For the first time ever, three teams have earned promotion to the Super League and that’s led to debate over which side will fare best.
With Super League expanding to 14 teams, it’s seen a big shift in the competition’s landscape with a second French team added, a sleeping giant returning, and a team joining for the first time.
Salford Red Devils got relegated due to their IMG score with Bradford Bulls shooting up the rankings to claim a spot in the 12, before York Knights and Toulouse Olympique came through the application process successfully.
Of the trio, only York are debutants in Super League but it’s been a long time between drinks for Bradford, who last played in the competition in 2014. For Toulouse, their sole season prior to 2026 came in 2022.
With three new teams in the mix, it’s led to understandable debate about which side will fare better. It’s worth noting that Bradford, who earned their spot via IMG, will have full central funding whereas Toulouse and York are on approximately half of that.
Super League fans debate promoted team’s chances
Serious About Rugby League posed the question to fans about which of the promoted sides would do better, leading to no true consensus and lots of disagreement.
Ade Hodgson: York and Bradford will bring good support so definitely beneficial to the Super League. Toulouse home advantage will ensure wins but they will struggle away.
Martin Howarth: Toulouse, then Bulls, then York.
Steve Ingham: Glad everyone has written the Bulls off. Got some decent players but no one seems to have noticed.
Adrian Goodrich: If Bradford can finish above bottom, this Bulls supporter will regard that as a success. York are going to surprise more than a few and Toulouse are going to have to do it the hard way, having fully deserved their promotion.
Dave Edwards: York, by a country mile.
Shane green: Bulls will finish highest, they’ve had by far better recruitment. Tooulouse will be bottom then York, Castleford and Huddersfield will be below the Bulls too.
Neil Crowther: York have recruited far better than the other two and will finish higher. Toulouse will gain a few home wins. Bradford only signed Championship-standard players with the exception of a couple.
Andrew Ward: Bottom five, Cas, Toulouse, Bradford, Huddersfield, York.
Nick Ivan: All new teams will finish 12, 13, 14. Well done RFL in giving those teams three months in putting together a competitive roster for 2026.
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Eric T Cat
December 7, 2025 at 2:44 pm
From the bottom up, Toulouse, Bradford, York, Huddersfield, Castleford, Catalans, Warrington, Hull FC, Wakefield, Leigh, Hull KR, St Helens, Wigan, Leeds.
First coach to be sacked, Sam Burgess. Top Scorers: Leeds. Best Defence: Hull KR.
I think York have the best model for survival, Bradford have undue influence and the unfair funding, Toulouse they want out asap.
Remember, the initial idea was European Super League. We should be hoping to see teams in Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany either we develop or not. Don’t forget club Rugby Union struggles to survive, they are so sure of their innate superiority, ok, why not look to add a club side from each the the English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish RFUs. They think our game is so easy fitting in 27 league, plus cup matches, would be effectively training for them. It’s just touch rugby. Personally, I’d pay good money to watch them get thrashed week in, week out. See how long it took until we heard “We’re sorry, we didn’t realise, it’s so…intense”. Have they forgotten the Wigan vs Bath 86-6 game where Wigan put the water carrier on to tone it down a bit before they got to a point they could add another cross code element from cricket and declare.