9 years ago yesterday : Thu Sep 14, 2023 10:32 am  

13th Sept 2014 we were finally relegated from Superleague.

Funny reading comments on social media from Wakefield fans - a lot seem to think it's a case of keeping hold of the squad and going straight back up.

I sincerely hope that happens but I can remember thinking the same thing way back when.

Re: 9 years ago yesterday : Thu Sep 14, 2023 10:41 am  

In fairness I think we would have gone up under the traditional system, unfortunately we had to beat an SL team and couldn't quite manage it due to Jimmy's brain implosion in the most important game of the year. Still think if we had Clare on the wing instead of Blythe he would have scored that early try and I think we would have gone onto win.

I think Wakey will have a strong season depending if the takeover goes through. Whether they go up is a different matter. A lot seems to be resting on their new stand but it will only get them so many IMG points, probably same as our stand and hospitality boxes.

Think they'll be some fall out of who doesn't go up this year. Stories of Toulouse financial implosion keep coming up. What happens if Fev don't go up?

Re: 9 years ago yesterday : Thu Sep 14, 2023 10:43 am  

Bull Mania wrote:

In fairness I think we would have gone up under the traditional system, unfortunately we had to beat an SL team and couldn't quite manage it due to Jimmy's brain implosion in the most important game of the year. Still think if we had Clare on the wing instead of Blythe he would have scored that early try and I think we would have gone onto win.

I think Wakey will have a strong season depending if the takeover goes through. Whether they go up is a different matter. A lot seems to be resting on their new stand but it will only get them so many IMG points, probably same as our stand and hospitality boxes.

Think they'll be some fall out of who doesn't go up this year. Stories of Toulouse financial implosion keep coming up. What happens if Fev don't go up?

I think London are the ones to watch.

Re: 9 years ago yesterday : Thu Sep 14, 2023 3:08 pm  

Maccbull_BigBullyBooaza wrote:

I think London are the ones to watch.

Which is quite amazing considering I thought they looked absolutely terrible when they played at Odsal earlier in season.

I think Wakefield are in real trouble next season... they have spent 20years dithering about whether to invest in Bellevue and finally having got the hint that the council were not going to stump up £30m to build a new one, have now done it at possibly the worst time imaginable.

I have some friends who are heavily involved in supporting the club off the field and in their foundation and they really believe that next year its going to be cut to the bone... foundation, academy and scholarship all under threat and little chance of retaining many of the current squad (a lot of whom have come up through that development pathway).

Toulouse are a different kettle of fish. They have credible backers lined up and worst case scenario is that they withdraw from the RFL system and solely focus on French Elite league. They still own their original home ground and would not be losing the amount of money they are right now trying to get into SL... especially when it is blatantly obvious that IMG/RFL don't see a place for them at the top table.

Re: 9 years ago yesterday : Thu Sep 14, 2023 6:47 pm  

What happens with Wakefield will be determind by the takeover that seems to be taking an age to get over the line. I'd also be surprised if they managed to keep hold of their best players like Lino, Jowitt, Tanginoa etc.

Their best shot of going back up is the first year they come down, and even then they'll have the IMG grading making things trickier.