How would Super League look if the IMG gradings took immediate effect

Today has been a landmark day in the sport with the recommended changes from IMG, specifically grading clubs on both their on and off-field performances, starting to take shape.

The initial preliminary grades have been released in order to give clubs an idea of where they rank in the professional pyramid, with Grade A ranging down to Grade C.

Under the IMG ‘Re-imagining Rugby League’ proposal it’s stated that the target is for all Super League sides to be Grade A teams, with Super League potentially even expanding beyond the current state of 12 teams to accommodate Grade A sides.

The current set-up of 12 teams will remain with all Grade A sides automatically in and then the highest Grade B teams making up the remaining spots.

Whilst these current gradings are preliminary and won’t take immediate effect, here’s what Super League would look like under these current gradings.

Grading is done on a score with 20 being the maximum score whilst on-field achievements are averaged out over the three most recent seasons.

1: Leeds Rhinos – A – 17.49
Leeds have been a constant in Super League and despite a disappointing 2023 season they lead the way off the field and have made a Grand Final as recently as 2022, hence their high grading.

2: Wigan Warriors – A – 16.87
A Grand Final and Challenge Cup win in the first two years of Matt Peet’s reign sees Wigan rank second, whilst the work of departing chairman Ian Lenagan off the field has helped them become such a high Grade A.

3: St Helens – A – 16.78
They were dethroned this season but Saints have led the way on the field over the past five years and that’s reflected in this high score.

4: Catalans Dragons – A – 16.73
Another incredibly high Grade A, just 0.14 points shy of Wigan in second, but the 2023 Grand Final runners up fly high on this metric.

5: Warrington Wolves – A – 15.75
Two disappointing seasons on field but Warrington are a team with brilliant investment from owner Simon Moran and are typically a constant playoff team.

6: Hull KR – A – 15.52
The Robins edge out their cross city rivals and would rank sixth in the current gradings. With Willie Peters’ first season in charge taking them to a fourth placed finish and a Challenge Cup final, this could be a team trending upwards.

7: Hull FC – A – 15.05
With the threshold for a Grade A being 15, Hull FC just scrape the highest possible grade, no doubt their consecutive seasons without the playoffs hampering them.

8: Salford Red Devils – B – 13.80
Salford lead the pack in terms of B graded teams with Paul Rowley’s side over a point shy of that A grade.

9: Huddersfield Giants – B – 13.49
The Giants made the Challenge Cup final in 2022 and placed third that season but a disappointing 2023 followed them up. They fall 1.5 points shy of the Grade A standing.

10: Toulouse Olympique – B – 12.97
Toulouse have the highest grading of any side that currently isn’t in Super League, meaning that if these rankings were automatically implemented and the leagues reshuffled, then they would earn an immediate promotion.

11: Wakefield Trinity – B – 12.97
Trin might have just been relegated from Super League but they’d be back in should these gradings have immediate effect, no doubt the significant stadium improvements over the past few months have helped them secure a high Grade B.

12: Leigh Leopards – B – 12.45
The Leopards would be the 12th side in this current state of rankings, no doubt their 2023 Challenge Cup win and 2022 Championship win helping them edge out 13th ranked Castleford Tigers.