We'll have to play well to make it I agree but we're going to have a lot stronger side available soon than played yesterday. Three Aussies plus Nicholson, Mendeika and Bostock will make a hell of a difference, all likely to be in the 17...I'm optimistic we'll be up there and would love nothing better than to see Rovers and Wildcats doing battle regularly in SL. It's been a long time.

I wonder what would happen should Fev be promoted to SL and Cas along with us survive ???
3 teams from the same district
Mr Murdoch wouldn't be a happy bunny

It'd be fantastic for the area and the game in my opinion. WMDC is a hotbed for young talent and can sustain three top flight clubs, no problem.

The issue is not about the sustainability of live games or the interest of local supporters
The issue is that Sky want as wider geographical area as possible to attract sky subscription packages

WMDC is a hotbed of talent but hasnt got a cat in hells chance of supplying three clubs. remember your lucky if you get one a season to super league. add to that wire, wigan, leeds, hull, salford, bradford constantly in our area and youll see the difficulty.

Maybe I could have worded my last posting a little better to say there's enough enthusiasm and tradition in the area to sustain three SL clubs. The fact that it is a hotbed of junior RL proves that point in my eyes. Kids have always been lured away by the bigger clubs but they don't get them all, both Wakey and Rovers had a fair few home grown lads playing on Sunday and all acquitted themselves very well I thought.

Given that Cas are operating thanks only to the largesse of a wealthy grocer, and Wakefield were until recently operating at massive losses - that's just not true; there aren't sufficient bodies coming through the gates at either club to sustain them in SL. As for Fev - you're speculating, and for what it's worth, I think you're wrong - they would face exactly the same problems in SL as WTW and Cas do i.e not enough people through the gates each week to generate enough income to pay the full cap, leaving them either trying to compete with a cheaper squad than most, or requiring significant cash injections from a wealthy benefactor on a regular basis, with no hope of ever paying them back.

w
But for a handful of clubs, what you say applies to the vast majority of SL hence the implementation of the new structure in an attempt to reinvigorate interest within the sport. Licensing had created boredom and that has been reflected in the drop off of support generally. It's only a couple of years since that Wildcats were regularly attracting 7/8k to Belle Vue so the potential is there on the evidence of that. I believe there's a lot of lapsed support throughout the area and indeed the whole heartland which hopefully can be tempted back to the terraces now that there's something to play for.

As for Fev, well they do have something in their favour that neither of the other two have. 17 acres of land much of which is to be utilised for industrial units and warehousing which potentially will bring in around 500k per year to start with and increasing. The existing facilities are are already used and attract commercial revenue streams on a weekly basis also. We have a smart chairman with great business acumen and a desire and belief that he can take the club forward on a sustainable and successful path.

I'm looking forward to the intensity this new format will bring to the game as a whole, the middle eight comp will be fascinating. Can't wait for the season to start.

Not much use if your ground is underwater and you are paying that to play elsewhere, allegedly.

Sadly we won't get anywhere near that number at full price. The reason we had so many coming in was also the factor that crippled us (and Bradford twice) financially. Selling season tickets for considerably under their value to increase attendance figures to meet franchise criteria was a stupid way to go.

At a realistic price we would need to start winning some trophies to get back up to that attendance figure IMO. I'll settle for a regular 5-6k supporters for now if they're all paying the appropriate price.

And don't forget the "creative" counting that was done at the time by JE and AG, along with all the freebies that just walked in through Cats bar