A lot more than I initially thought to be fair. Their first home game, which I remember fondly managed to bring Olympic Park to it's capacity (over 20,000). And thats no easy feat given that Victoria as a state tends to side with Australian Rules Football.



Catalans do deserve all the praise in the world I agree. But I do feel that their initial potential was far greater than Celtic Crusaders. Don't get me wrong, I can understand [iwhy[/i the RFL are trying to expand. But they're missing the simple concept that RL will struggle to stamp it's mark as a leading sport over here, regardless of who they choose to invite into the competition. Take Millenium Magic for example. I loved Cardiff to be honest. I'm sure you probably went yourself, if not this year, then last year? The average crowd over the 2 days was about 60,000 but I doubt that a great deal of those were Welsh Rugby League fans.



In 3 years, if Celtic are pulling in over lets say 7 - 8,000 and contributing sufficiently to the competition, feel free to dig this one up Paul and I'll be the first to hold my hands up

Well surely London / Harlequins / Fulham or whatever they wish to be called should be in the same bracket. Didn't the RFL bail them out of financial trouble to the tune of about £3 million not too long ago?

Something the RFL haven't done with the likes of Widnes, Oldham and Halifax, still it's all in the name of expansion





Widnes should be in. They have the stadium, support and the potential to make an impact in SL. Now with the inclusion of the Welsh we are going to have 3 games (Catalans, Quins, Celtic) at the HJ with absolutely no or little revenue, or atmosphere for that matter, generated from the away supporters. As far as I'm concerned the idea expansion should be scrapped. We've had 1 real success story, Catalans, the rest including London, PSG etc haven't worked. Harlequins had just over 2,000 there on Sunday which isn't good enough. We've been trying expansion for many years and not got anywhere with it. We even tried a side in Bridgend in the 1980's where Celtic are based and that failed too!

I thought they were being quite generous.

yeah but the rfl want a team based in london, i feel that quins should of been under more threat then wakey because they dont really contribute to the comp and their fan base is appaling, but the rfl's expansion plan would rather have quins in over widnes because their are already teams in the north west but there is only 1 in london

No. Anything else you want to make up?

Apparently the guy or people who have been bank rolling Celtic Crusaders threatened to pull the plug on the financing if Celtic didn`t get a franchise this time round, the RFL have obviously buckled to the pressure and went ahead with a sort of now or never thing with South Wales.



Can you imagine the crowd at the Brewery field (with field being the operative word) between Celtic and Quins or Celtic and Catalan, the RFL have been telling us for ages that as a sport we are moving towards modern stadiums with modern facilities yet they have turned down 2 clubs with all this in place already for 2 clubs that are renowned for poor crowds and will have falling down stadums for 2009.

Was just kidding pal, ayee thought they were quite generous considering we have been in and out of the top 6 for a good few years now. And our achievements mount up to one play-off win.

Maybe the same with the Catalans with that they can be televised away from home but S4C have home games!!!

In theory, Huddersfield have achieved more in SL than we have. One CC final appearance and one Playoff appearance is probably better than our one Playoff win and one Playoff appearance.



Oh dear god, even Wakefield might surpass us this weekend.

They should've been thrown out of Super league but by a vote of member clubs they were allowed to reform, only because 2 clubs abstained, and start a new company with no debts in a meeting with all member clubs, the RFL Chairman and the RFL Financial Controller.

So they did bail them out of trouble.

Something that wouldn't / didn't occur with any other financially troubled clubs from the RL heartlands.

wrong ! you arrange your working hours around your customer base ! and yes you can arrange them around some ko times but unfortunately you have travelling time from away games and seeing as my industry is in Warrington the travelling time comes into it .If you cant see my point you must just be a very narrow minded person .

