I don’t remember reading the article below in the recent criteria. It’s a big incentive for certain clubs.

The draws for the Fourth and Fifth Round of the Challenge Cup will take place tomorrow evening at Millom ARL in Cumbria. Hunslet ARLFC and Rochdale Mayfield remain the only two community clubs left in the prestigious competition.
The winners of the four Round Five matches will automatically qualify for the semi-finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup, with the final once again held at Wembley Stadium. The added incentive for clubs this year is the winners will receive extra IMG/RFL grading points.

Good spot DS...wonder how many they will get ??

Has anybody seen any detail of how a club’s catchment area is going to be calculated?
Is our catchment area (along with Cas and Rovers) the Wakefield Met area and will that be compared with London’s and Skolar’s London and the South East? Will Leeds and Hunslet have the same score? It seems likely to be fraught with difficulty and inconsistency to me.

For the 1895? 0.1 points

IMG have been given the job of revamping Super League. Anyone given that job would say they need to two things:
1. Ensure the continuation of big, successful clubs and those who provide a good matchday experience
2. Spread the game

The criteria should do that. Let's be honest, our concerns are only about us, but any objective view of us would say that we bring nothing to the party and never have. Leigh are already adding more to the Super League than us. I get the criteria.

If I were to be given a choice of a successful and vibrant sport of rugby league but Wakefield in the Championship, or a declining Super League that included Wakefield, I'd pick the former. I love rugby league. Wakefield is my team because it's where I'm from and it's the team I've attended for over fifty years, but it's the love of rugby league that underpins everything. The game has got to thrive, or else what's the point?

Quote Slugger McBatt="Slugger McBatt"IMG have been given the job of revamping Super League. Anyone given that job would say they need to two things: 1. Ensure the continuation of big, successful clubs and those who provide a good matchday experience 2. Spread the game The criteria should do that. Let's be honest, our concerns are only about us, but any objective view of us would say that we bring nothing to the party and never have. Leigh are already adding more to the Super League than us. I get the criteria. If I were to be given a choice of a successful and vibrant sport of rugby league but Wakefield in the Championship, or a declining Super League that included Wakefield, I'd pick the former. I love rugby league. Wakefield is my team because it's where I'm from and it's the team I've attended for over fifty years, but it's the love of rugby league that underpins everything. The game has got to thrive, or else what's the point?'" That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...

Quote Slugger McBatt="Slugger McBatt"IMG have been given the job of revamping Super League. Anyone given that job would say they need to two things: 1. Ensure the continuation of big, successful clubs and those who provide a good matchday experience 2. Spread the game The criteria should do that. Let's be honest, our concerns are only about us, but any objective view of us would say that we bring nothing to the party and never have. Leigh are already adding more to the Super League than us. I get the criteria. If I were to be given a choice of a successful and vibrant sport of rugby league but Wakefield in the Championship, or a declining Super League that included Wakefield, I'd pick the former. I love rugby league. Wakefield is my team because it's where I'm from and it's the team I've attended for over fifty years, but it's the love of rugby league that underpins everything. The game has got to thrive, or else what's the point?'" That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...

League placing according to yorkshire Live.
Thoughts?

IMG's criteria reveal has provided fresh insight into the grading process, with on-field performance still a major part of the equation. Five key criteria will determine the scores of all 36 clubs, with results on the pitch counting for 25 per cent of a club's overall score.

The criteria has confirmed clubs will be ranked 1-36 based on their performances over a three-season period. The score will be determined via league positions and trophy wins from the most recent season.

Taking that theory into account, we decided to crunch the numbers and figure out how the league table will look based on the current three seasons. That did provide some challenges given the curtailed 2020 season for Championship and League 1, meaning 2019 results were instead taken into account for this sample. Of course, the results from that season will be irrelevant when the real grading system comes into play.
The other uncertainty comes around the play-offs and whether a club's performance in them determines their 'league position' or where they finished in the regular season. As an example, Leeds finished fifth last year but made the Grand Final, which would align with finishing second. For this sample, it has been based on league position only.

Unsurprisingly, St Helens come out on top having won three Grand Finals, a Challenge Cup and two League Leaders' Shields in that time. Closely behind are the three other clubs to win trophies in the past three seasons, Wigan Warriors, Catalans Dragons and Leeds Rhinos. Despite their shocking 2022 campaign, Warrington are fifth. At the other end of Super League, Wakefield are eleventh and Leigh thirteenth, though their score is hampered by the fact they finished fourth in the Championship in 2019. Toulouse are in between them.

Championship outfit Keighley, who have been the largest dissenting voice to the grading system, are in 32nd place, punished largely for finishing next to bottom of League 1 in 2019.

