St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus has moved to fully explain the reason behind Super League’s move to 14 teams.
The decision to increase the size of the competition was made last week with a majority of Super League clubs voting in favour of the increase from next season. That means that at least two Championship clubs will be welcomed up into Super League at the end of the season.
The frontrunners to be elevated from the Championship to the top tier are thought to be Bradford Bulls, Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, with a number of other clubs throwing their hat in the ring, too.
The RFL have stressed that the current IMG grading system will be applied to determine who could come up to Super League before an independent panel, led by Lord Jonathan Caine, assesses their claims and reaches a final decision. According to McManus, though, the changes to the competition will only be made if those teams tick the necessary boxes.
In a statement posted on the St Helens website, the chairman lifts the lid on the voting process, with two clubs in favour of making the changes at a later date. McManus also explained the perceived haste in the changes with Perth Bears and the expected rise of breakaway rugby union competition R360 set to have an impact on the player pool down the line.
McManus’ statement read: “It has been uniformly recognised that the loop fixtures inherent in a 12-team competition results in material revenue reductions due to understandable unpopularity with fans and the consequent effects on gate receipts, sponsorship, hospitality, and broadcast appeal. It also undermines competition parity, and integrity. It destroys value in many ways and at many levels.
“The in principle majority decision to expand to 14 teams was made by Super League club owners one year ago, but after discussions with the RFL, it was decided to defer implementation from the 2025 season to 2026 in order to conduct further preparatory measures.
“Detailed analysis carried out by individual clubs was then supplemented by an independent study conducted by the recently formed Strategic Review Committee of the RFL. It discussed this and other matters over a period with individual clubs. It then presented comprehensively to Super League clubs before the shareholders’ meeting last week. It recommended in favour.
“No clubs voted against increasing to 14 teams, although two preferred a further deferral to 2027.”
St Helens chairman on selection of clubs
Of course, the number of clubs coming up seems to rest on the fate of Salford, with three clubs set to step up should the Red Devils drop out of the top flight.
On the selection of the clubs, McManus added: “Importantly, any final decision is conditional upon detailed review and due diligence to be conducted by a highly qualified and experienced panel to be chaired by Lord Jonathan Caine. A person of the highest integrity and probity, he oversaw the same process as previously employed to select Leigh Leopards to join Super League four years ago. Undoubtedly it worked then and is now tried and tested: Leigh Leopards have gone from strength to strength and have since contributed significant additional value to Super League.
“It is critical that such a process is employed over and above the IMG grading system for existing clubs as grading alone does not guarantee solvency and growth, as has unfortunately been amply illustrated by the continuing Salford debacle.
“If the stringent standards to be applied by the review panel are not so met by two additional clubs, then the competition will remain at 12 in 2026. No unnecessary or unjustifiable risks will be assumed by the competition.”
He continued: “Certainly our own view was that 2027 would have presented any Super League newcomers with an even more challenging recruitment environment in view of the then additional demand for players from Perth Bears, and even from the potential new global rugby union franchise which will undoubtedly target the existing rugby league player pool.
“This competition growth decision represents the first component of a more wide ranging overview of the game by the recently appointed Strategic Review Committee of the RFL. It is the only component which constitutionally required shareholders’ approval and therefore it needed earlier and separate action.”
