That's not going to stop the whining from Hunslet, (or whomever) fans when they are relegated at the end of the year by 1 point and the team above them got to play another semi-pro side....
The reason for the switch back to 12 from 14 sides was because the game couldn't support 14 pro teams. Next year it will actually have 15. The only difference is that the 3 professional teams that aren't in SL are also unfairly hamstrung with a lesser salary cap allowance. If the RFL truly wanted a team to have a chance of promotion then Championship teams should be allowed the same cap limit as SL sides.....it would certainly make the middle 8 games far more competitive than they are going to be.

Yep.

You were the one who brought GF into the thread with a snide comment and then you moan

yawn is a moan??? am confused

Think about it then.

Well am pleased that you see it as a snide comment and thank you for your insightful input to the discussion! Apparently most of gutters "digs" at people in his own words are meant as "banter"!!!!!! so take it whichever way you will! What you failed to notice was the other poster who responded used several smiley emoticons, gives the hint we are taking the mick a wee bit.
But if you wish to take it as a snide comment then thats fine! The 15 line response to one word actually just doubled the yawn

Yawn

Not wishing to spoil you in fighting (debate) what GF states about the unfairness of the additional 23rd game is true, and if my team was relegated having had a harder fixture than the team above us in the league then I would be a bit peeved. However fixture lists have always been skewed whether it be from:
- Having a harder 23rd game in either SL or Championship meaning missing out on a promotion/relegation spot (this could affect which teams are in the middle 8 both ways.
- An uneven set of fixtures in Championship 1 where not all teams play each other in the league.
- One team getting an easier game on Good Friday before playing a rival team, whom have had a hard game on the Friday night.
- Halifax having what on paper looks to be an easy game week 1 against Whitehaven before playing Leigh at home week 2 when Leigh have had a hard game against Bradford in week 1.
- Playing a team who plays expansive rugby in June when a rival club has been lucky to play them in February when the ground conditions are a disadvantage to the team who plays expansive rugby.
- Etc.
The reality is we all know what the rules (and fixture) are before we start the season so we all have to get on with it. And the vagaries of the fixtures have been with us since we have been playing in leagues. The issues with the extra game have been with us a long time and applied to SL relegation before the franchise system came into force.

I think the salary cap discrepancy is a much bigger deal when you get to the middle 8 since this puts the 4 teams from SL at a big advantage. To allow all the clubs across all 3 leagues to have the same salary cap, with caveats such as it can only be 50% of revenue, only 20 players over 20k per annum, etc. would make a lot of sense. This gives Bradford the opportunity to spend more and gives them the best chance of getting back into SL, and why shouldn’t they have that chance? Why should Wakefield or Salford, etc. have a significant advantage in the middle 8? And eventually all clubs would find the right level in this way. However to make this even a possibility the TV money has to be circulated on a more even basis across all clubs and since we have owners at the top level that want to keep more of the TV money in SL this will never happen. And it will be all branded as the RFL are helping clubs by saving them from themselves to stop them overspending.

gutters good response
Fev mate, this is not in fighting this is us being nice nice to each other

But back on thread, I think using Bradford as an example of spending the salary cap is nearly as daft as using us, we never actually went into administration but near as damn
You do make a good point though! the salary cap is apparently in place to protect clubs from over spending, that obviously has not worked.
So yep maybe they should let clubs spend what they can afford! if it was 50% of gate receipts technically last year we could have spent nothing!!
The fixture list is the fixture list, I think the worries that one of the part time teams is going to kick off because they get us or Bradford is a bit of a misnomer! all the clubs signed up to it and am pretty sure will just get on with it

I wasn't worried
I simply pointed out the unfairness of a) the extra game and b) the cap restrictions.

True, we know the rules before we start and the extra fixture is in there, but the reality is it does nothing other than create the unfairness and make the RFL a few bob. The initial "spreading the gospel" reason is long gone.....it's about cash.

The Cap issue should be "everyone can spend the same" but if you go bust, don't expect us to bail you out. Then if Bradford (or anyone else for that matter) go tits up, then they go Tits up.....the game will survive.

If we were allowed to spend the same cap as Wakefield, HKR, Salford and any of the other Middle 8 candidates, then the middle 8 competition would be a hum-dinger that regardless of SKY's interest, would attract bigger crowds than it's going to this year, when basically the worst side in SL will be playing a side with 50% less to spend on players who have in all probability "coasted" through the season.

Gutters for once I agree with you! But when it boils down to it, its a proffesional sport and making money has to be a part of it!
Am not sure what the pull is of a weekend festival for the championship comp like magic weekend is! SL clubs could have the same complaints, why should the Wigan have to play another top 4 side etc etc etc.
As for the cap! Its still touted as protecting clubs and unlikely to change for next season, maybe the question will be asked after the 8's system has had one turn of the roundabout

This is worrying, I'm also agreeing with GF.
One thing I don't agree on is the idea that sides will be able to "coast" through the season. I think this division is a lot more competitive than that, and what's more all the other sides will have a point to prove against the full-time ex-SL teams. They are bound to raise their game when they play us and Bradford to try and collect a "scalp".

There are some real 'Homer' grounds in the championship that will create a few upsets. Batley, Dewsbury, Featherstone, Whitehaven, Workington are all interesting places to play at. Poor weather and ref means it will be anyones game - and poor refs will be most weeks

Clever bit of scheduling there from the RFL........ I believe the RFL have picked Fev, Fax and Sheffield to play the 3 full time teams based on them being the 3 that will challenge for the 4th spot in the middle 8.....little chance of a relegated team being able to cite playing a tough extra game as a reason to complain and whine. Bullet dodged.....