Of a 4 point deduction for Crusaders?



[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/celtic_crusaders/9277648.stm[/url



Or perhaps a better question might be - What is the point of the RFL?

Exactly, whats the point in rugby league? We are the laughing stock of all sports. Disgrace!!!

We all know they are a shoe-in for the new set of licenses.

The RFL have bailed them out so would look pretty stupid (even more so than now) if they kicked them out.

I can see law cases being brought by the team that does go as isnt one of the criteria that you have to be solvent for 3 years ?

Thing is they have changed there name and will say it was the old club that went bust and nothing to do with them.

SL thriving in North Wales my ar$e.

Its Blackpool and Oldham I feel sorry for, what help did they get.

I wonders why I`m not suprised reading that.RFL does it again.

this part of the criteria has now been dropped as far as I know, same thing with Widnes old club went bust but still counted against the new club, but thats Rugby league, has a salary cap, and does nothing when clubs break it, just stick their collective heads in the sand.

its a joke! the RL are only looking after big clubs and teams that can expand the game example the crusaders! Wigan Break the rule 3 times with the salary cap and get a small fine everytime,same for saints and Bradford!Now this with Crusaders! its only -4 points for god sak! its only 2 wins and they back in track!Blackpool in same postion as Crusaders and no help from the RL! i wont be suprised if this wont affect there super league franchise as well! I bet if we broke one small rule we would be kicked out of the league

It may be that there were mitigating circumstances (such as the debt being incurred by a previous administration) that led to a 4 point reduction rather than 6.



Beyond that, it all depends what you want RL to be. Do you want it to retrench back into its M62 corridor, becoming a local game for local people until it dwindles away, or do you want it to become more widespread? If it's the latter, then you have to accept that the expansion teams can't be treated like other teams.

Apparently, League Express is reporting that the Crusaders have agreed to pay off a large part of the debt, hence the seemingly small punishment.



So, not a joke or a laughing stock after all.

The point is.....it's the expansion teams that are dwindling away!



I will make an exception for the Catalans because they have a 'proper' RL pedigree, but London,(In whatever guise), and Wales, (North, South and in-between) never have and never will embrace the RL ethic.



The RL hierarchy, and other disengenuous expansionist souls are intent on being continually dimissive of the 'M62' corridor. This is the heart and soul of rugby LEAGUE and always will be.



I'd rather see, Swinton, Leigh, Widnes, Whitehaven, Barrow and even and other 'traditional' teams vying for Super League status, or preferably going back to PROMOTION AND RELEGATION and generating REAL excitement instead of the non-entity of 'avoiding the wooden spoon' or applying for a franchise every three years.



If London, Wales or other regions are serious about RL, they should be supported to establish the amateur game and if a decent club arises out of their own grass roots, then they could be considered for inclusion in NL2 without argument from 'traditionalists', who would no doubt recognise their worth.



It's only a matter of time before these 'follies' of clubs crash due to continued lack of internal support and cash flow, I just hope there are still enough clubs in our heartland left to fill the void.



Looking forward to the new season, and I wish everyone a good festive season......even in London and Wales!

My question was what is the point - as there is no promotion or relegation based on position in the table - giving a 4 point deduction is completely meaningless - it's a pretend punishment - absolutely pathetic and outrageous, they just make up the rules as they go along to suit some wider RL political purpose IMO

how do you think you'll feel if the WC's finish in 8th and salford 9th one point behind?.



i think i'd be a little peeved tbh.

Well i'd feel peeved, if they hadn't been handed a points deduction... but they have, maybe not a significant one but a 4 point deduction never the less. 4 instead of 6 because they have or are in the process of paying a chunk of there debt off.

I see your point, but points are all important when it comes to the play-off's... which generate money, and are very important to clubs like salford and crusaders. I remember Brian Noble's sideline reaction when crusaders missed out narrowly. (on a penalty kick if memory serves) The fact is points do matter and are important come the end of the season. Not in terms of relegation but play offs at least, and look how close crusaders were last season... and hopefully it will leave them wide open for a 62-2 thrashing by us come Millennium Magic

I'll be more than a little peeved if at the end of the season we finish with fewer points than a team that starts the season in disarray and four points behind us. But it won't be the RFL I'll be peeved with