I think that Toronto have to be the favorites this year as they seem to be steadily building their performances as the season goes on. Toulouse are a really good outfit but may struggle if injuries hit home. London are very inconsistent which will hurt them in the middle 8's. I hope that Leigh make the 8's but it is still looking tough with the run of fixtures we have over the next 6-7 weeks. One thing is for sure though, the gap to super league is closing because some of the standard on SKY this year has been shocking from some teams. My prediction- Toronto to get promoted. What will happen with their home middle 8's games?

They will play them at their home ground, Lamport Stadium, Toronto.

Oh dear...Sir Kevin Lebron Jean ! We won at London Broncos 40-30.







Care to comment, thought not !

My point was that this team that is carrying the hopes of the expansionists was giving their supporters a chance to see a Championship game in the flesh, after being starved of live action, albeit 25 miles away from there normal ground. Some fans may have been nearer to the alternate venue, but 4000 couldn’t be bothered.

Toronto will sort out their ground and fan attendances before the end of the season.

The little blips that the Leyther gang like to point to are not going to stop Toronto from being promoted to Super League if they can beat the weakest SL club in the middle 8s.

It is really only Toronto and Toulouse who have a realistic chance of being promoted. London looked a possibility a few weeks ago, but less so now. Leigh are all hot and cold and will not have a chance of promotion because even if they make the Middle 8s they will not beat any of the four SL teams in the Middle 8s, nor will they beat Toronto or Toulouse in that contest.

Leigh are on a good run at the moment. Some tough games to come but don't rule them out.

I think they still have 2 games against Toronto, plus others against the top 4 and if they win those, they would be well set going into the Middle 8's
It's 4 from 6 and with London on the slide, Leigh will very likely make the top 4.
Although London is supposed to give SL some kind of national profile, in terms of support and genuine SL credentials, they are miles behind the other sides.
Fev are always gallant contenders but, I cant see them ever becoming an established SL side and we have seen just how difficult that task is with Leigh and KR.
The current structure, which condemns any promoted club going through the middle 8's "lottery" the following season, makes it really tough for any promoted side to gain a proper foot hold in the top flight.
It's going to be interesting though and assuming that Toronto play their home games at home, they have a really tough challenge ahead of them and they shouldn't be allowed to play their games en bloc, which will be another interesting decision for those "running" the game.

Any promoted club could avoid the middle 8s by finishing 8th or above, not an easy task but they could do it. It is the inability thus far of newly promoted sides to finish above 9th that leaves them contesting the qualifiers.

Regarding Toronto and the post split fixtures IIRC they played all of their home games, followed by all of their away games in the League 1 8s last season so I would envision them doing the same again. That would give teams going to Toronto at least 3 weeks to sort out logistics, time off work (if part time) etc.

I guess that could disrupt other clubs' home and away fixtures in the play offs Mike? It would be somewhat daunting to fit in trips to Toronto, Toulouse & Catalans - which could happen, depending on final placings!

TBH if Toronto's ground isn't up to SL standard, I don't see why an exception should be made for them. As for Toulouse, I'm not sure where they are playing, but when I went last year it left a lot to be desired, especially access.

It would take a miracle to gain promotion and then finish 8th (or above).

Most, if not all, promoted sides, only have a nucleolus of players capable of the step up to SL an even fewer of "top 8" quality and with established clubs being able to sort their squads out before the MPG, the promoted side starts "too far behind the 8 ball" and IF they stay in SL at the first attempt, it would be a brave owner that was so sure of making the top 8, that they were confident enough to properly strengthen their squad.
Although KR have some very good players in their first team squad, there just doesnt look to be enough depth to get them anywhere near 8th and they will be back in a battle to survive and right now, you wouldnt back against them being in the MPG as Huddersfield and Catalan both look to have improvement in them and if Widnes can get a few players back, even they may be strong enough to avoid the MPG.
The one unknown here is Toronto, who MAY be happy to spend big (assuming that they aren't running out of cash ??).