Rather than merge, Barrow simply have to get there and fill the other towns with scouts/dev officers/whatever and basically take their best talent. Still a Cumbrian side and might struggle for fans.

The entire population of Cumbria is similar to that of Bradford, around the 500,000 mark. Unfortunatley for Cumbria this is spread over a massive county.
All rugby League fans would love them in, but its no use having them if they cant compete on and off the field. Cant see any of the 3 making a longterm go at it on their own nor agreeing a compromise in the near future.

What's the population of London? How many turn up to Quins games?

Dont compare our good friends from Cumbria to Londoners!

I can't see 'county' teams working in RL just because of the rivalries. The yorks/lancs thing never worked because most side's main rivals are within their own county.

As far as the cumbrian clubs go, why does everyone think that its super league or nothing? A strong cumbrian presence in the championship and below of well-run clubs with good attendances and productive youth systems will still play a major part in the development of the sport.

And what makes people think that barrow/workie/whitehaven fans will stop watching their team and start watching a super league team. ?Is it something they put in the water in super league or something?

If a cumbrian side does get in to super league, it needs to be one of the existing ones.

How will they get there? Wait for it - and don't be scared - by being promoted to replace the worst team in super league.

Bit left field i know, but it does happen successfully in more minor sports to rugby league, like football, cricket, rugby union etc......

Does anyone else think they are (Barrow) already in?

I just wondered if Des Johnston let it slip when they interviewed him last week straight after the game on sky.Rod Studd asked him about applying and he said "we are already in arent we". A slip or tongue in cheek i wonder.

I'm sure super des could arrange it!

Aren't Barrovians really from Lancashire !

The ones born before 1974 are.

As for Des's quote on the TV after the final......I think he was making a joke about the fact that we had just won the Grand Final and in other years that would've meant promotion to SL.

Once again, self interest kills the game.

They are already in the application process by way of appearing in the GF. The need for a new stadium/current revamp now stands in the way of a successful application.

I could see Barrow making the grade, re-branding as "Cumbrian Knights" and there being another club started called Barrow (probably amateur).
I could also see younger/newer/occaisional fans of the other Cumbrian sides starting to support this "new" club as their SL club, even if it only extends to a club shirt and follwing them on SKY.

I can't really see that happening.

Your opinions probably do just as much damage to the game over here.