It's a pity something similar couldn't befoul you really.

As for this, it's not all that enlightening. It still doesn't answer the question as to why the RFL deemed Halifax worthy of putting in a bid after originally going over their application and then deciding later it fell well short. If it did then why give them the impression they had a chance in the second round of bids? If it didn't why imply that it did?

What exactly did they think was going to happen in the short interim between widnes getting a license and the rest being confirmed?

A bit illogical to me. It's possible that Halifax were well short but if that's the case don't lead them on, give them the truth in the first place so they don't waste time and resources.

Starbug will be Chairman of the RFL by 2020. The [iRevolution de la flat cap [/iis almost upon us.

Go Starbug !!!!

Some would say .......... The original plan - Widnes in, Wakey out. Halifax were used in order to make the whole process palatable. I mean, what's the point of running through a sham process when every man and his dog knew that Widnes were in and Wakey were out? Halifax were the RFL's curveball. But, right on cue, the RFL's pet project bailed out at the eleventh hour and they then they had to put Halifax to the sword with their weak bid instead of saying well done with the bid but no cigar. Wakey fans will tell you till the cows come home that their bid won them a place on merit but everyone who doesn't have mashed up dundee cake for a brain knows that the Crusaders demise saved them. That said, i still have no doubt that Wakey's bid as at that time was better than Halifax's.

"Peace of mind I'm sure. Especially if you have elderly relatives on board."

As far as I can see there are only two possibilities. Either you are right, or Crusaders were pushed and were made able to "pull out" to save face. If the latter is the case, it goes against several press releases the RFL made relatively close to the announcement about the importance of the crusaders, but then, crusaders were signing players for next season very close to them pulling out too. I think Wakefield were going and they knew it, Fax were there in order to make it look like anything but a foregone conclusion, to make it look like a real bidding process but then something happened at crusaders, whether it was at the club or something the RFL discovered regarding their long term viability, which made them pull out. Wakefield were preparing for life in the championship and got lucky.

I don't think they even bothered looking at Fax's bid all that much. It was deemed strong enough to get through to this stage of the process and but then not strong enough to come close to earning a license, which is illogical to me. Either they are stringing you along about the bid you submitted originally in order to gain credibility of the process, or it was on the verge of being strong enough and they had made their minds up before you submitted it. Essentially, crusaders pull out at the nth hour, the powers that be think, great, we don't have to drop wakefield...and you weren't in that equation and they didn't have time to put you in that equation.

These bite size paragraphs regarding the licenses don't really explain all that much. These documents would have been extensive and covered a variety of fields. A sentence on each of them is not going to tell the full story.

But c'est la vie. Life goes on. Sincerest good luck to Halifax for the future, I'll be rooting for you next time.

No, you are pathetic!

It has been said time and time again that this myth that the RFL bottled kicking out Wakefield 'at the last minute' was clearly just as much rubbish as you are often inclined to post. Once the consultants, KPMG in particular, got into the bones of Crusaders application they knew, quite a few weeks out that it was a problem. I understand from very good sources that, particularly in the final two weeks prior to the announcement, the RFL were trying to get Crusaders to either give them more information to prove some very bold claims or withdraw their application.

There was nothing last minute about it. Wakefield were only ever in danger because people speculated (see earlier helpful definition) they might have the weakest application! Those people were wrong and they didn't, and the Crusaders and Halifax applications were clearly weaker and that is why Wakefield were given a licence. I am sure you can understand this... can't you!

I don't recall seeing any direct announcements from any of those organizations , all they do is asses , the RFL then use that information and make the decision, so your point isn't relevant

Who says I want to be in SL ?

Why what are you scared of ?

Which is the point Chris , if Faxs bid was as bad as has been inferred , why not just tell them to re admit or withdraw ? , the point being it wasn't , it might well not have been as good as any SL club , let's face it a club that is self sufficient , why would anybody want a club in SL that behaves like that , it would seem to me that going into administration and losing millions per year is what they seem to prefer

ive got no opinions on Halifax or Wakefield either way so I am completely neutral meaning I can say (without bias) that in my opinion the RFL bottled it, the best man lost on this occasion

So, what you are saying is that KPMG, a professional services organisation with over $20 billion revenues a year and reliant on its reputation for expertise and trust in audit, tax and business consultancy have been contracted to the RFL to assess the submissions of the licence applicants and yet they are happy for the RFL to disregard these assessments and publish inaccurate summary reviews on the submissions so that they can teach the Halifax Chairman a lesson?

Your level of paranoia is quite incredible – in fact I now picture you with a homemade tin foil helmet

If you are suggesting a tin foil hat for me , how do you quantify their assessment of Quins ?

They are essentially bankrupt , is that what they state ?
No it isn't , which suggests what ? , the governing body will twist move and spin whatever part of whoever applications they want , don't pretend to be clever when it is obvious you aren't

This is the internet... I have to pretend to be something I’m not

I'm 6ft 5" on the internet. It's great

Don't bother , you aren't fooling anybody , neither is Rich