Cas have had a 'string' of easy games?

If they're "easy" games then why didn't we finish top eight last season with only losses against Wigan, Wire, Saints and Leeds?

No game in SL is easy (and to think so is absolutely bloody ridiculous) and we lost to Hull KR twice, Hull once, Bradford once last season.

I think you discounted us purely out of spite (or jealousy), whichever, and whether you like it or not, we are where we are because we've played well and deserve to be there.

Easy for a team like Wigan, perhaps. For a team like Cas, they're big games that we need to win to push on and progress.

But to answer the original question, yes we are seeing the benefits of franchising and although I know many on here don't like it and want P+R back, we are seeing what stability can bring.

More young players are being brought through, clubs are starting to take notice of the areas they need to improve, whether it be stadia, youth development, marketing.

It makes clubs really look at themselves and allows them the freedom to invest. Although Wakey have had their recent problems, I have no doubt that over the course of the next three years, whether it be SL or Championship, they'll be a much stronger side than they were 5 years ago.

By ruining Town, do you mean getting them outta administration and saving them?

Putting them in a decent position before selling out to Dean Hoyle.

Boths clubs were/are run from 2 separate companies so im not sure how either clubs finances could have ruined the other, i wish he aint come in and bailed you out, you'd have something to bitch about then.

As for the Sluggers OP, its beginning to work, ourselves for instance can plan a few years in advance and can blood the youngsters now,(Jermaine,Leroy,Michael etc) whereas in the past it would probably have been an aussie coming in, you could argue Wire have kicked on from having the HJ built, which has increased finances/crowds for them giving them better players, Saints will benefit enormously from their new stadium financially.

Without franchising would saints and salford to an extent even be considering new stadia.

Goes without saying having a Davy/Moran certainly helps but ultimately they are trying to get their clubs to break even annually without having to dip into their own pockets.

Id go as far as to say a stadium for yourselves could easily double your attendances which can be only good for revenue, supporter base, without franchising, would you even have considered moving?

I didn't say they were easy. I said you've had no tough fixtures, apart from Huddersfield. There's a difference. For instance, there's a fair chance you'll win the next three games, and ought to win at least two of them, but you'll probably lose at least four of the following six.

Same difference.

I'm sorry but I'd say Hull KR, Huddersfield, Bradford and Hull ARE all tough games, given the fact that all of them have the ability to spend the salary cap, have the ability to build bigger squads and we don't.

There's a fair chance of that yes, but even in that instance, on the basis we we win 5 out of the next 9 that's still 11 wins, 5 losses = 22 points.

That's the same as last year with another 10 games to play.

Don't get me wrong, I think we are by far surpassing expectations and doing better than most people expected. Similarly, I don't expect it to last, which is why taking it one game at a time is all important. I just think that by saying we've not had any 'hard games bar Huddersfield' is disrespectful of other SL Clubs.

Let's face it, we all have to play each other at some point and regardless of order, they're all there to be won. Just so happens that they fell in one line and gives us a good chance of building some confidence and momentum. I think those aspects combined with a bit of luck on the injury front is the reason we are doing so well.

Easter, when we play you guys, Leeds, Saints and Wire (I think?) will be the key period of seeing where we are at and if we can come out unscathed I remain optimistic we'll do OK for rest of the season.

Aside from that, and to avoid turning it into a Cas thread, I've been mightily impressed with the way that you guys are performing and I'm still absolutely bricking it (even now) with the fact that I believe you will come to Cas in two weeks time and do what you do best - turning us over.

think it will be an alright game if we don't have you-know-who as the ref

Who's getting carried away?just enjoying the on field product at the moment,will it carry on? who knows? you can't say for certain,neither can I,your condescending remarks show you up for what you are.

and here it goes

for whats its worth i think cas are a different outfit with danny orr there now, he seems to have freed rangi chase to control things. pack aint too bad now and good to see local talent comming thru, so as much as it pains me to say good on them, i hope we both in super league next year i love the derby matches esp good friday ones, long may they continue

One of the sad facts of franchising has been that club's are in a cage fight with each other - look at this thread. What happened to the family game? It's still a family game within an individual club, but club's are left fighting each other and reduced to bickering.
Shame really as we were doing well selling the game as a family friendly sport, which those outside the game may still perceive. Inside, the true supporters no different and they are the backbone to the future.

Just on the bickering point, I'm not sure Wigan or Warrington would agree that Catalans were 'easy'. Dureau is exceptional - watch this space. (Seems like another Dobson at HKR?) Give the neighbours some credit for their on-field. They're doing what's in front of them and that's all they can do.Wish Cat's could get a roll and the whole area would be a lot happier at the end of July. It's difficult for the RFL to turf anyone out if they're top 6ish. But hey, the RFL could conspire to achieve any goal they want.
We need each other, but that gets lost in petty rivalries. Best of luck to both today.

Good point slugger I firmly believe if we are given the chance to stay in SL we will become a strong outfit Mr Glover is not affraid to splash the cash and the fans have a new empitas to come to the games now Ted as gone. We still have 1 of the best coaches in the game. We could be up there in a few years especially with 1 of the best youth developments in the game..

Doesn't the Huddersfield experience disprove the franchise theory.

For many years they were bottom of the league and didn't get relegated because they played at McAlpine.

Once they were relegated they came back stronger than ever with massive funding from Ken Davy.

It wasn't the guaranteed Super League position that was the making of Huddersfield, it was she opportunity to regroup under a strong financial suport.