What reasons were given for removing promotion and relegation when Super League was introduced? What benefits has it brought to the sport?

I think the RFL, and perhaps more importantly Sky, wanted to see a fully professional league containing only teams from larger towns and cities, with large fan bases providing ever more subscribers for Sky sports. I suppose it was considered impossible for many of the 'little village' and suburb clubs, to compete at this level. Unfortunately for the authorities, that particular demographic is strongly represented and very vocal within RL. When you look at the criteria used under licensing, it was clearly designed to weed out those clubs who needed to raid the 'leccy box' to subsidise the part time wages paid to their players, however well they were performing.

I think it was assumed that RL would spread out from its 'heartland' and that new towns and cities would jump on the emerging bandwagon and set up clubs, in fact assistance was given to foster that idea, much to the annoyance of the 'flatcappers'. I think we may have all worked out that it didn't really turn out well.

When.clubs such as your selves did not give a rats ass about the championship and voted.for a closed shop franchise where we play for 3 years of pointless friendleys with still no chance of going up. Eg wakey bust fax record massive profit etc

Now we have a chance a slim chance where you.came close and blew it. You lot are not happy but at least we have something to play for. A taste of sl is better than no sl.

You lot should be hopeing they don't scrap the system and revert back to a closed shop from next season. You Leeds Wigan st'hellens did not give a monkeys about the championship until now your stuck here.

One of the benefits is that it has made Halifax fans VERY angry (as it transpires). Especially when we dare talk about it.

And there's me thinking that Halifax graced Super League....memory playing tricks again.
We did have promotion and relegation in the early years of Super League......some clubs got relegated.

Well said

And there's me thinking that Halifax graced Super League....memory playing tricks again.
We did have promotion and relegation in the early years of Super League......some clubs got relegated.

Well said!

Well said, well said!

It was also to try & prevent clubs spending beyond their means & going under. As Wakey would no doubt have done (again) if they had lost. If Leigh fail again next season I can see them heading that way too.

And in later years SL teams could go BUST as many times as they wanted . Until the RFL and the rest of theSL teams said enough is ENOUGH.