Let's get the controversy bandwagon rolling..



Assume 14 teams... Who's in who's out?



At the moment I think it will be the current 14 teams minus Wakefield or Castleford.

Salford seem to be moving along quite nicely now with their stadium and they've got the Manchester thing. Despite the projection of confidence that the two Wakefield District teams are both moving along with their stadiums there seems to be little real development.



I think out of the hopefuls we are still the best positioned to take the step up with some smart acquisitions.

Very difficult situation, in terms of balance it would be better to remove one of the Yorkshire teams. Wakefield and Cas stick out as the obvious choices but just who for the chop? Salford seem to be finally getting it together with the stadium but they have shocking support, will it increase with the new ground in a better location? you would think so.



My own thoughts are 2 will be dropped and Widnes and Toulouse will enter, they wont have the bottle to just drop one and will make the decision to drop both Cas and Wakey IMO. both on ground terms, this will give a boost to the championship clubs and whilst there will be moaning from each set of fans it wont be as bad as getting rid of 1. Toulouse will enter to boost the french national team giving Le Bobbie more choice.

Reading your posts I have to ask whether you think the decision for inclusion or exclusion is actually based upon any franchise criteria or is merely a "political", economic or completely arbitrary decision by the RFL as to who gets a SL berth?

To be honest I purely think the franchising system is nothing more than an elaborate scam for the RFL to cherry pick the members of SL.



I don't believe it is fair and it is about the furthest thing away from being transparent. Men in suits with agendas.

Anyone with any sort of intelligence and neutrality would come to this conclusion.

Personally going for Widnes in one of Cas / Wakey out! From what I hear Cas are financially better placed for the stadium but Wakey keep relying on having a better season to get through! If one can get a brick down by start of next season they'll be the one's staying IMO!



What reason can they give for letting Toulouse in after the 'leak' that caused outrage that they wouldn't need to get into GF?

As some have stated it will be between Cas and Wakefield. In my view Cas have the much stronger Case.



Wakefield have been in superleague since 1998 and have done very little to develop ground, or supporter base in fact I believe attendances are dropping. They have also sold their ground and spent half the money with none of the proceeds put towards a new ground. Despite the added financial boost from the sale of the ground and the money they get from SL they have still managed to get tangled up publicly owing money to the vat man and have to offload their better players on a regular basis to balance the books.

Spot on there!



After Cru's deabacle and Quins lacking investment SL needs sides who want to invest their SKY money on the team and facilities not one's that just want to take it to cover payments and debt!

Widnes up

Salford out

Cas and Wakey saved after promising to share a stadium.



2013 Crisis hit Harlequins finally call it a day. Toulouse take their place in 2014 after having won the GF two years running.



2015 SL to "expand" to two divisions of 10 with easier opportunities for P&R between the two via a series of exciting playoffs.



2017 Halifax re-sign Stanley Gene.

You know what? Im not so sure they will get the increase they hope for.



The old ground was in the middle of a very large area of housing in the middle of the main heart of Salford. Lots of roll-up customers i would expect, on foot etc. The new one will require the vast majority of fans to get in their cars (if they have them) and drive 5 miles out of town into the area of the trafford centre. It certainly wont be like Wire, where their new ground was effectively in the same general area albeit about quarter of a mile's walk from the old one and still slap bang in the middle of residential/town centre Warrington. They will need the people of Urmston and Flixton to make up that shortfall of walk-up traffic. Also just as an aside, Widnes used to have this problem once upon a time when the chemical companies were booming, but I cant believe how bad the smell is from the sewage works right by Barton Bridge there. Nasty.

I believe it is being capped as part of the proposal of works. But you are quite right.

As for the development. It will see quite a few new fans I reckon. How many people do you hear complaining about vandalism being done to their cars at the moment around the Willers.

Plus public transport to the area aint too shabby either.

My money is on the RFL keeping the current 14 teams. They didnt have the bottle last time and i cant see it bein different this time.



If i was a fan of a current SL team id be very disappointed if we were replaced..



Nes