Simple question.

Everyone seems to think WT are out and we know Widnes are in.

Is it fair to move a team to the elite that has never won the Championship on the basis they have a nice ground and won the RL equivalent of the JTP Trophy & relegate a team to the Championship which has never finished bottom, qualified for 2 play off's and CC semi final.

Even without my WT head on I can't swallow this, just doesn't seem SPORTING??

SL is a business , not a sport

this, again?

That's whats wrong with the game.

Football is worth a million times what RL is- how is that any different?

They keep the sporting nature of the game at the heart, whilst we are a regional sport with an identity crisis, trying desperately to keep up with the neighbors and be something were not.

Not a trolling attempt by any means.

Widnes fans; convince me why you deserve to take your place in the elite. I'm always open to enlightenment!

Na, your alright. The RFl announced why we got in on 31st March. In a few weeks time they'll announce who is out and why.

Seriously? Football keeps the sporting nature of the game at heart? Where have you been for the last 30 years?

It doesn't matter what kind of nature or ethos a club has if it's losing money every year.

solvent
viable
well supported
successful

indeed, Wakey have been trying for years to be something they are not.

They fulfilled the RFL’s requirements placed upon Championship clubs who had aspirations to be in the top flight so yes they deserve to be in SL.

If the sport was still based on traditional P&R I’m sure they would’ve played a different game in respect putting a team out capable of winning the Championship GF.

Going by the rulebook, Widnes deserve to be in SL and a handful of sides in the top flight don't.

I appreciate your bitterness. It's a natural reaction, it's what 90% of Widnes fans felt when Crusaders were let in ahead of us. It's probably what 50% of what Widnes fans felt when the Vikings finished 11th out of 12 in SL to be relegated for Catalans.

Widnes are not your enemy, the RFL are. Licensing PROBABLY is for the good of the game. I've always maintained that, even with my club hat on. Do I agree that is sporting? No.

What a stupid thread again, some WTW fans embarrass the rest of us. The criteria was set out, three clubs met what they were asked too. And Widnes thoroughly deserve their place in SL. What Wakefield do is completely seperate to Widnes. Don't blame other clubs for our own downfall if that is what it is to be

Where is the option for neither Widnes or Wakefield in SL?

That's it really. Widnes were the pick of Championship sides to go up. Whoever goes down will be the 'worst' selected of the current SL sides.

FWIW you do need some P&R for this system to work otherwise sides will just sit back and rest on their laurell's knowing they are safe. It's just a shame for Wakey (probably) that administration and new owner didn't happen a year or two earlier!

Answer = Yes.

They fulfilled the criteria set out by the RFL and regardless of league position now, they can now concentrate on the weaker areas of the application to improve for the future and give them the best possible foundations for SL from next season.