: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:25 pm
Roger Whittakers Penis wrote:
Its not that I disagree with expansion but it has to be at the right time and with the right clubs.
Harlequins are not right, how many times have they had to be bailed out? Even Richard Branston walked away cos he knew that it was a lost cause.
Harlequins have not been given any money by the RFL for a long time and to say they are constantly being bailed out is both misleading and unfair.
Roger Whittakers Penis wrote:
Bridgend was forced just cos the authorities wanted a welsh team. They were not and still aren't ready for SL. They should have been allowed to develop further for another 3 years. I cant believe they got in over Widnes and Leigh.
I see your point about Widnes, they have already competed in the top flight and are proven winners in NL1. Where Widnes fell down was their financial difficulties and that they have us, Wigan, Salford and Saints all within spitting distance. That would be 5 clubs all within half an hour's drive of each other. Celtic, in my opinion, offer arguably the same rugby-wise as Widnes. They too have competed in finals and been a very positive force in NL1, having earned promotion through the leagues in 3 years is a fantastic achievement. Yet they have the added bonus of not being yet another North-West side and allow the development of RL in Wales. Why is that such a bad thing? Widnes may very well get their chance in 3 years when the franchises are reviewed. By this time they will be, I'm sure, consistent winners in NL1 and will have solid financial dealings for the next 3 years, they will be a shoe-in.
And I can't honestly believe you think Leigh have more to offer than Celtic. You want to talk about poor fan bases? Leigh fans may be very vocal but they hardly have an army of support. Plus they have the same problem as Widnes in that they are another NW club.
Roger Whittakers Penis wrote:
Catalans is a strange one. Obviously they had relative success last year and the locals seem to come out for the home games. However on the road they take a handful of fans which means the away games lack any atmosphere. The game on saturday will again prove that, its like being at a wake.
I think our fans only like the trip to catalans as it gets them on a little jolly where they can drink in the sunshine, which is fair enough but apart from that they dont offer much.
I like how you underplay Catalan's 3rd place finish last year by referring to it as 'relative' success. We've never been out of top flight rugby and have never achieved 3rd place in SL. Catalan have gone from getting their backsides kicked every game to kicking other team's backsides. Catalan should be the poster team for how RL development can work if handled in the right way.
I think you've shot yourself in the foot with your own comments re: Catalan. They have fantastic home support, the fans are very passionate and vocal and can't be blamed for not travelling away every week when away for them is to another country.
I also don't understand how you can say a team that finished 3rd in the league and wwho's player topped the scoring charts (Bosc) doesn't offer much apart from an excuse to go on a binge weekend for away fans. I can't even begin to point out how insulting that comment would be to a Catalan fan or player. They achieved so much yet all you're doing is talking about them like they are finishing bottom every year and getting battered by everyone. I think Catalan have a lot more to offer than, for example, Wakefield. I'd be interested to know how you're defining 'more to offer' as at the moment it seems you're basing your entire theory about which teams are deserving based on their away fan support and where they come from. Isn't that what you're berating the RFL for in terms of Celtic?
Roger Whittakers Penis wrote:
Lets just agree to disagree chick, after all people are allowed to have differing views, aren't they?
Of course, that's what makes the forum (and RL in general) interesting!
