Sarf essex taff you have a good point - I have not been sufficiently precise in my arguement. It would have been a more accurate representation of my view had I said expansion of super league (or indeed the top flight prior to that.). I agree more people playing the game is very desirable and Im personally involved in that with an amature club in a none traditional RL area, Im just not convinced that a pro club in SL in an area is a pre requisite for the development of a community base.

Im not seeking the RL media to slate the establishment just hold a critical lense to their activities.

Consider all the resource poured into expansion clubs over the past 15 to 20 years (some would argue 50 years), consider the consessions allowed to these clubs. These things have happend to the expence of established SL clubs and speccies - the sports core customers. Now it is in the gift of the RFL to do these things as they are the governing body, I can actually paint a reasonable rational as to why they do so.

My gripe is that these issues are not considered in the round by the RL media. See my OP this was not the only example I cite in my contention that the RL media serve the RL establishment rather than robustly appraise their activity etc... Why for example has the RFL not been called to account in the media for their poor performance in appraising clubs capacity. Celtic Crusaders first financial meltdown took place within a short time of the RFL approving their first franchise bid. Crusaders failure (if indeed that is what is about to take place) took place within 12 months of the RFL allowing them to form from the ashes of Celtic. Were I the CEO of the RFL I'd be asking some serious questions of my officers who approved both these decisions.

Were I a RL journo I'd be foaming at the mouth at the prospect of getting answers to these questions. BUT I don't see this form of reporting amongst the RL press.

We do need investigative journalism.
Cru have been going down the pan almost from the day they started.
This was never covered.
Their predecessors at Celtic in Bridgend were the same. That was not covered!

Next scandal will be the court case v HMRC which if the RL clubs lose they could be looking to find £ms in payment to the Revenue for overclaiming on ebt's image rights etc.
Who gave the advice to clubs to claim all this? What tax advice did the clubs themselves seek?
This should have been gone into by the RL journos but hardly a word has been written.

With 'phone hacking or not?

My take on journo's fawing to the establishment is really about their failure to quiz the games sacred cows i) the need / wisdon and practicality of geographical expansion of super league ii) the value of licencing and the competence of the games higher ups to operate the licence system.

These are the issues that do the rounds in the pubs and on the forums but where do they feature in the work of the RL media? The first one in particular is conspicuous by its absence in the critical rhetoric (sport the irony there) of RL journos. Ignore the issues that I think are important and need questioning and consider this;

Name me a journalist who rocks the establishments boat?

Perhaps they feel they have got better things to do than peddling myths put around by pub bores?

And which myth are you referring to?