, it's the latter case. The RFL are committed to promoting a Championship team in to SL providing they jump through all the hoops placed in their way. With the size of SL being fixed should one club come up then one club will have to make the opposite journey.

I guess that will be the case regardless of whether they also meet the criteria set or not.

Quins, Cats and Crusaders will be safe so long as they are financially viable (even if requiring top-ups from their owners every year) because they are vital to the TV money all clubs need to survive. Only people who've never lived outside the M62 corridor could seriously believe that Sky wouldn't slash their money to the game if they weren't in the competition.

Would it be a huge shock if moves were afoot to push Wakey and Cas to at least groundshare? Regardless of the media rubbish spouted by both teams about having outline planning permission and fantasy funding, they are clearly way off having new stadia. This upcoming round of franchising has been there for a couple of years and it seems neither team has done very much.

If you were being brutal, you'd probably look at doing what the NRL did - tell them to merge or they're both out. One team that could become a lot stronger than the two individually are ever likely to be and with lower total costs at the expense of losing - quite understandably - a chunk of fans in the process.

There's absolutely no need to try and force them to merge a ground share would suffice and makes the most sense but only time will tell.

I would have thought that a ground sharing option is about the only genuine chance of either club getting a new stadium in the foreseeable future? Regardless of the pap put out about plans etc, I'd fully expect the council to support one new stadium only.

As for merger, that would come down to how viable Cas and Wakey are individually on the field IMO. If they continue to plod along hoping that a few early season wins can see them right, then they don't deserve a place in SL IMO.

I'm also a bit suspicious of Wkaey's finances with the loss of Brough and Tronc early doors this year. Tronc even signed a confidentiality agreement preventing him from talking about his reasons for leaving the club.

Ground share for me as well. It's the only lifeline if they want to keep playing in SL as two different clubs. Or perhaps the Bulls could merge with and move to Batley....just sew a patch over the dogs bit and you could have a cheap new strip....Batley Bulls! You heard it here first people!

Crusaders appear to be on financial thin ice and unless they really up the supporters figures, I can see them deciding not to continue in SL for the next round of franchises.

We of course, can look forward to another excellent decade with a new Southstand.

I say expand the SL to 16 teams, who play each other twice home & away. Bring Widnes & Halifax in as newcomers, then Barrow for Wakefield and London Skolars for Salford.

Expand SL to 15 teams and do away with MM IMO