Its great to see us doing well at the moment and there appears to be somewhat of a feel-good factor at Cougar Park. But how far do we think it can go?

Personally I think Rugby League sold its soul the day the Super League came in and removed promption and relegation to the top flight. So with that, does anyone think we have a realistic chance of getting in Super League in say, the next 3 or 4 years?

Not really, although it would be great if we could - possibly the time after the next round of applications.

With the attitude of the RFL and the media towards the Championship clubs (both C & C1) then I feel that it would be worthwhile initiating another break-away. It's as if the Championship doesn't exist; at the end of this season the death-knell will be tolled for two strong and long-established C1 clubs: Barrow, Oldham, Workington, Whitehaven, Rochdale and Doncaster - perm any four from the six!

Having said that, JD is doing a brilliant job and long may he last. Just like Phil Larder, he's got our defence (the best in the Championship) sorted - look at that tackle into touch by at least four Cougars late in today's game! Excellent! And we didn't even have our best players on the pitch!

Until annual promotion and relegation (forget the franchises, they're totally meaningless as Northern have proved 'Give us your money and we won't tell you why we need it') is restored then there's no-chance.

OK, you'll say that we would be a 'yo-yo club' but, if the promoted sides are exempted from relegation for their first season in SL, then there is a chance that it might work. But then you've got the RFL to contend with and their 'expansion agenda' - remind me what the regualr attendance for London is?

Even if promotion and relegation comes back there will be a criteria set for any club coming up. Min Average gate and standard of facilities. The stadium in its current state is so far off being acceptable for SL. How can we generate the cash needed for redevelopment? Realistically the earliest we could look at submitting an application for the current franchise criteria is 2017.
Featherstone will not get in as they are a village team too close to Wakefield and Castleford who attract a bigger gate and have SL history.
Halifax are too close to Bradford/Hudds and the ground is too small. A point made by Nathane Brown when Hudds played there last year.
Added to this both are the wrong side of the Pennines. If you get on with the Pies and Stains like Widnes you can still finish 5th and get in! It remains to be seen if their current standard of performance will be accepted should it continue in next season.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves and sort the small things out. Develop the revenue streams, merchandising, sponsorship, build the average crowd figures up. Improve the marketing of the club in the local community and beyond. All the above do not happen over night.
Keep progressing on the pitch for the next 5 years then the Pride are on the prowl in the Super League.