http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971894.stm Ridiculous statement from a coach. You TRAIN/COACH the players to be the best, that is what you are paid to do. You introduce young players into the system, you scout the local area to identify talent, nurture and develop it. Alternatively throw stupid amounts of cash at 2nd/3rd rate never will be overseas players and then still complain. It's called HARD work. It's not sitting talking as an "expert" on the box as your "expert" credentials are taking a hiding with statements such as that.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 971894.stm Ridiculous statement from a coach. You TRAIN/COACH the players to be the best, that is what you are paid to do. You introduce young players into the system, you scout the local area to identify talent, nurture and develop it. Alternatively throw stupid amounts of cash at 2nd/3rd rate never will be overseas players and then still complain. It's called HARD work. It's not sitting talking as an "expert" on the box as your "expert" credentials are taking a hiding with statements such as that.

Don't they have any players in the reserves? I'm sure I remember Steve Simms boasting of the fine player development at the Willows on Radio Manchester and Channel M during the licensing process.

of course this wont set off the widness fans at all will it.

Do they think Widnes would have made a better fist of things in terms of putting together a competitive side and getting fans through the turnstiles?

You could have some sympathy with his plight if the team were at least playing to their potential - sadly the players are simply not performing for him. Why did he let the likes of Ambler go in the off season if he knew he would have squad depth issues?

The crusaders on the other hand have run some teams close and do appear to be getting to grips with the competition and whilst they may not be winning games they are performing with some credit.

McRae is yesterday's man who comes across well on TV which masks his inabilities in other areas - he was a failure at Gateshead/Hull, South Sydney and Salford - how can McRae get a coaching job?

Salford have an average crowd of 4,863 from three matches, while Widnes have an average of 3,842 after the same amount of games.
Salford's average was helped greatly by the large travelling support from Wigan.

The push for Super League is a poisoned chalice for some. There's a lesson in here somewhere - come into this unprepared at your peril. Yes, admittedly Castleford did struggle at first - yoyo-ing back and forth but they did get a few surprise results and finished one season with 19 points. Hull KR is the model to follow - they made sure they were prepared - both on the field and in the pocket. Salford & Celtic look like tadpoles in an ocean at the moment. There's no doubt now that the three years grace is essential in the franchise process.

wasnt the franchising system supposed to weed out clubs that dont have sufficient funds to compete at the top level?

It probably will - give it time.

What this does tell us is that we dont have 14 SL quality teams

Probably not 12 if you include W1g4n and Bradford

But not to worry I'm sure Salford and Celtic will build in the next 3 years and get up to speed as Cas have done

Or they might not and will be stuck in 3 year downward spiral to oblivion

Franchising , it's the future