Ahead of the IMG scores being revealed on Wednesday, we’ve taken a look at and predicted the 12-team Super League line-up for 2025.
Preliminary grades published this time last year offer some insight but plenty can change in a year, as we’ve already seen with club’s performance scores.
IMG Grades are measured on five pillars (Fandom, Performance, Finance, Stadium and Community) with a maximum score of 20 available for a team that hits top marks in each pillar.
Despite being just 24 hours away from learning the official IMG scores, much of the scoring is internal with only Performance and part of the Fandom metric something that can be calculated without that inside information.
Everything you need to know about the IMG grades ahead of Wednesday update
We previously looked at the teams set to see their Performance scores rise and fall with Wigan Warriors unsurprisingly being the big winners, whilst Leeds Rhinos were among the top five losers.
Based on the limited knowledge available and using the 2023 preliminary grades as somewhat of a baseline, we’ve predicted the 12 teams that will be confirmed to Super League for 2025.
What will Super League look like for 2025?
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
It’s easiest to start with the Grade A clubs. A Grade A club is one that scores 15 or more points and when the preliminary grades were released, there were seven.
Whilst that figure might not change, the teams in that group of seven could change with Hull FC largely expected to see a decline in their scores.
As for which club could replace them, Leigh Leopards look set to hit the 15-point barrier. That is something that they have confidently declared with the figure of 15.1257 being dubbed as the “worst-case scenario”.
Super League giants such as Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens are guarantees in this group, despite the Rhinos seeing a decrease in their Performance score.
Hull KR, Warrington Wolves and Catalans Dragons were the other three preliminary Grade A clubs and whilst the latter two will see their performance scores drop marginally (approximately 0.11 points), they’ll be well above the 15-point mark.
Expected Grade A clubs (In predicted score order)
1: Wigan Warriors
2: Leeds Rhinos
3: St Helens
4: Catalans Dragons
5: Hull KR
6: Warrington Wolves
7: Leigh Leopards
The Grade B clubs are where it gets both harder to predict but also a lot more interesting. As referenced, Leigh have claimed they’re set to be a Grade A side and their club owner Derek Beaumont has predicted that Castleford Tigers will be close to that 15-point mark as well.
Wakefield Trinity, despite being relegated, will also gain both on-field and off-field. The investment of Matt Ellis has seen several areas worked on and improved whilst the 0.35 bonus they pick up on Performance for their Championship and 1895 Cup wins could be pivotal.
They’re almost certain to effectively replace London Broncos, akin to how traditional promotion and relegation works, and that may be all there is in terms of change.
Toulouse Olympique, who Wakefield beat on Saturday night, are the biggest question mark but missing out on that 0.25 points could prove fatal to their Super League ambitions.
Salford Red Devils are a side who have worked on their finances and seen their Performance score go up but not much has been said of Huddersfield, despite owner Ken Davy’s plans to build a new stadium, however, clearly future plans do not affect current grades.
Expected Grade B Super League clubs (In predicted score order)
8: Hull FC
9: Castleford Tigers
10: Salford Red Devils
11: Wakefield Trinity
12: Huddersfield Giants
