Yeah I was on a stag do when we last played them in Toulouse, but looking on the highlights there doesn’t seem to be much going on.
Handy if they can share the union ground and potentially tap into a small percentage of their home support too.

Quote ="Pats plastic pitch"Yeah I was on a stag do when we last played them in Toulouse, but looking on the highlights there doesn’t seem to be much going on. Handy if they can share the union ground and potentially tap into a small percentage of their home support too.'" It's a very tidy, if small, ground but, I believe that there was always a plan to do something different if they made it into the big time: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/de ... se-ground/

Quote ="Pats plastic pitch"Yeah I was on a stag do when we last played them in Toulouse, but looking on the highlights there doesn’t seem to be much going on. Handy if they can share the union ground and potentially tap into a small percentage of their home support too.'" It's a very tidy, if small, ground but, I believe that there was always a plan to do something different if they made it into the big time: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/de ... se-ground/

I am sure Toulouse would use the Ernest Wallon stadium as they were going to play the London Broncos there this season if they were going to get the nod .No worries about stadium capacity as it holds 19,500

You tick the box over which Clubs ?

2016 Super League/Championship
Widnes 5471 or 5643 *depending where you read* Super League
Leigh 4260 Championship

2017
Widnes 5767
Leigh 6521

*was also reported IIRC Leigh's average for Super League including Q8 Play Offs was circa 6,700*

In 2017 Leigh were the 8th best supported Club in Super League & our away support is regularly & significantly good.

I have also looked for older attendance records but difficult to find any.

Quote ="wrencat1873"It's a very tidy, if small, ground but, I believe that there was always a plan to do something different if they made it into the big time: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/de ... se-ground/'" it got cancelled https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/to ... -collapse/

Quote ="wrencat1873"It's a very tidy, if small, ground but, I believe that there was always a plan to do something different if they made it into the big time: https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/de ... se-ground/'" it got cancelled https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/to ... -collapse/

John Davidson tweeting that there's lots of talk that Bradford are getting the nod even before applications are submitted. Might be worth stocking up on the popcorn...

With the reduced funding for whoever becomes team 12, aren't they on hiding for nothing and most likely be in the same position this time next year?

The teams who miss out may dodge a bullet imo.

The only way anyone can afford to be on that reduced money is surely someone to make up that shortfall. Unless Bradford have unearthed an investor then we'd be stupid to take the poisoned chalice. In years and years of crisis we've never found anyone with money so it would be a bit weird and unlikely to have done so now.

Quote ="snowie"it got cancelled https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/to ... -collapse/'" Fair do's. Looks like it will be the Union ground in the short term then.

Quote ="snowie"it got cancelled https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/to ... -collapse/'" Fair do's. Looks like it will be the Union ground in the short term then.

Sounds about right, they do seem to be mentioned far more than any other club and why not, we've already spaffed away several £100,000 trying to keep them on life support, lets chuck some more cash their wat, after all they did play at an iconic ground.

Calm down dear, Wakefield.v.Bradford before sizeable crowds will be wonderful.

There is also a lot of talk about going back to the "Iconic ground". Whatever you think of Nigel Wood he returned to return Bradford Bulls to former glories and it would appear Mr. Lenegan and probably Mr. Rimmer may well back this.

If so they will send a runner to whisper in the judge's ear to let him know what to say

I couldn't give a flying one what Bradford in SL would do for Wakefield's crowds, not least because they (Bradford) are not even close to being a shadow of their former selves.
If true, this is yet more desperation from the games administrators to find the elusive magic silver bullet and it's just wrong, fundamentally wrong.
Their (Bradford's) situation and treatment sums up may of the things that are wrong with the sport and it seems that "we" never learn.
For me, they are probably 6th or 7th on the list of applicants but, as I said in a previous post, this is RL and as a sport, we are very, very good at making a balls of things.

If Bradford are put in SL with half money and a millstone of a ground around its neck, I would again question the degree that this "helps" us. It would be yet another example of being handed an impossible situation, whilst you and others complain bitterly at how we've been helped.

I kind of agree with you but, I'll gamble that, should the golden ticket land through Bradford's letter box, they wont return it with "thanks but, no thanks, we're not ready".
The lack of / reduced funding for any club that gets the nod is very poorly thought out and backs up my previous point about how poor our administrators are (again).

