The Super League clubs most in danger of relegation in 2024

As we get closer and closer to the start of the season many fans try to predict who will win the Super League, but an equally important issue to try and predict would be which teams will be in the relegation battle.

With the IMG grades in place for the 2025 season, almost all teams in the Super League won’t be relegated if they finish bottom at the end of next season. 

However, a club with an IMG score of A will feel humiliated if they finish bottom behind teams with a grade of B, especially those ranked just outside the Super League for the 2025 season.

But which teams will struggle next season?

London Broncos 

The bookies have a newly promoted side, London Broncos, as a favourite to go straight back down at the end of the season. 

The Broncos had a decent year last season, finishing fifth in the Betfred Championship and winning 16 out of the 27 games before coming from behind to snatch the victory from Toulouse Olympique in a dramatic playoff final. 

It came as a massive shock to see the Broncos in the Super League, but the lack of squad depth in the side and not enough good signings this season will almost certainly see them end up bottom of the table next season.

Castleford Tigers 

Castleford Tigers managed to escape the drop last season after being sucked into a relegation battle against Wakefield Trinity, their two victories over their West Yorkshire rivals proving the difference between Super League status and relegation.

As such the Tigers only secured six wins out of 27 games last season and had the worst points difference score in the league with -451, highlighting them as possible candidates for the drop this season.

Despite that, Cas have made a couple of early key signings, such as prop Samy Kibula and Hull KR man Sam Wood, along with four other signings.

With these signings and plans to attract more fans to the ground, the Tigers will hope to stay clear of the drop next season despite the IMG grading, which may have already sealed their fate to the Championship in 2025 as they currently rank 13th of the professional clubs.

Salford Red Devils 

With Salford Red Devils’ excellent start to last season and the decision to allow the fans to have fan ownership of the club, it looked like a new era had begun.

However, around mid-June, after beating Castleford Tigers in the round of 15, Salford failed to win their next seven games in all competitions and dropped out of the playoff spots.

Late season defeats to Hull KR and then Catalans Dragons on the final day resulted in the Red Devils missing out on the playoffs by two points.

It’s also been a difficult off-season for Salford, losing critical players in Andy Ackers and Brodie Croft to rivals Leeds Rhinos leaving plenty of fans to reckon they are in for a terrible season.

Despite that Salford have made a couple of key signings, such as Nene Macdonald from Leeds, Ethan Ryan from Hull KR, and Cade Cust from Wigan, among many more. Perhaps more importantly was renewing Ryan Brierley’s contract for three more years, which should see them away from the drop and look more for a playoff place finished next season.

However, with the club’s tenancy agreement at the AJ Bell Stadium set to expire on December 1st, Salford are in a truly difficult situation financially and could well fall short of the RFL’s Minimum Standards should they lose their home. They’re a team to keep a close watch on this off-season.