Why? What on earth have Crusaders done that Widnes haven't?

What they should do is expand the franchise applications to anyone with money.

Imagine Steve O'Connor agreeing to that?

DL:
"Hey Steve - we'll let you into Super League only if you align yourself with this crap club in Wales - even though you're nailed on for a place anyway. Just stick with it for 12 months until the stain washes off and you revert back to Widnes in name and everything else. Here's the sample pack of our past expertise in this area. The one entitled Shuddersfield is the one we'd recommend"

SOC:
"Whatever you say Dickie". When do we get our first SL cheque? We've got a squad to buy"

1. Employed players illegally.
2. Taken pension payments from players but not paid them into a pension scheme.
3. Gone into administration whilst in Super Dooper League.

They don't have the tradition and history. They are an experiment and we shouldn't think of them in the same way as proper genuine RL clubs, they aren't a genuine club. Nobody likes them.

Wether we like them or not is not the question , are they a ' proper genuine RL club ' ? , no actually no they are not , they havent been around long enough yet , although they are getting there , constantly cocking up financially is a start , employing loads of Aussies is another plus point for them

Somewhere, a few months back, you'll find a post where I suggested we'd see Widnes being "encouraged" to "merge" with Crusaders to become something like Widnes Celtic Crusaders, Playing the majority of their home games at Widnes but a sizeable minority at Wrexham (conveniently giving their pitch a rest given Saints will be hammering it too...) Then of course for 2012 the club plays all its home games at Widnes, changes its name to Widnes Vikings (or even Widnes Crusaders - just a change of helmet... ) and of course passes the Licence test as an existing SL club ticking all the boxes.

And I cited Gateshull and Shuddersfield in evidence.

And I said of course, since that way a club HAS been promoted, there is no need to sack off Wakey or Cas.

Then promise Fax they can "merge" with someone before 2015...

You couldn't make it up.

Yeah lets condemn the RFL for having a bit of vision and having a punt. Hardlyquins don't have a history either, shall we get rid of them for another flat capper side?

We could then reject the Sky deal and call it the 'M62 League'.

Genius.

Widnes in SL = Yet another run of the mill side. Yet another team with 4-5,000 crowds and no future.

The sport is at a crucial stage. It's too small time to not be swallowed up by sports with more money and ambition. Give Union another 10 years and it's club crowds will match Premier League crowds. League will be attracting 6,000 averages and be as dull as ever.

All this rubbish from someone with an Italy RL avatar. They don't have a history and aren't within a few miles of the M62. What gives?

I look forward to seeing if there is anything about this in the news. It doesn't really make sense. How would merging with widnes help to develop league in wales as the rfl want to? Want are they going to do, force widnes to have a squad with a cettain amount of welsh player.