The biggest problem with RL in this country is the size of the pool of talent that players come from. World Class players are rare and you need many varied and different player development plans to mine them. This is why we have very low strength in depth and ultimately continue to fail at international level. With the world being the way it is we can't attract foreign players of the same quality as say 20 years ago and ultimately the product on the pitch is failing because of it. The result is less interest and less revenue coming into the sport.

This is a decision made by RFL after having pressure applied to them by myopic people more bothered about their own self interest than what's good for the game. Ultimately it will be completely self defeating as we'll fall further behind at international level and public interest in the super league will continue to fall. All for the sake of another cash grab by old men that will be retired in a few years.

John Kear is keeping his powder dry at the moment: https://twitter.com/TheGameCaller/statu ... 0624757763 No comment from Wood.

John Kear is keeping his powder dry at the moment: https://twitter.com/TheGameCaller/statu ... 0624757763 No comment from Wood.

So after we were forced to maintain an academy after financial ruin we are now told it isn’t up to standard? despite the already mentioned crop of players throughout super league, NRL and championship who Bradford developed. Now Huddersfield are forced to actually develop their own players instead of poaching Bradford’s, it will be interesting to see the actual quality of their academy.

Had an email from Bullbuilder, they seem to believe there is still a fight to be had to retain it. Seems a bit optimistic unless they know something we don’t. Feel sorry for those involved, I know first hand how hard they have worked to raise funds and the passion they have for the club.

Looking at the SL table as it stands, there is a chance that the elite Wakefield academy might not have a SL club, that would be another kick in the teeth for Cas. No doubt there will be another last minute change on relegation to come yet if it looks like anyone but Leigh going down.

Very depressing day.

Same here. You'll not meet a more dedicated and hard working group of supporters. I hope they know something we don't.

This is just the kind of situation where Nigel Wood's knowledge of the ins and outs of the RFL might come in useful - if he's interested in challenging it, I wonder if he'll make a comment.



Unfortunately I can't see Leigh staying up and sparing any embarrassment at the RFL.

Another demonstration of how much we are teachers pet to the RFL!!

I’d get it (begrudgingly) if for geographic reasons they had stripped say Warrington of their license, given there much smaller pull through of players in a small geographic area than Wigan & Sts.

But of course no chance, they are one of the power brokers of modern RL.

For the Yorkshire contingent, Leeds have consistently produced good quality players, Huddersfield have started to the past 3-4 years, but Wakefield!! Beyond Johnstone I’m struggling to think of many other high quality potential internationals have been produced since Gareth Ellis in the mid noughties.

As other posters have said another nail in the coffin of RL in general and Bradford in particular

Excuse my ignorance but just who was involved in the whole process? I hope it wasn't the SL clubs who have just thrown about million quid or more down the drain with consultancy fees for the failed equity share plan and the severance to Elstone... wonder how many academies that might of funded.

They don't produce international players and they don't spend to the cap, meaning effectively that a significant part of the Sky TV money over and above the playing budget subsidises a job creation scheme in Belle View. Is it any wonder Sky cut the money when you pay £1.7m and only get £1.2 m of on field playing product?

Indisputable!

From the RFL website

Well I'm sure it was a completely fair, neutral and transparent process without any inference.

On another subject, when do the RFL hear about what share of the Sky TV money they will receive from the SL clubs?

OK. You can (possibly) give a reason for Bulls not getting one and for the preference of FC over KR. But how can they justify Wakey over Cas. Unless it is to give them a reason not to be relegated this year.