“Licensing will help us to create great clubs whose athletes produce terrific contests, played out in modern facilities in front of large crowds”.

Well said Richard Lewis. That is what Super League should be. That is what licences will bring. Congratulations to the RFL for pulling it off. As we all know by now, the fourteen clubs have been announced and will participate in Super League next year. I think whether you like the announcement or not, the announcement was no real surprise. Celtic were favourites when the word ‘franchise’ was given a whole new meaning, and Salford will have promised the RFL a load of targets they will never hope to meet within the three years. The new stadium for example, will never be played in by 2010. A brick hasn’t been laid yet, and until that archaeological dig has finished there won’t be a brick in the ground, I would guess, until the beginning of next year. Therefore giving them twelve months to build it, inspect it and deem it safe enough to let two thousand people in. Let’s face it, twenty thousand is pushing the boat a bit. However, I would say their current stadium is better than Wakefield, Castleford and even Celtic’s.

So while Salford were favourites to join as soon as the applications went in, Celtic themselves caused much controversy and discussion amongst the fans as another expansionist club could possibly get into Super League, again. Were they needed? Should we have gone to Cumbria instead? Were Toulouse a worthier candidate? The answers being yes, yes and no. A Cumbrian side would have been nicer to have, but wouldn’t really be expanding. Rugby League has been played there since before Jesus’ time. There already is a fan base, albeit a small one, and the three clubs cannot create a successful application on their own. But, they seem to be reluctant to create a joint application which in my opinion would no doubt see a Cumbrian side in Super League instantly. Going further south, Toulouse’s inclusion would have seen an increased demand on supporter’s pockets. While Toulouse is probably cheaper and easier to get to, Catalan are established down there. So there is no need to take that away from the Perpignan locals who this season have seen sell out crowds and fantastic rugby league from their side. But back to Celtic, they have caused a burst of outcry from traditional heartland supporters, who see any move south of Sheffield as a step backwards. But its not just the traditionalists that a complaining. Sensible people are also wetting themselves on message board forums, radio phone ins and mid week magazine TV shows. They seem to think Widnes have been snubbed in place of Celtic, in similar vein Widnes were relegated to accommodate Catalan. The fact of the matter is, Celtic have the money, development according to their chief executive, and plans for a new stadium actually in Bridgend. Seeing as Wakefield, St Helens and Castleford are at a similar stage with their planning, there really was no reason to exclude them. As mentioned, Salford haven’t laid a brick yet.

As for Widnes’ exclusion, well it seemed pretty obvious to just about everyone except Widnes fans that their liquidation ten months ago is the reason they did not get in. Ten months is a long time, but in financial terms, its almost a millisecond. The club will have had to prove to themselves they are financially stable and that will be achieved in three years time. With the RFL coming out and saying today that if a National League club meets the qualifying criteria, they will be let in for the 2012 season. My only doubt is, how long will Steve O’Conner be hanging around now his club are stuck in the lower leagues? A year, maybe two? Will he even ride out the remainder of the season? Or will he do what the whole of rugby league pray he will do, and stick with the club until they get into Super League, and beyond?

As for Leigh however, their exclusion is more baffling than the rest. Why they were not even considered one of the favourites along with Widnes is a real mystery. They have the stadium and playing facilities, but with a rather cloudy financial record. However the main reason they were snubbed according to the RFL website, is due to player development being non existent. So basically, they have built their application on sand, and we all know what happens to people who build their houses on sand. So maybe their non-existence in Super League is a good thing. Either way, they really should have been considered more likely favourites than what they were.

