As much as I would like Fev in and York a close second, I honestly don’t think either will get near. If I was a betting man it would be between Leigh or Toulouse.

Can anybody explain why the chosen team will be on reduced funding?

If I was a betting man, my money would be on Bradford. Don’t forget the former RFL leader, and some family members, now have a financial interest in Bradford Bulls. I can well imagine someone on the 12th team selection panel, having their ear bent.

I don’t know what the criteria will be but if you are right I think that there would be some legal challenges thrown up.

i·con·ic (ī-kŏn′ĭk)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or having the character of an icon.
2. Symbolic, emblematic, or representative: a classroom scene that is iconic of what is wrong with the education system.
3. Having a conventional formulaic style. Used of certain memorial statues and busts.


2. Symbolic, emblematic, or representative: a typical SLE/RFL scene that is iconic of what is wrong with Rugby League

They seem to spend a lot of time making mistakes and sadly even more time trying to correct them and even sadder making further mistakes with all the usual suspects either in full view or lurking in the background

Serious question. I can't understand why the promoted team should be penalised in this way. It's hard enough for a team to make the transition anyway but this is like insisting they play every game in slippers! What's the rationale behind it, does anybody know?

Loosely as I heard it explained, or as I understood the explanation. SL clubs will all be operating to a reduced budget and have to rebate a chunk of their central funding to Sky. It’s cost the clubs to keep the sport going and they will need to offset this expense against next years central funding.

The championship clubs are seen as having had an advantage of being able to use furlough for a longer period of time and not having operating costs such as the Covid testing.

I’m not sure I’m buying it but that was my understanding of the decision.

Plus, if the "promoted" side were to receive a 1/12th slice of the funding, this would have to come out of the current 11 clubs share.
It was always odd that every club didn't receive 1/12th, although, perhaps Toronto thought they could do better in N .America.
They were proved very wrong in that assumption.
Having said that, even though its a "free" promotion, the promoted side do seem to be being penalised.

Mind you, I think Trinity had to manage without a share for their first season too, which was equally mad.

1st two season wasn't it? Also Shudds only got 50% Funding when they came up to replace Paris. So it's hardly unique.

That's two positive Shudds threads in the same year from me btw.

Not sure I'm any clearer and certainly not convinced but thanks for the explanations.
This whole process seems like a recipe for failure. I'm sure some rejected clubs will kick off and I'm sure the chosen club will finish bottom next season. Just bad news all round in my opinion.

It certainly doesn’t seem ‘fair’ in any sporting way.

We've survived 20 plus years with at sometimes the odds stacked against!
Whats the problem and the Giants haven't done bad out of it.

Just listened to the Full Eighty Minutes. Had a good laugh at Mick Gledhill. He was talking about antiquated grounds at Belle Vue and Castleford, no mention of his wonderful Odsal.

Joined that program late tonight, I did see he part about ground criteria for Sky presentations. All I can say about that is, neither Trinity or Tigers would meet that criteria. Gledhill did say, he understood there may be good news coming for Trinity and Cas fans re the grounds. I think most things he says, as to be taken with a pinch of salt, although I do hope he’s right.

There is one thing for certain regarding whoever the 12th team is next season, you can guarantee their first game will be at home to Wakefield.

That’s exactly what Michael Carter said on last week’s program, we are SL sacrificial lamb,

As long as we are there to watch it I’m not bothered who we play

It's backfired on them a few times though so bring it on.

Bradford don't have a ground they are just tenants

Interesting to see that Hull KR have now become the official retirement home for ex Leeds players.

According to an article in Total RL, there seems to be a push for Bradford to be the team.....

Yes, I’ve just been reading the article, this paragraph shows they’ve already got the smoke and mirrors in place.

From LE.
The documentation reveals that each criterion will carry a different weighting, but doesn’t disclose what the weightings are.
It reads,”the panel will have absolute discretion in the weighting of the Assessment Criteria. For the avoidance of doubt, the Assessment Criteria do not carry equal weight.
When quizzed on that part of the document, super league chief executive Robert Elstone, who will not sit on the seven-man panel,said, I’ll have to refer you to the panel for that decision.
When asked specifically about the prospect of the bulls, Elstone added, “the criteria that’s been set will scrutinise all aspects of the applicants. I want this process to be forward looking, dealing with contributions in 2020. It should only be looking backwards to validate what that club could do moving forward. Elstone went on to add that fanbase size would be important.”” One of the key criteria of evaluation will be fanbasel” he said.

Well it seems to be the decision has already been taken. I’m pretty sure the majority of all rugby fans would agree any promotion to SL, is on field performance based. We’re back to the days of “Smoke and Mirrors” and nasty smells.

“I want this process to be forward looking, dealing with contributions in 2020. It should only be looking backwards to validate what that club could do moving forward.”
WTF???

Bradford will never see a penny from me.

Sham club.

The thing with Bradford is that everyone seems to be thinking of the high flying SL champions of the early 2000's and not the basket case club that followed.
Yes, there is potential with them but, right now, they are a mid table Championship club that groundshares at Dewsbury.
There are at least 5 other more worthy candidates.
If they go on current attendances, rather than the "rose tinted" version of yesteryear, they are still some way down the list.

I'm with you dboy.