With the news of Super League going to 14 teams, the club issued this statement last night to say they're up for it: https://widnesvikings.co.uk/super-league/
Perhaps unlikely and a little surprising, but I think it's a positive to at least have some sign of public intent to get back there, which hasn't always been the case.
Whilst supporting the aim to increase the SL and the prospect, however remote, it may have been wiser to see how the new, enlarged, SL is to be funded.
At the moment many SL clubs are managing by wealthy supporters injecting well over a million pounds per annum into their bank accounts. This has been challenged as a continuing practice and cannot be adopted by all clubs.
If this funding dries up where does the shortfall come from? Sky or the Championship club share of the Sky package?
If the latter how sustainable will a Championship league become?
This game never ceases to amaze me, too me one, if not the greatest game on the planet yet the way it is run year on year is truly sole destroying. It’s like a comedy show you can’t bare watching, destroyed season upon season, feel like giving up🫣😩
Widnes can't even compete at second division level nevermind SL.
I agree it's good to see Ambition from the club,I dont think it's our turn this year but who knows if Bradford and York go up we stand a good chance for 2027 season but no doubt the rules could change format again.
The club would be doomed for saying something either way. I kind of wish they hadn’t commented on it at all to save embarrassment and ridicule.
We need to focus on bringing in revenue to improve our championship position, that’s all the focus should be right now, forget wasting time and energy applying for superleague when you already know who this ‘select committee’ will choose to fail once again 🤣
The only teams out of the 4 mentioned that would stand a chance are Bradford and Toulouse. Bradford have the fanbase when not run by someone insolvent and Toulouse have the money if they get the nod
York will fail, no doubt about that the fanbase isn’t and never will be there. London will fail for the 3 millionth time
Good to see fighting talk and ambition- can't see it being us this time but we need to get it right on field in the next couple of years for the inevitable fall out that the unsustainable new 14 league will have.
Timing is a funny thing. Imagine if this had happened 12 months ago when Widnes were well in the fight for 2nd place in the table at this stage (before falling away), probably would have lifted crowds and got some external support from other clubs. Whereas now, looks a bit naff because slumped in 9th in no man's land.
Likewise, 12 months ago, Oldham were in League One so wouldn't have even been in the picture. London would have still been in Super League and probably a shoo-in.
I'm (like all of us) just wondering as to who the additions (subtractions?) will be to make up the new fourteen teams format, and I've eluded to that on a different thread, but here goes anyway, with another set of questions, and guesses!
Will the increase mean a reprieve for the Pinks? Much as I'd like it to be a big "NO!" I reckon they might be quietly optimistic of going to the likes of the Piedome and Headingley again next term.
Bradford? What could / would they bring to SL? As Paul Daniels said on many occasions "Not a lot!" But I'd be far from surprised if they got the nod!
York? Solvent, play out of a state-of the-arts stadium, and already have Vaughan from your nearest and not so dearest signed up for next term. I would say if there's a near cert, then it's the Knights.
The Broncos? Currently battling with you to avoid meeting the Lions in the play-offs, but having the ex-Rhinos' supremo at the helm, will do 'em no harm at all.
The 'Yeds? Decent ground, and don't seem to have any money probs, so they're a poss.
Toulouse? Gotta be in with big shout, and would double the number of teams from across la Manche in the top tier.
The Naughton Parkers? I'd suggest that it's far more likely you'll have us on your fixture list come 2026, rather than Wire.
Yeah, just questions and guesses!
Spelly.
Other than having Nigel pushing their case, what have Bradford really got to offer. A crowd average of about 3,400 in a stadium with a 26,000 capacity, a sub-standard ground and a recent record of financial instability. Is Nigel putting his RFL pay-off into the Club?
The way Rugby League is run has become a total joke with constant changes mainly to accommodate a few Clubs. In any other sport, would they change the rules mid-season to render redundant planned end of season play-offs and no idea how the game is to be run in 2026 below SL. Having said that, I don't believe that RFL has any interest in the game below SL.
Sandgroper is right, any increased SL funding to accommodate the additional two Cubs in SL will come from the Championship and the rest of the game. My guess is that the next change will come when Clubs in the Championship and SL go bust.