So despite the sides in National League being tipped for time in the big league, there was the possibility that both Wakefield and Castleford would be dropped. However, this has not been the case. But why is this? While both clubs have poor stadiums, one is well managed financially and the other providing the competition with a wealth of talent in a prospering youth development system. This is without a shadow of a doubt the reasons no current Super League side was snubbed, as these two were the most likely to go. But, the RFL have stuck with the current crop hoping non of the existing twelve will be in a position where the governing body will have to decline any of these teams a place in Super League. However, there is concern that in 2011 (licence renewal date) one of these teams will not make the cut. But this will no doubt be down to lack of progression of a new stadium. As far as I know, Castleford have strong plans in place for a new stadium opposite the Xscape centre next to the M62 junction. Whereas Wakefield have very few plans in place (or at least not made them as public). This is a concern, but they have three years to sort themselves out.

So who was awarded what? What classification did each of the fourteen teams receive? Well, three clubs received A grade licences. These three come as no surprise as they are Hull FC, Leeds and Warrington. Bradford, St Helens and Wigan all got given B licence status, while the rest all got a C grade. I suppose Wigan were denied an A grade due to salary cap breaches, wheras Saints could have lost out on both salary cap and stadium standard. The same for Bradford.

So that’s it. The dust has settled from the eruption, now all fourteen teams will be looking forward to a new era in Super League history. An era that is more secure for any clubs long and short term planning. We await the new announcement in 2011.

Sonny Bill walkout leaves Rugby League in shock.

I had intended my next update would be summarising the aftermath of the Super League franchise announcement. However, that went ‘women’s breasts-up’ when I heard this on the build up to the Canberra V Gold Coast game via Fox Sports.

It has been confirmed in Australia that Sonny Bill Williams has walked out on the Canterbury Bulldogs, with reports suggesting that he is after a move to french rugby union Top 14 side, RC Toulonnais. The team, who have just been promoted to the French top flight after last season, are said to have, or about to offer up to three million Australian dollars to the Canterbury and New Zealand star. However, Todd Greenburg (Canterbury CEO) has said in a statement on the club’s website that they will file an injunction preventing SBW in playing for any other club if he does not wish to play for Canterbury anymore.

This comes weeks after Mark Gasnier left St George Illawarra for Stade Francais, another Top 14 side. With fears that too many of the NRL’s stars are leaving the competition for foreign soil, either Super League or rugby union, this announcement is only following the trend that has been plaguing the Australian game for the past two years, and no doubt reaching a new peak. But with one of the NRL’s exciting, dynamic and naturally talented players shifting shop to the south of France, the big bosses at NRL HQ must now react to this terrible emigration that is motivated by money and a change in lifestyle. But with strict rules governing player sponsorship and endorsements in the NRL on top of the salary cap, it was obvious players would pick up sticks and move away from the game to a competition where money is either no object, or is easier to earn and more is available.

Like I say, David Gallop and Colin Love now have to face the music and do something about this worrying trend before the NRL loses all of its top stars, and loses its appeal to the Australian public. Will they reduce salary cap and sponsorship regulations in favour of keeping its top players, or will they stick to their guns in favour of a more competitive competition but with fewer recognisable names? The NRL is in crisis, how will they react?

The fourteen licensed teams are announced.

From next year until 2011, the fourteen teams that will compete in Super League are;

Bradford

Castleford

Catalan

Celtic

Harlequins

Huddersfield

Hull FC

Hull KR

Leeds

Salford

St Helens

Wakefield

Warrington

Wigan

Realistically, there are no surprises. Despite the ideal solution of dropping Wakefield and Castleford, speculation was right about the current twelve Super League clubs being granted a license. However, the big news is that Celtic and Salford will also join the current crop of teams as of next year and are guaranteed to be in the top flight for the two more years after that.

More reaction and opinion to the announcement will follow, only at A Tap on the Twenty.

World Cup countdown enters double figures.

We are now less than a hundred days from England's world cup opener with Papa New Guinea. And with both Super League and NRL domestic competitions entering a very delicate stage with the play offs looming, competition for international honours will no doubt intensify. These next few weeks will decide if a player will or will not represent their country in the highest level the sport can offer. This may be due to poorer form than another player competing for the same shirt, or an injury.

