It's the biggest subject in the 124 year history of the game. Some people want to see Superleague broken up and players sent round the globe for a Transatlantic League, most people want to see the current set up continue (80% of fans in Hull) because it actually works and can be improved by London and Newcastle's inclusion. Why not pop over to TRL if you don't like me espousing the alternative majority view, where you can fantasise about the game to your hearts content.

My point that if you want real expansion you can get it by expanding Superleague North and South to complement its east and west spread is a new point in the debate, and it is telling that you don't want that point to be discussed, despite me only making it a few days ago?

It's not up to you to decide who is going "off topic". It is very important to remind people expansion isn't expanding travel distances between clubs by 6,000 mile round trips, nor is it expansion if new clubs who don't develop players replace old clubs who do. After all it was made clear at the start of this American adventure by the RFL and agreed by NA investors and their CEO's that expansion meant more players into the player pool.

Newcastle and London understand this and they do this, so they qualify to be an assett to Superleague due to the growth they are creating in the player pool via their academies. Despite not being in Superleague the owners both still run academies and that point has been ignored for four years whilst people dream of America. Furthermore you cannot buy SKY subs in North America but you can in the north East and the South West of England so I feel that Superleague 2022 including these two $Millionaire owner clubs will be very significant and very real expansion that will please SKY and get us the deal North America cannot get.

On relegation from Superleague AFAIK both Widnes and Bulls kept their academies with the blessing of Superleague because if they can pull a rich owner they would be able to get back in and would need the player development. I don't think it's the rich getting richer, just the bigger clubs organising themselves to be assets to the game under the 2022 new TV deal. And think about this - if we can develop more players in the North East and South west we may just get back to a 14 club SL? NO LOOP FIXTURES

I get your point totally, I along with many others on here have done since you first started posting, I found it most interesting and still do to a point, but that was over 300 posts ago but now it's the same old same old, the facts are still the same albeit dressed up slightly different, I don't want an expansion club at the expense of a heartland club, but it's here now whether it expands is a different matter, as for fantasising about the game,an unnecessary comment not really needed.

The North American clubs are being admitted into the RFL's Championship structure currently funded by SKY money. The SKY money is set to reduce and the RFL and the Championship clubs are worried they will get nothing 2022 (the agreement is currently that if the 2022 SKY deal reduces by 25% all the money will go to Superleague).

Superleague can't be clearer they will not be going Transatlantic, so Newcastle and London are OK and Toronto, Ottawa and New York will be together in the Championships. This will mean several US derbies which just might help the game there. It may get them their own NATV deal, and inspire kids to play the game there.

You do not speak for others Wayne, if you don't like what I am saying which is a new idea for real expansion then don't join the discussion, or use the ignore function?

You don't have a point, You talk about London and Newcastle as though they've just been discovered by you, so you should be pleased to know they've been going some time now as most people are already aware of, it's not a brand new point though is it it's just an extension to your previous rants about the North Americans and just another avenue to go down in your attempt to discredit this expansion to the game, my amateur censorship as you call it is nothing more than petty sarcasm on your part and just an opinion of mine and does you no favours.

Firstly,I concur.I do not decide what is on/off topic - but as you started this thread,gave it the title Newcastle Thunder,it would probably be better to discuss Newcastle Thunder.

Secondly,perhaps you should explain the idea behind 'academies',their purpose and benefit.

With the 80% Hull fans - how come their academies were so successful they decided to merge? How many academy products made it into the first teams over recent years?

This academy stuff,in association football,has resulted in the richer clubs 'signing' future 'academy' players,from overseas,at a very,very young age.It kinda defeats the object of raising the 'elite ability' of local players.

Meanwhile,the successful academies here in Ol' Blighty,hasn't got us close to the pesky Australians,in Test and World Club games.

But as long as the heartland clubs,with no money and small attendances,are happy...

100% of fans of every club would really like you to stop referencing that irrelevant poll.

Last time I looked if Ottawa and NYC come to fruition, then that is an extra 30 odd full time positions for players. That's expansion.

Not if those 30 odd positions are filled to the brim with past it journeymen from the NRL. Which they will be.

"IF" IF I can't believe you have any doubts! They can pay low level players what they want and those lads will take it all day, but to what purpose?

Superleague can't get rid of Toronto fast enough so good luck with your Transatlantic Championship. Anyway if we can expand Superleague north and south to London and Newcastle then we need to look to Wales again for further expansion.........

Well nothing is decided yet, but obviously it has come out that Toronto had to pay their players massively over the odds to get them. As it was the league was set up as such that TWP could go through the leagues for four seasons and a fifth next year before the New TV deal.

But the new 2022 TV deal will be struck by Superleague this time and not the RFL, so players will know signing up to North American clubs means they won't be playing Superleague ever. It's for another thread but New York are busting a gut to get established before Superleague shut the door. I can't however see any decent players signing one year contracts.

Back on topic any ambitious up and coming players would be better signing up for London and Newcastle

Just on your last point.

If we have a 12 club top flight, with say, 6 overseas clubs, we will be further away than ever, from competing with, never mind beating the Aussies.
Not only that, but with "English" players spread even further around the globe, getting them together to train as a national squad will become even more difficult.

I think that you just popped one into your own net