And, I think it's safe to say, a more competitive one. There are further benefits too in that a more competitive side is more able to attract better quality players and, perhaps more importantly, able to fend off the approaches of 'bigger' clubs for the players coming through their ranks. I think this shouldn't be underestimated for clubs able to produce good quality juniors.

the wakefield district as a mass influx of talented and gifted juniors already . the challenge cup final is always preceded by a junior match 12s 14s or what ever and it normally contains 1 and some times 2 teams from our district. the few who end up playing at sl level normally get snapped up by the leeds academy which is a shame.

and that's my main point , the future is the kids and from cas panthers to crigg and Stanley to lock lane these youngsters will not have a bigotry attitude and will try their up most to get an opportunity to play with a merged club.

=#8000FFI honestly don't see why current fans would be opposed to such an idea, yes it will be different at first but the older fans who are set in there ways will have to accept that a merged club will be far better on AND off the pitch and with both clubs pooling together their best resource - the youth systems then it's a super power in the making and at either J30 or 32 I'd expect to be seeing 10k+ crowds, the name doesn't need to mention CASTLEFORD or WAKEFIELD so fans can't say "well I'm not going to watch *insert city/town name*".

But my opinions on why I think a merger would work might be unrepresentative because I've probably been to just as many Wakey games as Cas ones and don't have a particulaly "strong" attachment to say no way in hell should there be a merger.

Absolutely. This is what I was alluding to as keeping your youngsters is [uabsolutely[/u the most vital part of keeping a competitive SL side. Moreso as quota levels come down. This could place a combined Cas/Wakefield side among the best served in this area IMO. As it stands, Leeds tend to pick up many of the best and, even when when the individual teams are able to sign the players, they often move on for the chance of success. Westerman, Shenton and Owen are all examples of good young players currently being linked with moves to other clubs.

I think this is interesting. How many [umore[/u people would this apply to? Take Crusaders for example. In terms of new fans alone they have been able to attract approaching 8,000 new fans to the relocated club. There's no reason why a merged club placed in the correct location wouldn't do the same. Add to that the numbers who would prefer a successful club and would continue support from the 2 existing clubs and, as you say, there is the potential for a really vibrant club with a large fanbase. Exactly what is required to guarantee a franchise in the first instance and, more importantly to maximise the chance of competing at the highest level.

Merging the teams would make a very big club, assuming all fans stay on board, but IMO Cas and Wakey with new stadiums could be just as big as warrington. So why not grow both clubs?

If it was a case of having to merge to stay in existance, surely it would be a no brainer!

=#8000FFAnother reason to merge, that helps the whole league not just the local area is it would instantly create one extra place in the league for expansion, then lose Salford for Widnes, then you would have 4 expansion teams on the go, a very strong Trinity Tigers side full of local players + a touch of class from the likes of Rangi Chase as well as the likes of Wigan, Leeds & Saints. Such a merger makes the whole league stronger and not just the local team (as it would be).

And we'll all live happily ever after

=#8000FFA team winning trophies would get all the "die hard" fans who "will never watch a merged team" crawling back, so yes everyone will live happily ever after watching the best team in Super League

Can i ask why trinity tigers why not cas wildcats

=#8000FFBecause calling the team Castleford or Wakefield will alienate one set of fans, and knowing what fans on here are like for both teams there will be people complaining if the team was Wakefield Tigers or Castleford Wildcats so it would make most sense (IMO) to call the team Trinity Tigers, both teams get their nicknames in and it does sound pretty catchy tbh.

Surely a merged team would be called The Wild Pussies this maintaing a link with both clubs feline monikers.

got to agree with this , Celtic are now known as crusaders .. we could come up with something like that

about as popular as giant eagles

I am sure that this has been discussed to death, but why not share a new stadium? The two towns are 5 miles apart and trying to build 2 stadiums just doesn't make any sense at all, especially in the current economic climate.
Before we go down the "we hate each other" route, Milans 2 soccer clubs aren't exactly best pals...yet they seem to get along OK on the business side of things.
An 18,000 seater RL stadium that get's used 16 times a year instead of 2 stadiums that get used 13 times a year....it has to make financial sense.

