Am I right in saying that Wakey got in last time based on their plan to have new stadium?
If so then I'm afraid they have failed and for the chop.
I think Cas said they would have an improved or new stadium, so again they could well / arguably should go.

It's ironic that they are both good teams.

I can see Widnes coming in but after that not sure who else.

IMO there's something not right at Leigh and 'fax have a good stadium but need a couple more years to develop.
Fev need to build more and there's the stadium issue.

Why have Leigh, they bring nothing only a shiny new stadium? I'd have Weirdness, Barrow, all the current SL sides possibly Fev, Halifax and Toulouse all above Leigh.

I sincerely hope Widnes recieve a franchise. I no what you are saying about Leigh. I'd like Halifax to get in aswell.

Sorry, my mistake, I agree totally with the sentiment. I'd be content with Widnes + one of the other clubs listed.

We have had long, long enough time to see the top division London club does not work and is not viable. Is it not time to take another look at the strategy?

I much prefer the concept of "organic" growth of the game, seeping from the heartlands. Rather than the "bone marrow implant" method currently endorsed.

i.e) Didn't we once have a team in Nottingham? A realistic expansion if Sheffield were still in play surely? If Sheffield would have local derbies, Nottingham would too. Once Nottingham were established, what then a chance of a Leicester or Derby side?

I also remember a team in Gateshead in 1999 getting absolutely shafted by the RFL to prop up Hull in a daft merger. Where was the expansionist policy then?

If you get rid of Quins you just write off all the rugby league players that show promise to Union though. The Quins stratagy is wrong but having Quins in the league isn't.
All they need is someone who can turn it around at club level and someone in the RFL helping them and really pushing for success. At the moment they have neither.

I get you and I respect your zeal but the same argument about "writing players off" could be made in the Gateshead argument. I understand they play RU in that area too.

How would you fix the Quins issue? More free tickets?

It was really telling to me that when Quins played the double header RU then RL game afterwards that the vast majority of RU fans went home. They didn't want to watch RL even for free.

Playing in Twickenham does them no favours at all, it's like trying to market skiing in Brazil on World cup final day.
They need their own identity first then for the rest ask Gutterfax.

Barrow ??

Granted they are a good side but facilities.

Have you ever been to Craven Park?

You know after that game I felt a spectrum of emotions. Clearly I like to beat Widnes at every opportunity (immediate reaction) but, on reflection (more considered view), I did feel like we had confounded our dearest Nemeses (plural?) to a fate I would never, ever, wish on them. A bit like cutting your nose off to spite your face. I miss the Widnes games.

I resent the expansionist view which is concerned about too many teams too close together. It's part of the history and foundation of the sport. I mean Saints and Wigan are just 10 miles apart. Could you ever conceive that either of these two would have to make way for the Edinburgh Eagles on geographic basis? No neither can I. It's just unfortunate that Widnes were in hard times when the axe fell. Could easily have been Wigan in the early 80's and look what we would have lost.

Gateshead were actually shafted by the alleged 'First Lady of Rugby League,' Kath Hetherington, who is still in the Chair at Hull. She spent several weeks quite openly lying to those of us who were fans, stating that Thunder were taking over Hull, who would continue to play in Div 2, with Thunder playing in SL. The Club then upped and went lock stock and barrell to the Boulevard, leaving nothing but unpaid bills in the North East. As a consequence the new Thunder was unable to get much in the way of sponsorship because of the reputation the old Club had left behind. In that one season they went from a base of 1000 fans to over 3000 by the end of the season, and interest was certainly growing. The beneficiaries were the Falcons who suddenly gained a lot of support and a new Ch Exec in Mick Hogan (now at Wigan). The loser was RL. The truth of the matter was that the Thunder were grossly underfunded from day one and those running the organisation should have been kicked out of the game, not given a second chance. Rant over.

Don't know about Widnes, more likely Salford as easier for me to get to.

The concept is no different to myself choosing to watch football at Goodison Park rather than Cantilever Park.