Good to see you lads a bit more upbeat as we enter this off season. Serious question though:

Does anyone know when the travel "golden handcuffs" will cease to shackle "The Trannies"? They had a much vaunted plan to reach SL within three years. Next season will be the third of those. Are they still duty bound to pay for the travelling and accom expenses of visiting teams? When does that agreement expire?

Leigh are a tad cash-strapped at the mo and The Bulls are hardly back in the big time (yet at least). Most other Championship clubs (typed in the hope that Leigh are still one of that number next season) are also being run on a shoestring.

Who pays to visit The Lamport?

Interesting point B&B, and the answer, from me, is that not only do I not have a clue, but I hadn't even given it a thought.

I'd guess it isn't open ended though. That said, I'd guess a few SL clubs (all?) wouldn't have found it too easy to fund that sort of trip, but I'm confident (?) the RFL, who organised the whole shebang, will have it all organised under some kind of contingency (aka cunning?) plan. I'd suspect a few championship clubs would be on the phone to the RFL, or more likely hammering on the Red Hall door, if nothing really is down in writing.

Very good point B&B. One wonders how long the Toronto owner will keep coughing up.

I would also like someone to explain to me why Toronto wouldn't have received any central funding if they had got into SL - as would Toulouse apparently. Something to do with not being members but how can this be if you work through the leagues. Apparently they gave away home advantage in the cup and didn't receive any wining money for the league. They take nothing, ask for nothing and some SL chairmen don't want them. I expect the owner will continue to help with clubs travel costs as it will be nothing to him.
The owner must really believe in what he is doing long term and as a multi billionaire can afford it but this just doesn't feel right to me. We are either all equal or we are not.
Them not being promoted though makes me feel every ones chances next year has just got a whole lot harder. Thank goodness it is a 5 team play off for promotion as most clubs - possibly as much as 12 of us the season would have been over by June if it had been top club goes up.