But I can provide evidence showing opposite to this. What you have done there is picked out a one off Cas-Wakey which is a very rare possibility of that situation happening again. You have chosen Leigh/Haven GF which is 1 game in a season, when rest of league games approaching this final was poor for us. Should we just have 1 game seasons ?
You have chosen HKR - Cas who are both well supported anyway and deserve to be in SL with enthusiasm there supporters showed in following their clubs. They was actually intersting encounters in an otherwise poor league. Give us 10 more clubs like these in our comp, and P&R would still be with us me thinks.

SL is separate competition - ridicule the name which I know you do, but its fact. Look on beeb website for the table and look at categories for example

Nik is right the Burnley fans have a terrible reputation

Like you said the truth wold not have hurt as much as the sham they had all the clubs go through...thats why the clubs outside super league are dieing a death....no future simple as

'"

Go on you tube, search for 'Rocky Mills Burnley' and try not to laugh.

I choose the bread and butter games - the league games and play off knock out stage games, where most are involved. I did give you examples already but I will do it again - our poor league games crowds in 2004, we'll leave 2005 out, Batley home in playoffs 2006, Donny at home 2007.
Crowds have gone down in P&R era for us especially. What you mention is a example of 1 game plucked from a season where there are actually 20odd games in a season, and well over 100 fixtures in any given season. highlighting a couple of games out of that lot is not proof enough IMO of enough interest. And certainly not proof enough that a PT club should replace a FT club - similar to relegating a premier league club and putting say Northampton in there.
We all experienced 2004 GF - you couldn't have written the the script. From being on the brink of disappearing to finally getting the holy grail with a match of high drama. The feeling was awesome. I know what its about. But looking back, it was one game, a season where had we not gone up would have most probably been curtains. Was it really worth the risk ?

We will never agree about this and I actually do respect your views but you are very selective when quoting examples as per above.

Lets face facts. RL is a regional sport it is not soccer, and, although it,s not my preferred sport ie soccer we need to be realistic.

We have the same potential as 4 clubs currently in Non relegation League and I,m not talking about Harlequins or Celtic Crusaders. One of those clubs is currently second in that league.

For professional sport to prosper, even a regional sport, you have to give every team the opportunity to reach the top level. Franchising cannot and will never, achieve this.

Demon.s point about the pittance paid by Sky to Championship clubs is spot on but the ignorant smug Saints fan,who is not typical, don,t have a clue about real RL.