Quote wrencat1873="wrencat1873" However, it's a downward spiral and the sport has to grow or die, at least as any kind of pro sport. '"
The sport broke away from Union in 1896. Clubs like Hull, Leeds, Wakefield, Saints, Wigan and Warrington did this.
They hoped to expand and clubs like South Shields, Coventry, Ebbw Vale, Streatham and Mitcham, Lancaster and Liverpool came and went.
"Growth" failed and continued to fail from 1896 to 2020. It hasn't grown in 124 years
[ubut nor has it died[/u - the last quarter of a century has seen it operate professionally.
It only dies two ways.
1. If the game can no longer get a paying TV deal or
2. If the game substitutes real clubs of substance for phoney nonsense clubs.