Forgive me, Gents.
I've not read the thread, so, if I'm copying anyone, I'm sorry.

Let's go (for one season only) with 11.
Why? Well.
It's a World Cup year, so, 2 games less. for players
There'll be less fixture congestion at Easter (as there was SUPPOSED to be, this year)
One team each week, gets a rest.
All 3 above points helps WC hopes, and improves player welfare, which is becoming more prevalent.

Then, there's the "new" team.
Basically, they're on a hiding to nothing.
They've currently got championship standard players.
Anybody half decent/out of contract has already been signed up, so the "new" team comes in with what they've got, and with the flotsam and jetsam of SL. Add to this, any over the hill NRL 2nd tweaker, who fancies topping up his pension, will come. They'll be lucky to win 2 games.

Go with 11
Come March, see where the country/world stands with Covid and spectators. Open up a bidding process (that lasts 1 month) for the 12th team for 2022, and then select one. Then, they can build a squad that can compete for 2022.

Bringing a club in for 2021 will be foolhardy

Isn't that a given?

Certainly easier to keep a player at a club, or even entice a player to the club, if they know they can be guaranteed 3-5 years minimum in the top league?

Decent post there lefty, however........

1. It's already been agreed that there will be a 12 team SL next year.
2. How would Magic W/e work?
3. Leigh are building a team right now that would compete in SL, not that i suggest they should be there.


4. Promotion at the end of next season should be decided on the field.
5. Who should be selected for that 12th spot next season? Blimey! I haven't got a clue.

Reading through this gives a good indication on what a crap show rugby league is currently in

That squad finishes dead last

Krisnan Inu? That would be a real different level of signing to the other winger!

Agreed. However, that's only part of it.

I am not sure its about franchising, but certainly there needs to be an incentive. My slightly controversial view - and this applies across the leagues - is that home produced Academy players in the 1st team squad are not counted on the salary cap and a weighty transfer fee applies if another club come for a a clubs current or ex Academy player.

Take Broncos for example Wigan signed Kai Pearce Paul on the back of his Academy Origin performance for Lancs, and I bet he went for a song. Butler to you guys similar.

Cheers for that, and I'd agree with you that if you find them, then there should be some advantages, or incentive to keep talent at each club. I'm not sure that franchising does help that much, as the standard of SL player has continued to fall in the last 20 years, with and without it.

[iI am not sure its about franchising, but certainly there needs to be an incentive. My slightly controversial view - and this applies across the leagues - is that home produced Academy players in the 1st team squad are not counted on the salary cap and a weighty transfer fee applies if another club come for a a clubs current or ex Academy player.

Take Broncos for example Wigan signed Kai Pearce Paul on the back of his Academy Origin performance for Lancs, and I bet he went for a song. Butler to you guys similar.'"

Has the standard of player fallen, the standard of coaching, or just the way the game has developed in recent years?

Let's face it, the game has become a regimented one in recent times - Individuality is knocked out of young players at the first opportunity. Coaches all play the same, safety first game, all like to spout off about how proud they are when they nil an opponent. Its a results first, entertainment second sport now, as we see by the regular debates on here about how boring we are to watch at times.

So maybe, rather than the players being the problem, we should look at what the sport has become and whether it's actually become too professional for its own good?

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... eague-spot

Yes to those three, but the [iability[/i with ball in hand has dropped the most.

Giving the French a local derby in Toulouse may be a more reasonable way of expanding the game than daft miles across the Atlantic.

Agree, my vote would go to Toulouse

I think Wigan will set it up for Leigh to get in.

But Warrington are another team near Widnes, Leigh, Wigan St. Helens, Salford etc. Do you not like local (ish) derbies ?

I would be happy with Toulouse or Leigh, both have recruited well for next year.

With the announcement that there will be relegation in 2021 on top of the reduced funding, the difficulty in pulling a squad together at short notice, this almost seems like a poisoned chalice.

It will be very difficult for the 12th club to remain in SL past 2021, the deck seems stacked against them. Alternatively it gives the other leading Championship clubs a strong chance of 2022 promotion, given one of their major rivals will be out of the picture...

It's very rare a newly promoted team doesn't get relegated anyway so that's not really a new issue for next year.
Also the clubs will have good players and wouldn't need to massively change the squad, London practically had the same squad when they came up with a handful of additions and they were brilliant.
Yeah they'll have a shorter period to get the squad together etc but if they don't make wholesale changes they won't be that much worse off then clubs any other year, yes they'll have less money but they can still get a squad together and fit for the start of the new season.

It might well come down to which of the possible 12th teams is prepared to take on the risk of almost certain relegation after all the expense of a likely disrupted SL season

I want the 12th team to be a well run club with sound finances and that won't be whipping boys if they do come in.

I don't know enough about the club's mentioned to pass judgment.

London were probably the last team to almost make a fist of it when they did come in, but ultimately it suggests that we don't have the quantity of quality players to be able to support the 12th team although I'm happy to be proved wrong. They had a very good coaching set up, a decent owner, players with the right attitude but ultimately just not enough quality and their fan base was not great.
If they could make that 'quality' adjustment I'd be happy to see them back.

Toulouse would be good as I'd fancy a 2nd trip to France and I know they've recruited some good players, but don't know enough about them. (If they are backed by a Bernard Gausch / Simon Moran type figure then that would be a positive).

York are going places, but may be it's a bit early for them.

Bradford - great history and fan base but how stable are they?

Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)).

Leigh - again not sure about their stability. Hot and cold.

Newcastle - would quite like that but honestly don't believe they are at the right level at the moment

Quote ="fez1" Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Quote ="fez1" Featherstone - made a lot of noise over the last few years and compete well in their current division but not sure they'd be capable of stepping up. And from memory their ground is hardly SL standard (mind you that could also be said for Wakefield since SL began (does anyone think they'll ever get a new ground?)). '" Featherstone's stadium now is a very different proposition from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago. Chairman Mark Campbell and a team of volunteers took two stands from the defunct Scarborough football club, dismantled them, transported them to Featherstone and rebuilt them, whilst the playing surface (which had always been on the short side) was increased by 12 yards and the slope flattened to a degree. There have been plenty more improvements since then and it's generally considered that the stadium totally outclasses the likes of Cas and Wakefield these days, not that that would be difficult. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMRyk12w2YY

Featherstone or Toulouse for me.

Big Nigel Wood has a degree in corruption,and it's all set up for Bradford who will also be given a license to make it back to the big time again with their strong fan base. This is not sour grapes from me ,as I would rather Leigh earn the right next season for promotion,and if we fail.......Tuff Titty.