Why is anybody even talking about Toulouse?
Exactly what will they bring to the party?
Can anybody explain how they will enhance Super League next season if they are to be admitted?
For me, it means even smaller crowds, no atmosphere, and yet more money going out of the game.
There have been some really good derby games lately with big crowds and an electric atmosphere on the terraces. Compare that to drab atmosphere when Catalans are in town. The atmosphere is flat and un-interesting which often manifests itself in the game. Throw into the mix the poor contributions of of Salford, Huddersfield and Castleford, then the premier RL competition has some real issues.
Can nobody in Authority see that the product is all about town versus town and meaningful local derbies as well as a decent product out there on the pitch.
Can't we just stop pretending that we are anything but a regional sport with its history embedded in tradition and local communities.
@darth-vadar thats exactly why they have panicked and added a 'directors pick' of 2 new teams. Last year Toulouse finished 13th and Salford 12th. A joke anyway as they must have lied on the finance element but clearly IMG/the RFL didn't check it. Once the result was in they suddenly asked for a £500k advance in funding. Anyway, no chance Salford finish above Toulouse this time round. IMG favours Toulouse as they are the 2nd biggest city in France, huge catchment area, no clubs anywhere near them, modern stadium facilities and tick the performance box with top 2 finishes in the league.
The RFL have shot themselves in the foot once again using the IMG criteria. The SL owners are losing a fortune, so when it became clear a 2nd French team would enter, bringing no away support, they have clearly said lets get the likes of Bradford in and bring some away support etc.
I hope that in our application it was pointed out that we have beaten Toulouse twice this season.
@sunny i dont think that will make any difference. Having a rich backer to build a competitive squad and being financially sustainable is the main thing. Attracting good crowds and taking an away following to generate some revenue for other clubs. Being able to hit the ground running next season. Having a decent facility to host games. Being in a good location to add viewers and interest for Sky.
The 2 teams that have come up recently have both been a success for 1 main reason. Leigh and Wakefield both have a wealthy backer prepared to put in large sums of money. Without those backers they would still most likely be in the Championship.
Thats what puzzles me slightly about people saying we have backers willing to back the club should we get in SL. How about backing us now to get us in SL. With the fanbase and the stadium in place, we would stand a much better chance than many. For years you would have classed Leigh as a smaller club than Widnes. If we had a money man at Widnes, we would be one of the most obvious clubs to make the step up.
@sunny i dont think that will make any difference. Having a rich backer to build a competitive squad and being financially sustainable is the main thing. Attracting good crowds and taking an away following to generate some revenue for other clubs. Being able to hit the ground running next season. Having a decent facility to host games. Being in a good location to add viewers and interest for Sky.
The 2 teams that have come up recently have both been a success for 1 main reason. Leigh and Wakefield both have a wealthy backer prepared to put in large sums of money. Without those backers they would still most likely be in the Championship.
Thats what puzzles me slightly about people saying we have backers willing to back the club should we get in SL. How about backing us now to get us in SL. With the fanbase and the stadium in place, we would stand a much better chance than many. For years you would have classed Leigh as a smaller club than Widnes. If we had a money man at Widnes, we would be one of the most obvious clubs to make the step up.
Exactly my point Dan1…
@scouseviking55 and Dan1
PaulieWalnuts has already neatly answered your point on the VIKINGS VOICE thread.
There's no way Toulouse should be getting promoted to SL. They will add no value other than a more exotic sounding name than Widnes or Bradford.
Boot Catalans and relegate Salford and that means SL will need 4 new teams (and not Toulouse).
Toulouse won't be promoted they will gain entry be the IMG rules, don't bet on Salford not been there in 2026.There's no way Toulouse should be getting promoted to SL. They will add no value other than a more exotic sounding name than Widnes or Bradford.
Boot Catalans and relegate Salford and that means SL will need 4 new teams (and not Toulouse).
@sunny I disagree that it’s been nearly answered. It causes concern as I’ve stated a few times.
an investor that only wants to be involved if we’re at the top table shouldn’t be one we’re keen to get on board
Toulouse won't be promoted they will gain entry be the IMG rules, don't bet on Salford not been there in 2026.There's no way Toulouse should be getting promoted to SL. They will add no value other than a more exotic sounding name than Widnes or Bradford.
Boot Catalans and relegate Salford and that means SL will need 4 new teams (and not Toulouse).
I've been saying for a while that Toulouse will swap with the Pinks on the IMG scores.