England's Sam Burgess has already ruled himself out with a shoulder injury, and Darren Lockyer is looking doubtful to be 100% fit for Australia's clash with New Zealand on the 26th October at Sydney Football Stadium. And while Australia are 1/4 favourites to keep hold of their crown, this current stint beginning in 1975, they will no doubt be challenged all the way if they are to hold onto it yet again.

I for one, look forward to a tournament with a lot of pride, commitment, aggression and skill.

Murrayfield Magic is on, but will it be Murrayfield Madness?

For once in a controversial announcement by the RFL, I will happily sit on the bench before attacking the governing body. The Magic Weekend, as the RFL have dubbed the one off round of matches staged in one city, will move to Edinburgh for 2009 and will be staged at Murrayfield Stadium. In addition, the RFL have promised some mouth watering incentives to draw the fans to the Scottish capital.

Firstly, there will be a reduction in the cost of tickets for season ticket holders of all fourteen Super League clubs next year. In the past, clubs have done this internally and as a separate scheme not involving the RFL. I know for a fact Warrington offered half price tickets to those with club season tickets. Next year however, it seems the RFL will adopt a similar scheme and manage that themselves.

Secondly, they have announced that a fan zone will be created somewhere outside the stadium where fans can mingle and enjoy the atmosphere. This is on top of a range of activities that were present at Cardiff, both this year and in 2007.

But as someone who was dead set against the idea of leaving Cardiff, why have I changed my mind? Well, if it’s true about the organisations in Cardiff not giving the event enough support, then the RFL have every right to take it elsewhere. This year, it did seem there was a reduction in the amount of advertising and awareness that the Welsh public were given compared to the year previously. There is no point in the RFL flogging a dead horse is the stadium is not going to be full of thousands of Welsh fans. Plus there is the application of Celtic to be aware of. Allowing fans to travel to the south of Wales twice in one season is pushing the boat out a little. (Mind you, so is two trips to the south of France.) Fans will want to go elsewhere, so for us on the west side of the Pennines, we now face going on the M6 in the opposite direction. Added to the fact Edinburgh is the second biggest city in the UK, it should make for a more wonderful experience for rugby league fans. So why am I still sitting on the fence about the move?

Personally, I will go wherever the RFL take this Magic Weekend. Whether its Cardiff, Edinburgh, Dublin or Timbuktu, I will be there. I am also concerned about the quality of rugby that will be played at an open air stadium.

With Cardiff, the RFL had the luxury of closing the roof of the stadium if the weather was likely to be bad. With Murrayfield, there is no such roof and even the best of grounds men will struggle to prepare a pitch for seven games of rugby league within two days. If the weather is as bad as it can be in Edinburgh, then the pitch will take a beating and the final game of the festival is likely to be a mud bath. Something professionals are not at all used to. Therefore these games will be won in the forwards. There will be no room for sides to play extreme attacking rugby like Saints, Leeds and Warrington have started to do of late. This in turn, will turn away possible new supporters to the right code of rugby living in Scotland as the game will look like a poor version of rugby union, which RL is not.

So now it’s a case of wait and see. Will Edinburgh stand and deliver? Or will it fall and embarrass itself like a Scotsman’s kilt? Roll on the beginning of May.

Who will make the six, and who will win The Grand Final?

With seven rounds remaining in Super League XIII, we are approaching the final straight. The hard work begins now for teams that believe they can make the play offs all wanting a good run of form before the play offs begin. For the top three in Saints, Leeds and Catalan; all three can be assured of a top three placing. In which order is yet to unravel itself, but I would be very surprised if any of these three dropped into fourth. The remaining three places are likely to be battled over four teams in Wigan, Warrington, Bradford and Wakefield. With the south Yorkshire club’s form having dipped of late in the build up to their cup semi final match with Hull FC, they could be the side to miss out. And finally, mathematically every single team can still make the play offs. Looking at the table, and with six games left, bottom club Castleford need eleven points out of the remaining twelve possible to make the six. They can do it providing every single result between now and the final league game goes in their favour. It would be an astonishing achievement that happened, but realistically I very much doubt it will. In fact, I would be prepared to bet all my personal possessions against any fool who thinks otherwise.

