What do u watch most, that clip or the clip of the drop goal from the Grand Final?

Still gutted!

I think for those specific games, it was more down to poor tactics from the coaching staff of the respective Championship teams.

The athleticism of Championship players is improving (I've seen Fax training, and it's intense) and although the full-time element is always going to have an influence, disregarding anything that's happening now, the gap between the two leagues is (IMO) definitely closing.

If it's a choice between becoming a feeder club and dying, I bet they'd change their minds pretty quickly, less cut their nose off to spite their face.

I don't think anyone is saying it's a huge gap. In fact there could be virtually no difference whatsoever and I'd say the same thing. Even if all the clubs in that group of 19 were financially viable, the sport, at this point, can't support that many top flight teams. So pick the best ones, and let them prosper, instead of constantly dragging down the majority for the sake of a few.

As for franchisi being a failure - it's supposed to be in place for 20 years, 50 years etc etc whoever told you that franchising would totally fix all the problems immediately was wrong, it takes time to wash out the bad eggs, punish them accordingly (even to the point of someone else stepping in if it's too bad) and let the years of stability start to work. Honestly with the amount I read about "franchising not working" you'd of thought it had been in place for 20 years.

So instead of funding 14 teams without being able to fully secure their finances, we should instead fund 20 so that 5 "might be able to bridge the gap"?

Though I agree, it's in place, so let's see how it goes, I honestly don't care about the structure any more, I just want someone to pick one and say this is what we're running with for the next 25 years

Both! For different reasons. As I say, that's what sport is about, and the dummy from Grix to score the try to keep us in the Championship, or the drop goal from Blacky to win the GF is another.

The dropped ball from Blacky on another day, which may have meant that Widnes wouldn't even have had the chance to get into SL is another matter.

These are all memories that stick in our minds!

EXACTLY, but this structure won't bring that. If my team got into the bottom 4 and ended up in the split, i wouldn't be "devastated" as i know they will be back up next year. We could go on to win the "second tier" and i honestly wouldn't really care as the setup is so lopsided to be in the relegated 4 teams favour. They won't be an open bus parade that's for sure. I genuinely would have to consider whether i would pay on the gate for several weeks, plus a semi and GF (if thats what you want to call it) as i simply cannot afford it. God knows how a family of four will cope.

That financial hit of playing in front of small crowds but still having to operate the full time wage will hurt the next season. So we then get relegated again for several games to be promoted again and so on...

If Fax finished top of the table, a team full of part timers take on full timers. Only one winner. Fax then go back down to come up again, to get hammered by the full timers etc.

If it was a simple 1 up 1 down and my team was relegated, i would be devastated (which every fan should feel in sport at sometime) i would certainly buy an ST for the championship season and if my team got back up i would be over joyed. Yes we may come down again, but the difference is we have a full season playing as full timers against full timers. So we have a chance of survival.

You totally underestimate the passion and commitment from the people running the Championship clubs. Have a look on the Fax website or youtube and you'll see what I mean. These people have lived and breathed the club all their lives, and if you cut through them they'd be like a stick of rock but in blue 'n' white!

I've followed Fax through thick and thin for 40 years, but I have nothing on the individuals that are the bedrock of the club!

For me, I would follow Fax whatever league they play in.

Everyone is assuming that it will be lop-sided, but don't forget, the top teams in the Championship in 2014 will be getting more funding for 2015, which will close the gap...

...plus the Bulls may well be starting 2015 in the Championship anyway...

That is a massive claim

And that's fair enough, working with teams in an elite league doesn't take away any of that identity. And I don't for a second suppose a fax fan or a Leigh fan, or a Wakefield fan or whatever, if on the day the "elite clubs" (for lack of a better name) are announced you to pull on a rhinos shirt because you didn't make the cut. But there have to be some realities, and if you fail to make the cut, you look at those at the club who failed to argue convincingly enough, and have to wait it out (as many in the championship have at the moment) - personally, after Salford went into administration, the application process for there spot in super league goes up for grabs, they drop down and regroup, wait for Bradford to go bust and reapply. You might see some teams in and out in the first 5 years, and championship teams can hold onto that dream, but as time goes in, the clubs 10 15 years down the line fewer clubs go bankrupt, fewer opportunities to apply, other options need to be taken.

I'm the exact same with saints (although I haven't clocked 40 years ,., of life let alone rugby

)

Then they will be ' blown away ' , whats the problem?

I meant business plans that actually work