@scouseviking55 how many years have we said that !!!! It feels like every season except last year
I mentioned earlier in this thread, that I don't reckon you'll be involved in any football after the end of the "normal" games, and................
It still seems unlikely in my opinion, but............
Next week could possibly be massive, with you in the steel city, whilst the Broncos will be doing battle with the Raiders, so....
The gap between you could be an (almost safe) six points, an unchanged (and reasonably safe) four, or a mere (and squeaky bum) two!
Gonna be interesting!
Spelly
Sounds like the bottom four play-offs are going to be redundant anyway with the merging of the leagues set to be approved...
Is that nailed on James? How will they work? Regional ‘pools’ and then overall playoffs perhaps?
To me, sounds like a backwards step but since when has common sense been at the heart of RFL/SL decision making…? 🙄
They're talking about East/West split with 12 in each - though I doubt it will truly be an East/West split, I'd expect it more likely to be all the Yorkshire teams in one (plus maybe Newcastle) and then all the others in West.
Potential disaster for Widnes, as instead of playing Bradford, Featherstone, Halifax - you end up with Midlands, North Wales and Rochdale.
Top 4 in each league of 12 qualify for play-offs at end of season.
They're voting on it next Monday apparently (today there's a vote on 14 or 12 in SL, I'm led to believe).
They're talking about East/West split with 12 in each - though I doubt it will truly be an East/West split, I'd expect it more likely to be all the Yorkshire teams in one (plus maybe Newcastle) and then all the others in West.
Potential disaster for Widnes, as instead of playing Bradford, Featherstone, Halifax - you end up with Midlands, North Wales and Rochdale.
Top 4 in each league of 12 qualify for play-offs at end of season.
They're voting on it next Monday apparently (today there's a vote on 14 or 12 in SL, I'm led to believe).
I would suggest that sounds like a complete disaster for Widnes. It seems very much a plan concocted by people with no vested interest in the culture of the game and no idea about RL’s cross Penine tradition.
Sounds like the bottom four play-offs are going to be redundant anyway with the merging of the leagues set to be approved...
Is that nailed on James? How will they work? Regional ‘pools’ and then overall playoffs perhaps?
To me, sounds like a backwards step but since when has common sense been at the heart of RFL/SL decision making…? 🙄
I would think "regioniialised" will be the optimum word if this transpires, on an east and west split. The likes of Fev, 'Fax, Huns, Dews, Donny, et al in one, with Worky, 'Haven, 'Ornits, you, and us, amongst others, this side of the hills. Pinks?
Of course names like Bradford, Oldham, and York could be added, if they don't get the SL nod. Also, in which "half" would Olympique, and Hetherington's Mob be, if they too, are not dining at the top table next term?
As James eludes to, the play-offs would become an almost meaningless exercise, coz the infamous "P" and "R" words would be out of the window!
Will tier one be twelve or fourteen, and if it's the latter, who'd be there who aren't now?
I totally accept that all I've come with are questions, and possibilities, with precisely nowt of the concrete nature, but does anyone, inc the hierarchy, know any more than do we?
I think the only defo for 2026, is the already announced Les Cats v Pies in June, under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower!
Not for the first time, and I doubt very much it it'll be the last, we'll have to wait and see!
Spelly.
Yorkshire clubs not going to do much travelling...bet they are delighted whereas we would have 3 trips to Cumbria, London and Coventry in the mix too.
Don't get what's wrong with sticking to a 12 team Championship?
As we have the IMG gradings wouldn't it make more sense to use those to determine which 12 teams are in the Championship or to split a combined Championship/League 1. That would at least give some incentive for teams to strive to meet minimum standards in stewardship, financial stability, ground condition, support, community engagement etc.
Are there concerns about some clubs in League 1 (and maybe the Championship?) not being viable in a semi-professional game and going out of business in the near future? Otherwise, why look to merge the leagues and then split them on a regional basis.
It makes no sense, but there again not much makes sense in the way the game has been run for some years.
Thats it then, 2 "handpicked" Championship clubs joining SL next year.
Probably means the playoffs will not happen.
Shocking for a professional sport 🤦🏻♂️
Unless Salford are demoted.Doubt it though,can't imagine three going up into SL from the second division.Thats it then, 2 "handpicked" Championship clubs joining SL next year.
So fourteen it is eh? It should see the end of loop fixtures, and I would imagine that "Magic" will be retained, meaning there'll still be twenty-seven rounds of fixtures, but...............
We're still no nearer knowing who the "newbies" will be, whether the Pinks will be there in the new format, or locking horns with the Chemics and the Lions in a regionalised tier two instead.
York? Toulouse? The 'Yeds? A certain team with a past its sell by date ground, and a chequered financial history?
Spelly.
I hope they don't split in to regions. Other than Oldham and Salford it would be terrible for Widnes. No offence but Whitehaven, Workington, London, North Wales, Midlands, Swinton etc are either miles away, have no fans or both!
I would much rather play the likes of Featherstone and Halifax. They are closer than many of the mentioned teams, bring a few more fans and the fixtures are more recognisable and mean more.
SL
York
Toulouse
Bradford.
Championship East
Featherstone
Halifax
Sheffield
Newcastle
Batley
Goole
Keighley
Hunslet
Dewsbury
Doncaster
Championship West
Salford
Oldham
Widnes
Swinton
Rochdale
North Wales
Barrow
Workington
Whitehaven
London
Midlands