well, as predicted, no championship clubs have come even close to winning any games due to their lack of quality and fitness attended by poor crowds. Simple facts. Plus, I thought there were 3 leagues of 8 so where is the third? No publicity, no interest from the media and now a ramping up of the RU world cup with all the talk about one of our own who should still be in our sport - mark my words, RL will be fully armature in the next 10 years.

All the games have gone to form. If it carries on then Wakey will play Leigh in the million pound game. Given the result in the cup game Leigh must have a chance. What would be your problem with that?

Is your 'armature' comment a wind up?

Knew this would happen before long. It would be very naïve to expect the Championship clubs to be competitive straight away. The new system has the best chance of thriving after a few years as the Championship sides start to become accustomed to playing the Super League teams. Right now, it's pretty much a new experience for them.

A Championship team can still finish 5th, win one game and be in SL remember.

Basically this. RL fans are the most negative, tribalistic bunch of people I've ever come across.

It's the RFL trying something different - they should be commended.

spelling not my strength, but I can see the game going one way compared with other sports who have a strategy based on growth and expansion - Wasps move from London to Coventry and play in front of 20-30k now whereas teams like Leigh, Salford, Halifax etc struggle to muster 2-3k hence my prediction. Hope the new format works but the evidence so far and the lack of media coverage suggests otherwise. It wont take long before the championship clubs close the gap on superleague clubs cos the standard and quality of the sport has reduced significantly over the last 4-5 years anyway

You started off by pointing out, quite reasonably, that the Championship clubs haven't done well so far in the middle8. What makes you think they will close the gap so easily? I would have thought that if the salary cap remains as it is, clearly in favour of the Super League clubs, it would be pretty difficult for the gap to close.

I can see Wigan playing in the Union leagues before long.... Professional RL is dying, and has been for some time.

I see the Prozac's not working then?

And i'm "Mr Happy-Clapper"... lol

In front of 2k?

Who wants to watch Union in Wigan?

Leigh were beating Hull KR 24-6 at half time last week and still lead by 2 with 10 minutes left. Likewise Halifax were only 4-0 down against Widnes last week with 3 minutes left. How have they "not come even close"? We have only played two rounds and nearly had two upsets.

The NRL would be another option.

3 months of home games followed by the equivalent away.

Either way I hate seeing this once proud club shackled by the confines of British RL.

Wigan fans really do think their club is bigger than the game. You're not even the biggest club in British Rugby League, never mind one which could hold its own outside of it

My fear is that, as we all know despite what sky tell us, the quality of the game has dropped alarmingly to the fact that the sport does not have the clout to compete with RU & the NRL and so all our best players leave and we replace them with up and coming kids (nothing wrong with that but it takes time for them, to develop) or we import from the NRL. Unfortunately I cant see a worrying trend developing due to the threat of relegation where clubs are going back to recruiting 2nd and 3rd rate or ageing imports who do not raise the quality of the game. This is why I suggest that it wont take long before championship clubs will be able to compete with SL - but isnt that what the sport wants? every team has a chance?? smoke and mirrors - the game is dead

I truly believe that Wigan, Saints and Leeds are all bigger than the game. No Wigan vs Saints = a loss of the only 23/24/25k crowd left in the game. What's would be left if they went to the NRL? Finals of Wire vs Hudds or the big Hull derby





Don't kid yourself we are the biggest name in British RL. We might not currently be the best team in the league but I certainly wouldn't bet against us being the best placed to cope long term. Our facilities, history and talent pool are 2nd tof none.

I nearly 40 years of watching the game, I have seen us come close to beating the aussies in a test series but the fact is we are still waiting - the 'game' between Salford and leigh was a joke, tick and pass, panic play, no quality

So did Leigh and Halifax "not even come close" to beating Hull KR and Widnes last week or not?

Smell the coffee buddy.... RL is dying.

Unlike Leeds, Warrington and St Helens Wigan don't even own their own stadium so the facilities point is a little moot. I'm sure there is a nice training ground but the other clubs certainly have those.

FWIW, people outside Rugby League have been predicting its demise for the past 120 years and the idea that this should happen now when the sport remains a very valuable TV commodity is preposterous.

I can see why Wigan fans might consider current times difficult though - the entertainment value offered by Waneball is perhaps a little lacking, the club lacks the stadium which provides a heart and soul to the other big clubs whilst, for some reason, all too many home-produced players are happy to leave when they get a decent offer.

No, both teams lost - simples

Us STILL being the biggest name in British RL hurts don't it..

If you say so. Wigan's golden era is something of a folk memory for most people now so it's difficult to comment on what lasting grandeur it bestowed on your club.

The past is there on record... You need to be concerned about the future.

You forgot to add "least humble" to the list!

Looks like someone's had a successful outing with the rods, several lines out and bites on every one