Absolutely true , bit dont forget that that money then only goes to the clubs that play in the televised competition , a competition from which clubs are being excluded because of location

So what exactly do we have to gain by supporting these expansion clubs ?

a) The opportunity to have a high (as possible) profile sport that you love on TV watched by people across the country/world, with sponsors queing up to put in money across all levels, SL, national league, community.

(the alternative is to sit and wither and end up with a localised sport, popular only in 2 or 3 areas of the world, sponsored (over here) by small local firms, pie companies, ale companies and gambling companies - this is already starting to happen, League is slowly losing the war...)

b) The chance to enter the competition by making sure you're a great second tier club, then applying for a license.

c) A larger talent pool due to more people playing the sport, resulting in a better international side, resulting in England possibly beating the Aussies. Resulting in more people liking RL because we have an interesting Interntational competition, resulting in more people playing/watching....call it a virtuous circle if you like...?

Rugby League, the sport I know and love, has already found itself in a sorry position due to the parochial nature of its small minded fans for over a 100 years.....

Doesn't actually work that way unfortunatley

Not happen with location included as criteria

In fact the RFL would be much happier if some of the smaller clubs ceased to exist as they have the misguided belief that fans would switch alliegance

Yes I agree with the larger playing pool and an eventual better international competition

But in all honesty the clubs outside have enough issues surviving to be too focused on that

Quite funny reading some of these posts! North v South wit. All this beer and whippet thing makes me smile, very few Southerners complain about our ale when they are up here & by the way one of the greatest pigeon racers of all time (Alf Baker) was a Londoner.
It's a franchise system that will be looked at after 3 years, everyone agreed to it. These are hard time for everyone most crowds are down, a team near us only had 4900 for a 6th round CC game the other week (not mentioning any names). ANYWAY GOOD LUCK AGAINST HKR NEXT WEEK!!!