Re: Franchising : Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:42 am  

One of the sad facts of franchising has been that club's are in a cage fight with each other - look at this thread. What happened to the family game? It's still a family game within an individual club, but club's are left fighting each other and reduced to bickering.
Shame really as we were doing well selling the game as a family friendly sport, which those outside the game may still perceive. Inside, the true supporters no different and they are the backbone to the future.

Just on the bickering point, I'm not sure Wigan or Warrington would agree that Catalans were 'easy'. Dureau is exceptional - watch this space. (Seems like another Dobson at HKR?) Give the neighbours some credit for their on-field. They're doing what's in front of them and that's all they can do.Wish Cat's could get a roll and the whole area would be a lot happier at the end of July. It's difficult for the RFL to turf anyone out if they're top 6ish. But hey, the RFL could conspire to achieve any goal they want.
We need each other, but that gets lost in petty rivalries. Best of luck to both today.

Re: Franchising : Sun Apr 10, 2011 9:39 am  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

Going to put the stick into the hornets nest here, but are we seeing this year the beginning of the benefits of franchising?

We're a long way from challenging the Aussies, but this year could be the first year where anyone from the top five could win it (that being Huddersfield, Warrington, Wigan, Leeds and Saints), and the only reason perhaps some of the other hopefuls are out of the mix is because of just a bad season (Hull FC and Hull KR). You don't have to go back too far to see when it was only ever between two clubs.

I'm discounting Cas at this stage, because they've only had one tough game, Huddersfield, and that was at home. I don't expect to have to revise that forecast.

We all slate it, but are we seeing the beginning of a more even competition, particularly if Hull eventually get a decent a coach and Bradford pull the fans in again?

Good point slugger I firmly believe if we are given the chance to stay in SL we will become a strong outfit Mr Glover is not affraid to splash the cash and the fans have a new empitas to come to the games now Ted as gone. We still have 1 of the best coaches in the game. We could be up there in a few years especially with 1 of the best youth developments in the game..

Re: Franchising : Sun Apr 10, 2011 12:18 pm  

Doesn't the Huddersfield experience disprove the franchise theory.

For many years they were bottom of the league and didn't get relegated because they played at McAlpine.

Once they were relegated they came back stronger than ever with massive funding from Ken Davy.

It wasn't the guaranteed Super League position that was the making of Huddersfield, it was she opportunity to regroup under a strong financial suport.