I dont think Barrow are even remotely close to a franchise for 2012, I hope Widnes faith in youth pays off for you, Its good to see.

Rubbish.

Halifax won't get a licence because our crowds are woeful.

Finances, Stadiums and attendances are paramount - everything else is a footnote. If you believe Home Grown Youth is at the top of the RFL's list you're an idiot. It's one thing having a youth policy - it's another thing having GOOD youth members of SL quality. Sure, you've made a great start in this area and we haven't but we have other priorities to sort out first - until we get those sorted - we won't get a franchise.

Pi$$ funny.


Actually, you'll find that the RFL have different weightings of criteria for different clubs. Where's Crusaders "yoof" policy? They're in SL !!! Why are Cas & Wakey in SL with their stadiums?

It's all a croc. The RFL will put in who they want really.

My post was aimed as a wind up to the Barrow chap but he didnt bite as he's a sensible chap, thankfully though you bought into it.

You bloody chuffer.

Anyway..........back on topic, im losing interest as we cant even field a team at the moment. Can we have a treatment table as a Mascot?

Rugby League is a great product. But the people running it are ruining it from the bottom up. The passion I once had though to watch a game, is gone. I do not get to many games due to not living in the UK, but even then I struggle to get motivated to watch Fax live or on TV. You are not rewarded for your success-Barrow should have been promoted last season. The way the RFL runs things I honestly cant see now Fax ever being given the chance to play in SL-no matter what we do in this League. The RFL will make sure Toulouse are in SL by 2015 if not before, no matter whether they are better run or not than the likes of Fax, Leigh, Fev etc. The RFL are doing little to promote the Championship. The way the RFL shoved the Crusaders in to SL at the expense of others sickened me. The way Quins, Salford etc are not accountable for being so poorly run is a joke. Crowds of 3000 in SL? WTF. The way teams are making Stadium Announcements about nothing yet get away with it since 1996 whilst teams in the Championship have better stadiums and are ignored sickens me. The way the Greed of SL Clubs has destroyed the very soul of the game.

In a small League its the same old teams with the same faces mainly each year. Its clear who the top 5 will be- Fax, Fev, Barrow, Leigh and Widnes even after just 6 or 7 games. Its also clear that the rest have next to know fan base and them games just offer no atmosphere, passion and for me just makes the games feel like they are being played at a Graveyard! Haven are struggling as are others and are just being abused by SL CLubs which is allowed by the RFL. Sorry but I cant see the championship surviving more than 10 years at the moment in its current form.

I am watching the NRL more now and its way more exciting as the quality is good, No team is guarenteed a win-well maybe except when playing Brisbane!

2012 Franchise = TOULOUSE

I think that's a good thing about this league, as all five teams (ie virtually half the league) have a realistic shot at the title; when was the last time you could say that about Super League, the Premier League or any other competition in this country?

Thanks Vikingman!

Thank God you posted this!!!! If it had come from someone that even had an ounce of credibility we would have been worried!!