Promotion 2016/ Toronto in C1 in 2017

The current Championship One set up is unfair because all teams don't play each other home and away.

The RFL then try to vindicate this by not automatically promoting the top team at the end of the league season as they know the team may be top because they've had a kinder fixture schedule than their opponents, and not because they're the best team in the league. Top plays second for the first promotion place. It's quite possible that team three had a much harder run of games but they then have to rely on the play off system for teams finishing outside the top two in order to have a chance of going up.

In terms of fairness, it would make much more sense to have Championship 1 and Championship 2 with all teams playing each other home and away. The RFL probably believe the present set up allows the bottom teams (and fundamentally newer sides) to gain some experience of playing the more established sides, rather than just playing amongst themselves.

Is this trade off worth it? Personally, I don't think it is. A league is not a league unless all teams play each other home and away.

With regards to Toronto, at least they're not being fast-tracked into the Championship, or even Super League. That would be grossly unfair on everyone. If they get there, they will have had to prove they deserve it through their on-field performances, and not because of the size of their cheque book.

With regards to S/Os point about leagues being limited to sides from the same country, I think that top English football clubs would quite willingly accept a European Super League if FIFA would allow it. FIFA won't allow it as it contravenes their rules.

In terms of rugby, we're talking about a semi-pro level of the game, which does probably make international competition appear a step too far.

Looking at the much wider picture though, are we perhaps being a little narrow minded taking such a view? If rugby league did take off in Canada and possibly the USA, it could transform the international game and benefit rugby league hugely. The international game desperately needs more countries to be competitive at the highest level.

Having Toronto in the league will bring added publicity and interest to the game, so from that point of view it's a good thing. If Toronto give it a go and it doesn't work out, what have we (as a lower league club), and the sport lost? Possibly not very much.

But then again, under the present structure, we might only play them away from home and never see them at the Keepmoat, but then again, we might be in the Championship!