Biggest mistake the expansionists ever made was allowing our antipodean cousins 'have a go'.

We should have kept the game hidden amongst the mills and mines. Had we have done so we would be forced to develop our own talent, no Matt King or Michael Monaghan to moan about, and best of all we would be permanent world champions in an American Football stylee (sp).

Just to make it clear i never said expansion should stop because the away fans are poor or there is no atmosphere.
I agreed with roger on the way expansion should stop but for different reasons.

I think Thelonius makes a fine point. We could even send all the men back down to the mines to work during day, train in the evenings and game on a sunday. While we're at it let's get rid of these progressive rules like 40-20's and one-on-one ball steals, they're just destroying our fine northern sport.

Chick ive been to more games than you've had hot dinners.

Ive been pre and post SL era. Ever since we moved to the HJ ive had a season ticket.

I go to the away games that I choose ie, Hull, Wigan, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakey, Salford.

Hardcore.

Well done. Then how can you actually say expansion has been bad for our game?

Its not that I disagree with expansion but it has to be at the right time and with the right clubs.

Harlequins are not right, how many times have they had to be bailed out? Even Richard Branston walked away cos he knew that it was a lost cause.

Bridgend was forced just cos the authorities wanted a welsh team. They were not and still aren't ready for SL. They should have been allowed to develop further for another 3 years. I cant believe they got in over Widnes and Leigh.

Catalans is a strange one. Obviously they had relative success last year and the locals seem to come out for the home games. However on the road they take a handful of fans which means the away games lack any atmosphere. The game on saturday will again prove that, its like being at a wake.
I think our fans only like the trip to catalans as it gets them on a little jolly where they can drink in the sunshine, which is fair enough but apart from that they dont offer much.

Lets just agree to disagree chick, after all people are allowed to have differing views, aren't they?

Can you explain why further expansion is good for the game and who would you add in to the League?

By this i mean what is done know is done and im happy with it, however i don't think there is a need to expand further.

Harlequins have not been given any money by the RFL for a long time and to say they are constantly being bailed out is both misleading and unfair.



I see your point about Widnes, they have already competed in the top flight and are proven winners in NL1. Where Widnes fell down was their financial difficulties and that they have us, Wigan, Salford and Saints all within spitting distance. That would be 5 clubs all within half an hour's drive of each other. Celtic, in my opinion, offer arguably the same rugby-wise as Widnes. They too have competed in finals and been a very positive force in NL1, having earned promotion through the leagues in 3 years is a fantastic achievement. Yet they have the added bonus of not being yet another North-West side and allow the development of RL in Wales. Why is that such a bad thing? Widnes may very well get their chance in 3 years when the franchises are reviewed. By this time they will be, I'm sure, consistent winners in NL1 and will have solid financial dealings for the next 3 years, they will be a shoe-in.

And I can't honestly believe you think Leigh have more to offer than Celtic. You want to talk about poor fan bases? Leigh fans may be very vocal but they hardly have an army of support. Plus they have the same problem as Widnes in that they are another NW club.



I like how you underplay Catalan's 3rd place finish last year by referring to it as 'relative' success. We've never been out of top flight rugby and have never achieved 3rd place in SL. Catalan have gone from getting their backsides kicked every game to kicking other team's backsides. Catalan should be the poster team for how RL development can work if handled in the right way.
I think you've shot yourself in the foot with your own comments re: Catalan. They have fantastic home support, the fans are very passionate and vocal and can't be blamed for not travelling away every week when away for them is to another country.
I also don't understand how you can say a team that finished 3rd in the league and wwho's player topped the scoring charts (Bosc) doesn't offer much apart from an excuse to go on a binge weekend for away fans. I can't even begin to point out how insulting that comment would be to a Catalan fan or player. They achieved so much yet all you're doing is talking about them like they are finishing bottom every year and getting battered by everyone. I think Catalan have a lot more to offer than, for example, Wakefield. I'd be interested to know how you're defining 'more to offer' as at the moment it seems you're basing your entire theory about which teams are deserving based on their away fan support and where they come from. Isn't that what you're berating the RFL for in terms of Celtic?



Of course, that's what makes the forum (and RL in general) interesting!

I quite agree that 14 teams is plenty and probably the optimum amount for a decent season with some cracking matches. That is debatable, I know some people would prefer it to be 12 teams but I think there are 14 deserving clubs.

As to your question: I wouldn't say the sport needs further expansion, I would say I'm happy currently with the choices the RFl have made in terms of the expansion they've made. What I would like to see now the RFL have made 14 teams is more and more emphasis and development in the academy sides and grassroots rugby. I think it's known to all and sundry that we rely too heavily on international (not just Aussie) players in our teams. People are quick to moan about England doing rubbish but when our major clubs are dominated by internationals what can we expect?

I think it's fantastic to see Welsh players at Celtic and I hope the RFL really support the club in developing the youth game in Wales. If more clubs in Wales could be brought to the standard of the likes of Leigh, Fev, Halifax and such there very well may be a Welsh NL1 equivelent in my lifetime, which would be fantastic. I am also really pleased with the inclusion of Toulous in the NL1.

As to your question about who I would include: As I stated above I wouldn't add any more to the 14 we've got and when the franchises were announced I felt the RFL had made the right choice (please see my above post as I'm not typing it out again!). I would have like to see Widnes in the league as I think they've got a lot to offer but I think they'll be a shoe-in in 3 years time. I honestly don't think other NL1 clubs, like Leigh, are ready for SL.