IMO the RFL are underestimating the negative impact that the loss of either Wakefield or Castleford to the game (not just SL) would have.

They seem to mistakenly believe that if Cas and or Wakey were to cease existence that Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield etc would offer a route to professional RL for the districts talented players.
Maybe for a while they would but without the two clubs to inspire them and without the community work that’s done by both clubs, the sporting youth of the WMDC would soon switch their aspirations to other sports. You can't underestimate the effect that seeing his hero at school has on a young kid of 6 or 7 years of age, it inspires them to play the game like their hero and that’s often where the initial urge to pick up a rugby ball and lace on a boot comes from.

When/if a club is lost the WMDC an area which is arguably the most productive in the sport will be also be lost to the game.

I’ve never been against expansion and I'll stand accused of changing my views only because of the threat hanging over Wakefield Trinity, but while the influence of franchising grows so too does my opposition to it.

It matters not whether its Cas or Wakey that get the chop franchising is proving to be a negative force in the game and I am now firmly in the corner of traditional promotion and relegation.

If we are truly going to reduce the number of non Fed trained players to 3 over the next few years then the main arguments for franchising are rendered irrelevant.

I'm very very quickly becoming disillusioned with Rugby League and can see a day when I walk away from all aspects of the sport, now that’s something that I thought I could never even consider and anyone who now me would be shocked to hear that.

Strangley, I've never heard him (JD) speak with so much passion, about anything.

The Clan is right. Children get into rugby league through example, seeing their hero's, people talking about the game in their communities. We (RL) don't have the luxury of a brainwashing media that turns kids onto soccer before they've ever experienced a game. The Rugby League ARE on dangerous ground here.

Lol at the song they played at the end of the interview

* Steve Hackett *

[iStandard bearers match to the tick of the clock
It's a war against time when you're fronting the flock
Determined resolute defiant and strong
Noble and Savage know they belong
In the heart of the city

The battlefield of love a ruffled feathered bed
From fluid moist lips the benediction's said
You love them and leave them with yesterday's guilt
Everything's on schedule in the empire that you built
In the heart of the city

You close a deal Thursday at 7.45
The train home is empty you're the only man alive
You throw away your clothes in a house of clouds
The window is sealed the furniture in shrouds
In the heart of the city[/i

Im affriad Klav is right. I commented on here over a month ago that there would only be one ground as far as officialdom were concerned (the only thing they didnt say was which one).

This has been brewing for some time despite the best efforts of others.

Whats funny :-

The council are funding this trinity walk of fame. How many famous people are from Wakey.
My god most of them will be ex Wakey RL players. Yet the council may not let us have
a professional sporting team/ground in the city of Wakefield what a set of s !

All we can hope for is that this is just one last throw of the desperate dice by Mr Box, and if the feasibility study backs Newmarket, then he will throw his weight behind it. What worries me is the remit of any feasibility study, as the outcome can be determined by the question it is supposed to answer. If the remit is simply which can be built quickest, ignoring any funding issues, then Glasshoughton wins. If the remit is which one is most likely to be built first by taking into account funding, as well as job creation for the Wakefield district, then Newmarket wins.

The worry I have is that the outcome can be influenced simply by asking the study to answer a specific question. The issue will then be what the Community Trust then do, because if the study backs Glasshoughton and Yorkcourt and the Community Trust tell Box to stick it, then I assume neither get built.

To add some balance to the negative response by many on here to JD's interview. I am a fan of 26 years, love the club to death, have shares in the club - not as an investment but as a way to help the club.

I am also wary of the current economic climate, the change in recent politics which has led to many cut backs on a national scale. I am also able to remember many years of knock backs on stadia, who remembers the Pugneys venture with Yorkshire CC?

If a ground share is what is required then I have no problem with that since I see it as a long term benefit for the club. Okay, so people out of their sentiment will not go. Of those that don't go I think a number will come round to the idea over time. We will not lose all the fans who threaten to leave. Further, a more appealing venue for facilities and comfort will bring in new support and more travelling fans = more revenue for the club = increased chance of developing a more successful team = more fans and so on.

Our current stadia is dated and poor.

I agree that sometimes the RL in my view are misguided in the way they want to develop the game. Grassroots are the heart and soul of the game and should not be lost. How the RL can justify Salford, Quins or Crusaders greater franchise worthiness with such low crowds and uncompetitive performance is beyond me. Further Quins and Crusaders have less heritage in player development.

I've been to Australia many times and when you look at the teams who play such as at the Olympic stadium (Bulldogs, Rabbitohs), St George-Illawara etc you see that many dedicated fans are prepared to travel a not too far a distance to see their team. I for one travelled over 50 miles yesterday (one way) to get to Cas (since I live in East Yorkshire). I am prepared to travel where ever I can manage to see my team. I support Wakefield Trinity where ever and when ever.

I support JD's comments. In the current climate it is the most viable and practical option. The RL have set some tough criteria, which although I disagree with, meeting the criteria will (in my view) help the club grow.

Not sure I agree there.

He doesn't say he doesn't support Newmarket, just that 2 grounds is too much.
And I'd agree with the fans love bit too. I want Newmarket to succeed but I'll be watching Wakefield while ever there is a Wakefield.

Unfortunately I think Box will take a leaf out of Brian Clough's book, ie.



I fear the findings of the feasability study are already known and it has'nt even been done yet.

Why all the animosity towards Box , when its been Rod Walker who has been chasing a groundshare since Newmarket was announced, admittedly he only wanted to be at GH till yours was ready (if you can believe him)

I dont recall him leaving Wakey in a strong financial position last time he was involved with you , but he didnt do too bad for himself ...................... just be a bit wary of the worm

Good, well reasoned post. It's unpalatable but we have to adapt or we're doomed.

What a rediculous statement to make. You obviously know nothing about the guy or Wakefield at the time.

It's unpalatable but something we're going to have to get used to in the short-term at least. There may be a case two years, five years, ten years down the line when both clubs do not have to share and have a stadium each.

But for me, I want both Castleford AND Wakefield to prosper and show some of these cocky fans from Saints, Leeds, Wigan and Warrington that our clubs are sleeping giants and that you don't need to have a big money owner to succeed. Having a brand spanking new stadium will develop areas of the club that were financially weak, such as commercially.

I want to see a SL team in a SL stadium. Pettyness towards neighbours or location is not what's needed; it's solidarity between both clubs - we shouldn't be fighting, we should be uniting against those above us.