1 up 1 down with the option for a 2nd Championship club to go up at the expense of the 11th placed club makes sense. It's similar to the current system AND it means that you won't have the club who's 11th but with a buffer between them and 12 shutting up shop for the year as they'll be pushing to avoid 11th place as well having to ensure they are competitive enough to avoid the drop.

Well unless there is a change to the structure, then it's the play-offs as York have overcome their last bannana skin.

Was a good game to watch although i have to say after his farcical performance refereeing us and Workington, i'd love to know how Mullhern got a big game in York/Oldham. Unsurprisingly he got a huge call wrong at the end. Oldham kick, York player fields it, loses ball in tackle. Oldham regather and then take the tackle. He then gives the hand over to York. I mean the outcome didn't match any possible play that happened. Whether it went forward or backwards Oldham got to the ball first so its a fresh set of 6! Last minute too! When so much is at stake why is it acceptable to have this level of officiating who don't seem to know the rules. He's guranteed to ref the play-off semi or final isn't he. Anyway rant over.

Well done York. They fully deserve top spot IMO A club on the up!

Great Stat on Twitter in that York have had eight games decided by a score or less this year, and won seven of them. By contrast, the Bulls have had four and lost three of them, the only win vs York first day of the season.

York certain deserve the title IMO, and we need to start winning close games if we are to take part in the playoffs.

I noticed this today after looking at who their final two opponents were. York certainly weren’t all that impressive today but they seem to find a way to grind out a win. The amount of ball that Oldham spilled in good position was criminal and I’m sure Naylor will feel they blew a chance in that 2nd half to snatch a result.

As for the Bulls, they have lost twice at home against their promotion rivals, that is a big concern. Let’s hope they can pull it together and string some performances together when it matters in the play offs. Can’t see York slipping up now with two fairly easy games left to go.

Let's hope York see it as "two easy games to go"...

Will we find out the outcome of this meeting actually on Friday? Will there be someone looking for white smoke from one of the many industrial chimneys at Red Hall?

Or presumably, as is the way with anything important involved with the RFL,will it be a botched press statement days after the news has leaked out from multiple sources anyway?

I think this is probably a rhetorical question. As the people who are participating in the meeting probably don't know themselves how it is to be announced, so there is bugger all chance of us poor saps knowing.

Is the increase to 14 clubs for the championship still part of the structure changes though?. This was initial proposal that the lower league clubs rejected. All the talk about fridays vote is to do with removal of eights and funding for next three years. I haven't seen any mention of the increase to 14 for championship in any of the reports about the vote, so are we just assuming thats still in there?

I understand a clear, unequivocal statement is to be released at 1600 on Friday delivered to the people of Narnia by Lord Lucan sat astride Shergar whilst being cheered on by Comical Ali

The change to 14 is still part of the talks, has been mentioned by a few journos over the past week or so.

I'm not so sure.

This is from Aaron Bower on twitter

So, yes, it still could happen then...

Perhaps not on Friday though.

Suppose if it goes to the Ch/Ch1 clubs to decide then it comes down to whether an extra two home games but with funding split 14 ways, is worth more than staying at a 12 way split but with two less games. Could see that dragging out until after season ends and they see whos going up under present system.

Not sure any CH1 clubs would willingly want to see us directly up via a vote..Although slim, they may think they can retain the revenue streams we bring to them, if we were to miss out in the p/o's.

Not sure any League 1 clubs would vote purely on such a speculative basis considering we are still the most likely team to go up via the playoffs. The carrot for League 1 clubs at the top end of the table is they actually increase their chances of promotion this year - would you vote against that purely to get a crowd vs Bradford?

Where I think it may be a factor in that I think the Championship clubs probably do want us up and would vote for that change. Of course everyone may come to their senses and decide not to implement these changes until the end of next season rather than shifting the goalposts now.

Of course, we can all visualise the situation where some decision is arrived at on Friday but then, for "fairness and not wishing to ruin the season endings in the different leagues" they then decide not to announce anything until all the play-offs are completed.

..And then, it all dribbles out on twitter or 'leaks ' from clubs, over the following week or so. Oh, and of course, at least half a dozen on here will know the full decision but be uabable to pass on the details as their mate could be compromised....

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-1996292 Makes you feel like the sport's in safe hands with threatening statements like the above

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-1996292 Makes you feel like the sport's in safe hands with threatening statements like the above

Personally would prefer changing the middle 8s to something else but the funding proposals are just daft. Basically a less or nothing option for clubs outside SL. For a stronger game obviously...

Wow.

This is how I read it:

[i
Listen here you annoying little runts,

Despite the excitement that the middle 8's bring, we think it's rocking the boat so we want rid. We will give a token one-up-one-down as a conciliatory measure before skinning the lower leagues and the RFL of the money paid to the sport by Sky when the next deal is done. Because we're at the top table so we should have all the money.

We know you play Rugby, and we DO really care about you, but really; who cares about rugby outside SL anyway?

When we have complete control of the money SL will be the most thrilling game in the world, there will be so many scraps falling from our table that ALL lower league clubs will be popular and successful, and fans will be ecstatic with a series of loop fixtures in Super League. Who wouldn't want Hull FC vs Hull KR games 6 times a season?

If you don't agree with us, f*@k you we'll take our ball home and let you all starve.

[/i

Wow. What a pair of arrogant Cnuts..... Come back Marwan all is forgiven.

Listened to the 5Live podcast last night with Hetherington, Sadler and the guy from League Weekly. They seemed to suggest that the position regarding SL was more or less settled on 12 teams and loop around fixtures. Hetherington was very critical of that part. They also thought that the problem with the SL clubs was that they found the RFL easy targets for the fact that some of the SL clubs were not pushing their own clubs and increasing their own business. They also said that they had no idea what was happening below SL divisions.

Quote ="Scarey71"Wow. What a pair of arrogant Cnuts..... Come back Marwan all is forgiven.'" If you think Hudgell and Pearson come across badly, read what Lenagan has to say... https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9345425

Quote ="Scarey71"Wow. What a pair of arrogant Cnuts..... Come back Marwan all is forgiven.'" If you think Hudgell and Pearson come across badly, read what Lenagan has to say... https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9345425

THink he needs to look closer to home for falling crowds. Five drives and a kick and playing the same teams countless times in a season won't bring the crowds back.

What a pipe-end....

I think it's time the CH/L1 chairmen took a another look and tried to come up with new ways to broadcast the game and run it. It would take years but if you have a league with

Bradford
York
Newcastle
Coventry
London B
London S
Toulouse
Toronto
West Wales (Yes I know.. but I am thinking in terms of ANYTHING could be possible)
North Wales
Hemel
Happyflaps
Swinton
Batley
Dewsbury
Doncaster
Sheffield
Widnes et all

You have a much wider scope to attract interest AND you can claim 'Big City RL' which super league can't anymore. Just Leeds in a pile of small towns and small cities.

Leave the SL mob laiking wi themselves as per...

Press conference happening today by a few of the champ/L1 reps. Should be interesting to hear what they have to say. I wonder if Chalmers will be there?