I think the franchise will work, look at how far Catalans have come, they were given three years to climatise and it has worked. OK they are strugling a bit so far this season but they are a top team now.

I think you might have missed my point. In my opinion, had Wakey had spent the last few years in the NL then I doubt they would have been granted a franchise.

As it happened, they got into SL originally on merit, managed to stayed there, and hats off for doing so.

We knew in 2006 that if we had gone down, then that would have been it for us. There are some clubs who can still knock together a franchise application, but the vast majority would never have got into Super League under the old system, let alone franchising. The challenge is to keep those leagues vibrant and viable. The answer is to keep the talent flowing through them, and not have it all playing in the Leeds reserves, waiting to break through. The loan arrangements we have currently are not much different. Look at the saints players getting competitive experience away from Knowsley Road (Tyrer, Moore, and I am sure there are others).

He is a Wigan fan, hence the conceit.

I'm not against feeder clubs if the club in question wants it. For example Hunslet will never make SL yet with the backing of a SL club could be very competitive in the national leagues. So it's down to what there fans want, chase a pipe dream or be the best club you can be in a more realistic environment. Widnes on the other hand would never come close to matching that criteria and have every right to stand alone and fight for what is a realistic aim in their case. Horses for courses I suppose.

Although I can more then understand the supporters of Championships clubs not being happy about becoming a ‘feeder club’ for a Super League side but I can see a number of advantages of such a system.

Perhaps it would be a little more palatable for the Championship clubs and supporters if the link ups between themselves and the Super League could last for an agreed time frame. It could run parallel with the 3 years SL license. At the end of the period the feeder club who think they have a chance has the option to bid for a Super League license and those who believe they are not ready just remain as they are.

During this period the feeder clubs could perhaps benefit from a portion of the Sky money the parent club receives, 10% for example, helping them to improve the clubs infrastructure and facilities. They would also benefit from players not ready for SL competing for their team for the season too.

Didn't realise that numpty was from Wigan. Should've known. The more secure these fans are in super league the more receptive they are to the idea of second flight clubs having their hearts ripped out for someone elses benefit.