As a Keighley fan I can completely agree with you there. With pretty much the side that came second in CH1 last season, we've lost all 4 league games, got destroyed by Widnes, and have only managed 2 bonus points so far (and one of them was against 12 men). All this despite us looking a far fitter and stronger outfit than last season.

The players in the Championship are far fitter, faster, stronger and more skilful than Championship 1. And i'd say the gap is widening fast, as Keighley and Dewsbury are far superior sides to the Gateshead and Doncaster teams that went down last time around.

It's only a few months since we had one of the promoted teams from CC1 win the championship in their first season!

I think it's more that the standard in the championship is very even. The richer clubs are constrained by the low salary cap and can't just go out and buy the best players. When all of the clubs are spending similar amounts on their squads, it's hard for any one team to stand out. I'd say the standard at the top of the championship is a lot lower than it was 2 or 3 years ago, but the standard at the bottom is a lot higher - hence Leigh & Toulouse finishing near the bottom last year but losing only a couple more games than Barrow as the winners. We'll see quite a few unexpected results; a few injuries could see any of the "top" teams ending up near the bottom.

Agree that CC1 looks much weaker than previous seasons. We'll be able to judge S.Wales more fairly when they've played some of the better teams - Blackpool, Hunslet or Oldham. I guess they may find it difficult to strengthen the squad by bringing in new players if they do go up.

what is the admission price for South wales? £3,£4 or £5

As I undersatand it the coach has targetted 5 wins this season, with a tilt at the Championship next year after the many Union boys in the team have had a chance to pick the game up a bit more.

Still, 3 wins from 4 you wouldn't bet against Scorps achieving that first target eh?

But as has been said if we made the Championship - with the stated aim of keeping the team as Welsh as possible - where would we recruit CC quality Welsh players from? Perhaps one or two from the Crusaders squad (though I would imagine they'd not be keen on losing the few Welsh boys that they have).

So we have to grow 'em and keep 'em. As such I think it would be a bad thing if Scorps were promoted this year. Better the Union boys get a bit more experience and (hopefully) go up next year.

Fair post Grendel and it could be a problem for the next year or two although if the Scorps were winning regularly and building a profile you'd hope there would be some better union converts or 16/17 year olds approached.
You're not telling me that the players playing there now are the best young guys in south wales. Hopefully with an increased Welsh interest there'd be more and more talented guys looking to pick it up

Perhaps when Widnes went into Administration, they should have been dropped to one of the lower leagues. Would have been saved the moaning from their fans that they didn't get into Super League, despite neither contesting the Grand Final nor having a sound financial footing.

Why can't people just let them grow on there own,find their feet,and let their new fans enjoy being part of rugby league


But no,it'll be come on fast track them,hurtle them into the big time,5 big spanking and then get rid is the usual rl policy


good luck to them

Give it a rest you gimp.

Oh and before you go spouting your verbal faeces, have a look at your facts and then go crawl back under your manhole cover.

Great to see them starting out well both on and off the pitch. Long way to go in the season yet but I hope they do well.

Is it the way of RL Fans to constantly reopen old wounds (some so old they are now scars)? Leave it be folks, wish the best of luck to the Scorpions and enjoy the fact that there are two RL teams in Wales spreading the good word.

only the trolls from leeds & warrington.

I for one hope they have a great season just not as good as Hunslet haha can,t wait to go down there on Monday and see how good they are but so far i have heard nothing but good things about them and their supporters going to be a good weekend in South Wales i think

Make that ALL the people responsible are now no longer with the club (three people my reckoning).

But onwards and upwards. It's been a great start to the season so far and while we should milk this with the media non-stop while it lasts, we know that there are tougher opposition out there. Anthony Seibold is doing a great job and you can see the improvement all the time. I don't think a top seven play-off place is out of our reach as the lads are committing themselves in every game. Hunslet on Easter Monday at The Gnoll will be very interesting indeed and I advise everyone who can to get down there, should be a stern test.

I'd have to say that I think the players in the Scorps ARE the best players available to us in S Wales at the moment. There are a few (Elliot Kear springs most readily to mind) who are better at The Crusaders,but are not reguarly available to us. There are plenty of players at C1 and conference level around, but I think at CC if we wanted to Welsh-out the team, we'd need to be looking to bring in "ex-pats" currently playing for English clubs, or just keep building on the lads we have and looking for talented converts.

The support network is there, just not quite at the higher levels yet.