Although I agree with some of what you're saying, imo the point about away fans for me, isn't about money, it's about atmosphere at games. Obviously just from a personal point of view, when I've travelled over to France to watch Trinity. The times we've won, those 100 travelling fans say, seem to make the noise of ten times that and turn what would seem like an empty stadium, into something else. Conversely when Catalans have won at our place in the past, it's dead. It's also not just something you notice at the ground, it comes through on the TV as well.



Ateotd for me as a neutral, if Catalans stay up then good for them, similarly Leigh, I've got no dog in the fight. As someone who's been through the MPG though I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy tbh.



Looking at the bigger picture of both sides. Imo in the long run if Catalns did go down I can see it having a more positive effect on the Club as a whole than Leigh. It's obvious they need a complete change of culture at the club and a new Coach in the same ilk as Trent Robsinson. Also now Toulose are coming up on their shoulde & if they did go down, it would be certainly interesting to watch that big French Derby. It all might be the thing to turn the club back around, especially considering their resources they've got to make it all happen.

If Catalans go down, next year will be the most geographically restricted top division since before the game went professional in 1996. The game will have lost its club in the capital, its only French club, one of its few big city clubs with 10k+ crowd potential in Bradford, and its short-lived Welsh venture.



Nobody will be able to claim RL is doing anything other than going backwards. It'll be a literal truth.

Location: London enough said

The trouble is with the clubs you mention is , they couldn't run a bath.

Catalans, London and Bradford all competed in Wembley finals. Bradford were the dominant team in the competition for several years. Catalans and Bradford averaged crowds larger than the SL average. All three were/are RL's sole presence in media, player numbers and sponsorship markets which are larger than anything we still have except - maybe - Leeds.



There is no pretending that losing these three teams from SL is anything other than a major contraction of the sport in terms of support, sponsorship, potential players, and profile.

What can you do though?



It's a sport and thems the rules. Would you like to see non heartland and big city clubs exempt from relegation?

Yes. It's not a coincidence that the loss of these teams has coincided with the return of relegation.



I would bring back licensing in a heartbeat. No system in flawless, but a system which directly caused our sport shrink substantially in just a few short years is a system which a sport like ours, already struggling to attract sponsors and fan interest, cannot afford.

Ahhh that closed shop policy. Promotion and relegation add excitement to three game. Whether the structure is quite right I'm not so sure. Catalans have been in regression for ages. They only have themselves to blame, year in year out signing journeymen on big contracts. Not to mention their coaching selections. A year outside SL may give them a chance to sort themselves and improve, ala Hull KR. London don't get enough following, regardless of what league they're in. Catalan can bounce back. I think bradford could potentially too in years to come.

Come on Leigh

Thing is Bradford is situated along the M62. Also you make it sound like the sport is to blame when in fact the club should got themselves into precarious positions. I'd also like to see the evidence where the sport was made richer by the presence of London and Catalans.

Oh without a doubt, it is the major flaw of this system, or any p + r based system.



I know people on here disagree, but I'd much prefer licensing, with the obvious issue being that it would have to be done properly so that anyone who deserves to be in SL or can operate at that level can get there and be given, as you say, time to build.

Given that all of their games are televised and that they're getting respectable home crowds, I think its fair to say that more people in France are watching Super League than they did previously. I'm not sure what Norwich and Bristol have to do with it.



Its nothing to do with me hating Leigh as one poster said by any stretch. I'm fairly indifferent to them. I just think that for the good of the league, a Dragons win is a better result.