Yes the London gate was high but weren't the tickets only £5/£10?

I don't think Sheff would be allowed up as they are moving to Owlerton Dogs, capacity won't be that high.

The only option is Featherstone but it is highly likely the RFL would go with just 13.

This.

I don't see them going with 13.
If we have a league format, then there has to be a balanced fixture list.
Just supposing Catalan were awarded the 2 league points for their "game" against London and they then qualified into the playoffs by 2 points or, secured home advantage in the play offs by 2 points, there would be an outcry (and rightly so).

I know that we don't always take a lead from other sports but, is there any kind of precedent for this ?

Is it fair that Cats get to play London three times yet the Hull teams have batter each other three times? The Magic weekend is unfair as it is so the awarding of two points Catalans would have more tham likely got anyway isn't as bad as promoting a team at short notice who wouldn't be adequately prepared.

The bottom line is that with the fixtures released they will have to go with London with what I expect to be financial assistance and player dispensation. They may even allow them to go into administration but keep their SL place with or without a points deduction. They will then look to find a new owner for a new company.
The alternative is to parachute a championship club at this late hour into SL. I doubt any championship club would want to at this time with two teams relegated at the end of next season and I don't think the RFL will grant them dispensation from relegation.

The Magic Weekend is not "fair" for any of the teams. However, to start and allocate points to any of the competing teams, without them passing a ball or making a tackle, is just wrong.
Whether the format itself needs changing is a whole new question.
Catalan have been dominant over London for the last couple of seasons both in the regular rounds (home and away) and at the magic weekend but, this hasn't always been the case.
Sorry, but the RFL are going to need a better solution than just handing free points to any team.

2 Things that are interesting here...

1 Did anyone else think that it was a surprise that the fixtures were out before the end of the WC? Now we have a published fixture list with a 14 team comp - inc London. This is the perfect argument for the RFL to 'protect' London as without the fixtures in place they could possibly have come up with an alternative schedule.

2 I am aware that London asked - and were refused - permission to have an exemption from the non-fed limit (on the basis that would have been unfair on the other clubs in a relegation season). It would not surprise me at all to find that this may have been Hughes' final straw and that without that ability he may have said 'stuff you'!

Either way, I suggest that there is some 'hard-ball' being played over the London club but that there will be frantic efforts to salvage something from this wreck.

To lose London at this stage, given the progress made on the international front, would be a blow for the game IMO, although as a Wakey fan, there is an upside - one I'd rather not have!

The x factor week end has never interested me. Each team should play each other home and away, and that's that.
It does nothing to promote the game, does not attract new support, and hinders some , while giving others an advantage.
If you must have it make it the last games of the season. Also with promotion and relegation games must be on a level playing field next season

This ^^

I would just like to point out at this point i am not against London getting some form of assistance. After all, people in glass houses........

I think we should have a few magic weekends but for the cc rather than the league, they would be in areas such as York, Newcastle and maybe Derby. Would breath some life back into the cc, spread the game a bit wider and get rid of the ridiculous situation of teams not playing each other the same amount of times in the league.

The league have to field 14 teams or face a fine from SKY TV

Fev are the only option if London leave,

Sheffield and Leigh dont have enough full time players to be competitive in SL. Fev have a squad of 39 players at the moment. Wonder if they have been tipped off that it might happen with them having so many full timers on the books

How have the managed a squad that big and so many full timers?
Isn't the championship salary cap about £200k?

Thought it was £300k, which equates to an average of £8k a player.

Still nowhere near enough for a squad that size I would imagine???