Serious question. I can't understand why the promoted team should be penalised in this way. It's hard enough for a team to make the transition anyway but this is like insisting they play every game in slippers! What's the rationale behind it, does anybody know?

Loosely as I heard it explained, or as I understood the explanation. SL clubs will all be operating to a reduced budget and have to rebate a chunk of their central funding to Sky. It’s cost the clubs to keep the sport going and they will need to offset this expense against next years central funding.

The championship clubs are seen as having had an advantage of being able to use furlough for a longer period of time and not having operating costs such as the Covid testing.

I’m not sure I’m buying it but that was my understanding of the decision.

Plus, if the "promoted" side were to receive a 1/12th slice of the funding, this would have to come out of the current 11 clubs share.
It was always odd that every club didn't receive 1/12th, although, perhaps Toronto thought they could do better in N .America.
They were proved very wrong in that assumption.
Having said that, even though its a "free" promotion, the promoted side do seem to be being penalised.

Mind you, I think Trinity had to manage without a share for their first season too, which was equally mad.

1st two season wasn't it? Also Shudds only got 50% Funding when they came up to replace Paris. So it's hardly unique.

That's two positive Shudds threads in the same year from me btw.

Not sure I'm any clearer and certainly not convinced but thanks for the explanations.
This whole process seems like a recipe for failure. I'm sure some rejected clubs will kick off and I'm sure the chosen club will finish bottom next season. Just bad news all round in my opinion.

It certainly doesn’t seem ‘fair’ in any sporting way.

We've survived 20 plus years with at sometimes the odds stacked against!
Whats the problem and the Giants haven't done bad out of it.

Just listened to the Full Eighty Minutes. Had a good laugh at Mick Gledhill. He was talking about antiquated grounds at Belle Vue and Castleford, no mention of his wonderful Odsal.

Joined that program late tonight, I did see he part about ground criteria for Sky presentations. All I can say about that is, neither Trinity or Tigers would meet that criteria. Gledhill did say, he understood there may be good news coming for Trinity and Cas fans re the grounds. I think most things he says, as to be taken with a pinch of salt, although I do hope he’s right.

There is one thing for certain regarding whoever the 12th team is next season, you can guarantee their first game will be at home to Wakefield.

That’s exactly what Michael Carter said on last week’s program, we are SL sacrificial lamb,

As long as we are there to watch it I’m not bothered who we play

It's backfired on them a few times though so bring it on.

Bradford don't have a ground they are just tenants

Interesting to see that Hull KR have now become the official retirement home for ex Leeds players.