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

Good luck to Newcastle Thunder (if & when this season continues) or if not, hope they can stay around for 2021.

Yes the academies are terrible
Good one.

If we have a 12 club top flight with six overseas clubs (which will never happen SKY must have at least 9 English clubs) there is no way English clubs outside Superleague are going to pay out £300,000 a year to run foundations and academies to help stock a Transatlantic league they can never be part of. Currently Mr. Perez has been shouting about grass roots development in Ottawa but he's shouted about this for 10 years. Now Wilby has revealed an NY investor in Mr. Scanlan but again how much will the gentleman be investing in player development?.

And when RL is only played at top level in Hull, Leeds, Huddersfield, Wigan, St.Helens and Warrington how many spectators will the game lose, how many schools will turn to union? how many amateur clubs will shut their doors. The fact is going Transatlantic will kill the game here. Yes we want expansion...and so grasp it in Newcastle. Grasp it in London and look to Wales for the future. Yes I know we have failed in Wales since 1907 but Canada RL died in 1960 and despite a small revival around 1980 there's been very little grass roots RL since and four years of TWP has done nothing.

It's so important to remember when Celtic Crusaders came along. Love them or hate them the Junior game in Wales exploded with their inclusion.

Donnyman,
It does seem fatuous to use Newcastle Thunder as an example when you are simply continuing your tirade against Canadian/North American clubs.

I don't recall you having a go at Shane Richardson or Kath Hetherington when they were in charge of their first year at Gateshead Thunder.

The progress to Thunder having an academy has been due to persons outside of the club;in the first instance.Certainy independent of the club despite a number of club owners.

The sam can be said about development in south Wales of the youngsters;independent of the Crusaders club owner in Bridgend.

The 'great' heartland clubs,have,in recent years,had to be dragged,kicking and screaming,to have reserve sides,to continue the pathway of youngsters still interested in playing the sport.

There are far more important concerns for clubs starting off in the professional/semi-professional ranks.

I think academies are good ideas - just as well the governing body does,or those independently run heartland clubs would NOT consider them.

Perhaps we should emulate what some other European soccer clubs do and have the best coaches coaching the youngest players.

Even with academies,over the past years,this country lags behind.

Perhaps the overseas clubs,and players will catch up - they ain't too far behind as it stands.

Not true at all. Very quickly after both Celtic Crusaders and Gateshead Thunder started they inspired RL people locally to support and develop Rugby league grassroots and this was in the face of opposition and competition from Rugby Union and soccer. Simple as.

If we want expansion regardless of preferences about where it should be, it can only be measured playing wise by grass roots growth, and commercially by the ability to underpin a paying TV deal. we have London and Newcastle who can do the old 1-2-3.

1. Rich owner
2. Can underpin a TV deal with fans paying TV subs
3. Can develop players.

That's the point of the thread, anyone who wants viable and effective expansion can get behind these two clubs London and Newcastle. I hope you are "in"