Didn't know Keighly were in the as well.

I obviously disagree. With the backing we have now, I think Widnes can have a similar effect to what Hull KR have had - maybe not to the same degree, but certainly I wouldn't expect us to be just making up the numbers at the bottom of the league year after year.

If people remember back to 2002, in our 1st season in SL, we did very well and just missed out on the playoffs in the last few weeks of the season. IMO it was a big missed opportunity that we didn't build on that season. If we get back into SL, we will have had 6 seasons out of the top flight and in that time we have maintained an u18's, u21's extensive community dept as well as nationally if not internationally recognised sponsors. We might not be the exciting choice such as Paris, Toulouse or somewhere in Spain, but then again last time I looked Castleford, Salford or even St Helens were not exactly exciting places to visit either. IMO we have earned the right at another shot at SL and if it doesn't work out SL won't be any worse off after 3 years.

How about making the attendences of Championship teams rise first before trying to expand the game at all, with current heartland clubs going under, how is a new expansion club going to survive anyway,
Because it's just outside the heartlands?

Your preaching to the converted mate.

Widnes are my choice! They must be in next time around. I agree with all you just said.

Thats basically what I am trying to say. We also need criteria for the championship to make it a stronger league. All our other rival sports have better 2nd divisions than us.

Ask the RFL about that , they seem to just want them to find a sugar daddy rather than look at real workable initiatives to help the Championship clubs build bigger fan bases and therefore have a more secure future

Dont really see what you are suggesting here , could you expand on things

yeah getting existing SL clubs to expand their current areas a bit is a great idea

shame it took 130 yrs to think of it

I know I am going to regret this but , the UK is different to Australia in that you only have maybe a dozen centres of population separated by long distances , whereas we have many more towns much closer together , therefore the options to expand the sport are different

The satelite way of ' pin sticking is basically the only way in Oz , over here there is the option of spreading maybe 40/50 miles at a time

I think hes implying attendences.
They simply aren't good enough to be thinking about new teams even close to them, how will they survive if new teams come up and then some existing fans go to them instead, we will have more bankrupt clubs.

He did say ' Criteria ' , which is what ? , if it is attendances then How ?

As for Championship clubs losing support from potential new clubs 40 miles away , not a problem many would be too bothered about , most clubs have enough potential fans within a few miles to keep them alive , getting them to the games should be the focus