A full 36-team league table based on IMG's on-field grading criteria

1 St Helens
2 Wigan Warriors
3 Catalans Dragons
4 Leeds Rhinos
5 Warrington Wolves
6 Huddersfield Giants
7 Castleford Tigers
8 Hull FC
9 Hull KR
10 Salford Red Devils
11 Wakefield Trinity
12 Toulouse Olympique
13 Leigh Leopards
14 Featherstone Rovers
15 Halifax Panthers
16 London Broncos
17 York Knights
18 Batley Bulldogs
19 Bradford Bulls
20 Sheffield Eagles
21 Widnes Vikings
22 Whitehaven
23 Barrow Raiders
24 Dewsbury Rams
25 Newcastle Thunder
26 Swinton Lions
27 Workington Town
28 Oldham
29 Rochdale Hornets
30 North Wales Crusaders
31 Doncaster
32 Keighley Cougars
33 Hunslet
34 Midlands Hurricanes
35 London Skolars
36 Cornwall

Quote BarnsleyGull="BarnsleyGull"That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...'" I also understand IMG are helping us find a new Chief Executive

Quote BarnsleyGull="BarnsleyGull"That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...'" I also understand IMG are helping us find a new Chief Executive

Quote BarnsleyGull="BarnsleyGull"That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...'" I agree, in part, but I suppose it depends on your perspective. London, for example, didn't fill the terraces or travel well, but they did well in developing the game in the south and were competitive occasionally. My own view is that there is nothing wrong with strong heartland teams. For example, I follow baseball and support the Red Sox, and have even travelled to see them now and again. Would I go watch the Wakefield Red Sox? No. I enjoy the matches in the elite competition. On that analogy, I suspect the southern supporters have their favourite northern team. I was walking to the Saints game a few years ago (I think it was the first year in their new stadium, when we beat them), and I was chatting to a Londoner who had travelled up because he's a Saints fan. The press will always ignore us, because we are not rugby union, but it shouldn't be measured by column inches. Yes, expansion should always be an aim, but it would be great to see the Grand Final full every year, and Wembley even. I'd be happy with full northern grounds every week and plenty of grassroots involvement, with enough money to retain stars and maybe even attract a few more Aussie big names.

Quote BarnsleyGull="BarnsleyGull"That's all well and good but where do think the game will actually thrive? London? Been there York or Newcastle? Would they have a good enough team or just end up with players from the relegated clubs? Bradford? Not financially secure... Cumbria? A team would be good from there, I'll grant you that, but is that feasible? The talk about location areas is a clear indication that they want to remove teams within that certain area, like us, cas and fev. But no mention of the closeness - albeit different cities of Leeds & Bradford. And what about Hull? I would like to see teams [ipenalised[/i points for sharing football grounds in the criteria... I mean we could play at Barnsley FC, which would make us a better proposition. Speaking of Hull I see that we have a new RFL Chief Exec..... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/64962394 He worked for Hull FC for 13 years and "assisted" IMG in the plans for moving forward.... Hmmm...'" I agree, in part, but I suppose it depends on your perspective. London, for example, didn't fill the terraces or travel well, but they did well in developing the game in the south and were competitive occasionally. My own view is that there is nothing wrong with strong heartland teams. For example, I follow baseball and support the Red Sox, and have even travelled to see them now and again. Would I go watch the Wakefield Red Sox? No. I enjoy the matches in the elite competition. On that analogy, I suspect the southern supporters have their favourite northern team. I was walking to the Saints game a few years ago (I think it was the first year in their new stadium, when we beat them), and I was chatting to a Londoner who had travelled up because he's a Saints fan. The press will always ignore us, because we are not rugby union, but it shouldn't be measured by column inches. Yes, expansion should always be an aim, but it would be great to see the Grand Final full every year, and Wembley even. I'd be happy with full northern grounds every week and plenty of grassroots involvement, with enough money to retain stars and maybe even attract a few more Aussie big names.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlEPGiC4CNE Interesting conversation here with the Keighley owners and I've got to say I largely agree with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlEPGiC4CNE Interesting conversation here with the Keighley owners and I've got to say I largely agree with them.

Excellent video, I’m even more convinced now more than previously that IMG are manipulating the system to suit a certain agenda. The 2 Keighley owners have given us an insight and a reason to why the game will eventually die if these proposals are passed.
I hope all the fans watch this video, I think most will agree with the comments given.

Yes watched it myself, I have never heard of these two guys but they seemed two genuine blokes trying their best for their club. They do make some very valid points and I tend to agree with them mostly.
I think this IMG plan will all be long forgotten in 5 or 6 years and someone will be thinking of further new ways to reinvent the Rugby League wheel.