The thing is , the actual results on the pitch are irrelevant , it is all down to money , is the Crusaders Club able to attract enough support , both fan and sponsorship to survive , even if you finish at or near the bottom of SL for the next 10 years , I ask this quite simply because that is the dilemma clubs outside SL face , we have to somehow generate enough interest with little to offer our fans in progression upwards

unfortunately the expansion of superleague, and the expansion of rugby league seem to have become one and the same in many peoples eyes.

rugby league is the game: this should be spread far and wide to as many people as possible, be that playing, watching etc

superleague is merely a competition: teams should be there when they are good enough.

i am also proud to be a rugby league fan.

It certainly seems to have in the eyes of the RFL , if it is a case of less geographical spread , less money , then say so , so we all know exactly where we stand

Exactly. The sport of Rugby League has expanded exponentially in the last 15 years or so – now being played across the whole of the UK by people who play because they love the sport. This year, the Rugby League conference will see 18 leagues contested by over 120 clubs

1,678 teams took part in the Carnegie Champion Schools competition this year (22,369 more school children played in the competition this year than when the competition was the re-launched in 2002)

The Student Rugby League now has over 100 teams playing across 16 leagues

We need not measure the success of the expansion of Rugby League merely by the Super League competition but when teams like the Crusaders have dedicated and passionate fans like WxmChris then there is certainly much to be optimistic about

I am also proud to be a Rugby League fan

It's the greatest game of all, watched by the best people. I've witnessed in the last couple of days the type of person that goes watching football, and seems to be creeping into yawnion with the Sale Sharks lot and RL supporters blow the lot of them out of the water. Okay there's the odd idiot like the Leigh fans witnessed at Fev (which Fev fans condemmed), but the weekend before when the 2-300 Barrow fans were in the middle of the Leythers it proved to me that RL fans are the greatest of all.

I hope RL does kick on in Wales and London for the good of the game.

Personally I hope Crusaders become a successful side with the game growing at a decent pace.

Good luck mate and I hope you entice a few more locals to your games.

Poor crowd today seeing as Wigan were the visitors.

Maybe but in time they will grow their crowds if they get an half decent team to follow.

[size=200RUGBY LEAGUE IS A NORTHERN SPORT[/size

Castleford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull FC, Salford, Leigh, Wakefield, Warrington and Widnes have all posted lower gates in Super League than Crusaders did today... all with a little bit of head start with regards to forming a solid foundation in the local fanbase catchment area. Despite what people may spout on these boards, they are doing OK and need a period of stability now to establish themselves

When will people learn that Catalan Dragons are NOT an expansion team as RL has been played in the area for god knows how many years.

Barry do you go and watch any RL?

If RL means Romford Ladies then yes, he's there every weekend peeping through the bowling green ladies locker room.