I'd rather see the RFL/SL/whoever is running things these days expand out gradually. Doncaster have a decent base, help them improve and get better. Work on Donny, Sheffield, York then get into Cumbria and build up Newcastle.

After that hit the Midlands etc.

Now there's an idea......!
You're right the place to try and expand is here first and foremost, but it would have to be done in a better way than previous attempts because clubs in Kent, Cardiff, Mansfield and Carlisle struggled from the beginning and folded Probably because they didn't get enough help.
It can be done though because London have survived!

Give it a rest . Spend time and money developing the game in regions within the uk and Ireland.
Belfast Dublin Glasgow Edinburgh for starters.
New clubs that can be given assistance in development and not rushed in to forming a club based on media headlines. The international game could also threive with home internationals in a few years time.
The rfl seem to think the games got an endless stream of players who can not waite to pull on a shirt and start playing.
Our international games not acheiving anything productive.

I'm all for expansion, but only if done in the right way. I think if we want bigger and better coverage, we have to.

Having said that, I'm not convinced that having foreign sides in our leagues is healthy. Given all the money that America pumps into sport, I think the likes of TW and Ottawa would serve the sport better, headlining an American super league. I also think the same with the likes of Catalan and Toulouse etc. Maybe a continental super league. Could maybe have a four way world club challenge.

As for expansion through the UK, I think the RFL have been guilty in the past of rushing new clubs along, and moving on to new projects without helping the new clubs to become stable both on and off the pitch. Maybe the RFL should employ a team of people that specialise in such as finance, marketing and coaching etc, and this team are based in the development areas, and move about,but not until their current area is stable.

Absolutely.
Rugby League and it's quest for the silver bullet





There is potential to do something in N .America and Toronto's efforts in getting decent numbers through the turnstiles has been very, very good.
However, now that they are spending only marginally more than the other sides in their league (as opposed to 3,4,5 times as much, they have been found wanting.
Their squad is way too small in number and there is literally nothing underneath.
If they continue to pick up a few more injuries, they may actually struggle to name a 21 man squad



I'd love to know what the long term vision is for all of this - assuming that those running the sport actually have a (long term) plan ??

Getting fed up of the R L waisting £ on Canada They are giving them so many advantages ,beside the one when they play at home ,were teams will have to travel thousands of miles in a week play over there then be ask to play a week later again or maybe less. Why are they on the TV every week .And if they are going to charge 30 £ to watch them at York ,I think it's disgusting .Get the money pumped into the game over here A SL team from Barrow, Whitehaven ,Ext .Would be a start

Unfortunately, there are not millionaire and billionaire backers in Belfast, Dublin and Glasgow etc wanting to expand the game. We need Marwan Coolcash back in the game for a start. It was the fat controller who put him in Salford when there was a chance to expand.
It's impossible to please everyone as we have a small core and plenty of insular views.

Probably a few Aussies already thinking about delaying their retirement next year.

Toronto are in the process of re-signing one of their former Canadian players - Quinn Ngawati - according to this weeks League Express. Apparently he made 3 appearances for them in 2017 then went on loan to London Skolars in 2018. A step in the right direction obviously, but still a hell of a long way to go.

Already happened, they haven't got 21 for tomorrow's game against Hudds, so they have named a 19 man squad.

Might be even less then when they play us....

The key to expansion though is to preserve and develop the small core as well as expanding the new frontiers, as most of the players will come from the small core. Without that small core, the game dies. We all know that sports and clubs thrive on heritage and personal histories and traditions. A new frontier may be nothing more than a passing fad. When the fad passes, if you've let the core wither, there's nothing left.

As much as hardcore expanionists mock the M62 corridor, it is the bedrock of the game. Without it, you've nothing.

The key is to develop one without destroying the other. Better minds than mine can work out how to do it.