@spelly We'd adhere to the rules of the RFL, and go into SL. If the rules are changed in 2027, then so be it.
If a Club is just happy to coast along in the Championship, with no ambition other than to secure their annual funding, then maybe they should be playing in the NW Counties/ Pennine leagues. It's not good for the Comp, if only Widnes, Oldham, Salford and Doncaster are showing ambitions if the rest are just * 'plodders'. All 20 teams need to aspire to get in SL, regardless of their spend, or get out of the Pro/Semi-Pro game. We can't afford another shitshow season like 2026.
Paulie xx
* i'd use the word "realists" instead, as without a big money investment, it's not gonna happen.
The likes of Beaumont, and Ellis are (very) few and far between unfortunately. Men who (like you and I) are genuine fans, but (unlike you and I) millionaires as well. How I wish one of 'em had been a Lion instead of Leyther / Wakey, but c'est la vie.
I'd love to see us play (and compete) in SL, of course I would, and there's no charge for dreaming, but I'm willing to accept that short of a miracle, Leeds v Swinton in a league game, is nearly as unlikely as me voting Reform.
You mention the Pinks showing ambition, but (and yes I'm hugely biased here) last time they tried it, they almost went tits up.
If IMG decreed it, and the Chemics were dining at the top table come 2027, what would the target be? How many (few) of the current squad are of SL quality? Where would the necessary funds come from?
Just before I press "send" two simple yes or no questions please mate - Do you deserve to be in tier one next season? Do the Broncos?
Spelly.
Replace 'Plodders' with whatever word you wish, I stand by my words
I didn't mention the word 'Pinks' as in my eyes it's homophobic, but you are correct, Salford went pop due to the ownership (deemed owner worthy by the RFL) doing a job on them, as did Rule, O'Connor and Munson did to us. You can't legislate for that and Clubs in any division can go to the wall
If we got back in SL, we would probably a lot of contracts would be deemed null and void, and some won't want FT, so we would have to make the best of what we can get. Funding isn't there because we ain't in SL. That is a Catch 22 situation.
As for a simple answer to your question re; London. They only deserve to go into SL if they win the GF. Remember they went and beat the 'shoo-in' Toronto on their own midden, so nothing is certain. They might not even get to the GF.
We only deserve to get in if we meet the rules, but on the whole, have had a very good season on the pitch. Pushed Leeds all the way in the CC, reached the 1895 cup final, and made the play-offs.
Paulie xx
Let’s be honest, there are few teams in the championship that can step up toSL standard
bradfraud proved that this year
We are better off staying where we are until it all goes tits up in SL
no sponsor,NRL want to take over as long as the London nomads are included
you really could not make this up
charletons
Some varied and interesting (biased?) answers, and all will eventually be revealed by the RFL's powers-that-be.
There'll then (depending on who you support) be shouts of "Bent!" "Justice!" "Typical!" "Deserved!" "Fix!" along with some that wouldn't pass the swear word test on this board.
I was asked whether playing in Vegas makes you be relegation free, but as the game in Sin City is for league points, I would suggest it does.
Like you all, I've still no idea as to what changes (if any) there'll be in the top tier, but a lady Bronco who I know well, said "I don't think we'll be in Super League." when I was talking to her in Richmond, at our delayed league game there. Read into that what you will.
Spelly.
It stinks. How can 2 of the bottom teams Bradford and Huddersfield book Vegas and SL tickets while London are apparently in the dark over SL?
If this IMG thing is genuine, they must be 2 clubs at risk. How can Huddersfield even be allowed to carry on in a small stadium in Dewsbury. They only get 4k fans playing in their own town.
The IMG system means on paper teams have less time to prepare than if under threat of relegation. The reality seems its already decided, if Bradford and Huddersfield arnt worried about going down.
Just to add in terms of a closed shop, Londan have
1. An ownership group worth millions.
2. An NRL all time great as the figure head.
3. A new modern stadium to play in
4. Capital City name with a population of 9 million.
5. A full time squad with an ex Aussie international/state of origin prop and Tongan hooker/loose forward.
6. About to win the 3rd trophy of the season for a clean sweep.
7. With Lockyer, the money they have, the pull of living in a big capital city and top flight RL, imagine the Aussie and Kiwi players they could recruit in SL with the NRL link up.
Contrast that with Odsal/bottom of the league and the Flair Stadium Dewsbury in an area already saturated with Leeds, Cas and Wakey, thats 5 teams in West Yorkshire alone.
If London don't get in, what hope realistically have any other Championship team got in the seasons to come.
@dan1 cas? They’re the only ones not making tons of noise about future plans etc and finishes joint second bottom with hudds and Hull FC
@scouseviking55 yea Cas terrible for the last couple of years. They have a great fanbase for the size of the place but thats about it. I don't see the need for them and Wakefield.
