Everyone is assuming that it will be lop-sided, but don't forget, the top teams in the Championship in 2014 will be getting more funding for 2015, which will close the gap...

...plus the Bulls may well be starting 2015 in the Championship anyway...

That is a massive claim

And that's fair enough, working with teams in an elite league doesn't take away any of that identity. And I don't for a second suppose a fax fan or a Leigh fan, or a Wakefield fan or whatever, if on the day the "elite clubs" (for lack of a better name) are announced you to pull on a rhinos shirt because you didn't make the cut. But there have to be some realities, and if you fail to make the cut, you look at those at the club who failed to argue convincingly enough, and have to wait it out (as many in the championship have at the moment) - personally, after Salford went into administration, the application process for there spot in super league goes up for grabs, they drop down and regroup, wait for Bradford to go bust and reapply. You might see some teams in and out in the first 5 years, and championship teams can hold onto that dream, but as time goes in, the clubs 10 15 years down the line fewer clubs go bankrupt, fewer opportunities to apply, other options need to be taken.

I'm the exact same with saints (although I haven't clocked 40 years ,., of life let alone rugby )

Then they will be ' blown away ' , whats the problem?

I meant business plans that actually work

Maybe it was the London players trying harder in that game?! They actually had something to play for, for a change!!

Sheffield were poor tht day compared to how they had been performing in the championship.

Also didn't London fly Out Jamie Soward the week before?!

I forget how London them got on in the next round vs SL opposition? Live on the bbc? Cricket score?

Some of you SL fans really do need to get a grip and support the sport as a whole rather than your obviously overgrown egos!

Why would we have to choose?

The overseas exempt signings by clubs at the expense of development and reserve sides throws that theory out immediately.

It's boring. Less fans go. Less money come in.

Trying to get back on track a little, the bottom of SL and the top of the Championship in 2014 is going to be far more exciting than previous years.

"Relegation" back on the agenda, and some meaningful funding as the prize for the respective comps means that this season will have more to play for than any for quite a while.

Anyone disagree?

Go easy on em lad,some of them have just had there comfort blankets took off them and they're feeling a little insecure now

Funnily enough in my original draft I wrote a section about RL fans being very price sensitive, and was going to use examples of the various discounts eg World cup, challenge cup etc thrown at fans to try to get them to attend matches that are perceived to be of a lower quality.

Such a culture that has been developed within RL, has lead to a situation in which its now expected that tickets will be given away or heavily discounted in lesser matches. I expect this will be the case for the second league of 8 matches. Why fork out £200+ for a season ticket when you know someone will be handing out freebies in schools and shopping centres, or offering a ticket to a match for a fiver on groupon.
Koukash alluded to this re Salfords season ticket sales or lack of in the Manchester Evening News, with the following comments "It should have been far greater and stronger. It’s no use expecting free tickets – those days have gone."

Consider how interesting it's going to be at Odsal next season. The Bulls regular season relevance has now been restored. How exciting is that? Best of luck in avoiding relegation BTW.