The thing is the success or failure of they system isn't based on whether or not a club gets promoted. It's about whether it creates the environment for the game to fulfil it's potential. Right now we are going backwards at a rate of knots.

I guess you're a Feath fan? I can understand where you are coming from. In a lot of ways they deserved a licence more than Wakey who were a mess at the time, that was part of the problem and why it failed because we didn't follow through on promises/threats.

At the same time, as a genuine question, how much did Rovers progress off the field, did you run at a profit, were there 5 thousand plus in your ground every week, we're you producing your own players.

I'm not saying Franchise and close the gates, but let clubs prove they belong here, that should take more than a winning record imo.

If your going down the true franchise route ( Super Rugby in the southern hemisphere ) then its

London south
London north
Birmingham
East midlands
South west
Yorkshire
Lancashire
North east
Edinburgh
Glasgow

All playing at various stadiums ( but not just 1 ) in their area

All current clubs play in lower tiers

Otherwise , forget it

Koukash questioned the RFL's decision to allow Toulouse and Toronto into the British competition and rounded on Catalans Dragons, which he dubbed "the RFL's baby".

He claimed the Perpignan club have been permitted to exceed the overseas quota, are regularly treated more leniently by the judiciary and are costing each Super League club around £100,000 a year through subsidised travel costs.

"I am all for growing the sport but we contribute at least £10million to their local economy and they don't bring any fans with them when they come here," Koukash said.

A junior competition? Most clubs in the Utopia of SL don't run a reserves side!!! Give your head a shake pal

Catalan Dragons have so many overseas players it's ridiculous, how is that good for the game in France ? Basically it's not, unless you support them...
Over to you Jean, hater of M62 RL clubs !

Catalan Dragons should play in the French league....end of discussion. They are depriving a an English club of a Super League place. They are based in France, so they should play in that league.

2 up, 2 down with extra funding for the promoted teams, and a staggered season that finishes the Championship before SL so that they have a slightly better chance to prepare. Based on league position rather than end of season playoffs.

P&R makes sport exciting, whatever end of the league you're at (the boring piece is being bang in the middle). Just need to make sure that we tighten up on player movements well in advance of the end of the season to stop potential relegation candidates from trying to buy their way to safety.

Going back to franchising would kill the game for good eventually. There has to be a means for lower level teams, however difficult, to somehow join the top table.

I have to kind of disagree, P and R does create excitement, but, especially in our current system, only in the middle eights. It's short term excitement if you will. The goal of Franchising would be to get every team to a level where every game every week delivers excitement.

Similarly I don't think of franchising as the closed door, it certainly doesn't have to be, it still gives championship clubs something to aspire to. They can replace current clubs who don't meet standards, or could lead to sustainable expansion. But only if it is done right (that's the RFL's problem).

Also to the guy who said Catalan need to play in the French league, do you think we'd have had NZ able to beat Australia, something we can't manage, if the Warriors weren't in the NRL? There are loads of examples where teams from other countries play in the same league.

I've no issues with the likes of Catalans playing in SL, but Toulouse and the Canadians need to progress through the competition just the same as everyone else. In our current format, this would mean a top 4 place in the Championship, followed by a top 3 place in the middle 8's or a victory in the million pound game. They should abide by the same rules regarding salary cap, but agree that some leeway on player nationalities needs to be accepted.

I have to disagree completely regarding P&R and the excitement it creates versus franchising. You're in denial if you think that an end of season match between 2 bottom half teams could be "exciting" without the threat of relegation.

The main problem I see is that it's so hard to get back into SL after relegation. Hence my suggestion of 2 up 2 down, with a support process in place to help the promoted teams compete.

Wow!!

Koukash has become a M62 only supporter. I don't support his silly statements.

So what if Catalan don't bring fans. The game has to expand.. Man is just bitter that Catalan are a success.

Yeah, with loads of imports playing for them GET REAL ! English clubs take fans to Catalans, but they can't be d vice/versa ! "The game has to expand" why exactly ???