just been reading statement from Brian Noble that Crusaders are not ready for opening match against leeds, why is the rfl wasting time and money when we have got Widnes with a really good stadium dying to get back up, not only that they would bring crowds to home games at Warrington, the same goes for Harlequins, the biggest crowd they get down there is about 3000 and a percentage of that is away fans. I didn't realise till I went down there they only open one stand.

The only success of trying to expand the game is Catalan, the french love it, they have really good gates and you also see them over here, there were loads of them at Edinburgh last year.

Widnes is a small village between Warrington and St Helens and their inclusion in Super League would bring nothing to the game as a whole. As for bringing big attendances to Warrington's home game the last season they were in Super league Warrington got a bigger gate for the match agiants Harlequins.



When did you go to Harlequins and see only one stand open? I suspect you only see what you want to see? Are you saying there is no room for clubs who don't open all their stands for all games (think about it before you answer that).

When did you go to Harlequins and see only one stand open? I suspect you only see what you want to see? Are you saying there is no room for clubs who don't open all their stands for all games (think about it before you answer that).



When we got hammered last year and Matt King did the finger gesture, only one stand and I was talking to local fan and he said that was the norm.

Hang on a minute, correct me if I'm wrong did they not shut the west stand when we played them?

The local fan is wrong.

Widnes and Leigh over the crusaders and harlequinns any day for me. crusaders particularly are a complete waste of space and should be bannished to the lower leagues as soon its legally possible. the people who defend clubs like crusaders fail to realise that the likes of leigh and widnes could be ten times better clubs than the crusaders given the same amount of SL investment and would therefore make them better competitors in sl. definitely the rfl should be withdrawing sl licenses for any club that doesn't have its own permanent purpose built stadium with all the modcons and also those who can only attract a few hundred home supporters. the rfl and sl have been propping up the harlequinns for years now...how many times have they been saved from administration by intervention from the authorities?

Live in london and been to the Quins a few times last year, they do only open one stand (the east) sometimes they open 2 if the crowds are worth it. SO he is telling the truth i've seen it several times.

Widnes yes, Leigh no.



Super League has very few 'Super' teams.



Wigan, Leeds, Hull, Catalans, Warrington are firm yesses.

Bradford, Saints, Cas, Hull KR would be if they had better facilities

Huddersfield would be if they had a better average attendance

Salford, Wakefield, Harlequins and Crusaders (Unless they do well this year) all seem like inevitable failures. Wakefield and Salford in particular shouldn't be in SL.



Widnes would be perenial also rans and are not really worth bringing in. 7k is probably the best they can average and geographically they add nothing. Leigh might scrape 5k as an average and seem awfully run as a club, despite the nice facilities.



For me they need to look to France for any further franchise applications, those looking to get in over here aren't strong enough.

Leigh didn't average that high in 2005 when they were in Super League at Hilton Park.



I like how the OP has completely ignored the fact that Crusaders have already sold over 6,500 tickets for their opening game at Wrexham, already beating their highest attendance for last year v Sts of 6,300(ish). Give them time and I guarantee they will be a successful expansion team in the end.

I take it you will underwrite the losses if they go out of business then?





The sales for the first game are great. BUT if they lose by 70 (Brian Noble has said today they are not ready for SL and are not a SL team and Keith Senior says they shouldn't be in SL) what does that do to their ability to draw a crowd in future? If they were good enough to challenge or beat Leeds great, but the fear is that they won't be competitive at all this season, which would set them on a negative course towards ruin.



Catalans are the only decent franchise, helped massively by their competitiveness from the go and their Cup Final appearance in their 2nd season. Can anyone see Crusaders reaching the Cup Final this season?

I wouldn't say Catalan were competitive from the word go. Yes they won their first game v Wigan, but still finished bottom of the pile with only seven/eight wins IIRC.



Stranger things have happened then Celtic getting to Wembley, but like most things in RL like new clubs and the Magic Weekend, the fans expect them to run before they can walk and develop a backing.

I just think the case should be that they can walk before they enter the race? IMO expansion teams should be given financial help to become competitive from the start.



I just don't see anyone watching a side that is incapable of winning.