I never suggested that being predominantly a fan of a club rather than the game doesn't mean you can't have a level head. But if you have the interests of your club at heart, and would rather see them succeed than the game as a whole, then it's impossible really to look objectively at anything that may concern your club without thinking in the back of your mind, how will this affect my club. So it's impossible really to make a fair judgment on things that affect the game as a whole, such as the licensing process.

I would think that other than Richard Lewis, all the main people at the RFL would support one club or another. Are you suggesting that they can't make a fair judgment then?

I doubt they do support clubs. Certainly not to the extent of fans on a message board, if at all.

Ditto myself with Leigh , we were not ready , are still not ready and quite possibly , will never be ready , for a Franchised SL , seasonal P and R is a different matter in my opinion , I dont see the problems that the RFL seem to see with it

So yes I am a fan of my club before the game in general , no Leigh , then probably not follow any other pro team

However what I am finding myself now is that I am a fan of the Championships quite possibly before my club , I passionatley believe in what these clubs bring and can be to their communities , that is why I am so annoyed by the amatuerish way the RFL deal with these clubs , they quite simply dont know what to do with them , or they dont care what they do with them , either way they dont give them the respect or the help they should , and I dont mean they should just be tipping money into them as seems always to be suggested

Why not? Because it dosent fit in with you're argument? Take Gary Tasker for example-used to play for Bradford Northern, used to work at the Bulls, brought up in and around Bradford, are you trying to say he wouldn't support the bulls as a fan?

Er, yes. Playing for a club doesn't mean you're biased towards them for your entire life. He may have a soft spot for the Bulls, but that would probably be as a result of friendship with people at the club rather than actually supporting them. He's definitely not a 'fan' in the same way as you - otherwise he wouldn't be in the job. Fans are not employed within RL. If they were, it would end in disaster.

not just widnes fans

all fans of non SL clubs that think they should be in SL.

exclusion from SL = RFL a laughing stock

when you take a step back start from the edge of a cliff

the less we have bitter fans in the game, the quicker we can move forward.

im worried the RFL will react to reactionaries like you who will undo all the good work the RFL have achieved

You still posting on here ? , I thought you'd got bored and gone back watching the daft aussie game

On the contrary my dear watson....you will find that most fans of non-successful SL bids still managed to turn up at games last year, part with their hard earned cash and travel a few miles to away games in support of their team as well. As for the Clubs, apart from a dummy spit by the guy from Leigh, all pretty much got on with ticking boxes for the next application process. Both of these groups (clubs and fans) may well be slightly miffed at not getting in, but to say that ALL of them are represented on these boards shows little grasp of the concept of exactly what % of RL fans post on...er...RLFANS. The RFL earn revenue from most actions within RL....so if Halifax RLFC really thought the that the RFL were a laughing stock, surely they would have said so, stopped contributing and formed their own league with the likes of Leigh, Widnes et al....?
Exclusion from SL has, in all probability, enabled Widnes to bolted on for the next round and put Halifax in with a major shout. If either of these teams had been granted a golden ticket last time, they may well have struggled more than Crusaders. Halifax struggled with gates last time they were in SL....so why would it be different now? (not a pop at fax, just an example)
There are some on here who would call an 8 ball white if the RFL announced it was black, but you will always get them....same as you always get "Aussie know-it-alls" who actually know f*ck all.......

I believe the RFL will do whatever it takes to make the game stronger and their current business model is designed around what Union has achieved since it turned pro.......not saying it's right, not saying it's wrong, but that's what they are doing.
Omlettes are really tough to make without breaking eggs BTW

the rfl are copying the nrl not union

and they have been v.successful so far

then that's knocked the second french team on the head! The NRL didn't fancy a second Kiwi team....I mean, just imagine NZ having twice the pool of players from which to pick at future world cups

A second Kiwi team in the NRL will occur.

It just hasn't yet.

I for one not only cheered for the Kiwis in RLWC 2008 but also won a tidy sum on them...

The final was one of the most enjoyable nights of footy I have experienced as an Australian. I have never had trouble putting the good of the game ahead of petty nationalist sentiment.

Probably a little too deep for many of you to comprehend.

If everyone puts Dally Messenger on ignore, he will not be able to troll effectively anymore and would end up arguing with himself like the retard that he is.....

a 2nd nz nrl team will happen

our finances arent the best because of the SL war but it will soon be fixed

the nrl will look to nz, queensland, perth, central coast and even png for further expansion

There's enough Kiwis playing in the NRL and ESL to have another 2 Kiwi sides.

and what about the kiwis (rl players) playing union in france and england.

remember when les vainakolo (RL player from NZ) played union for england

For a small nation, they certainly get around a lot.

Our history and tradition in NZ is extremely rich.

Anyone but someone with union tendencies would admit that if they were conversant with the true facts.

I was reading a thread at LU a while back in the Warriors forum and the Kiwis were talking about which areas where RL ones and where Union was Strong, I was very surprised to see that RL had some really strong heartlands outside of Auckland, they even mentioned that certain pubs in these places were either League or Union and if you went to the wrong one .....

Well you get the picture

the RFLtell fibs or have you missed that one

Areas like the West Coast (South Island) have always been rugby league and not union.

About as far away from Auckland as one could get really - figuratively and literally (save for Otago etc.)

Fans are not employed by the RFL? Really? You are wrong then.

Even though they may be a fan/suporter of a certain club, they wouldn't allow this to cloud their judgement on the governing of the game.

And they do OK at rugby league.

After all, we all know the World Cup resides in Auckland.

Something the 'Blecks certainly cannot claim.

All fans clubs bias clouds their judgement... To say otherwise is ridiculous..
The people that support what the RFL do, do so because they think it will benefit their club.. The minute the actions of the RFL look like they will jeopardise these clubs then they will switch quicker than you can say..'Dally endulges in dirty dozens daily!!'

Whilst the likes of Leeds, Bradford, Saints, Wigan, Harlequins etc look like they will benefit the fans of these clubs will be supportive and they can provide opinion from their lofty perch... and to hell with the rest of us. If there was any chance the shoe was on the other foot funnily enough there would be more solidarity with us.
How many of you would happily see your club go to the wall if it meant the fans of other clubs benefitted?
Quick clue.. any of you that answer yes above are liars!!