It's the Superleague clubs that have been given "an opportunity to build like no-one else in Britain has had" and its only their inability to create a bullet proof case that allows a championship club to get a foot in the door.

Indeed.

Justice at last, congratulations Widnes, great for SL.

Suddenly I'm not so sure Crusaders are guarenteed a Super League place, especially with the championship geographical expansion. Does anyone know if a team in Wales, regardless of being in the North plays any part in the TV money?

Well done Widnes anyway, though they will probably end up with the same players from the club(s) that go down anyway. Some great derbies to come.

But will any more clubs get that chance ? , we dont even know if this seasons results will qualify us to apply next time yet ?

Realistically it is only if Cas [ assuming it will be Wakey coming down ] dont actually get their ' mirage ' built , or if one of the expansion clubs collapses financially that another Championship club will get a chance next time

So hopefully in the next few days when the re hashing of the Championships is announced the RFL will come up with something that will inspire the fans of the Championship clubs to keep going , and the owners to keep investing ?

I meant from the point of view of a team which is coming up.

Eh?

I don't know on what criteria Castleford are in any danger at all.

I think that, for a number of reasons, Wakefield are probably prime candidates to vacate the spot for Widnes.

If they decide to drop a second team out of Super League, then depending on how consistent they're feeling, Crusaders would be the next best bet. Otherwise, I'd suggest possibly Salford.*


* None of the above should be taking as meaning anything in terms of likes or dislikes.

Salford will have a SL stadium , Castleford have never had anything remotely like a SL stadium

It will be wakey , with twitching bottoms at Cas and potentially Crusaders

It has nothing whatsoever to do with "justice".

The club failed the criteria last time around.

The club have passed the criteria with ease this time.

Simples.

And congratulations to Widnes.



Or put another way: Salford "have never had anything remotely like a SL stadium" and Castleford "will have a SL stadium". Do try to be consistent.

Assuming that Wakey are the favourite to get the bullet, if they are relegated because of their stadium then they have to relegate Cas as well. If they are relegated because of having been in administration then they have to relegate Crusaders. Oh, but hang on, didn't they drop that rule the week before Crusaders entered administration?

It would not surprise me one bit if the RFL took the easy option and relegated nobody, raising SL to 15 teams. Yes, I know that they have already voted to stay with 14 but it could be just another case of Lewis holding the proverbial Glock to the temples of the member clubs.

As someone said earlier, the RFL must be the most unprofessional (and incompetent) sporting body on the planet. They continue to dig ever deeper holes for themselves.

I would hazard a guess that, the situation regarding Halifax, will be replicated for the next round of licences, I can’t see the RFL giving the same guarantee ala Widnes next time around.

Congratulations to the Widnes fans, enjoy your next three years of unbounded aspirations, followed by the realisation you’re just making up the numbers .

Not sure about that one.

I think the RFL deliberately promised at least one promotion from championship this time to show that they had teeth and were prepared to use them on any SL club that broke its promises.

They may do the same again, if only to keep the dishonest clubs in line.

By the way starbug did you ever provide any evidence that the rules were changed for castleford? i recall you being asked last time only for you to mention a vague memory of a rule many years before 2005.

And how you get that the willows is twice the stadium that wheldon road is, is beyond me, perhaps you would like to give some reasons instead of making throw away comments and not backing them up?