If Toulouse could strengthen their current squad with cover in the spine, plus a couple of Antipodean forwards, then they could beat at least two Super League teams, perhaps be roughly equal to Toronto, and thereby make it into Super League -- via the £1m game or not.

Dream on Cappy.

Don't forget my dear French poodle, the other teams will also be strengthening

Indeed.
Even KR may struggle this time around, although, after their mis fortune last season they will be extremely well motivated.
London may take a SL scalp, which would put the cat well among the pigeons but, it could well be, as you were, with Leigh and Widness retaining their SL status.
Next season will be tougher still with Toronto likely to be challenging at the top end of the Championship and assuming there is no change to the current system, the middle 8's will be the toughest yet.

Yet another very sensible post , has somebody ' hacked ' your account ?

You were doing ever so well , then normal service resumed

People seem to forget that Toulouse had the strongest team in the Championship when they were at full strength (beat Hull KR and Featherstone twice) but their performance only plummeted when they suffered a lot of injuries, especially to their dazzling stand off Jonathan Ford and their quality scrum half Stanislaus Robin. That is why finding quality cover in the halves and at hooker, plus a couple of quality, beefy, Antipodean forwards, will likely turn Toulouse into a Championship powerhouse that can fight its way into Super League.

What's your point?

Surely the fact that they've been their for a large part of the season after only one recent year at this level shows they're not far from where they need to be and won't take too much to push on?

To say they likely won't be there next year based on this year's results is very presumptuous.

Personally, I can't see Fax or Fev being up there next season.

My point is that saying that Toulouse spent part of the season in the top two is irrelevant. It's where you stand at the end of the season that matters, albeit admittedly only a couple of points between 3rd and 5th.

That said, you're right that they may well do better next year, but my own opinion is that they won't. Just like you've just expressed an opinion that Fax or Fev won't kick on next season.

It doesn't really make a lot of sense to say that if TO strengthen their squad then they'll do better. They certainly should, but that would be true of any team that strengthened their team!

And what, pray tell, is your opinion of Toulouse's prospects based upon, apart from wishful thinking? It seems obviously to be based upon nothing but wishful thinking.



This above para is pure gibberish. You say that it doesn't make sense...and then again it does make sense, if Toulouse strengthen their squad they will do better. Make up your mind you dullard. Does it make sense or doesn't it?

You need to take some courses in writing and logical argument.

I'd take Ford, Rhys Curran and Mark Kheirallah from Toulouse if I was a coach out there looking for SL-ready footballers. The rest weren't up to much from what I've seen in our 3 games this year.

Surely you have missed out Minga the winger by mistake?

My thoughts on Toulouse's prospects are based on my view of their performances this season. A dour game at the Shay (which both Ford and Robin played in), in which a clear "no try" was awarded by the officials for Toulouse (with a resultant 2 point win), granted a good win by them in Blackpool, but were well beaten in the home game in France. All teams can strengthen, but ignoring massive financial support (which Leigh have shown can work), HKR, London, Fax and Fev will have more central funding than Toulouse next season.

Gibberish and taking course in writing from me? My original thoughts make complete sense. If any team strengthen then they're likely to do better next season. My point was that if Toulouse strengthen their squad then that will make no difference if every other club can also improves. I realise that's unlikely, and maybe TO will be a force to be reckoned with next year. Let's see.

Minga had an absolute shocker in our game in France. Didn't stand out in any game against us this year imo (not saying he isn't a good player, i've just not seen it)

Toulouse have just recorded a massive 56-14 win over Batley Bulldogs. Toulouse scored ten tries to three, with half back Stanislas Robin scoring three of the Toulouse tries.



Toulouse are well on the way to winning the Championship Shield, and obviously would have been a more competitive member of the Middle 8s than "Opeluss Ullyfux."

The great mystery is your fingers can't make their way to your keyboard when your adopted French team's lose, only for them to miraculously type away when they win.

Strange innit

One can only imagine how well Toulouse is going to do next year, with the powerful new players like Samuel Rapira being added to the existing largely French squad.

"Players" as a plural should surely be followed by more than one player listed, surely?

You are right. But I am waiting to hear who the other new one(s) will be, especially given Toulouse's glaring lack of cover in the halves, which probably cost them a place in the Middle 8s.

As soon as I know I will be posting some news here.

Dam so your not going to hide away

"Obviously"? The historic record will show that Halifax RLFC were higher placed in the 2017 competition than Toulouse Olympique. Fax beat Toulouse in France towards the end of the regular season, and the rest is, as they say, history.

2018 will be (imo) an even better Championship season. Without any substantial financial backing, Fax will be up against it, albeit with a few more pennies in the bank for a middle 8's campaign, but I still hope to be fighting for a top 4 place (along with Toulouse).

Jean I think that's a little harsh. Fax are a PT team under considerable financial constraint who have performed brilliantly all season and continued that level of performance into the 8's. Rather than lambasting other clubs, maybe you should be looking a little more inwardly at the under performance of a full time team who fell away so dramatically towards the end of the season when the pressure was on.
They've done nothing yet to suggests they will challenge and overtake the team coming down, London, Toronto, Fax and Fev.

Toulouse have bought Samuel Rapira to bolster the pack. If they can find a utility who could provide cover in the halves, then they will be smoking hot in 2018.

One or maybe 2 players isn't going to do it in isolation. I suspect they need a cultural shift as well. Maybe its a French thing!

No. Toulouse were riding high until they were hit by injuries, especially to halves Jonathan Ford and Stanislas Robin. If they find a good utility who can play half back, five eighth, full back and hooker (i.e. anywhere in the spine), given the confirmed acquisition of Samuel Rapira in the forwards Toulouse should be stronger in 2018 -- probably the only team capable of competing with Toronto.