The Blues Ox

Agree with this and it coming down to who gets those points from the final. Toulouse and Bradford are clear front runners with Salford dropping out but also unlikely that both teams could overtake Huddersfield as well. Its going to be really hard for the RFL to manipulate things to decide who they want in with clubs getting full breakdowns on everything. We know most clubs in SL would not want another French team in but they might not have much say over that. Gledhill is doing what he does best which is speculating without substance so it is hard to say just how accurate his guess on Bradford's current score is. We do know that their stadium upgrades mean they gain 1 point for the facillities score taking them to 13.15. Their Fandom, Performance, Community, and Stadium I would not expect to change much outside of that extra facillities score. They have a lot of room to improve with the Finance score and now they have some very wealthy benfactors pumping money in to the club I could see them been able to manipulate their finances in a way that could get them to that 14 points. As with most Championship clubs, actually getting to 15 points will be near impossible for them. I think the thing is that they only need to finish above Toulouse in the rankings to get in which does give them a good chance. Anyone thinking that any other club will be close to these two for the last spot is either dreaming or does not understand how the IMG criteria works.

And this is why we have seen one or two failed attempts at this in the Championship. Any team trying it in the championship is often left with the worst full time players who are not anywhere near as good as the best part time players, its either that or you need spend endless amounts of money ala Toronto. As we know now though, there is no point been full time in the Championship under IMG.

The only real surprise would be if they could finish above Huddersfield in 5th but they look a long way off them on the recent game.

I totally agree with this although I am biased. We just have not been lucky enough for anyone to come in with bags of cash to push the club forward. Unfortunatley I don't see us been able to go the organic route either just because we have not had the people at the club who would be able to pull something like that off. I think Huddersfield as a club are worth a mention as well in this debate as a club how not to do it when your owner has all the money in the world. I agree with what has been said about York but I feel they are just leveling off a bit at the moment and it is going to be really hard for them to push to the next level under the current format, to me it seems there is so much luck involved in RL because of the constant changes, I also wonder where Hull KR would be now if they were unlucky enough to get relegated and then promotion was scrapped soon after.

I was just going to type the same thing. Its brilliant but it took 500k to do it, most teams can't cobble together a couple of grand nevermind that much.

I don't think you can compare the two clubs. I think KR has been an organic growth and if you could bottle that and sell it then you would be a very rich person. Oldham is just bags of cash and I think most clubs could do what they are doing if they had those sort of resources. That isn't to belittle what Oldham are doing and if anything they are a little bit unlucky that this cycle is coming around while there is no onfield promotion as I reckon they could have been promoted pretty comfortably in a season or two where as under IMG by the time they get anywhere near it might have been knocked on its head and the money man may have lost interest or his money. Leigh and Wakey other good examples of what can be done with a lot of money and a bit of drive and passion. Not really many examples of what Hull Kr have done but does offer a blueprint of what is achievable if things are done right.

I was well watered by this game after starting at 11 but I thought it was a pretty good game to watch and glad that I did. You could argue both teams would still be there now trying to score a try but on the other hand the conditions and some really good defence made sure it was a competitive game and for a neutral you have got to love a game that goes to golden point. I thought Fev had the better chances to win it at 4-4 but took the wrong options a couple of times. Its a great day out for us little clubs in the Championship even if it does cost the clubs a fair bit of money. I keep seeing this but presuming it is true about Bradford now getting full facilities points then York have 3 teams to over take in Toulouse, London, and Bradford with them needing to gain over a full point to overtake Toulouse. Where is it coming from? This is my whole argument with this system that a team from the Championship was never supposed to get in and its only Salford been a shambles that will give a team a chance(imagine if they go to 10 teams and kick Huddersfield out as well). We have to presume that York have scored pretty high up on the easy points like finances and facilities so strecthing an extra point for them will be incredibly hard if not near impossible. Obviously that is presuming that Toulouse are nearly maxed out with their points as well.

The deal has been agreed it is only the triggering of the CVA which will hold it up and it has to be seen as really unlikely that the council will go with any other bid than Davy's

Good win for Wigan and the scary thing is, I don't think they played anywhere near as good as they have shown they are capable of this season and still won with ease. Still expecting the same old players picked when it comes to England selection this season.

Nothing been announced yet. Yes.

Replay at Elland Road a week on Wednesday.

Anyone see this event on Skybet? Before logging in it was there with Wigan -6 on the handicap but as soon as I log in it has disappeared. Edit: Looks like its there on the mobile site but gone as soon as I log in and it takes me to the web app.

The Shay development has already started with full pitch works starting a few weeks back hence Fax not expected to play another game at home this season. Although the deal has been delayed because CVA was triggered it is believed that Davy is paying the outstanding balance after the grant has been catered for. What happens from there is anyones guess at the moment.

Looking forward to watching this one. I think Wigan have the potential to be the greatest women's team we have seen in the history of the sport over here and I expect them to dominate for a long time to come. Wigan really should win this at a canter so Im going for Wigan by 24. I think for anyone predicting a close game or even a Saints victory, they have to hope that Saints are at their very best and Wigan have a total off day because there is a large gulf in quality between these two sides.

For Saints to win you just feel they have to be at their very, very best, while Wigan would have to play their worst game of the season. Of course it could happen and Saints might have more big game experience but Im looking forward to watching this one and will be hoping that Wigan put on a show and we see what the future of womens rugby in this country looks like.

Not sure about that, Sheffield are a mess and York really should win comfortably. For Fev you could easily argue that Barrow are favs for this one, I think come next week York will be thankful for the easier game this weekend.

How are the video refs getting things so wrong?

"The Salford players expect to be paid on time this week"

Would have taken some pretty smart and quick thinking for a Huddersfield player to just lie on in the tackle and then could have gone back and challenged it.

Ref waved play on tackle zero. He can't just stop play.

Commentators not understanding how the captains challenge works.

Can't challenge because its not a stopage so needed a Hudds player to give away a penalty by ripping it out and then challenging.

You can see the line on the cut of the grass and he looks like he has at least one foot in front of that. I reckon the video ref would have ruled it out if they looked at it.

Batley Bulldogs v Toulouse Olympique Toulouse by 44 London Broncos v Widnes Vikings Widnes by 12 Barrow Raiders v Featherstone Rovers Barrow by 4 Doncaster v Bradford Bulls Doncaster by 6 Hunslet v Oldham Oldham by 22 York Knights v Sheffield Eagles York by 24

Lets not forget that he isn't just a shareholder, he is a director and Chief Exec.