Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin has labelled suggestions of moving to a 14-team Super League ‘crazy talk’.
Super League owners have been discussing the idea of expanding Super League and bringing in two more teams from the Championship to broaden the top tier. It follows the decision to increase the overseas quota from seven to 10, with those potentially coming up from the second tier being given the license to bring in more players from down under.
It’s a decision that has divided fans of Super League and talk of going to a 14-team competition has raised eyebrows, too. Whether that decision can be made in time for next season remains to be seen with owners getting together later this month to discuss things further after an uneventful council meeting earlier this week.
Wilkin has dismissed the suggestion that increasing the competition could be good for the game, though, pointing to a reduced broadcast rights deal and risings costs in all facets of the sport.
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“I imagine there’s a plan being hatched to ditch IMG and to ditch RL Commercial, that’s what it appears to me,” Wilkin said on Sky Sports as part of the build up to St Helens’ clash with Leigh Leopards. “The owners are getting their heads together and they’re disgruntled with their lot.
“They’re tipping in more money than they ever have. The irony is they want to stretch it to 14 teams, are they mental?
“In a business, if your costs are inflating, what are you going to do, stretch your competition even wider? My view is we narrow the competition.”
Responding to Brian Carney’s point that clubs like Oldham have volunteered to fund themselves, Wilkin added: “The pot’s not big enough. We’re in a market where broadcast rights have reduced, cost pressures all over the world as a business are increasing and we’re talking about expanding.
“How sustainable is a club that’s self funding are main clubs like St Helens lose £2.5 million a year. How much money are Oldham going to lose trying to keep up with them? It’s crazy talk.”
Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who was in the Council meeting on Tuesday and will be CEO of Leeds Rhinos next year added: “Well 14 teams is only madness if there isn’t a plan. If there’s a plan at the end of it that says 14 teams and 10 players on the quota is a good thing then fair enough, let’s go with it, let’s get it together whatever it is.
“Let’s unite and get it together, it can’t be selfishness, it’s got to be selfless concern for the well being of the game.”