Having promoted SL as a European League, with one French team, this seems to be now changing, with a move to keep Toulouse out even if they win the Championship play-offs. How long will Catalans last? This possibly to accommodate a team with a history of failure and crowds of a few hundred.
Having adopted the IMG grading system, which to be fair does encourage clubs to aim to meet minimum standards, the RFL in their wisdom are now abandoning that to pick the additional two Clubs to join SL in 2026. This does have a stench of corruption about it. They should either stick to the grading system for 2025 or revert to a play-off system to determine which Clubs go into SL.
Of course, Widnes have to make a bid for a SL place, but the way the game is going it could be a poison chalice with another financial meltdown coming in the short-term.
The game has become a total farce.
If, as has been mooted, Bradford, London and York go up- presumably Toulouse pack in and go to the French league?
If Toulouse go with Salford coming down, that would mean what 20 clubs below SL?
To me, there would be even less of a reason to go to Conferences- two Conferences of 10 seems pretty pointless.
May as well revert back to the NFP style system which had circa 20 clubs in to ensure each club has 12-14 home matches....as imperfect as this is.....
Or have a Champo and L1 of 10 each a la mid 2000s with a proper Northern Rail/1895 group stage preceding it.
Surely, if Widnes want to be considered as a serious contender for SL, then they need to start showing some ambition and professionalism both on and off the pitch?
And that means investing some serious money in the squad to improve results the same way that Oldham and York are doing and how Leigh have done in the recent past.
Everything is about money.
Of course, that will never happen. We appear to have no money to invest, and the off the pitch 'offer' is going to need significant work.
For me, I'd just put the offer out there. If clubs can provide the necessary hard evidence that they have the finance and the ambition, then offer them a place in SL.
To be honest, I doubt whether there would be many takers.
The proviso would be that these clubs would have to deposit at least a non - refundable £1 million deposit into the RFL's bank account as a serious gesture of goodwill in order to protect the product and prevent it from becoming a laughing stock should it all go wrong.
Anyway, back in the real world......
No mention of the annocement on Bradfords or Yorks Facebook pages despite plenty of other posts. They are in and they already know it so aren't commenting.
Other than having Nigel pushing their case, what have Bradford really got to offer. A crowd average of about 3,400 in a stadium with a 26,000 capacity, a sub-standard ground and a recent record of financial instability. Is Nigel putting his RFL pay-off into the Club?
The way Rugby League is run has become a total joke with constant changes mainly to accommodate a few Clubs. In any other sport, would they change the rules mid-season to render redundant planned end of season play-offs and no idea how the game is to be run in 2026 below SL. Having said that, I don't believe that RFL has any interest in the game below SL.
Sandgroper is right, any increased SL funding to accommodate the additional two Cubs in SL will come from the Championship and the rest of the game. My guess is that the next change will come when Clubs in the Championship and SL go bust.
Having promoted SL as a European League, with one French team, this seems to be now changing, with a move to keep Toulouse out even if they win the Championship play-offs. How long will Catalans last? This possibly to accommodate a team with a history of failure and crowds of a few hundred.
Having adopted the IMG grading system, which to be fair does encourage clubs to aim to meet minimum standards, the RFL in their wisdom are now abandoning that to pick the additional two Clubs to join SL in 2026. This does have a stench of corruption about it. They should either stick to the grading system for 2025 or revert to a play-off system to determine which Clubs go into SL.
Of course, Widnes have to make a bid for a SL place, but the way the game is going it could be a poison chalice with another financial meltdown coming in the short-term.
The game has become a total farce.
Maybe Widnes would have buggered up the Masterplan, as of now they are extremely close to the top 14 clubs under IMG ratings. I won't say exactly where in case the Club haven't mentioned it to the general public, though it may have been mentioned at Viking Voice last night. That may have engineered the change of tact by Nigel 'Wide Pipe' yesterday, to enable his beloved Bulls, York & Salford to remain. Also why have Wigan abstained from the vote? It appears they are running with the hare and the hounds.
Paulie xx