Quote ="Doom&Gloom Merchant"Definitely. If anyone hasn't listened to the podcast with Eric Perez being interviewed by Dave Woods, I'd urge them to give it a listen. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrtx ... /downloads 14th July Starts about 5mins in. Some really good insight into Perez himself & how he's financially able to do what they're planning on doing etc. Woods asked a lot of questions that the everyday RL fan was asking when it was first announced, all answered extremely well.'" There certainly making all the right noises set up looks good and they are starting from the bottom so know fast tacking apparently they have sold 3000 season tickets!!

Quote ="Doom&Gloom Merchant"Definitely. If anyone hasn't listened to the podcast with Eric Perez being interviewed by Dave Woods, I'd urge them to give it a listen. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrtx ... /downloads 14th July Starts about 5mins in. Some really good insight into Perez himself & how he's financially able to do what they're planning on doing etc. Woods asked a lot of questions that the everyday RL fan was asking when it was first announced, all answered extremely well.'" There certainly making all the right noises set up looks good and they are starting from the bottom so know fast tacking apparently they have sold 3000 season tickets!!

Quote ="Doom&Gloom Merchant"Definitely. If anyone hasn't listened to the podcast with Eric Perez being interviewed by Dave Woods, I'd urge them to give it a listen. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrtx ... /downloads 14th July Starts about 5mins in. Some really good insight into Perez himself & how he's financially able to do what they're planning on doing etc. Woods asked a lot of questions that the everyday RL fan was asking when it was first announced, all answered extremely well.'" I mentioned this in another post but, never mind fast tracking Toronto into SL, big Nige should ask him if he wants to take on some promotion for SL itself. The drive and enthusiasm from this guy is so far ahead of anything we've seen since the start of SL. The guy has vision, determination and plenty of ability to get the job done. He's set out what he wants to achieve and said exactly how he is going to do it. Nobody has come anywhere close in the European game. Instead, we just stumble along and hope that things will get better.

Quote ="Doom&Gloom Merchant"Definitely. If anyone hasn't listened to the podcast with Eric Perez being interviewed by Dave Woods, I'd urge them to give it a listen. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrtx ... /downloads 14th July Starts about 5mins in. Some really good insight into Perez himself & how he's financially able to do what they're planning on doing etc. Woods asked a lot of questions that the everyday RL fan was asking when it was first announced, all answered extremely well.'" I mentioned this in another post but, never mind fast tracking Toronto into SL, big Nige should ask him if he wants to take on some promotion for SL itself. The drive and enthusiasm from this guy is so far ahead of anything we've seen since the start of SL. The guy has vision, determination and plenty of ability to get the job done. He's set out what he wants to achieve and said exactly how he is going to do it. Nobody has come anywhere close in the European game. Instead, we just stumble along and hope that things will get better.

That comment represents a degree of incoherent stupidity only rarely expressed, even by you.

Your hatred of some M62 clubs is pathetic and so boring. Catalan & Toulouse should be in the French league, and Toronto in a Canadian league. Jean, is every French RL fan an annoying/wind up merchant like you ?

Really, ooooh i am so excited. think I need to go an have a ........

Just because he's an idiot, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking to expand our leagues. The publicity and growth in the game from letting in these clubs is great and long may it continue.

Maybe Leigh can play in the new Leigh Super League featuring Leigh Centurions, Leigh Miners Rangers and Leigh East. Then you can be the champions every year! Sounds great doesn't it.

Who said he is french I dont think so do you

Super League wasn't started as the English league, it was the European league. Whether you like it or not Internationalism is here to stay.

Just looks like a Leigh fan getting nervous.

Knew I'd get a 'few bites'....well done chaps !

Ahh, the old 'I was trolling for bites' excuse after being made to look insular & stupid.

Not difficult on here, they can't wait to be offended and then tell you why

Yes get on with it & while your at it take sky with you!

Ah the old ''I was trolling for bites' excuse after being made to look insular & stupid double bluff trick"

Wakey fans a little nervous too?

They should be. I fully expect Toulouse to thrash the woeful Wakefield club in Toulouse's first year in Super League, and if woeful Wakefield is still in Super League by the time Toronto arrives, I am sure that the Canadian club will repeat Toulouse's performance.

I think with the money that Toulouse and Toronto appear to have i think its only a matter of time before both are knocking on the Super League door. The RFL will have to expand the competition back to 14 teams again.

You don't have to convince me. I agree with you completely. Adding two new clubs to Super League won't dilute the quality of Super League players very much because although both clubs will start out with lots of Super League Englishmen, and/or NRL standard Aussies and Kiwis, Toulouse will still be majority French players from the beginning, and Toronto plans to be majority north American players within five years.

