bit.ly/eJ716I Just thought id point out this to some of the expansion bashers. This programme was only set up last year and now 9 players from areas outside the heartlands have signed for other clubs. Just shows that with the persistence the game is still growing, and the bigger the talent pool availible, the better our game will be.

bit.ly/eJ716I Just thought id point out this to some of the expansion bashers. This programme was only set up last year and now 9 players from areas outside the heartlands have signed for other clubs. Just shows that with the persistence the game is still growing, and the bigger the talent pool availible, the better our game will be.

People need to realise this method is a very slow process. We will only truly see the benefit of some of the hard work and money put into the game in 20+ years.

Didn't they say that almost 20yrs ago?

Remind me again where rugby league had expanded into 20 years ago.

What I was eluding to was that the Super League was designed to expand the game around the country and into mainland Europe. Almost 20 years later and we are still saying "it will take 20yrs to see the benefit"

I am not against expansion and accept it takes time but even the most glass half full attitude would get a bit dispondant at how slow the progress has gone over those years. While we have also allowed true heartland clubs to go into oblivion thus taking away a certain amount of that player pool we are desperate for and think we'll find at the back of beyond.

Now we know. It is all Quins and Cru's fault that HKA can't produce local players.

And where were the RFL when we were litterally minutes away from being put into Liquidation? Lost all our assets and the players we would have been able to bring through chose the team in the top division to go and train or play for. We still managed to bring through players such as Jon Wilkin and Ian Kirke who were polished off by the bigger and better clubs that could afford the facilities that enabled them to do this.

I am not blaming the expansion clubs one little bit I encourage it but my point still stands, while the RFL have wined and dined these expansion clubs they have let traditional clubs that brought a lot to the game over the hundred plus years just die a painful death.

Where were the RFL when Leeds CC slapped Hunslet in the face when promising them a ground suitable for the Super League? When the RFL gave Keighley a massive kick in the nuts and then just let them roll around for years with no help what so ever?

All in the name of expansion that apparently takes 40 years to mature?!!

Kent Invicta?

Let's not herald these players until they have time to develop - I don't think it's healthy to have so much attention on them already as it will just heap pressure on to them, but it would be great if a couple of them make the grade. Well done to all concerned so far and keep up the good work.

If I had to comment on the expansion slant then I think it proves that you don't necessarily need a local club being parachuted in to the pro ranks to get people interested in playing the game.

No they haven't, you're an idiot.

No-one will argue at all the work at grass roots is going well. It's the fast tracked pro teams that need 'help' yet get dispensations that people have their backs up at.

In an ideal world one would be left to breed into the other but bottom - up not the other way around.

Nottingham City??

A nice personal message that maybe you would like to visit the AUP thread?

Also, you think Crusaders deserved to be in the Super League ahead of Widnes who have one of if not the biggest financial backer in English RL compared to the Crusaders going bust after only one season? You think other than Sky's interest the London based Super League club has been a success?

As many youngsters are playing the game in North London due to the Skolars as there are around the Quins club. South London is certainly up there with them both too. So it shows there doesn't need to be a top flight club just to progress the sport in these areas.

If you honestly think the RFL have not favoured the expansion sides over the clubs that have been producing some top stars over the years then it is not I that is the "idiot" that you speak of.

Crusaders didn't go bust.

Sidenote: Ian Kirke went to Dewsbury, then York, after leaving Hull KR.

At the time of the last franchise decision (Widnes had gone bust, Crusaders hadn't) then yes of course.