Cullen and Widnes will need almost an entirely new squad, to be recruited between now and the start of preseason. Should, as expected, Wakey be the ones to make way, I wonder how many current Wakey players will be in the Chemics strip come the first game of next season...

This Franchise system does give some certainty to those clubs who would traditionally have been in trouble, and may help us to spread the game, but the limiting factor IMHO is the number of suitably skilled players that are available, otherwise you are simply swapping one crap team for another...

Agree at the moment there is not enough players out there. The franchise system is similar to what happened with promotion and religation but every 3 years as apposed to every year. The team going down hand all there players to the team coming up

I can't help but think that a 12 team league is the way to go. That way we drop the players (and clubs) who are simply not up to it, and we can have more intense competition between the ones who can really lay claim to being viable both on and off the field.

Not that it will happen, the clubs would not vote for less fixtures, and therefore run the risk of reduced income...

Training with Barrow i heard somewhere.

The difference for the franchise system should be that teams aiming for promotion can concentrate on building a team that will be ready to play SL in three years time, rather than build a team that's ready to play Championship level today. What we shouldn't see any more of is the likes of Leigh building a Championship team on the back of players like Tommy Martyn who had already indicated their intention to retire before the club entered SL.

Agree in principal however the teams in the championship cannot just concentrate on developing youth and team for the future as they still have to meet certain winning criteria to be eligable to apply

To some extent. Widnes met their winning criteria some time ago. They should also benefit in that the squad they put together for SL doesn't need to be at it's best next year or even the year after.

Yes its a big advantage for a club with SL aspirations to get the criteria out early doors, however if you have everything for licence appart from the qualifying then You will have to aim for the hear and now.

Widnes should have had lots of time to get together and develop in preparation for SL. Although when I watched them this season they were not very good.

Don't the RFL (being the RFL) have a clause that allows them to 'invite' a club who hasn't made the on field qualifying criteria?

That at least was the answer I was given when querying Toulouse's right to apply, which I'm surprised they didn't do but then I guess the invite may have got lost in the post just like mine has to big wedding this year.

Yes I do believe they have a invite clause

Especially there for when the crown prince of Saudi Arabia wants to invest his billions in Northampton RL (or any other club)

Something all the more likely now we have our [url=http://www.northamptonrl.co.uk/nrl-club-videonew video[/url on-line.

Gleeson won't be back in England anytime soon he is on the run.

Backing singer for the Australian Pink Floyd?

Not very likely is it.

He was at the KC Stadium on Friday night and is currently training with Barrow. Douche.

He was on the run! Must be sorted now.

What are we waiting for bring him to headingley.

Barrow - thats where I'd go if I were on the run.

Or Workington, they'll never find you in Workington if you walk with a slouch, look miserable and grunt instead of talking.

You'd have to hide indoors when it got dark though, you wouldn't glow like the locals.

With his current problems I think a move to NRL would be better.

That’s 3 super league clubs he’s been “released” from now so possibly not the best investment for Widnes.

I wish him all the best for the future - a cracking centre on his day.

Or Toyota Cup, as it were...

With his pace I'm surprised he made it out of his front gate without being caught, let alone all the way to Hull.

Widnes and salford are the 2 teams showing interest.

Hull have offered him a deal aswell according to bates FM this morning.

Longy and Gleeson together at Hull? Madness.

Partnerships like that not to be sniffed at