I hope that you pull it off on Saturday but because you win/deserve to rather than because of the perceived cost or contribution to the sport. Imagine doing the trip every other week like they do?

Whilst I believe well run clubs with robust business models should be rewarded as such, For me first and foremost Sport should ALWAYS be decided on the field of play and never by paperwork.

I also firmly believe Catalans business model is currently flawed, have become complacent, reflective of their on field performances.

A season in the Championship will be good for them to perform a full root and branch review, re focus, re group and to become stronger in SL for it. One step back to take two leaps forward.

Catalans v Toulouse is a mouth watering prospect and will be massive for French RL , not just from a PR prospective and is a game I would want to watch.

100% with you Harold. Time will tell, but I bet HKR haven't been harmed by a brief sojourn in the Championship.

So Widnes obviously are good enough for finishing bottom?

But they were good enough to stay out of relegation places after 30 games. Maybe if we had the structures in place that Widnes have, then our first team would have had more in the tank going into the play offs?

I can't believe that anyone would want to return to the bad old days of franchising - and you think it's dull now!!

But 8 teams were safe after 23 games.

Yes, them 30 games should matter,But You're basing your post on maybe/If on 7 games.

in this instance yes.

in a straightforward P&R season then they deservedly would have gone down.
However , they had another bite of the SL cherry and avoided the end game of relegation or promotion.

Sorry for butting in Cokey but you did take part in the previous 23

For P&R to work well for the game, and to keep the excitement of the these games that can mean you relegated or stay up (promoted or stay down). If a SL club is relegated and has season holiday in Championship until they are back in SL season after - then that isn't damaging for the club and adds excitement of the ups and downs we like in sport (ie HKR). That doesnt mean it works using this example.
For it to work the Championship needs to be FT, to avoid contracts getting null and void when relegated (after all its players and staffs livelihoods at stake), or clubs struggling when promoted because they haven't had same time to recruit as rest of SL. The profile of the Championship, in the media especially is poor to say the least. Leigh are barely on bbc sport for example outside of SL.

Get rid of the Super 8's, and bring in play off game (home and away) between bottom and top of league below for who goes up or stays up. Work at putting together Super League 1 and 2 - 2 full time leagues. Let this competition have the franchises for entry. Any clubs inside SL1 and 2 that are failing RL and not run properly should be given notice. Keep them on their toes financially and on the field. Big sponsorship deals and more imagination in regards TV contracts.

The point i'm making is, If wire had ended up in the MPG after finishing 9th, would they deserve to go down? (for me the answer is no) BTW - I'm not one for the franchise system either,but on the other hand, i think the 8s concept is harsh. I believe in P & R and hope it's formatted/structured better than the current system.

Spot on. I'm not sure what else could replace the franchise model though, seems to work in the NRL for the most part.

Looking at it from a slightly different perspective, money I can't believe that anyone would want to return to the bad old days of franchising - and you think it's dull now!!'"

I believe there has been meeting today with the RFL involving all SL clubs to discuss a different structure as to the one we have now. Be interesting to see/hear the development of that meeting.