widnes for wakey



the franchise decisions are so much easier this time



widnes are the standout inclusion and wakey the exclusion

I'm not sure anyone deserves to be kicked out. They are all solvent (well Crusaders just), they are all drawing reasonable crowds (leaving protected species Quins aside) and they are competitive. What's the problem?



If they want to bring in another team they should only do it when the SL is ready to expand, the game can sustain it and the admitted team is shown to add to TV money or add something new to the comp.

SL will not expand as the clubs have voted (including Cas, Wakey and Salford) to keep the numbers at 14. Cynics say that is the clubs voting for their own self-interest making sure that they keep more of the SKY money to themselves, others will say it keep the competition at a higher standard - quality not quantity. I've not noticed a higher standard competition if the yard-stick to measure it by is international success. We are as far behind the Aussies and New Zealand as ever. Hullkr Forever is right - promotion and relegation on merit is the fairest way, but as the RFL will never allow London, Catalans or Crusaders to leave the top flight, this will never come about. If one of those three finished bottom, either no-one would get promoted or a team above them would go down. Common sense and the integrity of the competition sacrificed on the altar of 'expansion at all costs!'

One day, the penny will drop that the ONLY thing that matters is the game on the field and everything else is secondary.



FWIW NO current SL club should be "demoted" in this round and I doubt if they will.



The RFL/SL shot themselves in the foot by saying a "championship" club would be given a franchise in this next round.



There is not one club in the championship at present who are anywhere near good enough for SL. If there were, the club would have all the right "infrastucture" in place and would be ready with a team that would make a fist of it.



Sadly there is not one team who has done that, although loads of "ifs", "buts" and "deserveds" have been forthcoming without any actual factual positive substance supporting the statements/comments, just a load of supposition.



However this being RL, it's odds on that a crazy decision will again be made and a little further down the line all the old arguments/discussions will appear AGAIN!!!

its a two horse race between cas and wakefield,at this moment in time had say we "cas" are a bit infront of wakey in most aspects,better squad,closer to getting a new ground, financially secure,better youth system and slightly better attendences.



but its a long time until the decision is made and the final say will all come down to the two clubs progress regards stadia at the time of franchise.

I dont see how. Widnes have a top class stadium, fanbase and business plan. Wakey have none of these and would only have themselves to blame. The RFL pushing franchises has led to a much stronger set of elite clubs than we would otherwise have had.

has it?. i thought it had more to do with the £1.2 million off sky every year.

Wakey - Got no chance of a license.

Maybe if they wake up to them selves they might have a chance.

Should be Wakey and Salford out



Widnes and Toulouse in

toulouse have no chance off a franchise this time round. If they continue to build and there results in championship improve then they may be in a position to apply in 2015 at best.

Shove them in now , what exactly are they achieving playing in the Championship ?