A very sensible and thought-provoking post, bramleyrhino (unlike the original that started this thread). What you say makes a lot of sense, but I'm not sure that the world at large will ever want to welcome the game we love with enough enthusiasm to make it work? It's not that we shouldn't try, but the game's administrators have demonstrated a large degree of ineptitude to be able to progress in any meaningful or strategic manner for many a year. Everything we do seems to be a knee-jerk based on who has a few pounds/dollars/euros to flash around.

I still maintain (and I've said this before) that expansion and licensing is the bees knees for many fans... just so long as "your" team is included in the party. What would a poll of all SL fans be if the question was whether they supported licensing or not if their own team was deprived a licence? An easy response here of course would be "of course we'd be in support", but if it was for real...?

As an example, if we take expansionism to it's extreme, let's assume that West Yorkshire has just one licence in the new world order of rugby league. Given recent history, the RFL may decide that Odsal is where the West Yorkshire team should play. Would Cas, Leeds, Wakey and Huddersfield fans all be happy to abandon their team to trek over to Bradford? I think not.

This is why you are nothing but a poor troll. “No real success”?? They achieved promotion in their inaugural season and recorded an average attendance only bettered by rugby league heavyweights like St Helens, Wigan and Leeds. The likes of Huddersfield, Wakefield and Leigh would kill for, who by the way have achieved nothing and have been in existence for a hundred years

Regards

King James

Let's have a look at the "nothing credible" that Catalans have achieved, shall we?

- Average gates between 7-8k supporters.
- An extended reach of the league.
- A European television contract.
- Additional TV coverage in the UK that didn't exist before their TV contract.
- A portfolio of sponsors that, over their life, has included Nike and subsidaries of Renault and Air France-KLM.
- A significantly redeveloped stadium.
- A highly rated academy.
- An extension of the European talent pool.
- More French players playing FT professional rugby league than ever before.
- Five play-off apperances in 11 years of existance.
- A Challenge Cup final appearance.

If that's achieving "nothing credible", I'd love to see what you consider to be a success.

Oh, yes, I forgot. We can only consider clubs successful if they bring lots of "away fans" so that clubs don't have to go to the trouble of marketing themselves.

Fax have been a powerful force in the past (150 years is stretching it given the game only started off in 1895!), but it needs serious money men to make a club successful. When we were doing well (albeit 30 years ago for the most recent era) we did have decent financial backing to pay the bills for a strong team. Enthusiasts are great, but they don't make a successful team on their own. Ultimately, you need a combination of money, enthusiasm and great business skills to recruit the right team (management, coaching and players).

Your response here sums up everything that is good and bad about your posts. Expansion into North America, Canada or Outer Mongolia is potentially fantastic, but why oh why does it always have to be to the detriment of clubs like Halifax RLFC?

Toronto have done well, based on significant financial backing. They'll find it tougher next season in the Championship, but should make the top 4. If we still have the same 8's format, it would be interesting to see how support holds up if they don't make it into SL in 2019 though?

If you're going around calling others a poor troll, which is a few ranks higher than you, you might want to get some facts right. Stating Just shows you up for what you are, a boring WUM. Facts are that between just Wakey and Hudds there's been 9 Championships and 11 Challennge Cups, Leigh have won both twice as well. Maybe not as good as the Millionaire backed heavyweights like Leeds, Wigans and Saints but still you're wrong.