Sky Sports Rugby League’s Jon Wilkin describes the rankings launched by IMG, how the system could make rugby league more sustainable and questions whether it’s time to make Super League a 10-team league…
I think the grading system for people, who don’t know, is quite creepy and sounds like it breaks away from what we associate with promotion and relegation and winning and losing. The essence of sport is winning and losing, but this has taken the club out of hand.
Wakefield, for example, has been given very clear criteria on how to obtain a Grade A license and earn a place in the Super League. That’s important, because whatever sport you do, it depends on your personal investment.
Three rugby union clubs have gone broke over the past few seasons. There are football clubs that live on the brink without private investment. That’s the story, how sustainable – maybe – the grading system will make our sport.
What the grading did was allow someone like Matt (Ellis) to come into Wakefield, spend a few million pounds and get the team into the Super League in a consistent way. It ended up being positive news in Wakefield.
I think the game should be commended for doing that. It’s a departure from what we associate with sports, this grading system. We have seen all the clubs 1-35 ranking, based on facilities, attendance, society – all these different facets, so it’s crazy to see.
Sustainable growth for rugby league?
Covid-19 is difficult for sports. Many sports clubs have a lot of debt and I think that our game has been recognized, after coming out of such a difficult period, to consolidate its position, build some solid foundations and decide on the route to grow from.
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Look back at Wigan Warriors’ route to a second consecutive Super League title thanks to an unprecedented quadruple win.
I think this grading has only made the club responsible. Short-termism is a disease in sports, where you earn money and spend and live beyond your means. As soon as the money goes, the club disappears and I think that the reality of the sport is fun.
What we’re doing is really focusing on the club in terms of finances, facilities, the fan experience and through that focus and the accountability of everyone’s ranks, I think we’ve seen a real demand to improve the club.
Look at Castleford, for example, they really follow the rules of the game and the grading system perfectly. He has made many small changes and improved his score dramatically, earning his current Grade A license because of it.
It is important for clubs to play the game and, in the first year, it looks like the clubs have played the game well.
More teams approaching Grade A?
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Bevan French of Wigan Warriors scored the only try of the 2024 Grand Final against Hull KR, a close match to Rob Burrow’s Grand Final effort for Leeds Rhinos against St Helens in 2011.
Rhodri Jones, head of RL Commercial, said the appetite for the game to expand, so that Toulouse – for me – is an attractive prospect. This will be the second French team in the competition and I think it will be a very good thing for the competition.
London is a different question, but I love having that brand associated with our game. I went and played in Canada in Toronto and when London came to town, the Canadians were interested. It’s harder to sell when you say Featherstone or these towns that no one has heard of.
I think London and Toulouse add brand value to us and they are not far, is it? He is at the top. I put York in there too – he almost got his Grade A licence.
The challenge of the game is that when you get more than nine clubs with a Grade A license then you have to start choosing, based on the class, who is in and who is out, and it can be difficult.
Should the Super League expand?
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Watch the moment Wigan Warriors celebrate taking the 2024 Super League title with full klaxons in the Grand Final against Hull KR.
Don’t talk about developing, because you’re just dragging others down. I will reduce, I will have 10-team top tier. I wouldn’t go anywhere near the top tier of 14 teams.
We have nine teams with Grade A licenses. Now that tells us that we have nine good clubs and others are developing, so let’s build on what we are strong and let’s combine 10 clubs in the competition.
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Highlights from the Super League Grand Final match between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR.
It is well played for the game that the team that finishes bottom of London does not go out and the team that wins the top of the Championship and wins the play-offs goes in. Uncontroversial, now it won’t happen moving forward. You would imagine that the more Grade A teams they get, the harder it will be.
RL Commercial, who have got IMG to make all these recommendations in the end can’t control what the competition looks like – the club owners. You’ve got turkeys voting for Christmas, you’ve got 12 club owners who want to choose what the competition looks like, how many teams in it.
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Wigan Warriors lifted the Super League trophy after winning against Hull KR in the Grand Final at Old Trafford.
I’m sure they all want more TV distribution, so I imagine it’s less teams than more. They won’t make four more teams in the competition, it just won’t happen and they won’t vote.
Either the game should look at the way that can affect the decision or just accept this competition and it will be this team or less.
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