Quote Ste100Centurions="Ste100Centurions"Really ?
Catalans were given direct entry to Super League & no threat of relegation for 6 years gratis *thank you very much* ! Why do so many Pro Expansionists willingly choose to ignore this fact ? Maybe it doesn't suit their agenda ?
They started with direct entry to Super League, with a 3 YEAR EXEMPTION from Relegation ....... followed by a 3 YEAR FRANCHISE, a franchise that was brought in just as it looked like Catalans might be relegated *surprise,.surprise* ! Don't believe me ? Check the record books !
No other team in the history of RL other than the Catalan Dragons has been given a 6 year free ride in Super League ..... FACT !!! At least in Toronto's case they have had to fight for promotion on the field ( even if no other team could financially compete ) at least they have earned a place in Super League !'"
IF the game was serious about expansion, there should be some kind of exemption from relegation for any newly promoted club.
However, IF we are serious about expansion, there should be a return to some kind of licensing, to prevent newly promoted sides crashing and burning if/when they are relegated.
Of course, we could just let "nature" take its course and if you finish bottom of SL, you are relegated, whether you are Wigan, Leeds, Toronto or whoever.
I throw the names of Wigan and Leeds into the mix as many fans believed that had either of these sides finished bottom, that the league would have been expanded or, format changed in order to save them.
Irrelevant now as both managed to turn their season around and were well clear of the wooden spoon but for a long time, Leeds, especially, looked to be in peril.
Having said all that, even with much tougher competition for Toronto in SL, with their spending power, not too many people are expecting them to face the drop next season, although it will be good to see them playing against clubs with a similar cap spend.