The Virtual Terrace • 14 team league
Donnyman wrote:
Yeh, I noted this and asked you about it on the "future" thread. Is DB positioning himself for promotion NOW following this weekends deliberations whether to re-admit Toronto?
It's a long shot but to stay on topic could Leigh and Ottawa join SL and Toronto re-join to make up this much wished for 14 club league?
I would say this.
It is obvious that DB still or has regained the fire in his belly for at least a full tilt at Super League, whether that is as a direct replacement for Toronto is debatable however, consider the possibility that .......
A) Toronto are refused membership of Super League
B) SL moves to a 14 team comp to enable TW to be 1 of 14
C) SL moves to a "Franchise"
D) 2021 is the last season before "Franchise" is reintroduced.
I have zero inside information, I do not 'know' Derek or any player but I have spoken to DB in the past.
My 'opinion' or educated guess is that he is positioning Leigh as the only viable Super League ready RL Club *if TW fail* , the most qualified SL ready RL Club if Franchise is introduced or lastly, the strongest playing squad should Leigh have to qualify for SL by winning the Championship comp in 2021.
There is of course one route that nobody here has considered ......
A current Super League Club either goes to the wall or has to concede it's licence during 2020/21 due to the financial issues surrounding Covid 19 or financial mismanagement or lack of backing/investors. Either way Leigh are positioned ready to 'step in' to fill a void if a current SL Club should fail financially.
Regarding a 14 team SL comp & TW or Ottawa, I would say that Leigh are currently more Super League ready than *any* other club including Toronto & Ottawa can not yet even be considered a club, this will anger the likes of the West End Tinker as we reside a stones throw from the M62 but is nevertheless true !
Toronto would be in the 14 just to see if they can build on the fanbase & be successful with a fully paying home crowd, I suspect they could possibly be if they dispense with the SBW & Free Tickets nonsense !
So that's Leigh as Club 12, Toronto as Club 13 ......
Toulouse would be my Club 14. A Toulouse v Catalans all French derby could help both French Clubs sell a European TV deal & would IMO create interest & participation in France like never seen before. Imagine the attendances & atmosphere even on TV for a Les Catalans v Toulouse derby & the revenue both of those Clubs could generate from that ! Sky would love it as a selling point. It is definitely something I would be interested in.
Toronto v Ottawa or Vancouver could do similar in Canada but I think that needs to be something built towards a few years down the line !
Statistics: Posted by Ste100Centurions — Wed Oct 21, 2020 10:51 pm — Replies 27 — Views 898