i think its these teams that dictate policy to the RFL

i always find myself thinking about how long its going to take before the RFL decide that there are no other teams they can kick out and everyone has top notch stadiums to play in.

i always think that it will come to an end this franchise thing at some point cause they can't keep extending the amount of teams in Super League until its a year round sport.

it has to end cuase they can't extend it for ever more and they will run out of clubs to throw out eventually so that means then end of the franchise and then the Promotion and Relegation will come back how long before this happens is anyones guess but it will happen eventually.

it was a stupid idea to begin with, the likes of Celtic Crusaders and Catalans should have been made to work for a place in super league put right at the bottom of the Co-op leagues and made to earn there place not just get one because there french or welsh.

Rant Over

to be fair(ish) Celtic did start in the third tier.

they didnt win the grand final in the championship, so they should have been made to earn it.

Catalans didnt even need that they just stuck straight in.

there trying to do it with a bit more disguise with Toulouse putting them in the Championship.

everyone already knows though that there gonna be put in and i suspect the RFL already knew they were going to super league in 3 years when they put them in the championship.

However wasnt these the years they "cheated" with the sigings etc, so in fairness they wouldnt have moved so quickly up intpo a position to apply for a liecense if they hadnt cheated.

exactly.

its just all one big f is this license thing.

Toulouse and Gateshead will be in SL next time around. No doubt about it.

As regards the big clubs i suspect Bradfords glory days are over. With no big backer, crowds in freefall, an ever weakening squad and a semi derelict stadium i only see them heading one way.

Both those two wont be in next time. I think Barrow and Gateshead will be the next two allowed or maybe Widnes if they have a very good two seasons. The signings that Gateshead are making smells of the Celts runnin to their inclusion to SL. I also dont think that Salford will get relegated either, only because of their geographical position. Who does that leave to come from SL. The only way to accomodate these changes and for the survival of the game I think is to make the number of teams in each league bigger. Sorry Fax fans the only reason I cant see you getting in is your map position. With Wakey, Hudds and Bradford so close I think they will opt for a team farther a field. It all points to ourselves, Fax and Widnes always being in the second tier. It is upto all these clubs to make it the top tier by having the best stadia - which we nearly already have- and the most attractively priced, entertaining game. It really bugs me that SL are always going get the best of both worlds. The best players will be brought up through the lower leagues. I know thats always been the way but with all the franchise crap it still leaves a bitter taste.

As i said the Championship will be the best league to be in with proper teams in proper RL towns.
Why bother trying to get in SL, let's make this the league to be in !

Said from the start that Toulouse would go into SL ,why else bother putting them in the Championship and getting 3 years to build.

Don't be daft son, they'll be swapping us for Leeds as we all know how cack they are!

I'm still confused as to why it's up to us to strengthen the competition ie - The French National side. The Aussies don't do it for us as they enjoy their annual smashing of the 'The Poms'.

there are some very good posts on here. but there is a bit that i dotn disagree with.

first the person who said Bradford are going, there Bradford as much as i dont like them there is no way the RFL have the cherries to throw them out.

i agree with the person who said Fax wouldnt get it, i am already resigned to that. there are too many Yorkshire teams but we have a better ground than some pf them but they wont kick Wakey out Or Cas.

I agree that Touluse will Probably be in as i think Widnes will get in i don't think the RFL have the Cherries to turn them down again.

the only way to deal with this stupid Franchise junk is get rid of it and bring back promotion and relegation its going to come back eventually why not make it now before it comes even more of a f than it already is.

if teams like Catalans and Celtic are good enough to be in super league they should be made to do it the hardway like everyone else instead of being fast tracked in.

Rant over.

They better get used to plenty more empty seats at Wembley and Old Trafford then!

Getting very tired of all this rubbish about franchises and promotion and relegation and salary caps. Been hearing it all for years and non of it works. The Super dooper league will eventually implode on its self if the rfl continue to 'promote' clubs into it with no history or fan base. Maybe better to have American Football system where ALL the teams from all 3 leagues are split into 4 or 5 team divisions and ALL clubs have the same salary cap. The worst teams from the previous season get first choice of signing players. Top teams from each division enter a play off for Grand Final. Is this to simple !! Top two next season, Leeds and Saints. Leeds in grand final again. BORING.

Franchising hasn,t been introduced to make RFL a national sport otherwise why have 2 French teams.

Superleague crowds are down because 3 clubs have virtually no away support albeit down to geography.

He who pays the piper plays the tune. The RFL is the piper and we all know who the payer is.

Club chairmen in the main subsidise their clubs, or did, until Sky came along and therefore for Superleague chairmen they don,t have to dig as deep as they used to.

RL was stumbling along for over 100 years before Sky,s involvement. We had expansion eg Scarborough Mansfield Chorley and others. They didn,t work.

I hope Richard Lewis makes this point next time he talks with Sky because the way things are going I think they are putting the game in jeopardy.

The professional game,s problem is because Sky money isn,t spread around clubs like Leigh Fax Widnes Barrow Fev and others have little to aspire to and are therefore at risk.Might be an idea therefore to point this out to Sky.

Viewers of Sky might prefer atmosphere when they tune in like Wigan v Leigh Hudds v Fax Wire v Widnes etc and this might improve their viewing figures rather than Celtic v Quins/Cats for example.