Re: How Toulouse, Toronto and Montreal join Super League mat : Sun Jul 31, 2016 4:59 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

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.

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.

Re: How Toulouse, Toronto and Montreal join Super League mat : Sun Jul 31, 2016 5:13 pm  

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.

Re: How Toulouse, Toronto and Montreal join Super League mat : Sun Jul 31, 2016 6:06 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Huddersfield1895 wrote:

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.

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.

Re: How Toulouse, Toronto and Montreal join Super League mat : Sun Jul 31, 2016 7:57 pm  

Would this work ?

Create a SL1 & SL2 Franchise each of 9 Clubs 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 Modern Stadia 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.