That's a good question - I'd say go for a 13 team league, but my argument falls down if only, say, 8 teams met a set of standards. (And I don't want to kick off the 'what about magic weekend' debate) The RFL stated SL would stay at 14 - why not wait until decision day? They could have then said: You know what? We've only got 12 decent applications, therefore it's 12 teams in. By stating it was going to be 14, they left the possibility that they would have to pick someone that didn't measure up, simply because they were slightly better than other bids.

If you say so.


Did I? I'm not sure I did. I may well have argued against some rash statements that didn't have any evidence behind them, but I certainly didn't argue with anyone about Samuels one way or the other.

We can settle this once and for all.

The Fax chairman will get the response from the independent consultants, and let him publish it and see how well the Fax bid was regarded. That's all he has to do.

So go on, publish, Mr Chairman, I'm listening.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.................................................................................................................