People have their different reasons for one outcome over another aside from Austin getting relegated with them. Leeds v Cas doesn't really 'rev me up' either, its hardly Leeds v bulls in its prime.

For me Cas get a pass on so many levels because of a couple of competitive years under Powell.

They’ve continually promised ground improvements, and not delivered. Their track record for bringing through local players, for such a RL hotbed isn’t good. I think Wakefield deliver more on both those fronts, and are perhaps a little more active in their communities. Don’t get me wrong, there’s not much in it, but Wakey are better for the game right now imo.

Cas like Wakey have struggled for years with a disinterested if not antagonistic local council. None of the clubs whose fans berate them for their grounds would have seen their own stadia improvements come to fruition in such circumstances. That's now changed and both clubs are starting to move forward. Wakefield are ahead of Cas for various reasons but both have spent hundreds of thousands over the past decade trying to get things moving whilst being stiffed at every turn.

Unfortunately cas haven’t the money for a new ground or even substantial ground renovation. A sensible thing would have been to build a new ground and share it with Wakefield. Negotiations took place ,unfortunately nothing came of it. Today’s professional rugby league is stagnating the Australian game is leaving us behind.

Hardly any club has the money to spend millions on their stadia without outside support (including rich backers, which Cas don't have). Wakefield's development is coming after a substantial multi £m settlement finally came their way after they were denied their own new build ground. Hopefully Cas can get something similar.

Agreed, I am a firm believer in the franchise system. Bradford bulls should be in super league, I am well aware of the disastrous management of that club. But a reasonably successful bulls side would command some decent crowds. Especially renewing the rhinos derby. Looking on sky when Huddersfield giants are at home is depressing when you see vast areas of unoccupied seats. Hardly a great advertisement for the game for any neutral observer. That club is kept alive be the generosity of one benefactor. Without him the club would be in the championship limping along with the other semi professional outfits.

Have you been to Odsal lately? that ground is simply not fit for a premier sports competition - neither is the Jungle and Belle Due is better with the news stand but still a way to go.

Personally I hope Toulouse get promoted, I just don't see what Featherstone offer SL, I'd also like to see York in SL at some point soon.

Bradford simply are not the club from the mid noughties anymore unfortunately.

Haven’t seen the state of odsal I avoid Bradford as my last visit was costly as I received a fine for driving through the so called clean air zone. I agree with you regarding York. Henderson seems to be doing a decent job in challenging circumstances. My point is the game as a whole is just drifting along aimlessly. We can no longer attract top Australian players, also the standard of play is woeful. It would be nice if we could attract some seriously rich benefactors into some clubs. Then maybe lift the salary cap , increase players wages that would hopefully lift playing standards. I was with some ex super league players the other week the subject of players wages came up. I was shocked at how poorly paid fringe players at clubs were being paid.

I'd rather we dropped tp 10 teams and redistribute the cash accordingly.

Use the time saved on those fixtures for England games in some form.

So we get to kill of a couple of clubs. Great.

Also fewer games may mean lower TV revenues. . .

I'd prefer us to go to 14 and get rid of the loop fixtures. In my ideal world that 14 would include Toulouse, York, Newcastle and a combined Cumbrian team. Unfortunately Newcastle seem to have gone backwards and in the real world I can't see Haven and Barrow fans supporting a combined team.

The future has to be franchises, its the only model that can help the game grow, but to achieve it, the club chairmen need to be willing to let go of the reins, and this is the hard part as we can see with the way that IMG are struggling with them.

Franchises should logically be based on geography, but also need to keep an eye on the heritage of the game and local rivalry. With that in mind, I'd go for an initial 12 team competition without P&R, but have very clear criteria for acceptance into the league for any club wishing to apply. If we do that, then we can grow from 12 to 14 or even 16 teams in time and eradicate the need for loop fixtures or suchlike.

The initial 12 clubs for me would be:

Leeds, Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Catalans, Toulouse, Hull FC, Hull KR, Leigh, Salford, Huddersfield, (either) Cas or Wakey.

Then look to add as posters above have said.

As much as I agree that a franchise model would help grow the game, I fear it would have to sacrifice heritage clubs and traditional rivalries.

For a start, they'd sacrifice almost all of the West Yorkshire clubs. Then they'd push to merge the two Hull clubs, as well as Wigan and Leigh. The argument for would be to increase crowds and reduce the competition in the catchment area.

I envision a franchise league looking something like - North London Skolars, South London Broncos, Midland Hurricanes, a merged Wigan club, St Helens, Cumbria, Newcastle Thunder, York Knights, Leeds, Salford Red Devils, a merged Hull club, a merged Wakefield/Fev/Cas monstrosity, Catalans, and Toulouse.

The problem (or good thing, depending on how you look at it) is that there wouldn't be enough money to do it. Where would they build a new stadium in Cumbria? How would they support the London clubs, Midlands, and Newcastle?

But I think this is what IMG will be planning on doing.

That would work although I would add the bulls to that combination. A combination of Workington and Whitehaven might work. Unfortunately all these structures would take a lot of funding. Sadly the game is skint we need some rich benefactors. It’s not only rugby league that’s struggling top rugby union clubs are going bust . Funny old world when American football teams have bought into Leeds Utd. Look at the money Manchester City receives we are on a different planet to premier league football.