: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:12 am  

Johnkendal wrote:

Just watched the news conf on Sky, the point a lot of people seem to missing is its not just Widnes who have missed out, i would imagine that the application from Leigh would have been stronger, so why have they not been mentioned and what is the diffrence between them and Cas and Wakey. The set up at Leigh to me on the outside seems much further ahead than some of the others granted licences or close to one

I was replying to a post refering to widnes. Where leigh are concerned they are arguably the third strongest team in NL1, with the RFL wanting to strengthen and expand the game, Celtic and Salford were shoe ins. As long as Warrington are in i dont really care about anyone else.


Posted by Foz (arrrrrggh log yourself out dammit)

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:13 am  

the flying biscuit wrote: taking away what both clubs have planned for the future........ we will be visiting these two stadia next year.......is this what the licences were about...??? yeah compared to this http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/stadium.html its laughable

the flying biscuit wrote: taking away what both clubs have planned for the future........ we will be visiting these two stadia next year.......is this what the licences were about...??? yeah compared to this http://www.widnesvikings.co.uk/stadium.html its laughable

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:14 am  

RFL final summary

RFL final summary

h : Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:28 am  

Dont agree with this at all imo Celtics and Salfords stadiums are not super league quality while the widnes ground is It should have been Widnes And then Wakefield Kicked out for Touluse as wakefields stadium is appaling

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:38 am  

IMO the existing twelve SL clubs have virtually had an automatic entry into the 'club' as the RFL would be poop scared of the lawyers. I can't see this changing over the next three years, and as long as one of the fourteen doesn't perform ridiculously bad either on or off the pitch then Wierdness or Leigh won't get in in 2012 no matter how amazing an application they have. (Obviously the same won't be true for possible applications from the likes of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin or Moscow).

It's now a closed shop, and I feel particularly sorry for Leigh after all the investment into the sports village.

Re: h : Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:39 am  

TW Wire wrote:

Dont agree with this at all imo Celtics and Salfords stadiums are not super league quality while the widnes ground is It should have been Widnes And then Wakefield Kicked out for Touluse as wakefields stadium is appaling

good idea, lets kick a super league team out who are 7th in the league for a french team who got absolutely anialated by bradford in the cup, that will improve the league won't it.

widnes most probly didn't get in because they went into liquidation last year and teh rfl won't want to make the risk.
salford will of got in because they are a super league standard team, got relegated last year and are top of nl1 this year.
and celtic were always going to get one, this is pretty much what millenium magic was all about, getting wales into the sport, for me this was always going to happen

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:40 am  

The funniest thing about this is they decide to give the green light to a team with no real history in the game which are based in South Wales, shortly after announcing that they will be moving the Magic weekend (one of RL's biggest annual events) away from South Wales in 09'. Figure that out!

The RFL are braindead. I hope this decision fails miserably.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:44 am  

Steve O'Connor handled the decision with great class and dignity. I'd encourage people to take a look at the statement he's issued on the widnes website.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:52 am  

Rugbychick™ wrote:

I do think the RFL have wimped out a bit with their choice. There is always a lot of talk about expansion of the game and I really think they've missed a great opportunity.

Personally I don't think we need the luxury of 2 teams in one city (Hull and Hull KR) and Castleford and Wakefield, geographically very close and both were shaky on the license possibility.

I'm pleased Celtic were awarded a license but I'm not too convinced about the inclusion of Salford who are very close to ourselves, Wigan and Saints. Even including Salford I do feel we'd have been better dropping Wakey and putting in a team like Tolouse.

I feel sorry for Widnes and the derby being back would have been nice but I do think another 3 years of careful financial management will mean they're pretty much bang on for one next time round. I think only 9 months after entering administration is probably too soon for them to be given the opportunity and I'm sure that was probably one of the only reasons they were left out.

My personal thoughts exactly, I'm pleased Celtic are in for expanding the game. But IMO Wakey are very lucky to still be in. I would have liked it to be Wakey out with Celtic, Salford and Tolouse in.

I feel bad for Widnes but I'm sure they will be in come 2011 when the competition should expand to 16 teams.

: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:53 am  

Istilldontbelieveit wrote:

The funniest thing about this is they decide to give the green light to a team with no real history in the game which are based in South Wales, shortly after announcing that they will be moving the Magic weekend (one of RL's biggest annual events) away from South Wales in 09'. Figure that out!

The RFL are braindead. I hope this decision fails miserably.

It is you that is braindead, everyone said that Catlans wouldn't work and it has. The RFL have been looking to break into Wales for years and years, now is their chance to be proven. Well done the RFL.