I had a dream................

July 2011: Castleford Tigers have today been advised that they will not be part of Super League for the three years from 2012. The RFL statement said that it was a close-run decision but the Tigers' failure to make a start on their proposed stadium was the deciding factor. There is no right of appeal - all clubs have waived that right. Widnes Vikings were told back in April that they would be the 14th and last team admitted for this franchise period. The Tigers currently lie 9th in Super League.

October 2011: In an astonishing climax to the season, Castleford Tigers have been crowned as the Super League Grand Champions. After creeping in to the play-offs in 8th place in the last round of the regular season, the Tigers have beaten Leeds, Warrington and St Helens, all away from home, before thrashing Wigan 33-2 in the final in front of a sell-out crowd at Old Trafford. Coach Terry Matterson said 'it's amazing what can be achieved when the players have something to prove and contracts to play for'.

The Tigers, of course, already know that they won't be in Super League from 2012. It is thought to be first time in any sport worldwide where the champions have been relegated, other than for disciplinary reasons.

An RFL statement said 'once again the RFL have demonstrated a ground-breaking, innovative approach and we expect other sports to follow our lead, as they have done before. We see no reason to reinstate the Tigers -there was an agreed, transparent selection process and they missed out this time, but they will be able to reapply for their licence in 2014.'

Tigers CEO, Richard Wright said that the club was elated with the victory but disappointed with loss of the super league licence. He went on to say 'We are pressing on with our stadium development at Glasshoughton and fully expect to be playing there when we next apply in 2014.'

Meanwhile the Tigers are planning for life in the championship - Andy Hay will be coach and Ryan Clayton club captain. Michael Wainwright is the only other player from the Grand Final winning team who will remain at the Tigers. All the players' contracts are null and void after relegation and the remainder of the 17 have all been awarded contracts by other Super League clubs, with no transfer fees to be paid.

I think I'd take that tbh

My advice to you is to stop eating Cheese before you go to sleep

interesting post

it is an interesting point - and opens up a whole new spectrum of possibilities of how the RFL would try to keep the Champions in, if they would bother trying.

I think it would be the end of the current regime at the RFL, IMO.

Would they let the Champions compete for the WCC?

That was the next bit:

Feb 2012: Championship side and Super League Champions Castleford Tigers tonight beat Sydney Roosters 42 -14 in front of a full house at Elland Road to take the World Club Challenge title. Michael Wainwright scored a hat-trick in a side where 15 of the 17 players had come throught the junior ranks at the Tigers.

RFL CEO Nigel Wood said 'it's great to see that Championship rugby is thriving'. Mr Wood is thought to be set to receive a bonus of 10% of the ticket revenue at Elland Road, triggered when the attendance reached 40,000. This will be on top of his £250,000 salary. Mr Wood explained that he thought it was well deserved given the success of the fixture and, besides, did anyone realise the price of pies at Elland Road?

Tigers CEO, Richard Wright said 'it's a real boost for our next licence application. The stadium plans are going well and we'll be able to build a model now'.

Sounds like a thread Damo would start.......

How well would the team that lost its licence have had to have done in 2011, to make it a major embarrassment, do we think?
9th or lower and it won't matter, IMO. 5th-8th and an immediate play-off exit, will be bittersweet for the club, but would be written off by history (of RL, if not of that club) as just one of those anomalous things. More than that and I think we could briefly be grateful for our low media profile!
Roughly how many SL rounds will the club play, knowing their fate?

or smoking crack!!!

The OP was not suggesting this would happen, but we have a governing body that creates scenarios where this ridiculous situation COULD occur.

Every good idea they have they mess up!

from the end of July there will probably be 3/4 Super League games, plus playoffs, plus cup semi final and final. If it is like this season, there will be 3 or 4 teams that can still squeek into the playoffs.

In theory, a club could do the Double knowing their fate and still get relegated.

On the flip side to your question - how well would an otherwise doomed club have to be doing on the field to avoid getting the chop? Being in the Top 4 and in the Cup Semi would surely be enough to save a club, either of those things on their own could be.

None of Cas, Wakey, Salford, Crusaders or Quins are going to win SL next year, therefore it's pointless discussing such a possibility.

That's just too far fetched..




sell out crowd at Old Trafford indeed...