Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:00 pm  

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Widnes have had a lot more go’s at beating a Super League club than Toronto, who were very unlucky to lose to both Hull kr and Salford.

...and more if not equally lucky to beat three championship sides by a average of just 9 points per game.

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

All of Toronto, Toulouse, London and Widnes could still make the MPG. Even Hull kr could end up in the MPG. What a fantastic competition the middle 8’s is.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.......it's not a fantastic system at all, with sides Like HKR and Salford throwing money at short term recruitment, widnes gave up in july and so far there have been no upset results with everything going to form.....just because professional full time squads, of which there are 7 in this comp have played out some close matches, it doesn't change the fact that there isn't enough talent in the UK to sustain anything other than a 10 side SL

Sir Kevin Sinfield wrote:

Personally i think it will be Toronto v Toulouse

Based on what? Toulouse beating either Salford and/or HKR or London not beating Salford or Halifax? The form book points to London at Toronto....and the form book is what has been adhered to for the first 5 rounds....so it'll be bye bye Widnes this weekend and away wins for the other SL sides.

No video referee announced for the Toronto game again........bet you there'll be one the following week at Headingley....and surely at the MPG the weekend after if it's as expected in Canada.

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:17 pm  

Call Me God wrote:

Based on what? Toulouse beating either Salford and/or HKR or London not beating Salford or Halifax? The form book points to London at Toronto....and the form book is what has been adhered to for the first 5 rounds....so it'll be bye bye Widnes this weekend and away wins for the other SL sides.

To be fair to the form book you only have one example of Toulouse vs SL in France and they beat Widnes well. Granted HKR are better than Widnes and will still be favourites but they didn’t find it easy travelling to Canada.

Then it probably comes down to points difference if Toulouse come up with a win with London beating Halifax final week. Pretty close points difference so could come down to how many they both lose to Salford by and Salford probably going through the motions in Round 7 vs Toulouse.

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Tue Sep 18, 2018 9:46 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Salford probably going through the motions in Round 7 vs Toulouse.

...whilst Halifax will be a sharp as tacks?
Chances are Halifax will get tonked by Leeds and already have clocked off for the season by the time they head south...well, same chances as Salford players trying to keep their jobs for 2019 and with Hastings back at the helm.
I say Toulouse not to win again and London to visit Toronto....

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:03 pm  

I think Widnes might save themselves.


Widnes have finally won one to remind themselves they can play.

Toronto have flattered to deceive in these play-offs and look to me to be getting worse, not better, with each game. I see Widnes beating them in Canada, and Leeds beating them soundly at Headingly. They then finish on 6 points but the two defeats will take their PD into negative territory.

Toulouse will lose to Salford at Salford, and given that Hull KR still need points to be safe, I think they'll go all out in France and beat Touolouse there. Toulouse finish on 4 points.


London will lose to Salford, but beat Halifax, finishing on 6 points. Depending on the scores of those games, they may finish above Toronto.


Widnes - this is my left-field prediction - will win both their remaining fixtures. I think they're too good for a declining Toronto, as above. But I also think they'll come up against a Hull KR side in their last game who are safe on 10 points after beating Toulouse in France. If that's the case, I would rpedict they'll be playing a Hull KR side even their own fans will struggle to recognise, and will claim an easy win. That would see Widnes finish on 6 points with a real chance to improve their points difference.


So we end up with 3 teams on 6 points, and the MPG teams decided on points difference. I think Widnes will be in it, and will have too much for either London or Toronto - whichever of those two teams has the highest PD.

Of course, when Toulouse and Toronto both win this weekend, I reserve the right to come back and delete this post.

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:23 pm  

Roy Haggerty wrote:

I think Widnes might save themselves.


Widnes have finally won one to remind themselves they can play.

Toronto have flattered to deceive in these play-offs and look to me to be getting worse, not better, with each game. I see Widnes beating them in Canada, and Leeds beating them soundly at Headingly. They then finish on 6 points but the two defeats will take their PD into negative territory.

Toulouse will lose to Salford at Salford, and given that Hull KR still need points to be safe, I think they'll go all out in France and beat Touolouse there. Toulouse finish on 4 points.


London will lose to Salford, but beat Halifax, finishing on 6 points. Depending on the scores of those games, they may finish above Toronto.


Widnes - this is my left-field prediction - will win both their remaining fixtures. I think they're too good for a declining Toronto, as above. But I also think they'll come up against a Hull KR side in their last game who are safe on 10 points after beating Toulouse in France. If that's the case, I would rpedict they'll be playing a Hull KR side even their own fans will struggle to recognise, and will claim an easy win. That would see Widnes finish on 6 points with a real chance to improve their points difference.


So we end up with 3 teams on 6 points, and the MPG teams decided on points difference. I think Widnes will be in it, and will have too much for either London or Toronto - whichever of those two teams has the highest PD.

Of course, when Toulouse and Toronto both win this weekend, I reserve the right to come back and delete this post.

Too late...saved for the record books.....and I have to say, that would be an ideal situation, Widnes visiting London whilst Toronto have a whine

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:23 am  

London are not ready for SL lets be fair. We just don't need the turbulence at this stage of the clubs 'revival'. The last couple of years in SL & then Barnet...were painful. Lets just keep building, focus on youth coming through, find a benefactor to join DH......... then lets see

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:27 am  

wire-quin wrote:

London are not ready for SL lets be fair. We just don't need the turbulence at this stage of the clubs 'revival'. The last couple of years in SL & then Barnet...were painful. Lets just keep building, focus on youth coming through, find a benefactor to join DH......... then lets see

But we need London, along with Toulouse and Toronto, to be confirmed in Super League by 2022, so we can get a more lucrative contract from Sky to start in 2022, and possibly a good contract from BeIN Sports and perhaps from Canadian television as well.

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Wed Sep 19, 2018 6:32 am  

Jean I agree the game has no future(limited) without expansion. It just doesn't need to happen today

I've said it before, we need to go back to franchising and set out standards for each club...reserve grade, youth development(maybe X number in squad), finance, facilities.....

Sadly Rimmer hasn't got the vision beyond tying his shoe laces before he leaves the house(Hopefully Elstone will take control). We need a long term vision for the game which includes stability, expansion, growth in sponsorship(these last two go hand in hand) TV deals .......

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:21 pm  

Call Me God wrote:

...whilst Halifax will be a sharp as tacks?
Chances are Halifax will get tonked by Leeds and already have clocked off for the season by the time they head south.

Think they’ll still go down to London looking to pick up a win. Yes they can’t reach the MPG but I don’t think they ever expected to and won’t want to end the Qualifers without a win and probably see this as their best shot.

Re: Who will replace Widnes: Toronto, Toulouse or London? : Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:25 pm  

wire-quin wrote:

Jean I agree the game has no future(limited) without expansion. It just doesn't need to happen today

I've said it before, we need to go back to franchising and set out standards for each club...reserve grade, youth development(maybe X number in squad), finance, facilities.....

Sadly Rimmer hasn't got the vision beyond tying his shoe laces before he leaves the house(Hopefully Elstone will take control). We need a long term vision for the game which includes stability, expansion, growth in sponsorship(these last two go hand in hand) TV deals .......