"A London club has been involved in the top level of rugby league since Super League was set up in 1996"

15 years and they still can't get the fans interested How long are they going to keep at it Flogging a dead hoss springs to mind.

Leeds
Bradford
Castleford
The glory supporters wanted success .

I live near Cas but was born in Wakey so my allegiance (if the right word) lies with Wakefield.

SIMPLE

A chairman that was interested in M&S suits and our ground as had its day. Newmarket will bring in tons of new faces. Did wire and hull build there crowds at there old grounds??? The answer is NO !!!!!!

How ironic that if London (in whatever guise) weren't in SL then the pot and our share thereof would have been much less and we would have most probably hit administration much sooner than we did.

Why do so many people fail to grasp why and how they are important...... ?

As others have mentioned, lets get our own house in order before we start throwing stones.

Some fair points. For me the RFL don't help themselves or Quins with the charade of making them apply for a license like everyone else. Just be open and say that the expansion clubs are exempt and everyone else has to fight it out. At least all the clubs then know where they stand.

I think being 'Quins' has helped them lose fans,any casual union/league fan that supports London Irish/ Saracens etc etc won't support a club called Harlequins, would Wakey fans follow the same team if they had to play at Castleford and be called Castleford Wildcats ? plus they are on the outer edge of London, being more central would help them, there are loads of reasons they struggle with fans BUT all that aside the game of RL is taking off down here and the RFL recognise that they need a Pro outlet for emerging talent or they will lose players to union.

To be fair we are averaging nearly double thier crowds.

FWIW I do think Lewis makes some valid points though.

And that was my point - persisting with the stupid charade of licensing, whilst at the same time spinning the Quins failure, or openly stating that one club will be refused a license before any applications have even been submitted, ensures that both the sport and the governing body lacks any credibility.

On the 'without Quins there would be much less money available' argument; is that a suggestion that without them, Sky would reduce their sponsorship? If so, has that been confirmed by Sky, or is it an urban myth that has become fact by virtue of repetition?

Come on, you seem to be a clever enough lad when it suits - you aren't seriously suggesting that the profile of the sport isn't improved with a team in London, and that both direct and indirect sponsorship isnt increased as a result? Would you pay more for advertising if the target audience consisted of plenty of ABC1's from the South of England as well as us poor old Northernerns eating our mucky fat sarnies and grooming our whippets after a hard day down't pit and battering our lass?

Regardless of the poor crowds at London (that they accept they need to work on) you don't see the benefit of having a pro club in the South? You don't think with all the kids and amatures playing the game down there we might have a little more of a chance of unearthing the next Gareth Ellis or Sam Burgess?

That's all fine and some good points but all we're asking for is that the RFL don't treat us as idiots. Tell us the truth - Quins and Crusaders (and I guess Catalans) are all exempt from the franchise procedure. We all know that our bid will beat theirs but that we will be sacrificed long before they ever will.

Personally I don't agree that they should be protected but if that is the decision the RFL have made then at least be above board about it and declare that that is the case, instead of pretending they will be assessed in the same manner as everyone else.

Quote: Khlav Kalash "Weren't Quins warned about their crowds a few years ago and told to improve them. Seems a bit strange that now the RFL appear to have changed tact. I still believe that the expansion clubs like Quins should be taken under Sky's wing ala Melbourne in the NRL. With their media power and promotion expertise i'm sure the London club would boost their support.'" Yes they were: news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 388266.stm It's not just a contradiction it's evidence of the moving of goalposts tactic that ensure Quins etc... stay in SL!

Quote: Khlav Kalash "Weren't Quins warned about their crowds a few years ago and told to improve them. Seems a bit strange that now the RFL appear to have changed tact. I still believe that the expansion clubs like Quins should be taken under Sky's wing ala Melbourne in the NRL. With their media power and promotion expertise i'm sure the London club would boost their support.'" Yes they were: news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 388266.stm It's not just a contradiction it's evidence of the moving of goalposts tactic that ensure Quins etc... stay in SL!

In your opinion, what criteria do the Catalans and London bids beat ours?