They were thirteenth on the provisional ratings, a mere 0.39 points astray of my least favourite team. So I would suggest with what's happened in the interim period, both on and off the park, that those positions have (at least) been reversed, meaning the door to the promised land is well and truly open to 'em.
Spelly.
They'll be a complete waste of a SL spot.
Maybe but if we are to play by the IMG rules, Toulouse will in all probability be in the 12 - with no central funding
salfraud will be out, hudds probably sweating a bit with York right up their arse
thecextra 2 - who knows , but suspect bradfraud be 1 and the other … ?
It's a funny old season. It was not that long ago that the posts on here (including mine) were all about whether we would be playing in the so called "super eights" at the end of the season and potential relegation to League 1. That format now abandoned by RFL (I think!!).
Now, after four straight wins in August, we are posting about a potential play-off position and even promotion to SL.
It does seem odd that Clubs are having to register their interest to apply for the two additional places in SL before the IMG gradings have been published, unless Clubs are given the nod; and also, as far as I am aware, whether the promoted Clubs will receive all, part or none of the SL central funding. Again, unless Clubs have been given some assurances, how can they possibly produce a financial statement to support their application.
I guess the worst case scenario is that the promoted Clubs get no central funding and will have to plan to find the £1.2m to cover the loss of central funding and, in addition, a potential operating loss of £1m/2m SL Clubs seem to be facing. Hope we have a rich benefactor(s) ready to back the bid.
I recall someone mentioned that we are likely to finish 16th in the IMG Gradings, so will have to rely on a convincing application for one of the two additional places.
All will be revealed on 16 October. Good luck Widnes.
@spelly You could well be right on Toulouse replacing Salford on the IMG gradings.
In my opinion, the farce that has been Salford this year should not have been allowed to continue. I feel sorry for the fans, but what assurances did the RFL receive about the Club's financial position when it was clear the Club was in trouble. What investigations were made about the proposed backers. Salford should be relegated to the Championship irrespective as to where they finish in the IMG gradings and not allowed to apply for the additional places in 2026.
So that leaves 3 places up for grabs. Probably Toulouse, based on IMG grading, but can the SL afford another French team who bring no travelling fans to away games? It would be difficult to exclude them if they qualify by finishing 12th in the IMG gradings, but this is rugby league where rules are changed on the hoof!!
I think York probably deserve a place and look like ending top of the Championship table. What crowds they expect to attract remains to be seen, but they don't seem to attract decent crowds despite spending a lot of money on players and enjoying a successful spell in the Championship. An average crowd of just over 2,000 in 2024.
That leaves possibly Widnes, Bradford, London, Oldham and maybe Featherstone fighting for the remaining place. I think that both London and Oldham need to prove themselves at Championship level before moving to SL, albeit Oldham have shown up well this year but not attracted decent crowds. London likely to finish 10th in the Championship with crowds of less than a 1,000. Only in the RFL world would they be considered for promotion. Featherstone have gone backwards this year, so would rule them out.
That leaves Bradford and Widnes fighting for the second place. Very similar rich history in the game and financial problems in recent years. Both have attracted similar crowds in recent years with 2024 average attendance of 2900 and 2700 in 2024 respectively. Widnes attracting over 7,000 to the Warrington game earlier this season must be a factor for potential attendances in SL, whereas a Yorkshire Derby with Castleford at Odsal attracted less than 3,000. Widnes have a modern ground (if looking a bit jaded at the moment). Bradford have a delapidated ground barely meeting RFL standards, which was at its best in the 1950's. Bradford have signed a couple of possible SL standard players this year - Donaldson and Blake - and recently announced the signing of Musgrove from Warrington for 2026, but the rest of their squad is Championship standard. It has been mentioned that Widnes expect to finish 16th in the IMG gradings, with Bradford around the same grading. As far as financial sustainability is concerned, Widnes have lived within their means in the Championship, post administration in 2019 and claim to have a financial backer in place for SL. Bradford have had financial issues in recent years and probably in a similar financial position as Widnes in 2025. They presumably have someone lined up to bankroll the Club in 2026 if promoted.
Bradford have Nigel Woo, backing them, although he is an independent Senior Executive of RFL! That's it then. No competition, it must be Bradford.
I hope that the Widnes Board can put together an application that meets all the criteria and puts a strong unassailable case for promotion to SL, which outweighs any that Bradford can put forward to the independent Panel.
Come on the Chemics!!
Not sure who Nigel Woo is. Maybe a mysterious Chinese billionaire!! I meant Nigel Wood, that truly independent Senior Executive at RFL and former Bradford Chairman.