Good point about widnes and player development, but with the constant threat of relegation, it hard to recruit 3-4 top class players to mive you up a level. With a five year license it makes it more attractive to players to but into a clubs linger term plan.

The trouble with fast tracking Toronto is they may run out of cash in two years anyway even in super league. We have tried fast yeacking sides before, Paris bust after two years. Gateshead two years. Crusaders two years. Catalan being the exception. But they had 2-3 years to prepare for super league. Toulouse will go well in super leadue and the game needs another french club.

Ok, franchise has been tried and failed. Now, if you can come up with something new, and with a good structure that works for all,then fair enough.

I think you missed the point. The TV contracts till 2020 or 21 (can't remember exactly), for this format. 2019 season is still under this contract for this format. So the 2019 season will be like this season with the 8's.
They only need to announce anything if there are going to be changes. And by the looks of it there aren't going to be any.

Agree with some of your preferences. But personally would get rid of magic weekend. As it's not being used for what it was originally brought in for, and has run its course in my opinion. Like the early challenge cup entry for all SL clubs.

Just a point about the so called franchise saving. Didn't Celtic Crusaders fold last time? and Bradford and Wakefield go into administration?

I'm not sure what the best system is (personally I'm a fan of the current system, which is the best out of what we've tried since SL started in my opinion), but I certainly don't think that franchise's is the answer.

It was tried but t did not fail, it simple was not given long enough, plus Rfl bottled it by not giving under performing clubs the boot. There were at least 2 sides that should nit be playinf in super league back then and a couple of clubs aggrieved that they did not get a place.

Once you have a closed shop ,the rfl will move the goalpost to suit the system in order to justify it's working. We then end up with far too many meaningless games, No P & R, and clubs outside of SL will have no incentive to invest in a club that has no chance of reaching the promise land. Franchise is a big massive NO NO.

We had 6 years of licensing, which is more than governments in the UK get to work with. As a supporter of probably one of the most aggrieved clubs (awarded a license but not a place in SL), I have to say that it still leaves a bit of a sour taste in the mouth about what happened in 2011. Crusaders had folded, and Wakefield were in financial difficulties, with one of the main issues being their ground - which they still play in with Fax sharing a pretty decent ground with FC Halifax Town.

Fax lost out on a licence apparently because their submission was flawed as a business plan. Maybe (supposition) it's more because they were being too realistic?

Dont stop there pal.

Celtic moved to North Wales and crashed.

Bradford when under twice,brown envelopes n everything

Wakefield who after going under got a new owner who didnt need to pass a fit and proper owner test, who then went on and took them to the brink of administration again, until Carter came in and took a large wedge of money from the RFL in the form of a loan.

Salford were finish without direct intervention from the rfl.

David Hughes at London demanded a way out of the licenced league or he'd shut them down.

Its amazing how many people still try to paint a pretty picture of licencing when it was nothing less than catastrophic for the whole of rugbyleague

Just to add for those that love the fictional world of super dooper licencing.

Potentially the most important club in Northern Hemisphere rugbyleague came into being under this P&R system and Toulouse are the strongest theyve ever been.

The basic point is that IF "we" want to start to include another French club and some North American clubs into SL remember, I said IF), they will struggle to develop under the constant threat of relegation (as will ANY other promoted club (just ask Leigh and maybe KR).
So this is the $million question.

Do we want to expand the game or stick as we are ? and this will tell you whether there needs to be any re think regarding league structure.

Why come into a structure of P&R if you dont think you can survive relegation from Sl should you make there.

The point of opening the door to North American and French club should be to strengthen the sport not to provide protectionism