If hypothetically this is all a faux exercise designed to get Bradford back in the top flight, then there has to be a very clear vision from the SL clubs (or the leading clubs) about why Bradford are such an important choice. Irrespective of what you or I may think, what is it THEY think we bring would you say? Just a few thousand extra fans?

As it happens I think all these whispers about Bradford are going to turn out to be completely untrue. I can't see past Leigh really. They tick the finances and healthy crowds boxes and they have a great ground. They really feel to be the safe if slightly anti climatic choice.

No mention of Widnes in this article.... https://www.totalrl.com/six-clubs-to-do ... 3PCu-ONgzU

No mention of Widnes in this article.... https://www.totalrl.com/six-clubs-to-do ... 3PCu-ONgzU

To answer the first part of your post, Bradford of 10-15 years ago would indeed be a great addition to SL.
Loads of fans, riding the crest of the SL wave and vert successful.

Compare that to the current Bradford, mid table in the Championship, playing out of town, at Dewsbury and with relatively few fans.
The dream may be to invite the Bradford of yesteryear but, they simply dont exist (at the moment) and there are other far more worthy contenders.
Leigh or Toulouse are the best of the 8 applicants and let's remember that, unless things change, there is still the promotion route for the 7+ clubs that dont make it in the "raffle".

I agree that Leigh are the "safe" option and for me, Toulouse would be the more progressive choice.

Only one other applicant has an academy. You think they should be in SL when they can't run an under 18s.

As I said in another post, the weighting given to different criteria will be the deciding factor here.
Having a chequered financial history would be near the top of the list for not granting promotion, especially as the reason for the vacancy is financial collapse.
This should count as a far bigger minus than having an U18's academy, dont you think ?
Not to mention, walking away from a rental agreement, leaving the RFL and the other clubs to pick up the tab - I know that this was a huge amount and possibly unsustainable but, it wasn't me that signed it.

For recent on field performance there are 5/6 clubs more worthy than Bradford and that is without the above.

FWIW, given time, I'm sure that Bradford will come good again but, I dont believe that they are worthy of the "gift" at this point in time.

Just what message are we sending out to the world here ?
Is it that, RL is so much on it's booty, that it will try anything to try and help out a "family favourite" or, is this a GENUINE independent assessment of the 8 candidates.

I wonder if the criteria and weighting will be published in advance or, whether it's pick the best bits of the club that the RFL and SL want in and make it fit ??

It sounds an awful lot like the latter.

Halifax were ruled out due to attendance not high enough

Can you show me where I was comparing our attendances to other clubs ?

Criteria isn’t necessarily a direct competition/comparison with other clubs, it’s a listing of factors each club can be at a set standard in order to quality. and if Widnes were applying which I believe we are not, I’d say we could tick this box. (As could a handful of others )

We should hold it against them for the next 100 years, it makes perfect sense! Keep punishing new owners! How would anything ever progress in the world with that view?

Quote ="Tigerade"No mention of Widnes in this article.... https://www.totalrl.com/six-clubs-to-do ... 3PCu-ONgzU'" I think Widnes don’t qualify because they have been in administration within the last 2 years-therefore not meting the criteria.

Quote ="Tigerade"No mention of Widnes in this article.... https://www.totalrl.com/six-clubs-to-do ... 3PCu-ONgzU'" I think Widnes don’t qualify because they have been in administration within the last 2 years-therefore not meting the criteria.

Quote ="Cowboy"We should hold it against them for the next 100 years, it makes perfect sense! Keep punishing new owners! How would anything ever progress in the world with that view?'" Stop talking crap, Bradford only reneged on their Odsal lease last year. I take it that your happy for others to continue paying off their "debts" (the lease that they had agreed and then walked away from)d040.gif Interestingly, they (Bradford) were only given dispensation to move to Dewsbury for this season. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... ry---2020/ Is their home all sorted for next season. Maybe their "new" home is conditional on them getting the "golden ticket"..

Quote ="Cowboy"We should hold it against them for the next 100 years, it makes perfect sense! Keep punishing new owners! How would anything ever progress in the world with that view?'" Stop talking crap, Bradford only reneged on their Odsal lease last year. I take it that your happy for others to continue paying off their "debts" (the lease that they had agreed and then walked away from)d040.gif Interestingly, they (Bradford) were only given dispensation to move to Dewsbury for this season. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... ry---2020/ Is their home all sorted for next season. Maybe their "new" home is conditional on them getting the "golden ticket"..

Widnes do qualify I believe because we were in SL not long back. But will not be applying, it would be financial suicide with what is offered.