And I'd like to say I believe in the people who made the final decision. Again, sadly, I don't.
In the end, the Super League licencing process turned out to be exactly what its critics feared: a giant carve up of the kind you simply would not experience in any other sport.
Before anyone starts, my cynicism is not borne out of Halifax's rejection.
Despite some remarkable recent progress on all fronts, Fax are realistically better off continuing to prosper in the National League for the next three seasons with the aim of presenting a cast iron case for inclusion in 2012.
No, my sympathy lies with the people of Widnes, who have been mugged by the game's powerbrokers for the third time in a little over a decade.
The Vikings missed the original Super League cut in 1996, were relegated to make way for Catalans three years ago and have now been tossed aside once again, despite having a case for inclusion that was arguably more compelling than a handful of their competitors.
To summarise: Widnes have the ground, heritage, a solid fan base, the development set up and the money.
In the debit column was their flirtation with administration last year, before the arrival of transport mogul Steve O'Connor and his millions.
The Vikings certainly weren't expecting that to hamper them though.
Even as they fought out Sunday's 26-26 thriller at the Shay, the club's hierarchy were utterly convinced of their own success. With some justification, too.
The Rugby Football League's own assessment of the 19 bids - which incidentally contains more holes than the proverbial Swiss cheese - highlights the fact that Tuesday's big winners, Salford and Celtic, have poor ground facilities.
They also have a history of low or, with Celtic, practically non existent crowds.
Salford also have a frankly pathetic record when it comes to producing genuine homegrown talent. Of the Reds' top juniors - Jordan Turner (Oldham), Stefan Ratchford (Leigh) and Richie Myler (Widnes) - none come from what chummy old Richard Lewis trumpets as "the Salford and Manchester conurbation".
And Celtic's idea of Welsh talent is someone from New South Wales.
Apparently though, none of those failings registered with messrs Wood and Lewis.
Nor, for that matter, did the fact that Castleford and Wakefield are also playing out of stadia that, Trinity's 'Benidorm flats' aside, haven't changed much since the '70s.
Because all these clubs "recognise" their shortcomings.
So, while Fax were rejected because of the incomplete nature of the Shay and the fledgling status of their junior development programme, their rivals were included in spite of identical flaws.
And poor old Widnes? Well, I'm still no nearer to understanding that one.
I have never made any secret of the fact that I fundamentally disagree with the franchise system.
But if we're going to do it, let's at least do it fairly.
At this moment in time, it is difficult to avoid the impression that the RFL picked the 14 clubs, on grounds of geography, a couple of years ago and have been acting out a long-winded pantomime ever since.
One more question: given the final decision was only made public on Tuesday, can someone explain to me why Celtic had the foresight to arrange a party at a well known Australian theme pub in Cardiff for the night of the announcement?
Answers on a postcard please.