Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:
Stuff criteria for licensing. Pick the 14 clubs that are going to give us the strongest competition and scope for growth with a mixture of traditional and expansion clubs. When Super League clubs have been there donkeys years, play in dumps, produce no players and have next to no fans it’s madness to stick with them, time to be bold, 14 clubs, no promotion or relegation.
Bradford
Castleford
Catalans
Huddersfield
Hull fc
Hull kr
London
Leeds
Newcastle
Saints
Toulouse
Warrington
Wigan
York
I'd agree with most of this.
York for me is a very sensible step. It is a reasonably big city with decent catchment. Newcastle - I would need some convincing after Gateshead Thunder.
Derbies are so important to get the crowds maximised and interested, and to generate media interest. They're also helpful for revenue-generating friendlies in the closed season. So yes, 2x Hull clubs, 2x French clubs, Leeds v Bradford back (to be fair we are everyone's derby!). Bradford need a home first though and personally I've always hated Odsal.