May be SOC will stop pussy footing around the RFL now and tell them what he really thinks about the way Widnes have been treated. Sucking up to the RFL obviously hasn't worked. So be true to yourself Steve and the Widnes fans and tell it how it is instead of playing it with a straight bat!!

How do you know that Widnes aren't part of the RFL's promotion plan? This could mean that two SL are coming down OR the RFL are just paying lip service to Toulouse.

Bad news for PR and I understand why fans of championship clubs would be bitterly annoyed by this. They should have just said from the start that they didn't have to meet the same criteria as other teams, it might have seemed unfair but at least they would have been honest.

However its naive to think that the RFL are doing this for some evil nefarious purpose. Playing devils advocate, how do you know the RFL have not added up the figures and decided that the game will die if radical action isn't taken? It might be that the status quo is killing the game and that we badly need new clubs and new investment. The gap between League and Union grows every year in terms of wealth, crowds and media exposure. There's no doubt in my mind that Richard Lewis thinks he's saving the game, cheating to save the game, but when your in a desperate position the ends seem to justify the means, it's the only sound explanation of the decisions they have made. We have a World Cup coming up in 2013 and there's no prizes for guessing where the RFL want to hold one of the France games.

Rest assured Widnes will get a license in 2012, i'd bet my house on it. If there's another team that doesn't get a new stadium built in SL then they might make way for Toulouse. There would be outrage from the Championship clubs at the time, but if Toulouse are playing Catalans in front of an 18,000 sell out crowd at the local Yawnion stadium the RFL would just say 'you see we told you it was for the greater good.'

this is no shocker to me, i knew as soon as Toulouse were put in this league they were on the fast track for Super League am sure everyone on here knew this was ging to happen to.

i said as soon as this ridiculous franchise system came in that Halifax were not going to get back in until they end it

Do you think he should take some lessons of Alan Rowley then I bet Alan has had to be bound and gagged and thrown in a dark room at the LSV till all this blows over

I know where I'd like to stick that light sabre

Dicky appears to be grinning at such a prospect.

I've applied for the following Petition.. just awaiting approval..
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to prevent the
RFL from changing Super League licence criteria for Toulouse
Olympique XIII

Investigate and prevent if necessary the governing body of
Rugby League from altering application criteria for clubs that
they favour. The licence application process is supposed to be
a fair and transparent process but so far it appears to be
neither.

Do not buy sky as without their money rugby league would not survive in london etc.It a farce and it will never take over from union.Sorry but i will never go a international game until process is done fairly.Promotion and relegation for every team.I am based in gloucester and i put support to union as i am fed up of dooper league. Their are only so many aussies in rugby league and where they find the money the RFL to support two french teams?Sorry the french should develop own league and hope rfls pot run out.I wont buy anything rfl the lieing s.

Unfortunately it does now seem glaringly obvious who the next team admitted to SL are going to be. My sympathies go out to Leigh,Halifax,Barrow and Widnes fans. It must be soul destroying knowing that no matter what your team does to meet the criteria,the door to SL always remains firmly closed.

Halifax and Batley are the next Championship teams on sky but a week later It's Widnes vs Halifax. With it being live on sky and attracting a good crowd i think both clubs fans should make their feeling known. Try and get everyone in the side stand opposite the camera to hold up an A4 piece of paper with RFLiars printing on or something as the teams run out, the cameras won't be able to miss it.

What would really stick in the RFL's throat is a crowd of 5,000+
If we're going to use placards then they should say "We didn't need any free tickets to turn up".

Not really the sharpe in your face, quick statement i was going for But i see your point.

How about we all hold up placards of a grinning Dickie Lewis shafting the bottoms of the Championship club chairmen. Cos that's exactly what he's doing.