: Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:47 am
Im interested to know why when people go on about expansion that it is always the same suspects..... WIDNES. Why not Whitehaven or Sheffield? They have just as much a right to be up there in the decision making process.
Im all for respecting history and I know the club has achieved alot over its 100+ year history, but guess what we haven't done two badly for our 3 years so far either.
If the fans of Widnes really think at the current juncture they would be able to perform much better, in the last two seasons in Super League they only avoided finishing bottom by the skin of their teeth with a side arguably more talented then our own today.
Im sure if you started up a professional RL team in Liverpool or Lyme Regis they would have similar problems to us as well .It is far too early to write us off we are just finding our feet.
Also what makes you think that we could not match attendences of the Scarlets and the Ospreys? Both teams currently get VERY POOR attendences considering both have new stadiums and one is the self styled 'glamour boys' of Welsh rugby, neither average anywhere near 10,000 fans. We only get a few thousand less than what these long established sides get now ( established in terms of tradition , not the regions obviously , as they've only existed for 6 years.)
I agree it is poor that the likes of Doncaster and Rochdale are not getting the help they really need at the moment, they probably need more help than we do .I hope they get it.The head of our supporters club is a born and bred 'Donny boy and it was great to see them get promotion at the Grand Final last year.
I don't deny the RFL should be looking after the 'heartland' clubs just as much as the outposts like ourselves, a balance needs to be struck. I believe the game will only get stronger and make England and Wales as well as GB Lions at the international stage stronger.
The game is still seen to many as a 'northern' flatcapper type sport.
To me in the modern age that seems to be a certain shortsightedness that we are starting to break down here. There are many many kids taking the game on and below the first team squad our youth are top across the board , with many not actually playing RL before this season.
I look forward in a few years to watching a Wales RL side made up of local born and bred players ,preferably playing for us or other Super League sides trouncing England at a packed modern stadium either here ,Bridgend ,Swansea or whatever.
We might never be huge but tin comparison to to the local football sides of RU sides like Cardiff Blues or the Ospreys but I'm very confident we can hold our own.We just need to sort out a permanent base and start building up. It will come in time.
As for Widnes , they seem to have the complete package ,stadium,team,success,history,but we can't live in the past. Are you confident you could get crowds much largetr in super league than you already do ???
Best of Luck to you all anyway, the Championship is still a great competitve league to play in anyway.