Leigh seem to be the only club that could really give a SL team a run for their money

the rest not much chance

too much of a gap still at the moment

A one off game for which Leigh threw everything at Leeds while the Rhinos barely taxed 3rd gear and never looked out of control in terms of the result.

The big issue for the Championship clubs is that they're playing Championship standard Rugby week in week out while their SL opposition are playing Warrington, Leeds, Sts, Catalan, Wigan, Huddersfield etc.

The speed and intensity gap will be hard to bridge, though Leigh have the best chance of anyone.

You're right. But a season in the middle eight would provide good experience even if it was fruitless the first time. Wouldn't be surprised to see a team of obvious ability such as Leigh up their performance in the same way the better SL clubs do for the play offs once they'd got that experience.

Rugby League in France isn't a game played within clearly identifiable geographical limits, of course.

I genuinely think Leigh will get promoted but I think Bradford might actually struggle a bit, as long as there is a promotion though the rfl which see the system as a success

It would certainly add a bit of prestige to your fixture in the middle 8

Why so? When Leigh beat Bradford they only scored 1 more try. Bradford are currently the top attacking side in the Championship and their defence is one of the top one too.

However, I don't believe the Middle 8 idea actually has any real chance of promotion for Championship teams, just the illusion of the possibility. There's a gulf in the speed at the PTB as well as nearly double the salary cap allowance. But I suppose we'll see at the end of the season.

The thing is Leigh won't be playing a Wigan or a Leeds. They will be playing teams that are at the bottom of the league. Teams low on moral, possibly carrying injuries, possibly under pressure in terms of not having a contract for the next season.

Leeds in the cup is a game with passion, but it was still a long way from reaching the goal of winning the Cup.
A team in the league, is again a one off game, the week after they maybe up against Featherstone or Sheffield. It's not an impossibility. People are calling it an illusion, but seem to discount completely that actually there is a pathway in place and they can grasp it as can Bradford.

In a way, the "middle 8" system is the only way of ensuring that if a team is to drop out of the top division it is replaced by one of a similar standard.

Kicking teams out of the competition because they aren't competitive on the field, only to replace them with one of a similar or even smaller ability to be competitive, isn't going to help strengthen that competition.

Agreed. But I doubt any system is perfect. We will have to see if the crowds start to turn around. If in 3 years it has had no effect, I imagine they will look to change the system once more.

In the end there is a lack of cash and that can only grow through, corporate, crowds, chairmen or TV.

Last season, at the same point of the season that the Middle gets underway this year Wakefield went on a run of games which saw them win 7 from 8, beating Leeds, Wigan, Warrington and St Helens during that period, hardly demoralised and injury ridden despite fighting bottom spot for large parts of the year.

It's the intensity and speed which will make the difference.

And that will depend, in part at least, on which refs are assigned to the Middle 8. Will it be SL refs, Championship refs or a mixture as the difference in the way the PTB is policed in the two leagues is noticeably different

I think both Leigh and Bradford could get promoted this year. But easily neither could. If neither do, I think it could be curtains for both as their best players get picked off. And no club will get promoted after that.

Injuries will play a huge part for all the teams involved. Even though we've a big squad, keeping Gaskell and Adam O'brien fit for the super 8 is huge.

Stick to your frogs legs buddy..We'll repay the compliment next season..

Just to refresh your memory..Leigh were down 20-6 at h/t..