Quote Wirefan="Wirefan" Feedback on Warrington from RFL Source: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... __stadium/ THE RFL have paid tribute to Warrington Wolves' 'excellent' Halliwell Jones Stadium after confirming their place in Super League for the next three years. With promotion and relegation now banished, the current 12 Super League clubs will be joined by Salford City Reds and Welsh side Celtic Crusaders until 2011. That means Wolves' rivals Widnes will remain in the National League. Explaining the expected decision to hand Wolves a licence, the RFL said: "[size=150The club plays in a quality new stadium, which in all but one or two aspects is excellent[/size. "Further ground improvements are planned and although financial projections are challenging, the club has a good record in this area. "The club has strong sponsorship packages and a good commercial plan. "The club has performed reasonably well in Super League and has invested well in its playing infrastructure and now needs to start contesting major finals and semi finals. "At this stage it is not yet developing club trained internationals."'" I wonder what the one or two aspects are?

Quote Wirefan="Wirefan" Feedback on Warrington from RFL Source: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/spo ... __stadium/ THE RFL have paid tribute to Warrington Wolves' 'excellent' Halliwell Jones Stadium after confirming their place in Super League for the next three years. With promotion and relegation now banished, the current 12 Super League clubs will be joined by Salford City Reds and Welsh side Celtic Crusaders until 2011. That means Wolves' rivals Widnes will remain in the National League. Explaining the expected decision to hand Wolves a licence, the RFL said: "[size=150The club plays in a quality new stadium, which in all but one or two aspects is excellent[/size. "Further ground improvements are planned and although financial projections are challenging, the club has a good record in this area. "The club has strong sponsorship packages and a good commercial plan. "The club has performed reasonably well in Super League and has invested well in its playing infrastructure and now needs to start contesting major finals and semi finals. "At this stage it is not yet developing club trained internationals."'" I wonder what the one or two aspects are?

Tut, you lot aren't so long out of Wilderspool to be slagging off clubs for their grounds (especially when some of these clubs are just dotting the I's and crossing the T's on the paperwork to get started.)



Hull have moved to a far superior stadium - and they haven't gone all high and mighty on the rest of us stragglers.



In any case congrats on the franchise and see you at BV next year.

The RFL didn't bail out the Broncos - the other clubs allowed them to re-enter SL as a new company after winding up the old one. The RFL didn't give them a penny.



They were also only admitted on the basis of the changes that were coming along - becoming Quins, Lenaghan taking over etc.



Crowds are important as they obviously are the main source of revenue - however let's not ignore the importance of widening the talent pool. At the minute it is too narrow and will become narrower - for example Sale I'm sure cut into our playing pool along with Salford's and Widnes'.



Celtic's current average attendance is about the same level as UTC's was before they entered SL.



RL has learnt the hard way that a SL team should be the last piece of the expansion plan not the 1st. CC have the Welsh conference, and a Colts team plus junior development with the SL team as the place for those players to aim.



Does anyone know what Celtic Warriors' average attendance was? I've had a google but can't seem to find anything.

All those youngsters in Bridgend will now have something to do.

It would be interesting to see the proof of that - clearly you wouldn't come on here and post something that was a rumour - and must have concrete evidence. if you are right, then the RFL is wrong. I look forward to seeing your evidence.

You'll be a bit young to remember Mansfield Marksmen then...

WHAT WAS THE LAST ATTENDANCE AT THE HJ FOR A SL GAME BETWEEN WIDNES COMPARED TO QUINNS? in the same season ?



We will see how long Leigh stay in business now that they have failed ,I would guess it was a massive gamble building that stadium and seeing as the football team were relegated as well it doesn't look good for Leigh,but I hope I am wrong



So you are trying to convince me that Salford would have survived if they had failed in their application ? I doubt it! the new stadium debts would have crippled them .

I can see the advert attempting to introduce SL to them now -



[i2 young lads holding the skipping rope for some young girl. Then you just see the back of a bald head approach them. Turns out to be Stevo with a Steeden Rugby L ball in his hand. The kids drop the rope, snatch the ball and run off onto the field and the girl falls over.



The end.[/i

imagine if they lose 5 games on the bounce though

Not enough burger vans probs.

Now maybe the time to back your oft-stated opinion with a few cold hard facts Padders - perhaps reading the RFL Judgement will help you provide this evidence?



[urlhttp://www.therfl.co.uk/home/news_item_top.php?id=11209[/url

I`m fairly certain it was Eddie who mentioned it on the last edition of boots n all, he was saying that you would think its now or never for south Wales as the backer of the Crusaders has threatened to pull the plug on the financing if they don`t get a franchise this time round.