I take it your funding the venture still?

Seems pretty clear to me 2019 will see a return to licensing and I base that opinion on both Toronto and Toulouse stadia upgrades to meet SL licensing criteria.



Regardless of finishing positions in the middle 8's in 2018,clubs who meet the criteria will be offered SL licenses,Toronto and Toulouse both nailed on for that already as the expected criteria is in motion.



The questions are? What will the SL stucture be? Who will forfeit? Who will be reinstated?



All speculation of course,but it seems to me promotion to SL in 2019 will be on criteria not merit.

Atomic, the TO upgrade will be nowhere near SL, they have other stadia within the city though. Ideally I believe the SL would like to see Leigh Toronto and Toulouse in the licences 14 club league

The problem is Mo under a 14 club league,if Leigh, Toronto and Toulouse are granted licences that leaves one SL club to be rejected. We know from previous experience of licensing,that the criteria is very strict with no leeway.



Which club would be rejected?

Well to meet the criteria it would be interesting to know what the criteria is, because surely it won't just be stadium based - do Toronto/Toulouse have an academy structure for example.



The season starts in less than 2 months, surely there must be an announcement before then

Thats the grey area this time round,as they cant just simply close the doors with other potential expansion clubs on the horizon.



Licensing I presume would follow its previous path. Attendance,Stadium capacity minimum 8k with all safety features in place and academies all to be in place before the possibilty of a license.



How they write the criteria without disrupting an established SL club is yet to be seen. As is the dispensation given to the expansion clubs.



I believe I read we would all be told the structure for 2019 prior to the beginning of the 2018 season. Then again this is the RFL.

Care to elaborate H..?

Could be a frustrating season if we perform on the pitch but are then denied promotion by a shuffling of the rules! Agree with increase to 14 in SL but must be on merit not just a criteria. P&R must be retained to keep pressure on lower SL teams and ambition for top champ teams.

Must admit I like the concept of the middle 8s, and would like to see a P&R format even if it be middle 4 or even middle 2

Depends who is in the worse state from Wakefield, Salford or Widnes. Personally I cant see Salford seeing the season out even if they make the first fixture