Championship club call out IMG after impressive attendance

Keighley Cougars and Bradford Bulls both made headlines going into the new Championship season.

The Cougars signed the likes of Ben Crooks from Hull KR and Mark Ioane from the Leigh Leopards.

But their biggest signing and perhaps the shock signing of the off season was the arrival of former Bradford Bulls man Luke Gale from Hull FC.

The former Leeds Rhinos star and Challenge Cup Final of course won the Man of Steel at Castleford Tigers in 2017 and after a stunning Super League career Gale chose to have a crack at the Championship with the Cougars.

His former Leeds teammate Jack Walker was the other shock Championship signing joining the Bradford Bulls before picking up an early injury in Round One.

The Bulls made some other big signings like Bodene Thompson as well as former Huddersfield Giants skipper Michael Lawrence.

Last week the two clashed in a huge derby and Keighley had warned fans about how big of an attendance they were expecting.

They said on social media: “We would advise buying your tickets in advance for our game against Bradford.”

The attendance was an impressive 4,793 as confirmed by the Cougars on Twitter who took the chance to have a jab at Bradford fans as they led 28-0.

Attendance is 4,793 but its going down as the Bulls fans start to leave with 20 minutes to go! Chisholm missed the kick and its 28-0. pic.twitter.com/E7gf6laJEw

— Keighley Cougars (@Cougarmania) March 26, 2023

They went on to win 34-6 as Luke Gale starred against his former club.

Following this the Cougars took to Instagram to again underline their opposition to some of IMG’s ideas.

Sharing the attendance, they said “IMG see what happens with a local derby game? This is heartlands rugby league.

“PAY ATTENTION.”

This is of course in reference to IMG’s inclusion of catchment in their grading criteria which could work against these two clubs because they share a catchment area.