Don't be siily you Prat (I'll get personal as well) It's common knowledge that if ANYONE dares to criticize the 'Global expansion of Rugby league by the RFL' on the VT be prepared to wear a 'tin hat'.
My initial response was to Jean's hatred of M62 clubs, then I'd thought I'd add what I think of Catalans/Toulouse/Toronto anyway. I've done it before, and I knew what response I'd get, and I wasn't disappointed. Folk that agreed with me couldn't @rsed typing anything (as it's old news), and the 'very few' who disagreed, got all 'upset' about it.....awww Bless !!

Yeah, 'cos they will fly through the Championship wont they.
It's not that easy, just ask Bradford AND under the new structure, nobody has been promoted from the Championship, yet



It wasn't too long ago that you were telling us how good Catalan were and how they were going to win the Grand final.
Since then they have been beaten twice by the "nervous" Wakefield team.

Maybe, it's your knees that I can hear knocking.

I agree that it would be great for expansion but feel the RFL should be looking at the game here as well. There are so many clubs that rely solely on the largess of a rich backer to survive. I think this is akin to organising the deckchairs on the Titanic whilst it sinks.

Hey Barrie, how's things man? Are you still following Cronulla or is that done? I agree with expansion but really, it has to come in the form of clubs coming up through the lower divisions. No nonsense, so clubs can believe the road is fair and people domestically who want to come in and invest can do. There are plenty of good investment opportunities in Rugby League, it just requires improvement in guidance from the RFL in marketing and getting the word out. Toronto, whatever they turn out like, have made waves and they should be commended for that. The RFL should listen and help out with all clubs and make it as attractive as possible below SL to invest and encourage success. For me that should be a total introduction of a turnover-percentage based salary cap below Super League, the more media, sponsor and attendance revenue you get, the more you have to play with.

Would this work ?

Create a [iSL1 & SL2 Franchise[/i each of [i9 Clubs[/i starting season 2020 * to provide 3 years planning for all prospective RL Clubs.

This gives 16 regular rounds instead of the current 22 + 2 Magic Weekends each for both SL1/2 gives an 18 round season & 4 RL roadshows to go to the likes of the N.E, Scotland, Wales & Midlands.

The free dates allow for 2 extra Internationals + rest weeks & the season could start a couple weeks later avoiding the bitterly cold February start.

At the end of the regular rounds we then have bottom 2 of SL1 & top 2 of SL2 change places & Play Offs between top 2 of SL1 & top 2 of SL2 for overall SL Champions.

Invite Toulouse Olympique, Toronto & Montreal to join the franchise & put the French in 1 League & Canadians in the other, this way both have the benefit of 2 all French/all Canadian fixtures in regular rounds + Play Off RL.

Both the 2 French & 2 Canadian Clubs reverse Leagues every year to provide variety & stop stagnation of both Leagues & furthermore so that other SL Club supporters get to travel away to both Countries.

So who then are the other 3 admissions to SL1/2 ?

Obviously I go for Leigh, IMHO as a Club we are best prepared on & off field to compete at SL level.

London, the RFL would $PUN|< themselves silly for this & if going all out expansion they have to be in despite all the false dawns.

Bradford Bulls, who could ignore the possible benefits of a large fan base bringing revenue to other Clubs when Bulls visit.

Give every Club a 5 year Franchise with conditions & this time around strictly enforce those conditions & do not deviate from them.

Every SL1/2 Club to run an Academy team.
Reduction on overseas quotas by 2025 *to what level would have to be thrashed out*.

Stadium standards, every SL1/2 Club to have a secure tenancy at [iModern Stadia[/i fit for SL by 2025 (this would push the likes of London, Wakefield, Castleford & Bradford towards suitable & sustainable stadia).

Club finance/structures/business plan, should go through rigorous process of fit for purpose review & engagement with RFL & should possibly be outsourced to a Specialist Company in this field.

Could look something like this ...

Super League 1
Wigan
St Helens
Hull FC
Hull KR
Wakefield
Castleford
Catalan
Toulouse
London

Super League 2

Leeds
Bradford
Warrington
Widnes
Huddersfield
Salford
Leigh
Toronto
Montreal

Edit.

You will notice that in the inaugural season of this system I have protected the biggest Derby Fixtures by lumping said Clubs in same Leagues.

Oh & raise the Salary Cap by 15% + 1x up to £1m Marquee Player exempt from SC.

Raise the Cap for Championship incrementally & proportionally to SL1/2 over the period 2020 - 2025 & maintain proportional Cap relevant to SL increases thereafter.

I have posted similar before but tweaked it a little for this thread.