As Celt000 points out:

1. BBC Wales ignores us. The BBC in general ignores all sports that it doesn't have the rights to itself. The BBC nationall even didn't bother reporting on the British Lions squad, because it is petulant that Sky has the rights. When your national public service broadcaster ignores you, it is a marketing hindrance.

2. Bridgend is a town of sporting SPECTATORS not sports supporters. We have the usual loyal core of fans, but generally in Bridgend if you are not winning or playing against a huge team, most of Bridgend stays at home watching the Eastenders Omnibus.

3. I know of many union clubs that are openly hostile to us. Now whether this is because of the Welsh exodus to League in the'80s which left Wales bereft of much of its talent, or because of pressure from the WRU who would clearly like to destroy a sporting competitor (there is a precedent for this, from the sporting body that eats its own young).


.......


For myself though, Cas was a brilliant game which, with better fitness, we would have won. We dominated right up until we ran out of puff (even with that hopeless ref).

We have the talent. We don't seem to have the stamina.

Diet and fitness needs to be looked at if we're gonna win a few.

Maybe stick a few more of the younger lads in the side to supplement the slower more experienced warhorses.

Excellent post. Not convinced about the "broadcasting partners" bit, but I have no doubts whatsoever that we were all after a single franchise spot whilst one was going to be awarded to either Toulouse or Celtic. FWIW, I said as soon as we went into administration we wouldn't get a licence and the RFL should have been honest and told us so from the beginning!

The general concensus around our way is that Fev will never get into SL while Cas and Wakey are in because of the proximity of the three clubs. Assuming that both clubs get new grounds or at least share one. What is your thoughts on Widnes getting into SL bearing in mind that Wire, Saints and Widnes are in even nearer proximity than the three Yorks sides.

I think deep down the RFL believe there are too many Yorkshire sides and would like to get rid of either Wakefield or Castleford. Tony Rea used to talk about that a lot. However, their problem is that to throw out a club on the grounds of location would be illegal as it falls foul of competitions law (there is a strong case for saying licences do anyway).

I feel given the set up in Widnes, if we manage to win the GF and the NRC either this year or next, the pressure on the RFL to put us in will be too strong to resist (probably at the expense of Wakefield or Salford). It will not change my opinion one iota. I really believe the RFL have this seriously wrong.

I should point out that I would rather Widnes be competitive in the league they are in than struggle. We aren't even a credible Championship conternder at the moment