mrfranco

Apparently he is in the meeting, so I think you'll be right

Did anybody *not* see this coming??

This unusual structure actually sounds like the best system that fits within the 21 games and 5 weeks framework. So it won't be this.

Seems almost doable... give the two existing professional South Wales rugby clubs a place in Super League, with current home bases, owners, sponsors, etc., central funding from SL TV deal, plus backing from the NRL or its clubs to provide some extra funding and establish proper player pathways (which the NRL clubs would then benefit from in the medium-to-long term)... All very alluring, but even forgetting the issue of whether enough of their fans would ever go for it to make it worthwhile (how many Wigan and Warrington fans would go and watch their old clubs if they suddenly joined the RFU structure), it's all pie in the sky stuff, sadly.

Looking forward to the series in Dublin, Denver and Dubai in 2033...

The relevant question for the Western/Perth Bears is, do those old South Melbourne fans in Melbourne support the Sydney Swans and go and watch them when they play in Melbourne, which presumably happens quite a lot? If they do, that's the precedent the NRL are looking to emulate with the Bears. If the above is true, it would also be interesting to know if the South Melbourne fans in Melbourne are only the oldies who remember the team being based there, or if the (now Sydney-based) club still attracts next generations of fans in Melbourne.

I think we should bring back Wire v Leeds finals

12 SL clubs coming in at the last 32 stage, rather than last 16 stage, is a good thing - for income for lower ranked clubs, for less fixture fatigue as you say, for the romance of the cup, for the cup not being almost a straight SL shootout - but the balance seems a bit wrong here. Perhaps all SL & Champ entering at last 32 stage would be more sensible, leaving room for 7 qualifiers from below that. SL clubs and top 4 of champ seeded to play away as this year.

Well, the coach said he thought the club was finished if it left Plough Lane, so it seems if they make the start line it will be in Wimbledon (or without the coach?)

Seems like a great solution to me, and I'm sure if it were put seriously on the table, Wigan would do all in their power to make it happen... but like you say, it's about the will from the other side. The Twitter comments are full of people saying how Penrith shouldn't do it because it would disadvantage them to lose a bye week...

Did this get outlawed?

Is this whole thread just second hand news?

I did wonder if that's why they were launching a "new-look pro club" on 1st October, i.e. with a different name

Must mean the yellow/red/blue quarters one??

Does SL+ work on laptops (unlike SS+)? Can you stream it to a smart TV? (Some services don't allow this, such as I imagine the Sky Sports app)