Super League coach fires warning about possible 14-team competition as quota spot increase addressed

With talks that Super League could become a 14-team competition in 2025, one head coach has spoken on the hard reality the competition faces.

There is a growing belief that Super League could once again return to 14 teams for 2026 onwards although with the new season just around the corner, the uncertainty around it is a clear concern.

One thing that is very likely changing next year is that the number of overseas quota spots available to each team will increase from seven to ten, ensuring that an additional 36 players can be recruited from Down Under, providing Super League remains a 12-team competition.

Serious About Rugby League revealed last month that the official decision on that increase in quota will come on July 15th when the RFL meet and Huddersfield Giants head coach Luke Robinson has been asked about the prospect.

“It all depends on how many teams are coming up,” was Robinson’s response when speaking to the media, as he highlighted the key issue of uncertainty around the upcoming season.

Expanding on why that would matter, he said: “You’ve got to find 60 players. Don’t get me wrong, there are players in the Championship who can step up but it’s not an easy task to get 60 players within three or four months.

“That’s another thing that is crazy, that we don’t know what the league structure is going to be and we’re months away from pre-season.”

Super League coach assesses pros and cons of increased quota spots

Robinson conceded that having ten quota spots would help teams recruit as there would be a bigger player pool, however, he noted that some Championship players might not want to make the jump to Super League for financial reasons.

He explained:”Recruitment is continually going on, whoever does come up, if they do move to 14 teams, has to make signings pretty quick but obviously having ten quota spots alleviates some of that pressure.

“There’s players in the Championship who are probably good enough to play Super League but they don’t want to. I know players in the past where they’ve got a really really steady and well-paid job so it suits them to play part time.”

Robinson added: “Some players might be getting offered less money to be a Super League player than they are to be a teacher who tops up their wage in the Championship.”

Putting forth arguments for and against the ten quota spots, Robinson said: “To find 60 players isn’t an easy task so if we are to add two new teams then upping the quota spots helps that. There is obviously an argument that that more Australians over here, the less opportunities it creates for English players.

“On the flip side, it might bring the competition (standard) up and you’ve got to play better and become a better player to get in the squad.”

As for his side, he explained that a lack of cap space would be the issue in regards to them potentially filling ten quota spots although he did note the club are still searching for new signings.

“Cap space is the big one, that’s probably the biggest issue for every club,” the Giants boss admitted.

“We’ve got a little bit of space, we haven’t got loads of rooms to manoeuvre but we’re still exploring possibilities. “