It's a vexed question, isn't it. I wonder what percentage of teams in any professional sport truly make a profit? How many millions has Ken Davy ploughed into Huddersfield over the years without any hope of recovering? One things for sure, we need more clubs like Toulouse in SL and less from the M62 corridor. Sad (or maybe it isn't) but true.

If you keep doing what you have always done you will get what you always have.
Crowds are declining, sponserships are low rent and TV money is on the decrease. Dont change and keep on the downward spiral

Agree, Toulouse in SL is very good for the game. It looks good on TV, gives more exposure, it's a great trip for the fans, its new, fresh... etc etc.. if they can make a success of it there the international game will benefit in time

Think people being happy, and how sounds like relying on teams like Toulouse is the reason this game will not improve.There are Rugby League heartlands that haven’t been exploited for years in this country.
Teams like Halifax, Widnes, Whitehaven, Barrow, York should be a lot better supported by the wider game. The RFL prefers these wild-shot ideas like a Welsh team, or Torronto, or more French teams. We know how this normally ends!

Come on Sharky, can you not given us any more than this?!

I think you’re looking at it the wrong way around, those teams have had years to sort themselves out, Widnes have won a WCC and not been able to sort themselves out.

Oh and Toulouse isn’t comparable to Torronto, TO have been around for 85 years. The south of France is not expansion it is already heartland’

Jeez! If the game in Cumbria had been talked up anymore it would have a sixteen part series on HBO. If it was going to happen, it would have happened. Nothing against the likes of York, Halifax and Widnes, but the North of England has obviously reached saturation in terms of SKY subscriptions. No wonder SKY aren't interested in paying more or even the same anymore. But don't worry, I'm sure they'll be salivating at the prospect of Featherstone or Leigh getting promoted.

Indeed. They’ve had so many chances already and constantly failed. There’s too many small ish towns too close to each other. There will never be enough of a fan base to grow.

It really hasn't though.

If expansion runs in the UK before have taught us anything it's that it's hugely expensive, tens of millions of pounds expensive, and needs to be a mega long term commitment with no wavering over short term set backs. The best way to do this is AFL style, where the sport grows to be genuinely dominant in its heartland such that the bountiful revenues there comfortably support the loss making expansion sides.

And it also needs a ruthlessly strong governing body - not like the RFL which is set up to be deliberately weak so the clubs retain all the power.

The AFL had virtually no competition in WA, SA and Victoria. RL simply doesn't have that level of dominance anywhere. We are just about the 'biggest' club but are a financial dwarf compared to Leeds Utd. AFL clubs get massive crowds and RL is only stronger in NSW and Queensland.

Its certainly correct that expansion needs to be planned and backed for the long term, but I think the French expansion is only a good thing. The size of the market matters - even Toronto might have succeeded despite lack of support had it not been for COVID. By comparison although London is massive the club just doesn't have an identity. The only way I could see London really becoming a force is for them to be attached to a football team, as they originally were with Fulham.