What complete tosh.

What well run clubs are there waiting to come into Super League?
And if they are so well run, surely its just a matter of time that they get into the top flight?

Quote from Code 13: "They climbed up the ladder with full P&R by the way, from the bottom of division 3 to the top of superleague, earning promotion on the field, not through franchising. So whats your point?"

That avenue has now been cut off to most of the Rugby League as we have been effectively disenfranchised. That is our point

It would be if the other 7 clubs didn't take it in turns to go belly up each year.

Its working well.

It dosnt matter. A team could finish bottom of the league over and over and get flogged every week and it wouldnt matter.

Yeah its a touch unfair people expecting Widnes to be competitive when they wernt even that competitive in the Championship.

they finished 5th, Leigh put 50+ points past them twice last season.

thing is, under Neil Kelly when Widnes got promoted to SL, in their 1st season finished 6th.

And even then they were miles away from finishing top of the table in the old NFP in their promotion year. I'd throw in a wink but it still hurts 11 years on!

thankfully the RFL don't care about that!

i don't see why so many fans fail to understand that the current system is all about what you do off the field and not on it! yes it'd be nice to have P&R but sadly there is neither the money or a big enough player pool for that to be a reality at the minute; super league teams use to spend money they didn't have trying to stop themselves going down, mainly throwing it at average aussies, and the championship clubs would do the same trying to come up. Then when it was actually decided who was going down / coming up, they would have to go out and sign virtually a complete new squad as the gap is too wide to keep the same players. None of which helped improve the player pool and/or talent, increased the wider appeal of the sport, made it more appealing for neutral fans, etc

Whilst I do think the RFL have got many things wrong*, including some things in the current system (i.e. too many teams, not enforcing the quota/club trained rule well enough, etc), the reasoning for the system to be in place is excellent.


*sadly not helped by the 'me' culture and shortsightedness that's exists at most clubs. Just look at Bradford, the current management team have got the club into a big mess but are still unwilling to give the club over to someone else because "they're the best people to take the club forward..."

suppose so, but frustrating to be a fan of a club (with ambition) knowing it maybe 2015, 2018, or 2021 before you get THAT opportunity. I know Widnes fans might not be enjoying this season too much, and I hated our 2005 SL season - I was chuffed when we didn't get thrashed. It's a pity the 'gulf' is SO big between SL & championship clubs, footie clubs do OK in their 1st season in the premiership.