Probably!!

According to the article Crowds have nothing to do with current SL Clubs applications, and Salford's Stadium is currently under construction. Lower performance level wouldn't be argued but is also not part of the criteria if you go by that article.

TBH it's gonna be a blow for whichever side drops out and I'd like to see all the current teams retained. As it stands it's not going to happen.

Can't see it being Salford - the stadium site is under way (I work in construction and have been there) - Manchester/Salford is a massive conerbation that the RFL still want to tap into more (with a new stadium etc) - and add to the mix that Salford seem to be recruiting pretty well over the last couple of months, with many of their best players signing extentions, and top level aussies agreeing deals....Maybe people in the know, already know!!!!

Ideally it would be the Quins - they consistatly perform badly, have the WORST crowds, cost the league the most in debt etc etc, but they will stick with them! Catalan is working - good crowds, good records (Wembley, play off semis etc)! Crusaders have OK crowds and are doing OK, and it's too early doors for them to give up on them.

So, I think it's you or Cas unfortunately. As a watcher of League for 30 years, I was gutted when Widnes didn't make it, as ALL the local derbies over here with them were gone, which is one of the big losses for our league if/when one of you go.

As for the comments of ground share - still doesn't mean there's one less team - they would still have to get rid of one!!! As for joining as one - we went down that avenue 10 years ago with Widnes, and we all fought it off, it never happend, and now it looks like Widnes will get back !!

Good luck either way!

Oh dear. Best get cracking on that stadium or it wont matter who the coach is or what the rugby is like, we will be doomed.

Now don't call me cynical (hello cynical) but it seems ironic that the RFL have made this announcement after both Wakey and Cas said they wouldn't share!

For me it's a 4 way tie - Cas, Wakey, Quins and Crusaders.

Which way it will go I've no idea.

So for all the comments on this forum, especially after this season, make sure you go support the Wildcats next year.........cos the year after that we don't know what to expect.

Check on George Riley's blog on the BBC website - interesting, especially about Ted.

You know better than to suggest it could be Quins or Crusaders Mary. Straight fight between us and cas there are going to be some busy builders in the region I hope.

Got to agree that it is between us & Cas. The RFL will not give up on Crusaders as they will be admitting they were wrong to include them in the first place. Quins are okay because they want a team based near London. Ditto Salford near Manchester.

Cas & Wakey are less than ten miles apart, both have poor stadiums and the playing records are not spectacular (though our 5th place last year should help). It might just come down to the other criteria if neither makes progress on the stadium front between now and the licence submission.

In fact, it would not surprise me if both missed out. The only thing that would stop that happening is the lack of replacements. Widnes look nailed on, but cannot see anyone from Barrow, Halifax & Batley (!!) getting the nod.

Load the gun comrades, pull the trigger and see who gets the bullet!!

I suppose it may come down to where the RFL see's itself in the future. They look to be moving away from heartland teams in favour of either expansion area's or big city teams. Quins, Catalans and Crusaders will be safe regardless of how they score so long as they're able to run financially.

What the RFL have to decide is whether they want a city like Wakefield with massive potential in or whether they want a town like Castleford who have in my opinion little opportunity to further themselves.

We know our academy set up is successful and is continually improving, we know our community work is exceptional and our crowds are stable without success whilst in a shocking stadium. Under the old criteria we'd have scored for team competitiveness, averaging a top 8 spot whilst not spending to the full cap and while having what we consider to be a shocking season we're still only 2 points away from the play-offs.

We've had no crowd trouble, nor any fines from the RFL and fingers crossed we'll have OPP soon. That said we've area's where we must improve to maximise our potential. Marketing for one!

Sorry - I got it a touch wrong about that.

maybe we should all get a cas shirt and verbally abuse Gay's, Giners, fatties, and any people with obvious disabilities, that way we can get cas more fines

ps for all you uptight people this is a joke by the way.

I cant see how anythings changed we still need a ground to survive in Superleague.
if it is between us and Cas then judging by their signings they seem to be a bit more confident than us i.e Mathers three year contract! us trying to sign HKR's second team prop.
Still cant help thinking selling Brough was a terrible decision it would really have helped to be in a strong position on the field at this moment in time.

I'd imagine those clubs at risk will put clauses in the contracts that in the eventuality that they aren't given a franchise the contract will be null and void or something along those lines.

Exactly, Salford never mentioned.

Wow, shock horror!

This was always going to be the scenario, all this bleating on about, the Coach, the team, arrivals, departures – all irrelevant, no new ground – no franchise.

1. Harlequins – improve your crowds or else. Have they / will they ever improve, I don’t think so, does it matter, obviously not at Red Hall.

2. Salford – Sort a new ground – or else. Somehow in this age of austerity their Council are funding the damn thing

3. Crusaders – Sort a new ground – or else. Yep, we can do that Sir, we’ll just move the club, fill it full of Aussies and probably go bust in a year or two.

4 & 5 Wakefield & Castleford – Sort out a new ground – or else. As we all know the saga continues.


Of all the above clubs, Wakefield have performed the best where you’d think it mattered, on the field. Over the last three years we will have averaged the highest finish, we also had the young’uns winning their comp. last season. But it was never about this. As long as you play out of the M62 corridor or sit on a fairly new plastic seat, then, you’re ok.

I knew it, a lot of you knew it, Red Hall knew it, and most importantly Wakefield Trinity RLFC knew it. The ball has always been in their court – No Richard Lewis pun intended.

Licenses are decided next year not now so Brough would've been out of the equation regardless of what happened earlier on this season.