The closed shop system doesn’t bother me. As long as the league has the capacity to expand. The NRL started off like this, now they have the New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne Storm, Gold Coast Titans and more recently the Dolphins.



I think this is what failed last time with franchising. They were looking to replace clubs and fast track in solely due to area rather than expanding.



For example. If IMG decide to go 14 teams initially. And say Toulouse, Featherstone and Widnes go up with Wakey coming down. I’d have no qualms if IMG were clear and said:



Wakey. You need to upgrade your stadium and be competitive in the Champ for two seasons. Whilst maintaining your current fanbase or at least average 3k.



Bradford. Similar.



Newcastle. You need to increase your current average and build a competitive side etc.



Then maybe two years down the line Wakey meet that and get put in as the 15th team. Year after Newcastle might be the 16th team.



For reference Gold Coast got admitted to the NRL in 2008. Not been a great side in those years but still get good crowds and no relegation means they can build.

Squad named:

Walker

Qareqare

Myers

Gill

Blackmore

Homles

Patton

Rodgers

Lilley

Scurr

C. Butler

Appo

Thompson



R. Butler

Flanagan

Turgut

Johnson

Foster



Bench depends on who has desire, and who has trained. I want Tirgut to do well bit would love Green to develop too x

Walker

Qareqare

Myers

Gill

Blackmore

Homles

Patton

Rodgers

Lilley

Scurr

C. Butler

Appo

Thompson



R. Butler

Flanagan

Turgut

Johnson

Foster



Bench depends on who has desire, and who has trained. I want Tirgut to do well bit would love Green to develop too x

Jack Walker

Ben Blackmore

Jayden Myers

Kieran Gill

Jason Qareqare

Dec Patton

Tom Holmes

Rob Butler

George Flanagan

Fenton Rogers

Keven Appo

Chester Butler

Bodene Thompson



Jordan Lilley

Jansin Turgut

Ebon Scurr

Josh Johnson



Missing some key personnel here, England, Baldwinson, Lawrence, Matongo, Arundel, Wallace all could get in 17 if fit

Walker

Qareqare

Gill

Myers

Blackmore

Patton

Holmes

Scurr

Lilley

Rogers

Appo

C Butler

Thompson





Foster

Johnson/Turgut

R Butler

Jowitt/Flanagan



There’s a couple of decisions on the bench I think. Jowitt doesn’t deserve to be dropped

Apparently your suggested squad is amusing. He's a strange chap.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Jowitt in at centre ahead of Myers.

Game over at halftime. Dunning Out. Another game where we have no idea and no game plan. Coaches job to get the lads ready for the game and he’s failed once again.



Just our luck Holmes gets injured. Lilley is so bad in the halves. Not helped by Patton who’s been f*cking woeful. Appo struggling on the edge with Gill. Not one forward has offered anything.

Where to start with that.



Woefully under prepared for a big game (again) and game over by HT (again)



Why are we obsessed with those stupid floaty kicks again.



Lilley kicking on second tackle! Headless chicken.



Jouffret just running through defence on multiple occasions.



Awful awful awful.

When we're dire... we really are dire. Absolutely zero gameplan or they simply haven't followed it, who knows but the coach has to take responsibility. Another game where we have plenty of ball but never really look like scoring.



Oh and the BBC coverage and camera work.. amateur. If that's the best they can offer our sport, then give another broadcaster an opportunity.

What a horror show. An embarrassment yet again.



Only positive that we haven’t completely collapsed and conceded 40+ points