Trojan

Well I won't argue. (because I may be paranoid ) But who knows what's happening behind the scenes? If Mr Murdoch (or his acolytes) have expressed the wish for a hybrid game, I'm sure the powers that be will be wetting themselves to oblige.

I went to watch Batley and Barrow - mainly to watch how good Barrow were. Batley were superb. Their defence playing up the slope second half was awesome. After Sunday's debacle I wouldn't like to tip this one.

I know it sounds like paranoia, but that's what I reckon franchising is really about. Get rid of the "dross" (

I played in the sixties at U 17. I played Union after that simply because at the time I could no longer afford the bus fares to train twice a week in Ossett/Dewsbury and play on Saturdays. (new girlfriend drain on resources) So I switched to the local Union club. I trained three times a week. Gym on Tuesdays, weights at youth club on Wednesdays, outside on Thurdsdays. And then play Saturdays. I can honestly say that I have never been fitter in my life. And on Saturday nights I was absolutely knackered. New girlfriend wanted to go dancing, and ten pin bowling, I wanted to sit in a pub with a pint. So we started going out on Fridays - funnily enough forty years later we still do.

I'm no Wigan fan but having seen it I think he was lucky he didn't end up in Armley! Just because it's on a football field doesn't stop it being GBH - ask David Bishop.

They could play at Newtown http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&rl...ved=0CB8Q8gEwAA Then we wouldn't need to wonder why their crowds were cr4p - we'd know.

Sounds a bit like the Keepmoat.

The only ones I can think of are the Galpharm, and then only if you count the NZ v Italy RU World Cup game in 1999 and Headingley. I've never been in the main stand at PO Road. I once watched a game from the top of the Sandal end stand at Belle Vue (1964 CC semi replay Widnes v Hull KR)

Only Rugby League could attempt to establish a new club in a new area, and then withdraw the one high profile RL event of the year in that area. It didn't make sense to move it to Edinburgh for me. In fact I've never seen a satisfactory explanation of why it was moved there.

Waring had been retired for three years when Fev beat Hull at Wembley in one of the biggest upsets for years in 1983. Hull were such hot favourites the bookies had stopped taking bets on them. Waring had been retired for twelve years when Bradford bought Newlove for a then world record transfer fee from Fev. Waring had been retired for 15 years when Fev last appeared in a CC Semi final. Since then of course we've had dooper league with Fev excluded so their expoits are confined to the past.

When Murphy robbed us

I suppose my greatest RL experience was actually playing the game. Only at U17 level. But that feeling of strung up nervousness just before the ko is something I've never duplicated in my life except for standing at the altar. AS Chris says JIffy's try was memorable. As was his try against NZ at Headingley in 1993 - I was standing on the St Michaels Lane terrace, it was raining, and I suddenly saw this blur getting bigger and bigger, it was Jiffy coming the length of the field to score. Another eye opener - same ground - 1978, the Aussie no 11 (Reddy?) went the length of the field and no one laid a hand on him. Unbelievable! The start of Aussie dominance for me. Fev beating 'Fax with only 11 men in the 1991 Regal Trophy was one of my all time highs. I enjoyed us beating Bradford in 1973, and I enjoyed us beating Hull in 1983. But I reckon the Wembley experience was vastly overated. I missed the semi at Headingley in '83 (wedding) but the away tie at Saints was magic - Johnny Gilbert's try. I've been to Old Trafford for Premiership Finals, Grand Finals and Test Matches. It's a fantastic ground - truly the Theatre of Dreams, magic atmosphere - knocks the old Wembley for six IMO. (and me a Man U hater )

In the long run no doubt they'll come to terms with playing in the Championship with no reward for winning it and crowds that dwindle year on year. Perhaps it'll be when they go out of existence. Perhaps if franchising had been indtroduced in 1977 when Fev were Champs we could be in favour of it? Or when Leigh were champs, in 1981. Or perhaps Wigan would have been happy to be stuck in the second tier in 1980/81. The advocates of franchising are those like you Parky who support a side that's never likely to be threatened by relegation so don't really give a f*ck what happens to the teams below them(apart from availing them of the opportunity for a good sneer). And those who support the likes of London and Crusaders.

If Widnes, Barrow, Leigh, Fev, Barrow should be happy to play in the Championship, why aren't London? I know you'll have an answer.

It doesn't give the likes of Batley, but more especially Halifax, Widnes, Leigh, Barrow and Featherstone a chance to match perhaps beat and even replace the likes of Wigan, Leeds, Saints, Warrington etc. Batley were the first team to win the Challenge Cup - they beat Saint Helens. Sport is about change. Clubs and their supporters need aspirations. Franchising takes those aspirations away, and not only that depresses their crowd figures. If it's so wonderful why don't London (whatever they're called today) try it?

Compete for what Parky? You sound like Marie Antoinette - "let them eat cake" We all know what happened to her

Wakefield were going to piggyback on Yorkshire Cricket moving to a new ground next to the M1 at Denby Dale Road, but it never happened.

Yes in the 80/81 season when Wigan were in Div II didn't Leigh win the Championship? By today's standards that would surely cement them in SL for all eternity.

Sale Sharks and Wigan Athletic aren't that far away.

If the only reason I went to the Rugby was to be entertained I wouldn't have continued to go to POR for the last 15 years or so. I go because I'm committed to my team. If entertainment is the only criterion then I could go to Headingley just as easily. Trouble is I wouldn't be that bothered about the outcome.

And the answer is they won't be. At least not in enough numbers to make the clubs viable. Because fans develop a loyalty over the years. To the club, to your mates who you watch with. Break that link and - there's no reason to go any more. Because you don't have to.

It's a leisure activity. It's not something you have to do. You have to buy food, if Morrisons closes then you have to go to Asda. If Featherstone Rovers closes I can stop at home. Same goes for Sheffield fans too. Or find some other leisure activity. I'm not alone in feeling like this. Look at the posts on the Championship sites if you don't believe me.

As I've pointed out before, it's a leisure activity. It's not something you have to do. I count myself a Fev fan, but I don't go as often as I ought. If they're playing at a time that's not convenient for me I give it a miss. They're having their most successful season since 1983, but so what? They'll probably finish top of the Championship, but unless they win the playoffs it won't count for anything. And even if they do win it - there's no guarantee they'll get any reward. I'll probably make more effort with the playoff games. But my heart's not in like it used to be. If Fev ceased to exist I wouldn't go to Wakey, or Cas, or the Bulls, or Leeds. I might watch Shaw Cross on a Saturday afternoon and attend GF and the occasional test match. But TBH the ending of P&R has spoiled it a bit for me. As I posted somewhere else, the edge has gone.

I watched an advert for Sky this evening. Eric Cantona was flogging cricket, tennis (US Open) cricket, golf and soccer. No mention of RL. Perhaps if they included the game in their publicity they might get a larger audience.

Why would Leeds do that and lose the big derby match payday?