Widnes build for the big time

Great to see Widnes back in the top flight. Hopefully the RFL will bring back the Easter matches

Wigan V Saints & Widnes V Warrington, then Easter Monday Wigan V Warrington Widnes V Saints!

Only gripe is that it's Denis Betts, not Dennis ;)

This is simply magical for the town of Widnes and nothing short of being richly deserved for a club steeped in history and success.
I am a Widnes RLFC fan but I agree that, in hindsight, 2008 was probably too soon for the club, on account of financial uncertainty, to join the franchise.
That said, next season, the club will rightly be where it belongs, in the top echelon of British Rugby League.
Not having Widnes in the Super League would be like not having Liverpool in the Premier League.
Widnes RLFC is a huge club with dedicated staff and players and a huge following of incredibly passionate fans and I doubt that the stadium will be anything less than mostly full for every game next season.
In terms of ensuring immediate future success on the pitch, it is imperative that the club signs as many "good" players as possible for it's first season back in Super League. In the long term, clearly maintaining Super League status and youth development are absolutely vital.
Finally, I would like to congratulate the people of Widnes because I know how much this means for them and how much good it will do for a town which has, over the last 10 years, enjoyed and continues to enjoy development and regeneration.

Welcome back Widnes, good to have one of the game's great names back in the top flight.

Must admit, that as a Quins fan, licensing time makes me feel a little queasy. Although some good young players are coming through in London, I can't hand on heart say we deserve to be in SL any more than Halifax or Barrow, yet I know we're pretty much safe as houses.

Halifax haven't been called 'Blue Sox' since 2003.

Maybe Wakey, Cas & Fev Rovers could merge and form a new super club called Calder?

More seriously, surely it's got to be 1 of Salford and Wakefield making way. Wakefield started on the back foot and are going nowhere; Salford has not had much support for as long as I can remember.

Not having Widnes in the Super League would be like not having Liverpool in the Premier League.

I'd say that's pushing it a bit. It's more like Aston Villa or Everton not being there. A great club with a fantastic heritage but never the biggest supported in the land. And I say that as a Widnes fan.

Salfords new ground is taking shape, they aren't a realistic candidate to be kicked out. A new ground next to the M60 and Trafford centre complex finally makes them a true representative of RL in Greater Manchester, not that it will help congestion on the Barton Bridge car park. The catchment area of Salford alone is massive and they will have no problems with attendances at their new home if the marketing side does it's job.

I'm a Manc based Fax fan and can only see Wakefield as truly in trouble, but quite how clubs being bailed out every few years and name changes, meet any sort of criteria other than on a map staggers me.

Congratulations Widnes, you deserve your place in Super League - though I will be sad to see the Leigh-Widnes rivalry put to one side (not to mention the guaranteed win for Leigh ;)

Though I am still convinced that the system is 'bendable' enough that the RFL effectively choose the team that they want, I think this time Widnes would have been admitted even if the system was fair.

However, for the RFL to continue to suggest that Harlequins & Crusaders are stronger than Halifax would be ludicrous. But it will happen...

Was I the only one who found it wrong that supporters were celebrating promotion in the clubhouse by watching a man reading out a statement on television? Shouldn't they have been in the stands after a victory on the pitch had sealed their elevation to the Super League?
I understand the arguments for the licence system, but it still seems wrong to me. Promotion and relegation should be decided on the pitch, not by a group of RFL executives sat round a table.

Congratulations to Widnes who should have been awarded a licence 3 years ago.

I will miss the Widnes V Leigh games but lets hope in 3 years time Leigh will return to SL.

Some wise and probably true words we heard from Richard Lewis regarding Widnes benifiting from the three year wait, which they could use to strengthen their position ready for super league. These words would be far more poignant if the posthumous advice was aplied to a few other sides in super league, would the Crusaders or Harlequins not have benifited from building slowly in the lower leagues (with help from the RFL of course) gaining a solid base for the clubs and fans. By throwing these clubs in at the deep end we have seen vast wastage of money & time which has still lead to the clubs entering into administration. I watched my boyhood hero, Neil Fox play against Eric Ashton at Wembley, and want to see Wakefield playing at the top level, but maybe they will need to have a bit of the "Widnes medicine" handed out by Richard Lewis before they can come back stronger, which they will. I suspect some of the favoured runts would not!

The RFL have confirmed that Halifax met all the criteria for the bid, but (understandably) they went for Widnes first time round. Surely there will be more than one Super League who will not tick all the criteria, meaning Halifax have to be given a slot? Otherwise what's the point in the criteria?

“Widnes have benefited from these three years to recover from their financial turmoil,” executive chairman Richard Lewis told 5 live after the announcement. “Two thousand and eight was too soon for a licence.” -

But not too soon for Crusaders to go bust?!

Yet another example of double standards. I don't like the franchise system, but if we're going to have it, then the criteria should apply equally to all clubs.

I also understood the rules state that grounds should be up to standard by the start of the 2012 season. Where does that put Cas (new ground plans for 2013) and Wake (no ground)?

Great to see Widnes back in the top flight and agree that if Fax have met the full criteria then they should be promoted to Superleague and given their well earned slot, It has to be Wakey and Salford to drop out in order to do as Widnes have done and get their house in order and re apply, Well done Widnes and welcome back, can't wait to watch the Mighty Wire give you a welcome back wupping :-)

I think the whole licensing thing is wrong. It will damage the Super League immensely by 'promoting' poor teams who just end up being whipping boys unless they have enough money to buy a few aussies/kiwis etc.

It was bad enough at the beginning when Keighley and Batley having finished top of the league were snubbed for promotion in favour of London Broncos. (anyone remember that name?).

Where's the incentive for the lower teams such as Batley, Leigh, Featherstone who also have rich histories and loyal support?

Its very unfair on Salford who work hard not to finish bottom every season and will most likely be dropped.

Disgruntled Batley Fan

It's not perfect but licensing is the best option for Super League. I speak as a Widnes fan who was angry at our 2008 exclusion but, with hindsight, can see the argument that we benefitted from the 3 years we've had to build (though I remain to be convinced that Crusaders were more deserving).

It should be remembered that Widnes were unlucky to lose their SL place; the only team to be relegated after finishing 2nd from bottom. But back then Widnes couldn't build for the future by developing young players, it was all about survival. All SL clubs now have time to bring on young players and it's essential that they do. Again it's not perfect because it can kill the competition late in the season if there's nothing to play for. But I'd rather watch a team of young, improving players trying to make their mark than one of grizzled veterans desperately trying to stay up.

The Championship has to be built up into a stronger competition and there's been a huge improvement in that area playing - standards, crowds and TV coverage are much greater than in the old 2nd Division.

Meanwhile, it's great to be back to renew old rivalries with Saints, Wire and the rest. The job just got even harder.

Salford won't be the ones to make way and this is the main reason why:

https://www.reds.co.uk/live-webcam

A brand spanking new rugby league stadium.

According to Cullen Warringtons success is due to their youth policy!!! Nothing to do with the cheque-book then,LOL.....

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