So would you keep London in who have been nomads with their playing bases, and poor attendances and finished bottom of the league Philth ?, if it was straight relegation and promotion Wakefield would be in SL any way, so the gradings would not be nessesary, but as it is they have spent big regarding stadium issues and had the gonads to keep a full time squad, which could have easily back fired, a squad that would have beaten a few of the bottom half clubs in SL and with a bigger fan base, Wakefield didn't create IMG, but did their utmost on and off the field to achive the best grading that they could, we will have to see next season, if they are in SL, how they react.

So basically as we were in 2023.

1. St Helens. 17.02
2. Wigan Warriors, 16.91
3. Leeds Rhinos, 16.84
4. Warrington Wolves, 16.27
5. Hull KR, 15.97
6. Catalans Dragons, 15.52
7. Leigh Leopards, 15.13
8. Wakefield Trinity, 15.09
9. Castleford Tigers, 15.02
10. Hull FC, 14.51
11. Huddersfield Giants, 14.48
12. Salford Red Devils, 13.97

I don’t fully understand how it works or the behind the scenes but for the life of me can someone explain how Castleford are grade A

Some big changes from 2023.

the more you think about it, the more offensive it is

Salford only just scraped in. Lucky they've had a couple of good seasons on the field.

Not about London or Wakefield really, I'm questioning the process, those 2 are an example but throw Hull, Hudds and Salford in there. If there's 5 points for performance and Hudds get 2 for a crap season in Super League and Wakey get 5 for a good season in the league below, it doesn't feel like apples to apples comparison.


All a mute point because there's more on offer and the Wakey chairman has thrown some money and structure at the club.

Any banding that puts Hull FC in the same category as Workington Town is pointless.

On the plus side at least the other clubs know what they need to do to get into SL.

Understand your point, but the swings are not that extreme and Wakey don't get near 5 points. Only Wigan would have scored 5 points as they finished top (4 points), won the Grand final (0.75 points), and won the challenge cup (0.25 Points).

Wakey finished 10th, 12th and 13th in the last 3 years, so I would guess their points to be 3.131 2.781 for league position and +0.25 for Champ Grand Final and +0.1 for 1895 cup.

Huddersfield finished 3rd, 9th and 9th for last 3 years, so their points I think would be 3.314, so better than Wakeys.

Just to show the difference a team finishing 11th for 3 years would score 2.857, so Wakeys score has benefitted to being runaway winners due to them being full time, but then they have had an owner that has supported that financially with little to no central funding, they just got a little lucky as the likes of Featherstone and Toulouse aren't funding similar squads, but the benefit of that was only 0.35 points - though a benefit none the less.

It’s all an absolute load of cack….thats my scientific input.

Quote ="ratticusfinch"It’s all an absolute load of cack….thats my scientific input.'" https://www.rugby-league.com/article/37 ... p-with-img We are 2.5 years in to a 12 year plan. In that time, we have ended up with an identical league as 2023 and a paltry sports rights deal with Sky valued at < 50% of the previous deal, Magic weekend limps on. However we have seen RL on BBC, CH4 and every match on Sky (and resultant reduction in live game attendance). They have also changed the CC format in that we join a round earlier in 2025. Bit of a mixed bag.

Quote ="ratticusfinch"It’s all an absolute load of cack….thats my scientific input.'" https://www.rugby-league.com/article/37 ... p-with-img We are 2.5 years in to a 12 year plan. In that time, we have ended up with an identical league as 2023 and a paltry sports rights deal with Sky valued at < 50% of the previous deal, Magic weekend limps on. However we have seen RL on BBC, CH4 and every match on Sky (and resultant reduction in live game attendance). They have also changed the CC format in that we join a round earlier in 2025. Bit of a mixed bag.

Where can I find a breakdown of the points awarded by category?

Its up to the clubs to release them - I don't think we did last time, so not expecting to again.

The key sentence is your first one IMO.

I don't think IMG had anything to do with the current TV deal. In terms of Magic Weekend and Loop fixtures, IMG wanted to get rid of both - a popular view I think for most fans, but the clubs overruled it.

I think we have seen evidence of clubs progressing, off the field, which is why the gradings were put in. I'd imagine we will see these gradings tweaked as we go through the years, to drive further improvements. We have two clubs in much better positions in terms of ownership (Wakey & Cas) with Hull FC rumoured to have new investment also. Whether its coincidence it has happened following IMG's arrival I'm not sure.

Was hoping to find them also. I know I keep banging on about how have Castleford got grade A, but I would really to be interested in the breakdown of their score. It’s gone up from last season I keep seeing that they are making improvements to the stadium I can’t see that unless someone put one of them bleach blocks in the loo or something.

Why it’s making my blood boil when the RFL brought licences in there was an understanding that clubs had to improve the grounds Wakefield and Castleford was just a stream of constant excuses. At least Wakefield have finally got round to it but I don’t see it at Cas and now we getting a told they have new owners. But am I right in thinking that’s not actually gone through yet and it’s just another excuse to duck the issues. I of course stand to be corrected.

For what it’s worth I often think I’d rather be back at Wilderspool but get for reasons I’m having a go at Cas we had to have better facilities.

As a Hull fan, the performance rating is justified, we have been awful. However, for Wakefield to score higher than us in that regard when we have finished above them in the 'standings' every year since 2009 is daft.

We got downgraded for our 2 LED big screens, being too big - hence the pixel quality is diminished apparently. They are UEFA approved, but not IMG - bizarre. We also get penalised for having 2 professional clubs in the same City, yet we are not allowed to include places like Beverley, Willerby, and other West Hull suburbs in our catchment despite having a large supporter base from those areas! When LED screens score higher than Academy, Junior Development etc. just shows how flawed it all is

the thread on total rl has some bits n pieces in, worth a read

RFL bringing talks forward to go to 14 team league for 2026. Can see the existing clubs vetoing this straight away because they won’t want to dilute the current pot of money.

The RFL and the clubs and IMG really need to focus on improving the finances, yeh yeh struggling economy etc etc but thousands still turning up to football and other spectator sports every week which broadcasters and sponsors like, so as a sport we really need to tap into this much better rather than the mentality of looking after are own interests first which Rugby League as done for far to long.

So Wakey back in SL, then.
I bear them no animosity as a club, but I REALLY hope we put 80 past them on both games, because of that Yorkshire winker, who nearly got us relegated, and decimated our playing roster, as some of them were "bad apples". Irony lost on him, then.

You should think yourself lucky that Warrington were one of the lucky ones to find someone to buy their ‘ ground’. True Cas are still looking to get there with a new stadium, but it’s not for the want of trying. The positive is that, whatever you think of Wheldon Road, it belongs to the club. Not many that can say that. Also, others are fortunate to have a sugar daddy owner to bank roll them and we don’t have that either, though Martin Jepson’s involvement has made things a bit healthier.

At the end of the day, the truth is Warrington is just a Cas but with more cash. Never forget your roots.

I take onboard your points. But I go back to original licensing and all clubs were told improvements had to be made or lose your license. How ever it happened our club got it done irrelevant of who paid for the stadium etc we done what was asked. For years the likes of Wakefield and Castleford kept getting away with it. All I can say on that is fair play that they did because end of the day the RFL did not follow through on the processes. Wakefield finally got it going and yet to see what Cas do. Like I said I’d rather be at Wilderspool for me atmosphere at HJ as never come close etc but I know end of day we could not stay there.

It can't all be down to the stadium. Widnes had a new stadium in the early days of SL & were still shown the door.

That stadium is so dark I needed to use a torch to see the teams on the pitch.