For obvious reasons I've really enjoyed the Championship this year. What's really struck me is the quality of the rugby played, so many games this year the biggest difference between our full time Squad and other teams has been our extra level of fitness. The other thing I've noticed is that in general the fans aren't as obnoxious as some of those in SL, and seem to enjoy the rugby rather than just getting drunk.

I think next years Championship will be a cracker, with teams like yourselves, York, Oldham and Doncaster looking to improve. We may be there ourselves yet...if so I'll be disappointed, but not devastated.

All in all, I think the Championship has been superbly competitive this year. I think it will be even better next year.

Why?

Wakefield have done it.

We keep being told Bulls are massive and SL needs them.

Surely you don't have loads of fans who will only watch Bulls if they are in SL?

It's a bit more nuanced than that

Attendances held up for us the first year in the Championship (was it 2015? I forget). Then they gradually started to decline as we stumbled through financial "events", liquidation and assorted constant let-downs

Comparing Wakefield's one year stay in the Champ, when the novelty value alone helps keep things bubbling, with the Bulls after almost a decade in the second tier, isn't really comparing like for like.

How would Wakefield's attendances hold up if you were stuck in this league for a decade, I wonder?

I hope we never have to find out!

At least now Bulls fans can stop the entitled nonsense of "Bulls are a massive club / SL needs us".

Progress seems to being made though.

Don't you worry dboy, we're cutting our cloth accordingly.

Not sure if SL needs Bradford but it certainly needs something because it's definitely not where it was 20 years ago.

Bradford seem to be getting it right, though the "big club" mentality is still a weight on their shoulders.

There's a host of Championship clubs who are competitive, just not perhaps quite consistent enough.

It would have been some season if Mash had taken over at York 6 games earlier, and the under-performance of Batley and Halifax was a shock. Add that to Sheffield's seemingly self-created implosion.

Donny will be a decent threat next year too. Then there's London, Fev and Toulouse(?).

Next year's Championship will ne another cracker - I just hope Wakey aren't in it!

(Though if they are I'll still enjoy every minute).