This seems to have become the thread for discussing the proposals and future....

As others have said, standards/the bar need to be set high and it’s up to those who want to be involved to bring themselves up to them.

I see a lot of fans of some clubs deriding mythical “sunlit uplands” etc. but I don’t think anyone is promising that… Surely though the best chance for League to better itself is to have highly professional organisations presenting a highly professional product.

I’m all for licensing with serious criteria to hold one. Just putting money into your first team squad (a constantly short term, easy, sticking plaster venture) is nowhere near enough. It should include running a comprehensive junior/academy setup, community setup, coaching development, you should have access to (ideally own…) a modern top class stadium, good corporate facilities, proper professional training facilities, proof of the funding for all this and business plan for x amount of years. Sponsorship. Bringing a TV deal to the table for overseas clubs wishing to take part…. I could go on.

You have to be ruthless though and be prepared to say maybe less is more. If 12 teams meet the criteria, great. If only 10, or 8, initially well that’s the reality then and what the size of the league will be. I’d rather less games and a shorter competition with better quality and class to them and no filler. If it’s all heartland clubs meeting the criteria, half a dozen French teams, a London team, North American, Timbuktu, whatever. Everyone has a shot, and you make clear expansion is always the aim, but only if you can meet the standard expected.

The governing body and league also need to play their part. Highly professional decision making. Stop the constant tinkering with the rule book. Get the refereeing and disciplinary up to standard. Dropping the Super League name is one I’d definitely look at. Most people in the UK aren’t really aware of RL as a second code, we have to be honest, and then Super League could mean anything as loads of sports adopt that moniker. And though I know sometimes beggars can’t be choosers and there has maybe been a better effort at this in the last few years, think sometimes they have to look at their sponsorship and implications…. I can tell you all for one that here in the South when I have tried to get people to watch a game of League (often pretty big sports fans with a basic knowledge of it and its existence) they see things like sponsored by Tetley, or Eddie Stobart, or mushy peas, or on a different note the people they have commentary, and they have a chuckle and it plays into Northern stereotypes.

I’m sure many would read all that horrified and say I’d be ripping the heart and soul out of the game and smashing all tradition and historic clubs. It’s also a bit doubtful whether people prepared to put in the money at a large number of clubs are there. But the game has to do something and aspire to be more than it is, or it remains a parochial regional also-ran.

Don't try and make this a Wigan/Saints thing. Its not like I'm advocating every English Saints player to be picked. I also expressed my surprise with Ackers and Oledzki not playing. I'd have had Oledzki in although to be fair to Wane I wouldn't be surprised if Ackers is one of those with a niggle and thats the reason he's not playing.

As I've explained, Batchelor has had a great season and given that Farrell is injured I thought he would've been a shoe in for the 17 at least.

Batchelor would be starting for me (presuming he’s fit) but it feels like Wane has decided to go with plenty of experience in the pack first up. I’m sure chances will come for everyone in the next couple of weeks and we can then go from there in the knock outs. It’s exciting in a way that the first 17 will still be really strong, yet we have some real quality like Oledzki, Batchelor and Bateman waiting to come in. The teams picked now, so let’s just hope everyone gets behind the lads and we get the win. I can’t wait for the weekend.

I can see why Wane hasn't picked Batchelor. It is similar to the reasons that Percival has continually been overlooked at international level. Completion rate and low error rates are what win big internationals and both those players make a lot of handling error. That doesn't mean to say that they dont have other strengths but Wane is somebody that bases his decisions on completion rates.

As for Ackers he will get plenty of game time but against the likes of Tonga and Samoa I don't think his defensive skills are trusted. I think we will start with Sneyd on the bench and Welsby/Williams in the halves. When Sneyd comes on we will shift Williams to 9.

Talking absolute rubbish if you think Wane is going to bring on Knowles at 9.

Victor to nine when Knowles comes on.Sneyd plays for me,some rain forecast turn there big men around with his kicking game and obviously goal kicking.