Slow sustained growth IS the model. Have a look at the teams that make up Championship 1 - teams from; Coventry, Newcastle, Hemel, Oxford, Gloucester, London, North Wales, South Wales, and the heartland areas of Lancs, Yorks & Cumbria.

There is also a rumour that Toulouse will be joining Championship 1 for 2016.

OK.....I must have dreamt it....could have sworn that Solly predicted a certain number of full houses this year.

No, Solly didn't 'predict' anything of the sort.

He did, however, say that one of the targets for SL in 2015 was to achieve ten sell-outs.

A target, rather than a prediction.

At an extreme, there could be 4 up, 4 down each season.

Not likely, but it is possible that 2016 could start with say Leigh, Bradford, Sheffield and Featherstone in Super League with say Wakefield, Widnes, Salford and Hull KR in the Championship.

Don't judge the effect of the new structure on average attendances until the season is over. The big boost could come at the end.

Quote: roversmad "Do you always talk Shiite? Yes, we really targeted Sts and Wigan as games we should take the points from. Idiot.'" I'm pretty sure this one was one you weren't targeting m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/32502673

Quote: roversmad "Do you always talk Shiite? Yes, we really targeted Sts and Wigan as games we should take the points from. Idiot.'" I'm pretty sure this one was one you weren't targeting m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/32502673

a big boost will almost certainly come at the end. In certain places. The top 4/5 will probably see a big boost. Below that it will become pointless very quickly. The top 4 championship sides will see a boost. But even if they all rose 50% it wouldn't make up what Bradford have lost since last year. The bottom 4 SL clubs will probably see a drop but Salford and Wakefield haven't got that far to drop

But Wigan humiliated KR a few weeks before you beat them in the cup. Doesn't really matter what happened in the last time Bradford played KR.. Who's to say you won't play poorly again and could have both half backs out injured? Who's to say Bradford won't play better? No one can really say what will happen in the middle 8's. Suspensions, injuries will play a big part. FWIW, I think the SL clubs start as favourites, but if the favourites won all the team, sport wouldn't exist.

I didn't really like the format when it was confirmed, but it has grown on me. Teams really are fighting to get in the top 4, and stay out of the middle 8. OK some attendances are poor, but not really the RFL's format fault that Wakey are playing so bad.. For me it's working so far and proving a good season.

BUT if no championship gets promoted this year, i don't reckon any will due to the massive difference in funding. So far so good, but lets give it a couple of years.

Either way, it is a much better than licensing.

I think Leigh and Bradford could beat any of the four teams that come down in a one off game but I don't think they could sustain it over the seven games

Its not 7 SL games though.If the middle 8's were to start now on current positions Leigh and Bradfords fixtures would be-

Leigh Centurions

Home
Hull KR
Bradford Bulls
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Sheffield Eagles

Away
Widnes Vikings
Salford Red Devils
Halifax
----------------------------------------------
Bradford Bulls

Home
Widnes Vikings
Salford Red Devils
Sheffield Eagles
Halifax

Away
Hull KR
Leigh Centurions
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Sort of brings it home to you,doesn't it..

But its not over 7 games, each team is played once in the middle eights, so say bradford or leigh beat wakey (or one of the other SL teams once) and they also beat the other CH teams playing in the middle eights which is highly possible they already have one foot in the SL next year thats all it takes 1 one win.

Its unlikley but with wakaey seeming to give up the ghost and Salford in turmoil if we are lead to believe it could happen

They can't both do that though because they have to play each other.

And it also assumes that wakefield for instance don't gain those 2 points back by beating one of the other SL sides.

It's also likely that 4 wins would only get you 4th. So it would be likely that they would then need to beat the SL side again.

It highlights the stupidity of the system that we could very well end up with a team with 5 wins playing one with 2 in a winner takes all play off.

Well that certainly explains a lot
I bet he got all giddy too thinking he had another trolling angle. No Pooley, not today my friend.

Oh no, did I miss the end of the season? That went quick.