I must admit that on travelling across to wrexham yesterday i wasn't bothered about the crusaders one bit, my thoughts were just on hull getting the 2 points, however as the game went on and the points were in the bag well before the end i did start to feel for the crusaders supporters and players (well most of them!!) and the scenes after the game were special. Not sure the hull fans would have been so charitable had we lost mind but that could be just me being a bad losing get!!. Haven't got a clue what the future holds for the game in wales but if it does somehow carry on there are obviously issues that need sorting next time round.

No need to feel sorry for me.
I actually coach at amateur level so am well aware of the health of the game at grassroots level thanks.

The efforts to establish new clubs at professional level have been a total failure and I stick by that claim. Sorry that you weren't able to spot that from the list of clubs I gave !

Would you include Melbourne Storm in that? Whilst it is true that expansion hasn't worked over here, there are examples of modest success. The very fact that Crusaders actually have a fan base after 2 years shows the potential there, it's just a matter of setting it up properly.

I my opinion, for expansion to be considered successful, it has to attract new fans, sponsors and players to the game. I don't think it should be judged purely on the results of the franchise. If London and Wales continue to produce top level players, then it is lunacy not to support these projects.

No I wouldn't include Melbourne Storm, as i was really on about UK expansion

However, alongside Melbourne Storm were Adelaide Rams and Perth Western Reds (you can't count Hunter Mariners and South Queensland Crushers because they were set up in established areas as "rivals" to existing teams in the ARL/SL war)

Didn't go to the game...but I feel Crusaders do have a future in the game in some form.

In Wrexham they quickly built up a 'hardcore' support, who's numbers were not that much lower than some of the other SL teams like Salford and Wakefield. The baffling decision to play games on a Friday night (when they had the potential to attract a lot of away fans being near Wire, Wigan, Saints etc) can't have helped their crowds, nor can the constant bad publicity.

overall I hope they do get a Championship spot, and 'earn' their right to return by meeting the criteria.

artificially placing a team in SL doesn't work though, and it must stop. Teams should be made to work their way up from Championship1 IMO.