Salford wont be demoted, fact. They've signed some decent players, they've competed against the top teams, okay they've had their batterings, and their new stadium is actually being built. Much Further down the line than either wakey or cas.

Quins wont get demoted simply because of the whole rugby league expansion.

For me its between Wakey and Cas, I just hope that we could bring two NL teams up so that we could have a league of 16, so neither would have to go down. Wakey and Cas are having to put a lot of signings on hold, as they need to pour as much money as they can into their stadiums, much like salford have done.

I cant see both stadiums being near completion or even being close to being built before next year. In all honesty i think if both Cas and Wakey are to stay up, they both will have to play under the same roof, or even under the same name.

mate of mine who is a leigh fan reckons its not as cut and dry - between widnes and toulouse apparently. i was surpised by toulouse but apparently they are eitehr partially or fully exempt from the checklist/scoring system thing

Both clubs have already come out and said that they won't even entertain the idea of a groundshare

They have been trying to expand in London since the 1930's and it still hasn't worked. Wigan Highfield became London Highfield. IIRC there was another club in London in the 30's .

I would be very disappointed if another expansion club was brought in so soon. I'm generally in favour of the expansion idea, but we need to allow Crusaders to get established first.

If it was just about the stadia, then Leigh and Widnes would be in SL, and Bradford and Leeds would drop out. No covered away stand, poor toilets, poor food and drink outlets that don't cater for big crowds. Leeds should offer so much more as a top team.

I think there is a very simple solution. Force Wakey n Cas to ground share or merge or kick 'em both out as their councils have (in as many words) said there will NOT be 2 stadiums permitted for construction. I think a "West Yorkshire Wildcats" or similar would be a good idea as most of the players that there isn't room for in the new team will be picked up by the new entrants or other SL teams such as Salford, Quins and Crusaders.

Then the new team would be a simple one. The only team which currently qualifies is: Widnes; so get them in and then give the expansion teams their last 3 years, see where it goes and if it suffices then keep them in. IMO if they hadnt improved after their move to the North of Wales I would have been saying kick Crusaders out simply for the fact they're only a very slight expansion on Widnes now but as it stands they have more rights to a place than Catalans and Salford (performances) at the minute.

Fortunately, performances are only a small part of the criteria.

Imagine us being forced to merge with the Skints......Or Dire with Widnes....Or the Whino's with Bradford......Or Hull FC and HKR....And i think you will answer your own question!

I am saying "if they want to stay in SL" as it looks like only one of them is going to be able to stay in and they are refusing to share a ground. We wouldn't be forced to merge with Saints or any of the others as we wouldn't need to. I understand your point and I agree i'd hate it but the point is that if they will both be without SL rugby its whether its an option they're willing to take or not. However, on a different note, if they told Wigan that they could only stay in SL if they groundshared with Leigh or with Saints in somewhere like Billinge or Orrell (midway between Wigan and Saints centres) then I would be more than happy if it was the only way to stay in SL but only if it was THE ONLY WAY. haha

Totally agree on the groundshare idea.......After all, we already do it with our rather annoying girlyball 'friends'.
It was Wakey that killed that idea with Cas - No idea why though?
I was referring solely to a club merger between Cas and Wakey. Will never happen, under any circumstances. And i cant blame them for that.
If it was us, i'd rather watch a Wigan team play Sunday league RL on the local park than ever be a part of a St Helens merger. Who wouldnt (from both sides)?