With seven games left (eight for Wigan and Huddersfield) the remaining fixtures and their order are very important for every side if they are to make the play offs. Looking at the top three, Leeds have to play Wigan and Catalan once more. The big factor is that they are away from home against the French which is proving no mean feat for any English club this season. Catalan are also up against Wigan once more in Perpignan, so there is potentially four points there already. The big issue is that they are both against teams above and below them in the standings. Saints however, have tough fixtures against Wigan (twice), a regenerated Warrington at home and one final long journey to London. Although having just beaten Quins heavily to go top, I doubt they will be much of a threat now than what that fixture on the seventeenth of August could have been a few weeks ago. Back to Leeds, and if Warrington’s form continues into next month at the same time Leeds’ is falling faster than the Titanic, that could be a banana skin match waiting for the west Yorkshire club at the HJ Stadium. Although with that match coming straight after the semi final encounter with St Helens, it would be very hard to predict what sort of motivation Leeds will have for their following Super League game. If they lose, Warrington do not have a hope in hell. If they win then their confidence will rise and Warrington will struggle at home and in front of the Sky cameras. So apart from the matches highlighted, all three sides face a smooth ride into the play offs. But don’t be surprised if Catalan overcome Leeds and win their remaining games to go top. Their form is excellent at the moment, the only question is whether a week off for the semi finals will take away their momentum. Leeds could easily lose to the French side and Wigan to suffer more loses, but Saints have three potential banana skin games in Wigan twice, and Warrington at home. However, Saints are another side on form having just rediscovered it in time for the business end of the season. But I can see them losing only one more game before the play offs.

Looking at the scrap for the three remaining places, as mentioned, four teams are looking likely to contest them. Wigan have a game in hand against Huddersfield which should be slim pickings for them. However, they play and in-form Saints twice. The likelihood is Wigan will lose both, but it is not uncommon for them to win at least once against their rivals. Wigan also have to travel to sunny France again, which is another difficult game and one they can easily lose. And having beaten Leeds in a close game last weekend, their penultimate opponents will be out for revenge. Warrington have three big tests left, starting with Bradford on Friday. After which they face Leeds after the semi final, and then Saints the week after. Just how much will the Leeds game take out of them the week before? However, neither games are they expected to win so they wouldn’t be dropping must win competition points. Bradford are a team on the slide recently. Having won only four of their last ten games, the pressure is on Steve McNamara to turn things around. In games they should be winning, they haven’t and this run could cost them a play off place. With big games of only Warrington and Leeds remaining, they should without a doubt be making the top four when you compare the remaining fixtures of other clubs. However, not only do Warrington and Leeds possess a threat in their current run of form, but so do Hull FC, Wakefield, Quins and Hull KR. Its nervous times for the team with seven games left. And Wakefield are not exactly challenging to rule the roost at the minute. Having struggled in three of the last four games, losing two the last two, they clearly have an eye on the Challenge Cup semi final against Hull FC which could knock them back a few points giving Harlequins and Hull KR half a sniff for a late challenge. With them needing to win on Saturday against their Challenge Cup opponents, they could still be in with a shout, but don’t write them off just yet. Although having said that, five of their final six games include Bradford, Saints, Wigan, Catalan and Leeds. Their only real chance is the cup. Finally, Wigan and Warrington will battle it out of fourth place, Wakefield will fall by the wayside leaving Bradford to close the door on them and the rest of Super League.

