Waiting game is almost at an end for Halifax

COME 11.30am on Thursday morning, hopeful Halifax RLFC will know once and for all whether three years of graft and endeavour has come to fruition.

Along with Widnes Vikings and Barrow Raiders, the West Yorkshire club has had the pivotal date circled in its diary for a substantial amount of time.

It marks the point when RFL chairman Richard Lewis will announce at Red Hall, and live on Sky Sports, which of the expectant trio has earned a place in the promised land of Super League for 2012-14.

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Since failing with their last licence bid three years ago, Halifax have been battling to make sure their proposal this time around is as worthy and detailed as possible as they seek to return to the top flight for the first time since 2003.

The anticipation levels are mounting even though Widnes are regarded as clear favourites to get the cherished solitary spot.

The Vikings came so close three years ago when their controversial exclusion, at the expense of the much-maligned Crusaders, came as a shock to many and it is widely felt they will not miss out a second time.

But Halifax, who won the Championship Grand Final in September, something their main rival has failed to do in the intervening period, remain optimistic.

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The club placed a full page advert in one of the game’s trade papers yesterday listing its achievements in the various criteria with the tag line ‘We’ve ticked your boxes. Will you tick ours? – Destination Super League Halifax RLFC.’

It was a bold decision to act in such a way but they have never been shy in coming forward; Halifax hired a helicopter to deliver their licence application to RFL headquarters in December with club director Ian Croad dressed as Santa Claus.

They have also enrolled their former player-turned-movie star Adam Fogerty to lend his support, the burly prop who played for ‘Fax between 1991-93 but more famously was knocked out by Brad Pitt in the film Snatch.

There has never been any contention their bid is a publicity stunt, however, given the sheer time and effort gone into the process – Halifax want Super League status and feel they deserve it.

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There is a suggestion the RFL believes there are already too many Super League clubs in West Yorkshire – five with Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Castleford – meaning adding another would work against their hopes of expanding the game.

But, after turning around its financial performance, revamping its youth structure and completing an impressive new £5m East Stand at The Shay, it is hard not to appreciate the historic club’s merits.

The final decision will be made by the RFL’s five-man independent board of directors but the only thing known for certain now is that one of either them, Widnes or Barrow will be in Super League next season.

“The club has had a lot of big days in the last couple of years but this will be up there as the biggest,” read a Halifax statement.

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“Everyone wants to be playing against the best, and to be the best they can be, and Halifax RLFC are no different.

“We’ve worked hard over the last three years to do everything the RFL has asked us to do.

“Our crowds are up, the youth development side of things is improving, and we have been the most consistent team in the Championship.

“We have literally been spending the last three years ticking boxes.

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“We feel our time has come to be promoted back into the elite league and we are confident we can get the nod for 2012. Come Thursday we hope everyone at the club – the staff, the players and the fans – will be given the decision we all deserve.”

The two unsuccessful clubs may yet still be granted a licence on July 26 when they are assessed alongside the current Super League clubs who must submit their applications by Friday.

In the meantime, Halifax are looking forward to hosting a BBC televised rugby league fixture for the first time in almost a decade.

Their Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round tie with Bradford Bulls, also the first time the derby rivals have clashed in a competitive fixture since Halifax were relegated, will be shown live on Sunday, May 8.

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The Shay will also host three Huddersfield Giants games this summer while the Galpharm Stadium pitch is re-laid, further adding to its growing reputation.

n Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have signed talented Warrington Wolves back-row Tyrone McCarthy, 22, on a month’s loan while Crusaders’ Michael Witt appears before the RFL disciplinary committee tonight after the match review panel charged him for punching Castleford’s Richard Mathers in Sunday’s heavy loss.