Wakey and salfords franchise was based on them getting their new grounds, Wakey's has fallen through completely and salfords is on the rocks. I think it will be a sad loss to superleague but i cant see another future with Toulouse and Barrow making strong geographical cases for admission.

Edit

Widnes and Leigh already have new stadiums and make strong cases as well

Both have good squads, stadiums and financial backing, and seemingly good coaches now.

No it wasn't, it was more based on having a sound business plan. Just as Richard Lewis said the ground was 30% of the criteria not 100% as some on here would like to believe. If we are talking about grounds, why not include Celtic, Saints, Cas, Bradford and Hull KR who at the moment are not much more guaranteed than Wakey or Salford to get there new or improved grounds. I have a feeling that the ground situation will look a lot different come the time the new applications are in. The wise thing would be to wait it out rather than comment just yet.

Grounds are just one part of it, but the league is all about expansion now and wakey/ cas are too close to leeds and bradford. Out of Cas/Wakey my personal opinion is Cas have a better squad with some good homegrown talent coming through and seem, again in my opinion to have a better chance of getting a new stadium.
I'm not have a go at wakey, i have never had a away game there i didn't enjoy and think the atmosphere is great, but i think they have a lot of work to do.

I'm not even going to go there cos that can be debated till the cows come home. I'll just say my opinion is Wakey have a better squad and each teams have an equally good youth system which is showing in both first teams at the moment.

As for SL all been about expansion, I have to disagree, it's about having a sound and stable competition. If it was all about expansion we would could just skip all the formalities and kick the bulk of northern SL teams out (not your own team of course). Bring in teams from all over Northern Europe packed out with 2nd grade aussies. What a competition we would have.

I'm sorry but I think your comments are badly thought out. Your obviously from the [i"I'm all for expansion as long my own team doesn't have to make sacrifices" [/icamp.

I'm not reallt for expansion, but i can see the argument. I actually think rugby league should concentrate on its historical clubs and any new side should get there on merit, not be given an unfair advantage.

From Wigans point of view i'd be suprised if come 2012 Ian Lenagan hasn't got us right back on track as a major force. I'm not saying we'll be dominating again but i think we'll be back challenging on a regular basis for trophies.

He is placing the emphesis on homegrown players and unlike Lindsay won't release them all at the first sight of a big money import becoming available.

It also helps that he has his head screwed on enough not to be offering overseas players silly money as in the long run Wigan won't be seen as an easy touch for Aussie agents anymore.

I'm all for expansion and always have been, but kicking one team out to make way for another isn't expansion, it's replacement. The geography might shift, but the game wouldn't 'expand' by any measure.

Agree but if you dont where does that leave the clubs outside SL now ?

Im not Sure what the expansionist dream in 2009 has added..................probably nothing, and yet , they(whoever they are) would have you believe it is a success.................Lets not believe the total fallacy that is Welsh Rugby League

Or the one that somehow Widnes (or Leigh for that matter) are ever going to be contenders again.
A prediction for you..... Crusaders will win a major trophy long before either of our teams will.

Bookies offering 6/4 on them finishing bottom this year. Looks a good bet as even if it just comes down to their visit to Wales points difference will play into the Crusaders hands but I think Celtic will pick up 2 or 3 other wins....not convinced Salford will.

Making a case for a 16 (or more) team Super League...?

30 games plus play offs (and perhaps a Edinburgh/Cardiff type weekend) ???

Can see some greedy club treasurers going for it but coaches and players perhaps not

Possibly , but in my opinion we dont have 12 let alone 14 SL clubs at the moment and are unlikely to have them in 3 years time

Plus once you go past the 14 mark the fixtures become a bit of a problem

No doubt the RFL will have a ' plan ' for every eventuality