Rugby League fans disagree in huge debate over IMG Super League gradings system

The new IMG reforms to rugby league in the UK have been the subject of much debate since coming in.

The key difference that has been brought in is that promotion/relegation has been scrapped ahead of the 2025 season.

Super League and the 12 sides for next year are being determined, for the first time, by IMG grading.

The IMG grading is based on five main categories – or ‘pillars’: Fandom, Performance, Finances, Stadium and Community.

Most clubs haven’t released where they sit on each aspect, meaning it’s impossible to be absolutely certain of where everyone is likely to be at the end of the season.

However, Serious About Rugby League attempted to work out which league sides would likely place in for 2025, and in response to that, readers had plenty of opinions about the IMG reforms.

Rugby league fans disagree on IMG reforms

Many suggested that the lack of true promotion and relegation makes things unfair – with little incentive for sides out of Super League to make improvements on the field.

Ian Gatward: “All clubs should be able to achieve their dreams of playing in SL and possibly winning SL… the clubs in Championship, including Widnes and Bradford etc, will have the route to SL shut, so what happens to them?

Andrew Dunn: “We could have London 11th against all odds and Toulouse winning the championship final but give zero reward. What a mess.”

Andy Pagdin: “What’s the point of teams like Batley, Dewsbury, Keighley, Whitehaven, Barrow, Featherstone, Oldham, Rochdale and the rest bother. IGM have simply taken away their aspirations and dreams, and for what?”

One Hull FC fan suggested that his side has used the new system to their gain – playing poorly while knowing it won’t really matter.

Tom Hedges: “I’m a Hull fan and I think this system is a joke, and unfortunately Hull FC have played it to their advantage…under spent because doesn’t matter if we are last, while we repay covid loans.. no fear of relegation when realistically Hull wouldn’t be so rubbish if they could be relegated.”

However, it’s always nice to have balance – and not everyone was against the lack of earning promotion on the field.

Jim Campbell: “Unpopular opinion, but promotion and relegation are a cancer on professional sport and rugby will be better off without them. The financial loss to relegation is too great and regularly pushes clubs to the brink of extinction after one bad season.

“Meanwhile Championship clubs are too willing to overspend on a one season promotion gamble that again, can threaten extinction if it doesn’t come off. Even if it does, there is no incentive for clubs to build their infrastructure instead of their playing squad.

“Give clubs stability and certainty year on year over their income streams and wage bills, take the massive money swings out of the game”

A good example to support this point is Featherstone Rovers, whose financial struggles this year can likely be put down to attempting – unsuccessfully – to go up through significant on-field investement.