=#8000FFLocation, Cas won't go to Stanley Wakefield won't come to Glasshoughton (even though it's in the middle of one of the busiest visitor attractions in the UK), hence why a merger makes more sense then a ground share, bizarrely.

When teams merge you lose something from fans PASSION Rovers went to Warrington in the cup on sunday and our fans swamped that towns pubs from 12 noon. Every pub full of fans and nearly all proudly wearing flat caps, we drank the town dry and sang all day all the rugby songs came out alloweta, the music man the lot. Loads of warrington fans told me they hadnt seen anything like it for a long time, in the ground we sang for 80 mins. if teams merge you lose that and Rovers proved on sunday there is passion and life in the championship even though the RFL want to kill the game below super league and turn us into feeder teams

As much as I appreciate what your saying, a few hundred fans on a cup jolly doesn't equate to a competitive Superleague side capable of competing for honours! I'm not playing down the importance but I really think that your on the wrong track with that comment.

Glad you enjoyed your day though.

apart from rubbing salt into their wounds,your point is?

And i know what your saying but surely being passionate about your club is what its all about and keeps the club going in bad times. No fan would be passionate about a merged team at least not for a couple of decades, if celtic get kicked out of super league, would they carry on or fold? same ? about harlequins i know these teams are not merged but a merged team would be very similair to those 2 clubs

merged teams in this country wouldnt work

I'm not sure tbh. Being passionate about a club certainly helps keep it in existance in the lower leagues but, on it's own, won't achieve a stable and competitive team at the highest level. I'm sure Cas, Wakey or Salford fans, for example, are passionate about their clubs. I'm sure yourselves or Leigh fans are passionate about theirs too. In none of those cases has it managed to create a successful club by any real definition of the word. I asked in the OP whether having a 'your club' is more important than having a successful club. Whether fans would rather watch a side competing for honours or watch one with the town name on it. I could also ask whether being able to hold on to the talented juniors was better than seeing them come through the ranks only to see them snapped up by bigger clubs or having a franchise 'in the bag' rather than constantly worrying about whether you meet the criteria was a greater consideration than having your own town's team even if that has to be in the lower leagues.

I appreciate it isn't the same answer for everyone. For you, the town name is obviously more important than the level at which it's represented and, in some ways, I applaud you for that. Others might be more able to see the bigger picture and be able to put aside club prejudices and,again, I applaud them for that. Each opinion is as equally valid. It all depends on what you want from your sport.

this should of been done when the game went full time, the country had the money at the time to pile into the game. it should of been built in normy and shared by all 3 clubs. the game has changed cas,wakey and fev won stuff with largely local lads who worked part time at the pits and various other jobs. playing was part time so they didnt have to relocate. now if either team has any good players they have to be sold for the clubs to continue,we exist and thats all we do, wel never win anything again baring a miracle. no club can make enough money,the product is poor and crowds are poor.this area cannot sutain 3 teams,at least the locallads could stay with a large local team instead of being cherry picked. feel that this maybe the only way forward to survive.

I think the problem at the time, as I said earlier, was that the Superleague was a new venture the last time it was proposed and everyone thought 'their' club would be one to flourish. With a 15+ year history, this is no longer the case and many are prepared to face up to the realities of the situation. I think it's fair to say there is a straight choice between 'your club' and 'successful club' (if you'll pardon the oversimplification). I genuinely think it's only the hope that 'one day it will turn around' that stops the formation of a potentially massive club in this area. I admire that attitude to a degree. By the same token, I really don't think it's very realistic and the choice is more straight forward than that. If the occassional shot at the play-offs with an equal shot at relegation is the limit of your ambitions and you'd support your team no matter which league they played in, then the choice is to stay the same. If you want a club able to compete for honours, be guarenteed a franchise to stay at the highest level and know that the first choice for the players in the area is to stay with the club rather than look for success elsewhere, then a combined club is the obvious answer. It all depends what you want in the end. Many people are already voting with their feet. How long before the choice is no longer there to make?

Now correct me if im wrong BUT Trinity isnt a nickname they were called Wakefield Trinity, and now Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, the wildcats is their catchy nickname, like ours is tigers..sorry but if its a new start its a new name one that no one side can argue about...................... Calder colts. will do fine.

but lets just hope eh that we are as lucky as the lucky man from luckybridge and stay in SL cant see it myself but stranger things have happened..