Yeah and it might just improve the game while we're at it, instead of the same old same old predictable results. That's why new fans arn't bothered because they want to see a a competitive league not a closed shop as it's been for 17 years.

You are not wrong there! 2004 to 2008 were quite interesting as a Wigan fan with the threat of relegation, the heaviest defeats in the clubs history, going against the spirit of the cap and finishing in 6th-8th in the league and making it to the GF semis.

and if I'm not wrong your fans were the best they've ever been in that period, it's the uncertainty of a result that gets people off their armchairs and to games.

It might improve the game for Salford but not the game in general and definitely won't improve Salford long term

Going off the NZ game:
Hall had the best centre in the tournament inside of him who gifted him a score, he still managed to bomb an easy finish and fumble for Nightingale's first.
I like Watkins but he is a winger's nightmare- the only ball Josh had was the cut-out pass from S'OL for the try and another from JT where he skinned Vatuvei but slipped near the FB. Manu's try came as a result of (Watkins?) getting blocked and leaving a two vs two, quite similar to Widdop running out of the line for Nightingale's second, although Hall did have enough cover not to come out.
Overall I thought Josh had much more of a threat to deal with and did much better.

Hall's a fantastic finisher with an unbelievable physique for returning the ball... but his defence isn't as good as Josh's and he doesn't score as many tries- so I'm really struggling with the "million miles" bit.
Also:
Hall isn't as fast.
Hall has less tattoos.
Hall has only slightly ridiculous hair.

But above all they're both stunning players and easily the best two for England. (And there is no way on earth Burgess was going to play in that game, look at what Manu did to the young Aussie in the final. Scary.)

What Salford joining the games elite won't be good for Salford long term? I seem to remember Hull Sharks getting pastings week after week in front of 3000 max, the period between year 2000 and now the on field success and competitiveness has imo helped that club long term???

Yer but, no but....There's a committed fan-base in & around Hull, Marvellous Marwan can't sell season tickets for toffee. Only 1,000 sold up to last week (!?!) Salford may have had a chance had they rebuilt the Willows or at least stayed near Weaste & concentrated on enthusing the existing supporters instead of moving 5 miles down the road with crappy parking & down-wind of a sewerage farm (or at least waited 'til the tram went there).
I don't think they're helping their cause either by some dodgy signing pronouncements that are increasingly falling on deaf ears as well as the shambles in the back-room.

I think Taylor will do well there, he would have struggled for game-time with us & will get more under his belt before going east (assuming either of the 'ulls want him), but unless Dr K signs a Jonny Wilkinson I can't see them breaking even or threaten the top 8 for some time.

(I wouldn't be surprised if he walks away in the next 12 months either, he'll make more from Newcastle Knights if that goes through than he'll ever recoup in Barton)

But I'm still willing to bet you questioned the decision. Everyone did outside of Wigan so there's no need to shy away from the fact. If you genuinely thought he was a good choice then I apologise but, in all honesty, I doubt you did.

As for Smith; are you suggesting he hasn't improved since being at Salford? In truth what you saw at Salford has no more relevance than what the London fans saw of Sarginson. Time (and players) move on! I agree Tomkins and Widdop was an option but, as Sam hasn't played half for over 3 years I'm assuming McNamara considered it too much of a risk. Brough has committed himself to Scotland so is of no consequence, Chase was tried and discarded and Brown is now 30 so perhaps McNamara was looking for a partnership that could take us to the world cup. He has also NEVER featured in the national side which, at 30, must say something. Smith has been the dream team 7 for the last two seasons so it appears most journalists and pundits agree with McNamara that he is, and has been for the last 2 years, the best British scrum half in the game. Now pardon me for pointing out the obvious but just because YOU disagree doesn't mean he was therefore 'not worth his place' as you put it. I think those facts, coupled with him guiding last years double winners and this year's Grand Finalists, Wigan, round the park, alongside his Lance Todd trophy win suggest he was very much worth his place! Try listing the achievements of those you think should have been there instead if you need further clarification.

Finally Charnley. So you think the Superleague's top try scorer for 2 of the last three seasons who would, in all probability, have been this year's too had it not been for a lengthy time out at the start of the season wasn't 'worth his place'? Show me the stats that suggest he wasn't because I can't find any. His returning of the ball is as good as any winger in the league and his stats from the 4 nations confirm this. He may well not be as good as Hall (even though his try return suggests otherwise) but then who is? Very few in the world. The fact is, at the time of the tournament, he was England's clear 2nd wing option after Hall. There is even reason to suggest his form going into the tournament was better than Hall's. However, Hall is of such quality and proven at International level that he would always be the first choice and rightly so. However after him only Burgess was threatening Charnley's place and we have to assume that he didn't show enough in training to displace the incumbent. After those two, only Makinson can consider himself unlucky to make the squad but, in reality, he would never have displaced first Charnley and then Burgess to make the actual team short of injury (which didn't happen). Again, suggest someone who's claims were so overwhelming that Charnley 'wasn't worth his place' and list the stats and reasons why. I'd be interested to see who you suggest as I can't think of a single one.

Why were they only pulling in 2/3000 back in 1998/99 when they came up? Where was their committed fan base then?

Biggest myth in the whole of Super League, Salford and their 'crappy' parking. There's plenty of parking available, both on and off site. If you choose to park on-site just know that you'll be waiting a while after the game because in the safety of the supporters the car parks are locked down for 15 minutes after the game to ensure pedestrians get away safely.

Plenty of parking available at Barton Airport (over the road) and Eccles RL and RU clubs (10-15 minutes walk).

Fair enough - I [iwas [/ibasing it on the nightmare of zero-day a couple of years ago (and the queues down to the Altrincham junction on rah-rah match days).
Although that does beg the question: "if access is so brilliant, why aren't there more people there?"

Anyone got info on how much of a fee Wigan received from Salford?