It looks to me that Rugby League has decided to base itself now on Rugby Union in many respects. And our new way ahead is nothing more than a replica of what the have been doing.
= A twelve team top division with one up and one down.
= Roughly the same number of fixtures, in Union they have the European Cups, in SL will have the nonsense of Loop fixtures (but its all about gate revenue)
= The relegated side gets a parachute payment, with conditions on how it is spent. (Widnes will apparantly get £500000, in Union its £1.75m, this proportionally is about the same in relation to the salary caps)
= All other teams at second level receive same funding, relegated team also gets this on top of its parachute (Big drive in Union to reduce the £550000 now paid - which is a big gap to the amount paid to top teams))
= Salary caps in both leagues.(£7m and £1.9m)
= Star player exemption from cap
= Second level "semi-professional", although because funding in Union higher only a few players do much else.
= Limits on overseas player numbers (under pressure to review due to Brexit)
= Limits on first team squad sizes.
Obviously funding in Union is much higher due to income from internationals, TV and sponsorship. The crowds in union for Premiership games are higher than SL as are prices (average seat is over £35), It also appears that Club game on BT Sports gets considerably higher viewing than any Super League game. However most Union clubs are loosing money and are trying to find a way of increasing income.
Big difference is no DR and all sides at top three levels in Union must run reserves, Under 21's and juniors. The Premiership union teams field "weakened" teams in the domestic cup (all teams even lower level enter) and see it as a second class contest. Oh yes and the rules are not the same!
The end result of all this is that now whilst there is a second level league, most clubs in it get less than a 1000 at home games and most seasons the club relegated from the previous year gets promoted, unless it goes bust like London Welsh did.. (This used to happen via play-off system but this was scrapped - as it was "unpredictable" - and now its the top of the league that goes up.)
This is what I think we have to look forward to, Widnes may not go straight back up, particularly with an element of uncertainty for the playoffs, but if not it will be a club that has recruited and paid for players of the right quality. Sadly for me it finally ends the dream of SL for Fax as we are currently constructed and the only possibility of promotion would be investment from someone of well into seven figures - and we have seen even this is no guarantee of promotion.
