Alas, it would seem that it easy to point at something like the 6 Nations as the reason that Union is as big as it is, but the reality is that the 4/5/6 Nations has existed for 135 years and over a similar period of time as RL has existed, has grown steadily. Even in the 70's when I was dragged to Landsdown Rd it was a big thing, but it wasn't the reason the we would also get 30,000 to a senior schools cup final. The old English County Championship Final used to see tens of thousands bus from Cornwall or Lancashire or Yorkshire to the final at Twickenham, the Varsity match used to fill TW2......The B&I Lions tours were major sporting events.......and at the same time, GB V Aussie in the RL tests and the Challenge Cup were as well supported and covered in the Media as any Union event......what's happened is that we've dropped the ball, pure and simple and rather than address this and hire someone(s) to pick it up and try and redress the balance, we sit there and say "it's not fair".

Mergers may seem like a drastic action, but 23 years into the SL era there are still people at the top of our sport that believe that "if you build it they will come".......but guess what, in terms of a new stadium for either Castleford or Wakefield, we have neither the new stadiums nor the fans flocking in any great numbers, with wakey down 31% on last year and Cas down 20%......is it reasonable for either club to be looking to build new stadiums separately?

So....let's not merge them, but for christ's sake at least look at sharing a stadium and then get the bloody thing built.

If you're making an omelette, it's pretty hard to do it without cracking a few eggs.....if folk can't see that 4,000 is unacceptable for SL club average, go back over 19+ years of "what do London bring" threads on these boards for a refresher course.

Wakefield are a lower half of the table side, playing out of a condemned site watched by an ever decreasing number of fans....this isn't my opinion, this is a reality. What do they bring to SL? 145 years of History doesn't pay the bills and neither does it appear to ignite the interest of the local residents who can't even half fill Belle Vue.

As I say, I am suspicious of Toronto and their claims, but surely....the minimum that needs to be considered is a stadium share rather than 2 White Elephants a bus ride apart?

You're entitled to your opinion but it's a bit null and void if you refer to three clubs as "bigoted s". Wakefield will be dealt with, as will many in the near future whether it be licensing or operating criteria, until then it'll be down to what happens the pitch.

is English not your first language? I believe what I said was that[u those fans[/u who would whine, act indignantly and refuse to attend a merged club are bigoted s and I stand by that assertion. 145 years of playing the sport and Wakefield are on 4k gates...heritage, history and teary-eyed memories are great, but they don't build stadiums nor pay bills......the "team before the game" model doesn't work, especially in Rugby League in the UK.....Wakefield, Salford, Widnes, Huddersfield....all clubs that have 588 combined years of History, heritage and teary-eyed memories....currently these 4 giants combined are averaging 4,457 fans per game....none of these clubs will be challenging for honours any time soon with Huddersfield the only ones to have ONCE been involved in the 44 top level finals since SL started.....

...as for the "on the pitch" statement....a favourite go to of fans of clubs who are happy with mediocrity for the entire sport as it enables them to hide their shortcomings amongst the other "water-treading" dross.....sorry if it sounds harsh, but the RFL and SL will soon part company and a few chairmen will dictate who's in and who's out and 4k gates playing out of a rubbish tip isn't going to give the Pearsons and Lenegans their parity with Union that they so crave.....

See the usual anti trin b@ll@cks is being spouted.

Our history and the fact we are a top 8 club mean super league needs us. Also in Carter we have the best chairman in super league. An example to all of how a club should be run.

You're quite funny keep up the good work

I think you're being a bit over the top with the SL needs us line. SL will carry on with or without WT in the same way as it has with Bradford and other clubs which have been and gone. Hull KR pull in decent gates for a lower SL club but i'm sure that SL wouldn't bat an eyelid if we were to be relegated and never to be seen in the top flight again.

Yes, Wakefield under Carter are a shining example of growth and progress, as you can see from the huge crowds flocking to see them, the fact that they can sell their stadium sponsorship without having to resort to raffle tickets, and their ability to spend full cap.

If Carter is the best there is, it's a sad indictment of the standards in this sport.

Early suspicions are Wexford is a troll, don't assume all 'real' Trinity fans are like this.

Haha who is this troll?

Regards

King James

If you don’t think trin being forced to merge with cas isn’t the usual b@ll@cks then that’s up to you.

Nobody said "force them to merge".....you can bring a horse to water but you can't make it drink....so just let the thing die of thirst. An invitation from Castleford would be akin to "trin" wining the lottery.....but if you don't want to fine.......carry on with crowds that London Broncos used to be lambasted for......because you're important to SL.....without you they will perish