: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:10 pm  

gateaux wrote:

Yes I got the impression he was a little bit upset by the decision!

These things happen.

But to hope that Rugby League dies? That's a pathetic statement in itself.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:12 pm  

Istilldontbelieveit wrote:

I feel for them and wanted them to make a return. Nonetheless, the topic that 'kindly requests no posts from Celtic fans' is the best. What a topic name that is!

Jeez, anyone would think the world has just ended.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:13 pm  

Mistah Lee™ wrote:

These things happen.

But to hope that Rugby League dies? That's a pathetic statement in itself.

I can understand them being frustrated but some of their comments are a bit over the top.

They must have known that the position they found themselves in at the end of last season they would be unlikely to be successful in their application

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:16 pm  

Wirral Wire wrote:

I think this is a sad day in that Widnes were not admitted.

They have a good stadium and a strong fan base (OK current team is gash). Financially ot would be better for us, Saints and Wigan as we all would have big crowd derbies. We do not with Salford or CC.

I do not expect CC to be around in 3 years time.

Interesting statement, may I ask why?

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:19 pm  

TrinityIHC wrote:

Interesting statement, may I ask why?

Yes you may.

All previous attempts at establishing RL in South Wales have been failures.

The fan base there is for Union and it will be for ever.

I expect Cetic to go the same way as Cardiff last time and all other incarnations.

Like it or not RL in the UK is primarily centred around the M62.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:29 pm  

Wirral Wire wrote:

Yes you may.

All previous attempts at establishing France have been failures.

The fan base there is for Union and it will be for ever.

I expect Catalans to go the same way as Paris last time and all other incarnations.

Like it or not RL in the UK is primarily centred around the M62.

Edited for contemplation

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:46 pm  

Sorry if its been mentioned, But will the play-offs still consist of 6 teams?

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 3:59 pm  

Wirral Wire wrote:

Yes you may.

All previous attempts at establishing RL in South Wales have been failures.

The fan base there is for Union and it will be for ever.

I expect Cetic to go the same way as Cardiff last time and all other incarnations.

Like it or not RL in the UK is primarily centred around the M62.

Fair enough, but...

Before Catalan (who are a massive success) there have been a few French teams who have failed.

Personally, I think it is RU strongholds that need assaulting. The fans down there already prefer rugby to football. We just need to show them how dull their game is in contrast to ours.

Of course the game is centred around the M62, the northern union and all that - but we have seen London/Quins up until recently perform reasonably well. As I have mentioned, Les Cats are a runaway success at the mo and Wales is a massive untapped area also.

I can see your point though, I would have thought Widnes had a stronger bid than them, even without the expansion policy.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:14 pm  

TrinityIHC wrote:

Before Catalan (who are a massive success) there have been a few French teams who have failed.

One of the main reasons that Catalan have been a success so far is that apparently they were told 18 months before they made their debut in the top flight that they were going to be included in SL so they had time to get quite a few things in place, also another reason they have been successful is because the area where they play is a rugby league area.

Celtic only have about 7 months to put together a SL coaching set up, a SL squad of players which isn`t going to be easy as they will probably end up with either reserve grade aussies, players coming to the end of their careers or journey men that have been around the block a few times with a bt of SL experience.

My own opinion is that they shouldn`t have been granted a licence this time round, i`m all for expansion but they havn`t proven so far that they can attract the crowds, they have a ground that the RFL have said they are trying to get away from, also they are from an area where rugby union is the main game and so far the crowds havn`t appeared or shown much interest in RL down that way.

Widnes with a decent team on the pitch have a far better chance to pull in decent sized crowds and offer more to the competition than Celtic do, personally i would be very suprised if Celtic are a force of any kind in 3 years time or if they are still in business, its going to be very hard for them to develop any home grown talent of any kind in a rugby union area.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:19 pm  

padgate wire wrote:

Who will be the next team to lose out for the sake of selling a few sky dishes when they decide to get another team in France or Scotland or the Midlands even . Would you be happy if it was Warrington that lost out ?

If they wanted to keep their subscribers surely they would stick with the so called 'bigger clubs' like Widnes and Leigh as its those fans who are canceling their sky.