Has the standard of player fallen, the standard of coaching, or just the way the game has developed in recent years?

Let's face it, the game has become a regimented one in recent times - Individuality is knocked out of young players at the first opportunity. Coaches all play the same, safety first game, all like to spout off about how proud they are when they nil an opponent. Its a results first, entertainment second sport now, as we see by the regular debates on here about how boring we are to watch at times.

So maybe, rather than the players being the problem, we should look at what the sport has become and whether it's actually become too professional for its own good?

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

Yes to those three, but the [iability[/i with ball in hand has dropped the most.

Giving the French a local derby in Toulouse may be a more reasonable way of expanding the game than daft miles across the Atlantic.

Agree, my vote would go to Toulouse

I think Wigan will set it up for Leigh to get in.

But Warrington are another team near Widnes, Leigh, Wigan St. Helens, Salford etc. Do you not like local (ish) derbies ?

I would be happy with Toulouse or Leigh, both have recruited well for next year.

With the announcement that there will be relegation in 2021 on top of the reduced funding, the difficulty in pulling a squad together at short notice, this almost seems like a poisoned chalice.

It will be very difficult for the 12th club to remain in SL past 2021, the deck seems stacked against them. Alternatively it gives the other leading Championship clubs a strong chance of 2022 promotion, given one of their major rivals will be out of the picture...

It's very rare a newly promoted team doesn't get relegated anyway so that's not really a new issue for next year.
Also the clubs will have good players and wouldn't need to massively change the squad, London practically had the same squad when they came up with a handful of additions and they were brilliant.
Yeah they'll have a shorter period to get the squad together etc but if they don't make wholesale changes they won't be that much worse off then clubs any other year, yes they'll have less money but they can still get a squad together and fit for the start of the new season.

It might well come down to which of the possible 12th teams is prepared to take on the risk of almost certain relegation after all the expense of a likely disrupted SL season

I want the 12th team to be a well run club with sound finances and that won't be whipping boys if they do come in.

I don't know enough about the club's mentioned to pass judgment.

London were probably the last team to almost make a fist of it when they did come in, but ultimately it suggests that we don't have the quantity of quality players to be able to support the 12th team although I'm happy to be proved wrong. They had a very good coaching set up, a decent owner, players with the right attitude but ultimately just not enough quality and their fan base was not great.
If they could make that 'quality' adjustment I'd be happy to see them back.

Toulouse would be good as I'd fancy a 2nd trip to France and I know they've recruited some good players, but don't know enough about them. (If they are backed by a Bernard Gausch / Simon Moran type figure then that would be a positive).

York are going places, but may be it's a bit early for them.

Bradford - great history and fan base but how stable are they?

Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)).

Leigh - again not sure about their stability. Hot and cold.

Newcastle - would quite like that but honestly don't believe they are at the right level at the moment

Quote: fez1 " Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Quote: fez1 " Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Featherstone or Toulouse for me.

Big Nigel Wood has a degree in corruption,and it's all set up for Bradford who will also be given a license to make it back to the big time again with their strong fan base. This is not sour grapes from me ,as I would rather Leigh earn the right next season for promotion,and if we fail.......Tuff Titty.