Dave Craven: Wildcats survive to fight another day after Old Trafford shock

I had heard those three words ‘Wakefield – Trinity – Wildcats’ read out but so had the rest of the room yet there was hardly a murmur from anyone.

It was not because the announcement was being beamed out live on television and – to ensure its polished presentation – we all had to sit quietly like naughty schoolchildren.

Obviously there was the usual request to turn off mobiles or put them on silent but it did not mean we had to refrain from gasps of surprise or cries of celebration if we saw fit.

It was simply because the moment had created that rarity among press corps – stunned silence.

Personally, I thought someone had been playing silly buggers with Richard Lewis’s speech and cheekily slipped in Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for a hugely embarrassing and very cruel – if a Trinity fan – laugh.

But to do that, they would also have had to tinker with the big screen at his side where Trinity’s name and badge were definitely there as well alongside the likes of Wigan, Warrington and Leeds. Too elaborate a joke for anyone to pull off.

The two together also ruled out the chances of it being a humiliating technical gaffe with their slick visual show.

So, there was no denying it – Wakefield were in Super League for 2012-14 after all.

Maybe they had sneaked in because those jesters at the RFL – always looking for a shock tactic to bag some headlines – had surreptitiously increased the Super League to 15 clubs despite insisting that would not happen.

But then, as we glanced through the list trying to see who was missing at Wakefield’s expense (there had been some jocular activity beforehand that Wigan might not make the cut), the words of Lewis confirmed Crusaders’ exit.

Ah, Crusaders ...... I should have realised when Harlequins came after Castleford in the C Grade bit but the note about alphabetic order was the thing I blatantly missed.

The RFL chairman explained the Welsh club had withdrawn of their own accord due to financial problems and the telecast ended, leaving the assembled reporters slowly mumbling to each other their expression of utter and complete surprise as if they had each just been told Father Christmas does actually exist.

The scene was replayed at Wakefield’s Rapid Solicitors Stadium – or Belle Vue as it most commonly known – as players, coaches, office staff and owner alike all tried making sure they had not got the wrong end of the stick.

But they had not. All the anguish and dread was for nothing, the obituaries ripped up and redundant, Richard Lewis really was a good bloke after all.

In Trinity supporters’ eyes, in smiling at the Theatre of Dreams he had snapped them out of their recurring nightmare ... and meant I had a mad dash back across the M62 to gauge the reaction.

Undoubtedly, Tuesday’s decision was a massive success for traditionalists who believe Super League should serve the heartlands especially when a club formed in the 19th century risked losing its place to a nomadic non-entity that had been around just six turbulent years.

But the ugly aftermath, with the manner in which unknowing Crusaders players were told of their plight, has only brought negativity and there needs to be improvements to the actual process before the next round of licencing for 2015-18.

It beggars belief that a club which submitted its licence bid four months ago, apparently highlighting why it is so worthy of retaining its spot, can suddenly be in such an awful, squalid state.

But revived Wakefield can fly the flag for the game now and prove they, at least, will carry out the promises they have made.

They have to do to maintain belief that the whole licence system actually works.