And so, we have the bottom five left. These teams shouldn’t really be pushing for a play off spot, however stranger things have happened with Bradford’s poor run of form and Wakefield’s unbelievably hard run of final fixtures. And even if they do lose out, there is only Harlequins and Hull KR who actually have a chance. With a two point gap currently between KR and Huddersfield, I can’t imagine the birthplace of RL making the last play off spot by any means possible. The same can be said for Hull and Castleford. Although Hull still have to focus on the Challenge Cup, and Castleford are showing some real determination not to finish last, brace yourselves for an unlikely Giant-killing.

So with that all done and dusted, who will win the League Leaders Shield. Well copied the current table and entered it into my very own simulator, a spreadsheet. I then typed in what I believe to be the results for all the remaining fixtures and the possible final league standings are shown below.

Team	Played	Wins	Draws	Loses	PTS
Catalan	27	21	1	5	43
Saints	27	21	0	6	42
Leeds	27	21	0	6	42
Wigan	27	16	1	10	33
Warrington	27	16	0	11	32
Bradford	27	15	0	12	30
Wakefield	27	11	0	16	22
Harlequins	27	10	0	17	20
Hull KR	27	9	1	17	19
Huddersfield	27	8	1	18	17
Hull FC	27	7	1	19	15
Castleford	27	4	1	22	9

Catalan will not lose another game, Saints will drop only one game, most likely against Wigan while Leeds will lose only to Catalan. There will then be a huge gap between sixth and seventh as Wigan, Warrington and Bradford battle it out to see what order they will face Saints or Leeds depending on points difference.

So finally, out of those six who will win The Grand Final? Well it won’t be Catalan. Having never played intense play off rugby before, I just cannot see it happening. However, they might make Old Trafford when they have to play in the final eliminator against Leeds in Perpignan. That means St Helens will once again be crowned Super League champions once again.

Its a cruel old game, isn’t it.

Queensland win Origin 2008 after a tight contest at ANZ Stadium.

Queensland made it three series wins in a row after a thrilling match which continued their dominance over New South Wales. In a game which had just about everything you would expect from an State of Origin match, it was Billy Slater’s try that separated the two sides after both sides were deadlocked at ten points apiece for a large proportion of the second half, the final score being 10-16 to the maroons.

New South Wales went into the half time break leading ten points to eight after a Matt Cooper try and two Craig Fitzgibbon penalties set the benchmark for Queensland to chase. But it was the maroons who scored first after five minutes with Israel Folau calmly collecting Anthony Quinn’s dropped ball a metre from his own line after a Thurston kick piled the pressure on the New South Welshman. Matt Cooper stretched out for his try ten minutes later, but then an amazing effort from Folau secured his second. Again, it was a copy of his first try. Thurston’s kick to Quinn was cruelly snatched away from him by Folau in mid-air, who then took a tumble but placed the ball on the ground one-handed in a style Michael Jordon would be pleased with.

Twice the game was halted for fighting, the first scrap igniting after only two minutes when Petro Civoniceva’s shoulder knocked that blues player’s head. Then in the second half, Nate Myles’ spear tackle on Ben Cross set it off again with both sets of players really letting rip into each other. But with tension’s high and the pressure starting to tell, it was Queensland who defended for their lives and left the blues scoreless in the second stanza.

And rightly so too. It was Chanel Nine commentator Paul Vautin who mentioned it, saying NSW had only scored one try in a hundred and sixty minutes of rugby. NSW didn’t up the tempo when they needed to and were left to pay the price. However, it could easily have been a different story had Scott Prince not left the field with a broken left forearm. Until that point when Queensland realised they had lost their leading player, they were dominant despite being down on points. For the remaining twenty minutes, they were flat and didn’t know really what to do in attack. But again, it was their defensive effort that kept them in it. And when Thurston began his final charge of the series, lifting the maroons’ team to a different level, there was only going to be one winner. However, the work was done off the field as well. Mal Meninga realised Anthony Quinn was a weak link in the blues defence and bombarded him with work all night. It was a terrific effort from the side that was deserving of another Origin win.

And all without Darren Lockyer.