I expect to see a number of clubs across leagues hastily setting up academies and joining the reserves comp.

I hope we stay ahead of the game (we are very good in this area) and keep investing in academy and reserves. The academy/scholarship more so as like saints show it ends up benefiting the club and first team substantially over the years.

Cas do have an Academy

They can do that but they won't be elite Academies and come 2027 I can't see the incumbents giving up easily.

No mate, sorry but you have an under 19's and maybe an U17's? But not an elite Academy. There is a big difference. I was surprised you didn't get one but even your own fans say the club stupidly neglected it despite being warned.

Not to say you won't produce some talent from your juniors, Cas is still a hotbed. But because you don't get central funding you won't get the pick and it will cost you directly.

Cas (along with Bradford & Hull KR) were awarded a funded probationary elite licence shortly after the original announcement to cover this year and next with the proviso that if they show progress it will be extended to full term.

Whatever the criteria set for the IMG gradings then by way of fairness they have to be or have been achievable for all parties. For that reason i wouldn’t be surprised if the initial weighting towards academies is quite low, with it becoming a more significant part further down the line. The goalposts have now moved and many of the clubs (York being a prime example) could point at not being awarded an elite licence as an insurmountable barrier to their ambitions that wasn’t a factor previously. If this is held against them it could lead to several legal challenges and a lot of in fighting which is the last thing that the game needs. I’d expect in the first instance an in depth funded plan to introduce development strategies to carry a similar weighting with tough monitoring moving forward as to its implementation. I’ve a feeling ‘planning’ is going to play a big part first up, but those plans will have to be watertight.

Serves me right for reading and believing the RFL website.

So they have a kind of semi elite academy, meaning elite is not quite so elite, only on RL

I’ve just been reading the League Express and there is a an article (bottom right page 3) regarding some clubs backing the IMG proposals, and John Minards is one who Backs the proposal. I would hope the club hold another fans forum to allow MC and JM, to explain the benefits not just for the game but for Trinity in particular, because I, as most on here are Rugby League supporters, we are Trinity Fans First .
Now everyone has taken few days to read and think about the proposals, I get the feeling that he initial good feeling for the idea, people are beginning to have second thoughts.

If all they do is market the game properly then it benefits Wakefield Trinity.

Pop Tart, I’m an old cynic when it comes to RL management. No matter how well the game is marketed, there will be some clubs it will not benefit equally, as we all know some clubs are more equal than others. Remember this, Grade “A” clubs will not be relegated no matter how bad they perform, and grade B&C clubs will be moved around like chess pawns to ensure the top tier maintains Status Quo. It will take years for some established clubs to get a sniff of an A grade, by which time some clubs will no longer exist. I’ve not seen any information that suggests a league of more than 14 “A” graders. So once that 14 club league is completed and no one relegated, what then?

Maybe, at this stage, they want to be seen as being on board.
Any club, being strongly against the changes, could find themselves with a steeper hill to climb.

Let's be honest here, whichever set of criteria is put forward will help some clubs more than others and certainly, if different aspects are weighted more heavily than others, certain clubs will benefit.
Even though they have said there will be no mergers, IF part of the criteria is proximity to other clubs, this would hepl say, London, York and Newcastle and would count in the minus column for us.
Having said that, details need to be given to clubs at the earliest opportunity, so that they can get on with counting plastic seats and toilets with a closing lid etc.

So how many teams will be in Super League?
In IMG's words, that is 'open and fluid'. The goal is that in the coming years, those Category B clubs who get a place in Super League develop on and off the field to such an extent they are awarded Category A grading. Once Super League has 12 Category A teams - Super League won't be reduced to ten teams, it will remain at 12 - the prospect of expanding the competition to include more teams becomes a reality.

Open and Fluid. To me this really is open to abuse, the “A” team can decide who joins them, and only if the funding will stretch to additional newcomers.

When does the grading system kick in?
Clubs will be told their initial grading at the end of next year, ahead of them being rolled out on an illustrative basis for 2024. That means next year is the final year with conventional promotion and relegation as we know it. Then, in late-2024, after a review of the grades has taken place, 2025 sees the Category A clubs in Super League, joined by the highest-ranked Category B clubs that takes the total to 12.

Then, in late-2024, after a review of the grades has taken place, 2025 sees the Category A clubs in Super League, joined by the highest-ranked Category B clubs that takes the total to 12

This doesn’t give the “B” teams much time to get themselves organised for the new season, and those “B” teams not selected for the 12, have to adjust to the expectation of lower funding.

Along with a likely complete mess for players having contracts cancelled too. As I said it will be hard for B clubs to plan and sign players to long term contracts if they can just be torn up.

If I were a player and I got offered two contracts from a B and an A club for 3 years yet the B offered 5k more a year I’d probably still sign for the A club for the guaranteed security.

There’s so many questions but the A clubs will have advantage in all areas certainly for initial/early years of the transition.

But the worry about not being A grade and pointing at IMG is what holds us back.
We've been given a target (or will be) to achieve an A grade status and secure our future.
Rather than moan that they are against us, surely we target the areas we need to improve and go get the A status.
Simples.

Absolutely, just think it’s going to be more challenging for some clubs than others. I expect we may have to put a lot of effort and have further facility improvements to be considered an A. We won’t truly know what’s needed to get an A until it’s released though.

It’s unknown at the moment and I guess the concern is that we have only 2 years (or less) to secure either a top B or A status. That’s a very short amount of time imho.

I’m confident we are starting on a good position in a few areas though such as youth, community and financial management. I have confidence in those who run the club to show the improvement necessery.

You and PT are probably correct, I just think IMG will give considerable weight to teams outside the normal heartland, London, York, Newcastle, even Cornwall has been mentioned, I just feel Trinity are being elbowed out, I hope I’m wrong and IMG will be squeaky clean when it comes to awarding criteria points.