Last updated 16:04, Wednesday, 25 June 2008

I WRITE more in sorrow than anger because I am not alone in wondering and worrying what’s going to happen to rugby league when the RFL finally get round (soon) to telling us the make-up of a bigger Super League and its knock-on effects for the National Leagues.

We wait with baited breath to discover who stays in and who joins the upper echelon, but one thing’s certain: No promotion and relegation between National League One and Super League for at least three years.

That’s been the very essence of the game, at least for those outside the elite.

It’s called D-Day (July 22) when the RFL power-brokers name the 14 Super League franchise clubs before the drawbridge goes up.

For many, it certainly won’t be V-Day, some blood is bound to be spilled, widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots.

For the more ambitious like Whitehaven, it’s a chance to re-build Fortress Recre and get their plans for eventual Super League status well and truly into place.

They may even say whether promotion and relegation between NL1 and NL2 will continue, where and when the 2008 Grand Finals will take place and what incentives there’ll be.

For Whitehaven and their fans, one of the main worries will be over the remaining standard of competition in NL1.

Not for one moment do I think any of the 12 incumbent Super League clubs will come down, which leaves another two to go up from NL1 if you assume that Toulouse will not be successful in joining south west France neighbours Catalans. So it’s probably two from three: Salford, Widnes and Celtic Crusaders.

Clearly, whatever you call it to give more gravitas – The Rugby League Championship? – the loss of any one of three will detract from the quality and competition.

We may well be left with a more level NL1 playing field from what’s left, but will it be enough to pull in the crowds?

Whitehaven, along with the likes of Halifax and Leigh, are going to win far more games than they’ll lose but, again, will winning be enough, and will they have to rely more than ever before on sound financial management and sponsorship?

Whitehaven, I believe, will be okay. The approved Recre revamp will give improved spectator facilities and will help to generate interest along with, hopefully, the addition of a few more high-calibre footballers.

However, this could well prove more difficult as Haven press their Super League aspirations on and off the field.

Which bring me to an apparent class division in more ways than one. All of a sudden, NL1 has become a division of class in its own right. We saw the evidence on TV last Thursday – St Helens’ Steve Tyrer and Matty Smith turned in five-star shows to put the skids under Salford, as Haven had done, but they were playing for Widnes!

Both signed up at short notice on what must be pretty expensive loan deals, for Tyrer especially, who’s one of the most promising middle-backs around.

Thanks to another Sugar Daddy, Widnes have been able to build a brand new team, after going into administration. How can the likes of Whitehaven compete?

You can’t blame The Vikings – I’m sure Haven would have done the same had they been in a position to do so!

It’s the age-old problem of geography – at least Whitehaven have been able to reverse the trend over the last few years. But it was only temporary as they’ve been unable to hang on to the players they would most liked to have kept.

So it means all the more attention on the development of the best junior players and more importantly the need to unearth more gems such as Gregg McNally.

On that score, it’s good to herald the return to The Recre of Gary Hewer, from Town, as head of performance and player development – in other words a star finder and star maker!

The right job for the man who can take much credit for Haven’s current crop of bright boys, thanks to the scholarship and academy schemes he launched some seven years ago.

Whether Haven can mould enough young locals to sustain a Super League challenge over the next three years remains to be seen, but there’s also the question of being able to play a full-time professional side to earn a decent living out of the game. Employment is the big factor and so is higher education for young players. You could call it a conundrum!