I also agree on this. We're six weeks away from the start of the season and, as of yet (unless the future is known privately), nobody knows what the model is in the immediate term, never mind the medium and long term.

My worry is that the RFL is simply trying, once again, to appease all parties - who are all pulling in different directions based on the needs of their clubs, the size of their markets and the state of their on and off-field situations. It's right that they want to protect their interests, but this is where leadership from the RFL.

Ultimately, what is needed is for the RFL to say "this is the model we are persisting with, this is the minimum standard you have to meet today, and these are the minimum standards you need to reach in a year, three years, five years, and ten years." You can address a failure to meet those standards in a number of ways - you can have an absolute criteria (meet the standard or you're out if somebody else does), or make aspects of central funding performance-related, for example.

It will upset some people, but the current system isn't making anyone happy.

The maths are simple...to be a viable RL club in the professional ranks of SL you need a 10,000 average gate and if you are "renting" a stadium, then 11k is the target.
Wire, Saints, FC, Leeds and the pies are the clubs that deliver at present.....Castleford and Catalans are close, but the rest aren't delivering. Well meaning owners like O'Neill, Hudgell, Davy, Hughes and Beaumont are good to have, but the reality is they back "yoyo" clubs who dwell at the bottom half of the table or in the 2nd tier and with the return to relegation any chances of "building" both on and off the park are again gone and it's all about avoiding the drop....I wonder what will happen once toronto get up......will they close the door behind them.

Even though Toronto have had some help from the RFL (extending the league 1 salary cap, changing the way league 1 promotion etc). The way they started in the lowest league gives them a solid base. It's helped them build the brand. And show people in the city the game and club.
I don't think that the way the fixture list been done this year helps them. But if they go up no one can really argue against them as they would have done it the right way.
Funny enough to see where Toronto are, we need them to have a bad season where they really struggle. Then we'll see if crowds are going to stick with them etc.

I've said all along, to build a strong RL it's not about expansion v heartlands. It's about both moving together. Growing together, same rules for everyone. Accepting each other. Both need each other,