I'm just wondering who everyone thinks will retain Franchises, and who will drop out? And on the other hand - who will come in?

Every club bar Cas, Wakey and Salford at the moment..

Widnes to come in.

I really hope one of the Cumpriam teams get in. That whole area is pretty much an untapped resource as things are

What about Halifax? Do you think there is any chance for them?

No because Widnes beat them on every front.

Apart from on the field

Barrow are the only Cumbrian team who quailifies.

Fev, Fax & Batley have a chance but Widnes is too close to Saders, Saints & Wire, they should merge with one of them

Not really. Widnes actually won something to qualify to be eligible. Halifax have only qualified by virtue of reaching a final. I'd say Widnes are advantageous on that front.

To be honest, I don't think Widness should get it, all they've really got is a good stadium and don't offer much more, and if we have over half the stadium underway by the end of next season they might aswell as give us an extra 3 years, never know could be the new Hull or Wire, doubt it though to be honest, although everything is possible!

Apart from the stadium they have:

A good business plan
A world-class academy
A decent fanbase

They have 2 stadiums!? Crikey, the really are pushing the boat out to get a franchise



Serioulsy though you're right, Widnes are miles ahead of everyone in the Championship off the field and one of the 3 top guns on it hence the ticked box.

Given a chance i still think Halifax could do aswell in all areas as Cas, Wakey and Salford are doing at the moment but it'll never happen again to see how true that point would be. And to be honest, Halifax aren't needed in Super League, even with Halifax goggles on i can see that.

most at risk (in order of risk and why)

1. Salford - poor crowds, poor on field, stadium still some ways off
2. Wakefied - poor stadium and dropping crowds
3. Cas - poor stadium, onfield not strong

Most chance (in order and why)

1. Widnes - Stadium, on field performance seem to have got money in order
2. Toulouse - Strengthens the French game, adds more european flavour to SL
3. Halifax - on field doing well, off field seem quite solid
4. Barrow - adds a negelected county back to the top flight

er Hull/Hull KR, Cas/Wakey and probably several others are nearer each other than Widnes/Crusaders.

For some reason I cannot help but think that certain offfield incidents will go against Castleford.

Because there have been no salary cap breaches I think they will change that criteria point to something to do with 'bringing the game into disrepute' and I think that Castleford are the only team to be charged and fined with anything.

I have no reasoning behind this or inside knowledge, it just seems pointless to have a mark which every team with achieve because the system has been changed.

I'm sticking with Widnes and Wakey swapping over. The only thing that might change this is if the rumours that David Hughes isn't prepared to continue supporting Quins financially turns out to be true, in which case it'd probably be Quins who'd drop out.

If Councillor BOX gets his way its nailed on

They haven't won anything have they? Barrow and Widnes last year and Batley and probably Fev this year

If any club other than Salford is at risk, I feel it could be Wakey. Cas seem to have the advantage over them with regards to performance and bringing through youth, whilst they're about even with regards to the stadium front.

widnes for wakey

quins drop out then toulose get their spot

Widnes for Salford. Keeps the balance over there that side of the Pennines.
Toulouse and Halifax for Wakey and Cas. I think we should reward a club that has (despite financial difficulties) shown it is committed to bringing in decent facilities. They now need the chance to push on from that. Toulouse for expansion reasons (if there is a loophole).

The three mentioned clubs have poor grounds that has seen little progression towards a new one compared to when they were given a license in 2008. They are the three worst supported clubs from the heartlands. And, until Bradford's impressive self-implosion of losing 10 games on the bounce, they were the 3 worst performing heartlands teams on the field as well.

Well, speaking as a home-and-away Widnes fan of more than 25 years, I have to be careful how I contribute here I guess. But the way I see it is this:

1. after the previous license awards, Widnes did not even enter into discussion about why we had failed. We entered into discussion over some weeks with the RFL over what a Super League team for 2012 looks like. Two quite different things. Mr OConnor's decision to do things this way is a very progressive approach, and very clever, in as much as a failure to secure SL status next time will provoke the response 'well we did what you recommended'.

2. In the process of remodelling the club to look exactly like the RFL's idea of a 2012 SL team, we have also picked up on the 2 major things that the RFL said held us back last time. Money issues, and the 'Club Trained' player stipulations. This club is currently more stable, financially, than it has EVER been in over a hundred years. Also, our u16 and u18 academy sides are the envy of most Super League clubs, never mind Championship teams, most of whom who dont even run teams in all age groups. e.g. Widnes u18 followed up last weeks defeat of St Helens by defeating Leeds Rhinos in the last couple of days. The team have won nearly all their other games too, and are riding high in the u18 standings. The u16's are equally as good, going week after week beating top Super League clubs left, right and centre. The award of World Class status to our Academy and off-field player and community welfare activity is testament to that. In short, club trained player recommendations are being matched and exceeded. No other potential SL license applicant from outside the existing clubs can get even near that level.

I think the current mid table status of the first team is testament to a year of putting our efforts and money into making sure we lay the foundations for a SL bid, and a VERY credible one at that. We have still made the NRC final, and look well capable of making the playoffs using a raft of our own kids and deploying over 30 players onto the field in the process due to injuries / departures etc.

Regardless of who appears in the Grand Final this year, based on the above and the things we already know about our fan base, stadium, profile in the game, history of on-field achievements etc I can honestly say that it would take something utterly astonishing to make the RFL look anywhere else for a Championship club to promote. If they dont promote a Championship club, when there is a bid of the quality of ours on the table, then they will NEVER promote one, unless its another foreign expansion project. And if that happens, and Widnes are not accepted, then this massive club of ours will dwindle away into the twilight...

Obviously forgetting Catalans and Quins?

Just reaching the grand final also counts



(obvioulsy won't be crazy if we qualify on that basis, not that we have a cat in hells chance mind

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