They should have Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford with a new stadium. I don't see the point of having Huddersfield anymore as well as Dewsbury. Cas would be a good team to have in the Championship.
Just to add in terms of a closed shop, Londan have
1. An ownership group worth millions.
2. An NRL all time great as the figure head.
3. A new modern stadium to play in
4. Capital City name with a population of 9 million.
5. A full time squad with an ex Aussie international/state of origin prop and Tongan hooker/loose forward.
6. About to win the 3rd trophy of the season for a clean sweep.
7. With Lockyer, the money they have, the pull of living in a big capital city and top flight RL, imagine the Aussie and Kiwi players they could recruit in SL with the NRL link up.
Contrast that with Odsal/bottom of the league and the Flair Stadium Dewsbury in an area already saturated with Leeds, Cas and Wakey, thats 5 teams in West Yorkshire alone.
If London don't get in, what hope realistically have any other Championship team got in the seasons to come.
With what you've listed above, the question is "How can they possibly be refused a place in SL?" But.....
We're talking RL aren't we?
In my opinion, they should be promoted, coz they deserve it, having proved it on the park, but......
We're talking RL aren't we?
Spelly.
@spelly i'm not Londons biggest fan as I think its been tried for 40 years and they just cant get the following. But having gone up fair and square in 2023 only to be relegated before a ball was kicked, whatever their league position I thought was a disgrace.
Now fast forward to 2026 and they have/will win everything, if they dont get promoted you have to feel for them as a club after getting chucked out and the likes of Bradford getting in.
For me Bradford are protected. They went up from 3rd on full funding. The pitch and stadium is awful and they finished bottom. Because they are protected and with the terrible SKY tv deal the clubs are all skint and the owners are losing £1.5m to £3m per season. Even rich people cant sustain those losses long term, hence them talking to the NRL. They will offer London an extra place but with zero funding, thats my prediction.
Just to add in terms of a closed shop, Londan have
1. An ownership group worth millions.
2. An NRL all time great as the figure head.
3. A new modern stadium to play in
4. Capital City name with a population of 9 million.
5. A full time squad with an ex Aussie international/state of origin prop and Tongan hooker/loose forward.
6. About to win the 3rd trophy of the season for a clean sweep.
7. With Lockyer, the money they have, the pull of living in a big capital city and top flight RL, imagine the Aussie and Kiwi players they could recruit in SL with the NRL link up.
Contrast that with Odsal/bottom of the league and the Flair Stadium Dewsbury in an area already saturated with Leeds, Cas and Wakey, thats 5 teams in West Yorkshire alone.
If London don't get in, what hope realistically have any other Championship team got in the seasons to come.
They also have what must be one of the lowest, if not the lowect, average attendance in the league, in terms of both both Home games and Away travellers.
@spelly i'm not Londons biggest fan as I think * its been tried for 40 years and they just cant get the following. But having gone up fair and square in 2023 only to be relegated before a ball was kicked, whatever their league position I thought was a disgrace.
Now fast forward to 2026 and they have/will win everything, if they dont get promoted you have to feel for them as a club after getting chucked out and the likes of Bradford getting in.
For me Bradford are protected. They went up from 3rd on full funding. The pitch and stadium is awful and they finished bottom. Because they are protected and with the terrible SKY tv deal the clubs are all skint and the owners are losing £1.5m to £3m per season. Even rich people cant sustain those losses long term, hence them talking to the NRL. ** They will offer London an extra place but with zero funding, thats my prediction.
* Yeah they're more than forty years in, but they're still going! How many teams have come and gone since? Carlisle, Cardiff, Oxford, Hemel, All Golds, Kent Invicta, Nottingham, just off the top of my head.
Their fan base isn't huge, but neither is Swinton's, and like us, they've moved house on many occasions.
The supporters they have, love RL as much as you and I do, and travel big distances just to get to a home game. The lady I know who I mentioned earlier, when I asked her at Richmond "How easy is it to get here from home?" "Great!" she said "It's only about forty minutes on two buses!" Another said he comes from Dover!
Last Sunday, when our ladies played theirs at Ince, they brought about forty fans with 'em, with one guy saying he'd been of the way since 6.30 am!
We can't afford to lose passion, and devotion like that!
** Will they though? I've read it on various boards, but I openly admit that I've not seen it black and white from the RFL / SL, that tier one next term is staying at fourteen clubs.
My gut feeling is that they'll be playing Championship football again next term, but I soooooooooooooooo hope that I'm mistaken!
Spelly.
Some interesting views. I think one thing we can all agree on is the common denominator for all ills is the RFL. There is too much self interest amongst those running the show. Maybe the NRL, if the deal gets over the line, will make a massive 'INDEPENDENT' difference.
Paulie xx
"For me Bradford are protected. They went up from 3rd on full funding."
Why did that happen and not apparently for the other two promoted teams?