I thought it was to appear in either the northern rail final or the Grand Final.

According to Leigh site, its to appear in Grand Final or WIN the northern Rail. which if is the case means we havent yet earnt a right to apply.

Anyone know?

im sure it counts from last season, so the big q is on does the northern rail count

No you have to win the NRC or appear in a championship GF

Unless of course your new benefactors are absolutely loaded and are willing to finance a full salary cap spend in SL for 6 years even if you are only getting low crowds

If that is the case then the RFL might change the rules for you

According to a statement in the League-Weekly last July---
Northern Rail Cup winners or finalists could also be adjudged to have met the criteria to apply for a franchise in 2011
-with even the possibility of a third place league NL1 finish being acceptable.
Maybe the League Weekly got it's facts wrong who knows,but it certainly ran this statement.

We could go two seasons unbeaten, win Northern rail twice and get crowds higher than St Helens and they still wouldn't let us in.
They aren't interested in 'homeland' clubs like us, Fev, Batley, Dewsbury etc only in the stupid expansionism into new territories, rather than doing it gradually via the midlands for example. So Dublin, Edinburgh, and anywhere French or Welsh will get the next nod.
Cynical I know, but remember you read it here first.

Normally Id agree that the homeland clubs would be ignored, but we do have something a lot of the clubs dont and its something the RFL like to which is access to the Keepmoat.

While I think a team should only be in SL based on there on pitch performances I this case I can see us being looked on kindly.

That being said I would rather we were a good strong Championship side rather than a struggling expansion mess with a team filled with second rate aussies.

If the Dons do ever get to SL then I hope its on merit and due to lots of hard work on and off the pitch rather being handed the keys to the door that Catalans were or the eased route and apprent bending of rules that was afforded to Celtic.

Totally agree.

Agree about the hard work etc to get into Sooooper League, but if they did offer us the keys i’d say bite their hands off.

I also think that there’s a lot of sky dishes to be sold in a 20 mile radius of Doncaster.

Super League is a business and Sky are the paymasters.

That said, i’d be VERY surprised if we got the nod to play in Super League in the near future.

Donny have invested in a New Stadium, thats planning for future developement, its a massive part of any club, other teams in SL spend all their cash on players to ensure they have a respectable position in the league, sound familiar, so if you really want to get into SL on merit, play in a dump and get a great team.
Personnally l would be lobbying against the teams who ignore the RFL criteria, both Donny and the Eagles, should have a good chance of ousting some of these clubs clogging up the M62 corridor,
Whats needed is some good marketing, to get the fans, and the sponsers on board, then pressurise the RFL to back up their own plans for the future of rugby ieague.

Are Toulouse exempt fron relegation for the next three seasons?
A longer run in the second tier will no doubt assist them.